Author: space4knews

May 24, Kathmandu – Nepal Rastra Bank has today published the exchange rates for various foreign currencies. According to the released data, the buying rate for the US dollar is set at NPR 152.81 and the selling rate at NPR 153.41. Similarly, the European Euro has a buying rate of NPR 177.31 and a selling rate of NPR 178. The British Pound Sterling is priced at NPR 205.23 for buying and NPR 206.04 for selling. The Swiss Franc’s buying rate is NPR 194.20, with a selling rate of NPR 194.57. The Australian dollar rates are NPR 108.85 for buying and NPR 109.27 for selling.

According to the central bank, the Canadian dollar buying rate is NPR 110.76 and selling rate NPR 111.19. The Singapore dollar is priced with a buying rate of NPR 119.34 and selling rate of NPR 119.81. The Japanese yen (per 10 units) is set at NPR 9.60 for buying and NPR 9.64 for selling. The Chinese yuan has a buying rate of NPR 22.59 and selling rate of NPR 22.58. The Saudi Arabian Riyal’s buying rate is NPR 40.72 and selling rate NPR 40.88, while the Qatari Riyal buying and selling rates stand at NPR 41.94 and NPR 42.10 respectively.

The Thai Baht is priced at NPR 4.67 for buying and NPR 4.69 for selling. The UAE Dirham’s buying rate is NPR 41.61 and selling rate NPR 41.77. The Malaysian Ringgit has been fixed at NPR 38.51 for buying and NPR 38.66 for selling. Similarly, the South Korean Won (per 100 units) is priced at NPR 10.07 for buying and NPR 10.11 for selling. The Swedish Krona has a buying rate of NPR 16.31 and selling rate of NPR 16.37.

The Danish Krone’s buying rate is NPR 23.71 and selling rate NPR 23.80. The Hong Kong dollar is priced at NPR 19.50 for buying and NPR 19.58 for selling. The Kuwaiti Dinar is valued at NPR 498.08 for buying and NPR 500.03 for selling, while the Bahraini Dinar is set at NPR 405.28 for buying and NPR 406.87 for selling. The Omani Riyal’s buying and selling rates are NPR 396.90 and NPR 398.46 respectively, the central bank reported. The Indian Rupee (per 100 units) has a buying rate of NPR 160.00 and a selling rate of NPR 160.15.

The central bank has stated that these exchange rates are subject to revision at any time as required. Exchange rates set by commercial banks may differ, and the updated exchange rates will be available on the central bank’s official website.

A complaint has been lodged with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority regarding illegal mining activities along the banks of the Mahakali River, prompting the initiation of legal proceedings. Pancheshwar Rural Municipality has confirmed that no construction company was authorized to conduct mining, and an illegal crusher operation has been discovered. The District Administration Office and the Coordination Committee are monitoring the situation closely and preparing to take necessary legal action. 10 Jestha, Baitadi.

The illegal mining activities along the Mahakali River at the Nepal-India border have raised concerns following the complaint submitted to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Rajmani Niraula, Assistant Chief District Officer of Baitadi, confirmed the receipt of the complaint and assured that legal procedures are underway. He stated, “A complaint has been filed with the Commission, and mining has now been halted. Necessary actions will be taken.”

Following the complaint, the District Administration Office has formally communicated with Pancheshwar Rural Municipality to provide accurate information. Vir Singh Bhandari, Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, confirmed receipt of the Commission’s letter and said the necessary measures are being implemented. He added, “Monitoring has been conducted by teams from the Chief District Officer and the District Coordination Committee. Legal processes will proceed.” Bhandari also confirmed that the municipality did not grant permission to any construction company for mining and verified that the company was conducting unauthorized extraction.

Since Magh last year, the joint venture Kankai Kumar KS JV had been conducting mining activities at Jungle Tada, Ward No. 4 of Pancheshwar Rural Municipality. The company secured a contract for the Melouli-Pancheshwar road upgrade through the Physical Infrastructure Development Office in Baitadi. The company had been operating a crusher along the Mahakali riverbank, extracting stones, gravel, and sand. According to the Crusher Standards 2077, crushers can only operate after an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed for an area at least one kilometer away. However, the company proceeded with mining and crusher operations illegally along the riverbank without completing these procedures.

There is a legal provision for a committee led by the Chief Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee to control illegal mining. In response to public disputes, the District Administration Office and the Coordination Committee have expressed heightened concern. The committee, including Baitadi Chief Khagendra Singh Dhami and Office Chief Raghunath Awasthi, visited the municipality to discuss the matter with local representatives. However, the discussions have yet to produce definitive decisions regarding legal action.

Ramesh Lekhak, a leader of the Nepali Congress, clarified that the gathering held in Sudurpaschim Province was not intended to create division within the party, but rather to unify and strengthen it. According to him, internal problems and discord within the party have contributed to poor election results. Lekhak emphasized the importance of respecting party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s democratic contributions and creating a respectful political environment. Kathmandu, 24 May.

