Author: space4knews

Kathmandu, 23 Chaitra – Hark Sampang, Chairman of the Labor Culture Party, has urged Home Minister Sudhan Gurung to provide a clear response regarding the 20-ropani land in Fewa Lake. Following the association of the Home Minister’s name with this land, Sampang has called on Minister Gurung via Facebook to clarify the matter.

“The main point is to address the issue; if you wish to hold a press conference, please do so,” said Chairman Sampang. He emphasized that questions of ethics have been raised concerning this issue.

Sampang warned that failing to respond to the controversies surrounding the Fewa Lake land would lead to public suspicion and a withdrawal of police support for the Home Minister. “If no answers are given on this matter, the public will lose trust,” he stated. “Your credibility will diminish, and even the police will cease their cooperation.”

He further highlighted that those working in difficult conditions already face reputational risks, and the reports linking 20 ropani of land in Fewa Lake, Pokhara, to the Home Minister have caused widespread concern on social media.

Additionally, Chairman Sampang reminded Minister Gurung about issues he previously raised in Parliament, including the Genji movement and cooperative scams. “I wish you continued success,” he wrote, “but please do not forget the two matters I raised in Parliament – first, to punish those responsible for the April 24 incident related to the Genji movement; second, to arrest G.B. Rai and ensure justice for Ravi Dai.”

March 23, Mustang. In Chumjung, Lomanthang-4 of Upper Mustang, a snow leopard attack has resulted in the death of 21 sheep and goats, while seven others were injured. According to the National Nature Conservation Fund and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Lomanthang, the attack took place last Saturday night at a sheep and goat pen belonging to local herder Gyacho Gurung.

Umesh Paudel, head of ACAP, stated that the snow leopard killed 10 goats and 11 sheep. The pen housed 315 sheep and goats in total.

Upon receiving information about the attack, a team comprising representatives from ACAP Lomanthang, the District Police Office, and animal husbandry technicians from Lomanthang Rural Municipality visited the site on Sunday morning. According to Paudel, the pen was enclosed by a gable wire fence, yet the snow leopard managed to enter and inflict damage. Initial assessments estimate a loss of approximately NPR 455,000.

Earlier, on February 24, in Kimling, Lomanthang-4, an attack by a snow leopard on local herder Mingmar Gurung’s pen caused the death of nine goats and injuries to another nine. Similarly, in Marpha of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2 in the lower region of the district, two separate snow leopard attacks killed more than three dozen goats.

ACAP Lomanthang has installed three CCTV cameras in areas where snow leopards have caused damage to sheep and goats for monitoring purposes.

Across all five local municipalities of the district, camera installations and population monitoring are ongoing at likely snow leopard habitats. ACAP has been providing wildlife damage relief to herders affected by snow leopards and other wildlife through the National Park and Wildlife Department. According to the wildlife damage relief guidelines, compensation is given after assessing the value of the livestock lost. Because compensation from the wildlife department can take time, ACAP disburses relief from its internal fund to victims, according to Paudel.

The Himalayan district of Mustang has recently witnessed an escalating conflict between humans and snow leopards. Snow leopards have increasingly been entering local livestock pens and corrals, causing damage to livestock in high mountain grazing areas. This conflict has posed a serious threat to herding livelihoods, according to affected local herder Mingmar Gurung.

Moreover, due to the impact of climate change, grass shortage in high hill regions has forced snow leopards to seek food closer to human settlements. In recent years, sightings of snow leopards near the main highway and residential areas have become more frequent.

Senior members of the House of Representatives including Arjun Narasingh K.C., Bhismraj Angdembe, Mohan Acharya, Bharat Bahadur Khadka, and Niskal Rai are among the names being considered for the leadership of the Congress Parliamentary Party. The Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party will convene today at 11 a.m. at Singha Durbar to deliberate on the selection of the party leader. According to the party’s parliamentary regulations, members of the House of Representatives will elect their leader from among themselves, and if more than one candidate emerges, the leader will be chosen through a secret ballot.

Congress leaders have indicated that due to factions led by Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba, there is a strong possibility that the voting process will be conducted once again in this leadership selection. Congress lawmaker Basana Thapa noted that while the meeting agenda is not officially finalized, discussion on selecting the parliamentary party leader may take place. She stated, ‘Even though the meeting agenda is not officially set, the necessity to select the party leader might arise.’

The names most frequently discussed for the position of the parliamentary party leader are senior House member Arjun Narasingh K.C., Bhismraj Angdembe, Mohan Acharya, Bharat Bahadur Khadka, and Niskal Rai. Since the speaker has yet to be chosen, senior member K.C. is expected to preside over the parliamentary sessions, prompting the Congress to prepare for a delayed leader selection.

Other parties have already selected their parliamentary party leaders. Senior leader Balendra Shah (Balen) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) has been elected party leader and appointed Prime Minister. The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has chosen Ram Bahadur Thapa, the Nepal Communist Party selected Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Labor Culture Party Chairman Harka Sampang leads his party, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) appointed Gyanendra Shahi as their parliamentary party leader.

US President Donald Trump warned that if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened to all ships by Tuesday, he would destroy Iranian power plants and bridges. He issued this threat through a post on social media filled with strong language. Reiterating his earlier warning to “make it a hell,” he also told American media there is a “good chance” of reaching an agreement with Tehran.

Iran rejected the threats, calling them “helpless, frightened, and foolish.” Trump’s statement came after the successful rescue of another crew member from a downed American warplane in Iran. Both the US and Iran have been intensively searching for missing US soldiers in the mountainous southwestern region of Iran.

In the ongoing conflict, Iran has been responding to US and Israeli airstrikes by targeting Gulf states allied with them. Iran has significantly disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital waterways through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas passes. This disruption has increased global oil prices and heightened inflation risks worldwide.

Trump has repeatedly changed the deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Initially, he warned that if the strait was not “completely open” within 48 hours by March 21, he would destroy Iran’s power infrastructure. However, Iran has refused to engage in any talks with the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Israel has disclosed data showing attacks on Iranian petrochemical facilities as well as other public infrastructure.

March 23, Kathmandu – Amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Iran shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet. Following the crash, the US military conducted an extremely risky 48-hour rescue operation to save the crew members. US President Donald Trump confirmed the mission’s success, stating that all personnel were safely recovered. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the daring operation. However, this success has brought several serious challenges and messages to the forefront for the United States.

What happened? Last Friday, Iran downed an advanced US F-15E fighter jet that had entered its airspace. On Sunday morning, President Trump announced via the social media app Truth Social that one injured pilot had been rescued safely, describing the operation as “a remarkable display of bravery and skill.” It was reported that Israel assisted in this mission, with Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulating Trump on the effort.

International media have highlighted four key messages from this incident. They are as follows:

1. Iran is far from defeated. Although President Trump has framed it as a major military victory, the dramatic 48-hour incident demonstrates Iran’s continued capability to inflict significant damage on the US. The downing of a US plane during the ongoing five-week conflict is evidence of Iran’s resistance strength.

2. Landing on Iranian soil is not easy. To rescue one pilot from the downed F-15E, the US was forced to destroy two of its own aircraft. With the White House reportedly planning to seize Iran’s Kharg Island and its underground uranium stockpiles, this event signals just how costly it would be for the US to operate on Iranian territory.

3. The downing of a US aircraft is rare and delivers a major psychological blow. Since the 2003 Iraq War, this is the first time an enemy nation has shot down a US warplane. Despite being perceived as weaker than the US and Israel, Iran’s success in downing a US aircraft after 23 years has set a new precedent worldwide. It underscores the psychological impact and rarity of such an event.

4. Questions arise over US-Israeli air force security strategies. The US and Israel reportedly conduct 300 to 500 strikes daily in Iran. However, the downing of a powerful F-15E jet reveals that their air superiority is not invulnerable. This incident raises concerns about their security tactics. President Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday in the Oval Office with military commanders to discuss the matter. It is anticipated that this event will complicate and intensify the conflict in the Middle East.

March 23, Kathmandu – Meetings of both houses of the Federal Parliament are scheduled to take place today. The House of Representatives will convene at 1:00 PM, with the agenda including the presentation of proposals to approve three ordinances. According to Padma Prasad Pandey, Secretary General of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung will propose the approval of the ‘Voter List (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2078,’ the ‘House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2078,’ and the ‘Nepal Special Service (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2078.’

Similarly, the National Assembly will meet today at 12:15 PM at Singha Durbar. National Assembly member Prem Prasad Dangol plans to propose the election of Lilakumari Bhandari as the Deputy Chairperson of the National Assembly. The agenda may also include the presentation of the 24th annual report of the National Human Rights Commission for the fiscal year 2078/079 by Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Although nearly three million vehicle driving licenses have been printed so far, the production remains slow amid increasing daily demand. According to Bhanubhakta Joshi, a computer engineer at the Department of Transport Management, around 700 to 800 essential licenses are printed daily. As the number of licenses required continues to rise, the department signed an agreement last Kartik (mid-November) with the Security Printing Press to print 1.2 million licenses, with a goal to complete this within six months. Only one month remains to meet this target.

Devaraj Dhungana, Executive Director of the Security Printing Press, expressed confidence that the printing targets will be met. “Since last week, we have been printing 50,000 licenses daily,” he said, “Previously, only about 25,000 licenses were printed every day.” With the acceleration of the printing process, the center delivered around 125,000 licenses to the department last week. “We will complete the delivery of 1.2 million licenses to the department within a month,” Dhungana added, “and if there is an agreement to print more licenses, that will also be finished on time.”

According to Joshi, the daily printing of 700 to 800 licenses is driven by urgent needs such as foreign study, overseas employment, peacekeeping forces, and those requiring immediate form submissions. Initially, the printing center and the department agreed to print 500 essential licenses daily. However, it took four months to reach full capacity, during which time processes and procurement of raw materials were completed. “Now, all necessary materials for printing 1.2 million licenses are ready,” Dhungana confirmed.