Addressing the gathering held in Dhangadhi, Lekhak emphasized that the meeting in Sudurpaschim Province was organized to foster greater unity and organization within the party. “This gathering is not to cause division in the party. It is meant to unite the Nepali Congress and enhance its administrative structure,” the leader stated.

Considering the unique situation after the Jana Andolan movement, he stressed the need for the party to move forward cohesively. However, internal problems and divisions have led to unfavorable election outcomes. “Following the events of 8 and 9 September (Bhadra 23 and 24 in the Nepali calendar), the country faced a special situation. In this context, the Nepali Congress should have emerged as the strongest, united, and most hopeful force for the people. Unfortunately, internal problems arose,” Lekhak explained.

Furthermore, he acknowledged the significant contributions of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to democracy, stressing the need to cultivate a respectful environment in politics around him. “Sher Bahadur Deuba has played a vital role in the country’s democratic movement. His contributions should not be underestimated compared to any other leader,” Lekhak added.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the House of Representatives sessions, opposition parties have stipulated that the Prime Minister must respond to questions raised in parliament. According to the House of Representatives rules, a mandatory provision requires a direct question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister during the first week of each month, which has yet to be enforced in the month of Jestha. Ahead of the House session scheduled for Jestha 12, opposition parties plan to discuss internally and with the Speaker regarding the question-and-answer arrangement with the Prime Minister. (Jestha 10, Kathmandu)

Opposition parties have begun insisting that Prime Minister Balendra Shah answer questions raised in the House to facilitate smoother parliamentary proceedings. Recently, opposition groups have staged protests in the House urging this demand. Despite opposition protests in the last Friday’s session, the House proceedings continued, and amid slogans, the Alternative Development Financing Act was passed.

Additionally, bills concerning the voter registry and the election of members of the House of Representatives are also progressing amid opposition resistance. Since the opposition has consistently obstructed sessions, the meetings have continued amidst disruptions, prompting the chief whip representatives of opposition parties to hold discussions on Sunday. The meeting, held at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, was attended by Nepali Congress chief whip Basana Thapa, UML chief whip Ain Mahar, Nepal Communist Party chief whip Yubaraj Dulal, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party chief whip Khushbu Oli.

The next House of Representatives session is scheduled for Jestha 12, where opposition parties are preparing to conduct a question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister. Rastriya Prajatantra Party chief whip Khushbu Oli stated, “This is not a coalition issue. Today’s discussion was informal. Now, discussions will take place within our respective parties, and a decision on the course of action for the 12th will be made.” She explained that the chief whips’ discussions focused on ways to strengthen parliamentary roles. She added, “We will seek further information from the Speaker regarding the conduct of direct question-and-answer sessions with the Prime Minister.”

Rule 56 of the House of Representatives’ procedural rules addresses this matter, stating, “The Speaker shall allocate the first one hour of one day in the first week of each month for questions to the Prime Minister or on matters directly related to their area of responsibility.” This is a mandatory provision, and if no such session occurs on the designated day, it must be conducted at the next meeting. According to sub-rule 1 of Rule 56, “If the meeting cannot be held on the specified day for any reason, the first hour of the next meeting shall be reserved for this purpose immediately.” However, this provision could not be implemented in the current month of Jestha. House sessions have been ongoing since Jestha 4, but a direct question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister has not yet occurred.

Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the English Premier League by defeating Everton 1-0. João Palhinha scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute of the match. With this win, Tottenham ended the season in 17th place with 41 points. West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves were relegated.

May 24, Kathmandu – In Sunday night’s match, Tottenham ensured their Premier League survival by overcoming Everton. The crucial goal came from João Palhinha in the 42nd minute, and no further goals were scored by either side after that. Tottenham concluded the season with 41 points from 38 games, finishing 17th, while Everton ended in 13th place with 49 points. Teams below Tottenham, including West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves, faced relegation.

Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari Thakur has expressed her commitment to continue the fight against the dowry system until her last breath. She addressed a large gathering on Sunday in Gaucharan Bazaar, Chandranagar Rural Municipality–2, Sarlahi, focused on the eradication of child marriage and dowry practices, emphasizing that only through social equal treatment can the dowry system be ended.

Speaking at the event under the slogan, “Child marriage destroys life; let’s end dowry and save daughters,” Deputy Speaker Thakur highlighted the increasing violence against daughters caused by the dowry system, especially in the Madhesh region. She stated, “Due to dowry-related pressure, many daughters and daughters-in-law have lost their lives, and there is also the distressing reality of female fetuses being aborted.”

Thakur pointed out that the dowry system is deeply entrenched in Madhesh and its effects are beginning to appear in other parts of the country. She stressed that without behavioral change, such social evils cannot be eliminated. She also underscored the importance of providing daughters with education and opportunities equal to those of sons.

Member of Parliament Nitima Bhandari Karki emphasized the need for active involvement of both women and the youth generation in ending the dowry system. Rajkumar Mahto, Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, informed that the municipality has been honoring guardians who marry off their daughters only after they turn twenty years old.

For the past four years, the rural municipality has been offering a financial incentive of NPR 50,000 for daughters who graduate from grade 12 and marry after turning 20. To date, 157 girls have received NPR 50,000, while 197 have been given NPR 11,000 in support, the municipality reported. At the event, 354 daughters and their families were honored by Deputy Speaker Thakur.

The Secretariat meeting of CPN-UML has formed a 15-member task force led by Ram Bahadur Thapa to review the election results and restructure the party. Despite Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s opposition and stance, the majority of the officials decided to establish the party restructuring task force. UML has also resolved to convene a central committee meeting in the second week of Ashar and to withdraw Min Bahadur Gurung’s proposal to establish a party office in Kalanki.

10 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Secretariat meeting of CPN-UML, which continued for four days, convened for about nine hours on Sunday night. The session ended at 9 pm with decisions including the formation of a task force aimed at reviewing election results and preparing suggestions on party restructuring. According to Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatt, decisions were made to form the task force, hold a central committee meeting in the second week of Ashar, express objections to some government decisions, assign responsibilities to leaders to organize party work effectively, withdraw Min Bahadur Gurung’s proposal to build the party office in Kalanki, and revise the division of duties among leaders.

During the speeches on the third and fourth days, all but a few officials expressed that the party could not be operated under current conditions. The Secretariat meeting, which began with the decision to renew former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership, was regarded as particularly significant in both UML and national politics. This was the first meeting to review the party’s defeat in the February 21 election, so the attention was expected.

From the start of the meeting, leaders who had long supported Chairman KP Sharma Oli voted in favor of restructuring. On the second day, among the five vice presidents, only Ram Bahadur Thapa supported Oli.

Sources indicate that during the speeches on the third and fourth days, almost all officials stated that the party could not be run effectively in its current state. Secretariat Secretary Mahesh Basnet openly supported Oli, while Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatt took a moderate stance. After the meeting, Basnet said, “There were misleading reports in the media about the chairman being forced to resign or dismissed due to weak numbers, but all that was false. Whatever the chairman proposed today was passed.”

Despite Oli’s opposition, the task force was formed. After UML leadership took over, Oli found himself in the minority among officials but maintained from the beginning that he would not relinquish leadership. Until Saturday, Oli insisted that leadership would not change and urged officials not to waste time. Though some said, “This method is wrong; change must happen,” Oli responded, “It must not happen; please do not waste time.”

On the second day, Vice President Prithvi Subba Gurung defied Oli’s warning. Other officials, even if not explicitly, also voiced their opinions on party restructuring. On the final day, Secretariat members Yamalal Kandel, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, Khagaraj Adhikari, and Sherdhan Rai spoke. Khagaraj Adhikari concluded that the leadership had failed. Oli desired that forming the task force would not result in problems within committees or external interference issues.

“Under your leadership, UML reached the heights of Sagarmatha. Now it is about to fall,” Adhikari said. Sherdhan Rai explained the necessity of the restructuring task force. Sources say Oli appeared more conciliatory in his response, saying softly and repeatedly about unity without using a language of punitive measures. Yet, he rejected the proposal of the restructuring task force with disagreement.

Oli accepted the formation of the task force only on the condition that there would be no debate, differences, or suggestions about the core leadership. “We should discuss all party matters, but the question of core leadership should not be raised, no controversy about leadership. Other topics can be studied,” one leader said.

Eventually, Oli was compelled to retreat from his stance, leading to the formation of a 15-member task force under Ram Bahadur Thapa. This task force will study the problems appearing in leadership and the overall organizational life and submit a report within a month.

“Now UML will move forward based on the suggestions of this task force,” a secretary said. “The report prepared after one month will be discussed at the Secretariat meeting, and the central committee will decide according to the Secretariat’s recommendation.”

The leaders supporting Oli are in the minority within the task force. Besides coordinator Thapa and secretary Mahesh Basnet, only Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatt seems likely to support Oli. The remaining vice presidents, Vishnu Prasad Paudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung, General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, and other members openly favor leadership restructuring. Possibly for this reason, Oli opposed the formation of the task force. He wanted to avoid problems such as issues at lower committees and external interference through the task force, yet the Secretariat meeting decided otherwise.

Within UML, many officials and cadres demanded that Oli resign at this meeting. However, whether Oli resigns is left to his discretion. Oli could take moral responsibility for the election result and party crisis by resigning. After losing the election in 2007 BS (1951/52 AD), Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned, but Oli has maintained his stance of not stepping down.

According to sources, some leaders have discussed disciplinary actions against Oli as an alternative to leadership restructuring. “This option might cause further damage to the party. Crisis cannot be resolved through prohibitive measures,” another leader said. According to him, the third option for leadership restructuring is to move the process forward and create an appropriate environment. “The general convention, representative council, or general convention can change leadership; this is the last option.”

This indicates that most officials in UML have strategized to advance the restructuring process through the task force.