Dhungana also mentioned preparations are underway to sign an agreement with the department to print the remaining licenses by next week. After procuring required materials within a month, the remaining licenses can be printed within the subsequent one to one and a half months. “If the agreement is signed by next week, we are prepared to print and distribute the remaining 1.7 to 1.8 million licenses within this fiscal year,” he stated. “After the end of Ashad (mid-July), no service user will need to carry temporary slips anymore.”

Rajendra Raut has been re-elected for a second term as the president of the Koshi Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Raut defeated Naveen Rizal by a margin of 84 votes, securing 142 votes against Rizal’s 58. In addition to the president, four other office bearers and associate members of the chamber were elected unopposed. (23 Chaitra, Biratnagar)

Raut’s victory came during the 8th Provincial Assembly of the Chamber held on Sunday night in Biratnagar. He received 11 votes in the category of goods-related delegates, while Rizal obtained 6. From the district-municipality federation, Raut secured 24 votes compared to Rizal’s 13. In the associates category, Raut garnered 107 votes, with Rizal limited to 39.

Raut is a founding member of the Koshi Province Chamber and during his tenure, the provincial office building has been under construction. Apart from the president, the new committee’s four other office bearers were elected unopposed: Rishiraj Timsina as Vice President, Rajan Shrestha as Vice President representing goods-related delegates, Ravinkumar Dahal as Associate Vice President, and Shravankumar Agrawal as Treasurer.

The summary of news has been prepared following editorial review. Prime Minister Balen Shah, while violating the Medical Education Act, has decided to grant additional scholarships to Unity Shah of the Janajati (Janji) Movement. This decision by the Medical Education Commission has faced widespread criticism, and former Vice-Chairman Dr. Shrikrishna Giri has described it as an injustice. Dr. Giri stated, ‘The commission cannot undertake any work beyond the Act’ and emphasized that amendments can only be made through a proper legal process.

Prime Minister Balen Shah, who also serves as the Chair of the Medical Education Commission, took the decision to provide extra scholarships to Unity Shah of the Janajati Movement, thereby breaching the Medical Education Act. The Commission’s 24th meeting witnessed significant opposition to this unlawful decision. The decision is based on recommendations made last Poush by the Gaurav Bahadur Karki commission, which was formed to investigate the Janajati Movement. However, the investigation commission’s mandate was strictly limited to study and research of the incident. Despite this, the commission had sent a letter to the then-government led by Sushila Karki requesting arrangements for MBBS studies.

Based on that letter, both the Home Ministry and Education Ministry were informed. Consequently, the Sushila Karki government directed the Commission through a Council of Ministers meeting held on 1st Chaitra. Currently, Prime Minister Balen Shah has resolved to implement that directive through the Commission meeting. Nonetheless, many experts insist that decisions must not exceed the scope of the Act. In this context, former Vice-Chairman Dr. Shrikrishna Giri commented: “The National Medical Education Act is not a coincidental document. It was established to systematically implement provisions of equality and transparency as stated in the Constitution, to ensure the admission process is fair, and to eliminate arbitrariness.”

According to the National Medical Education Act, 2075, only the commission has the authority to determine the number of seats in educational institutions. As per Section 17 of the Act, ‘The Commission shall allocate a specific number of seats in universities, institutes, and other teaching institutions each year based on prescribed criteria.’ Furthermore, Subsection (3) of Section 17 states that ‘universities, institutes, or other teaching institutions must admit students selected through entrance examinations in accordance with the matching system.’ The Medical Education Commission is an organization established under this Act. Its jurisdiction is defined by the Act. Therefore, the commission cannot take any actions beyond the Act, regardless of whether the directive originates from the government. The law applies equally to all. Issuing a decision that violates the Act in favor of one individual constitutes an injustice to thousands of qualified students.

Given that the admission process has already been completed and classes have commenced, adding quotas outside the system is unacceptable. If access to medical education is to be provided to disadvantaged, differently-abled, or specially-abled individuals, systemic arrangements must be made to secure such access. Such a system would also ensure justice for others in similar situations in the future. The commission’s role here is crucial. The commission must clearly state if this proposal does not comply with the Act. The Act is not a permanent or immutable document; it can be amended through proper legal procedures when necessary. However, bypassing amendments and established systems by working on the Cabinet’s decision to violate the Act undermines the foundation of the system itself. The National Medical Education Act was introduced to eliminate past malpractices and establish a transparent and fair system. To preserve this system, the commission, government, and related stakeholders must operate within their jurisdictions. Relying on one person’s emotional issues to override the law risks adding thousands of such exceptions in the future. Decision-making outside the system risks repeating old problems. (Dr. Giri is a former Vice-Chairman of the Medical Education Commission.)

What can a government with a majority accomplish? The Rashwapa-led government, representing the National Independent Party, has secured just two seats fewer than the two-thirds majority required in the House of Representatives. Based on this number, what powers and actions can this government undertake?

March 6, Kathmandu – Kortu Gurung, known by the nickname ‘Rambo’, has been arrested by police on charges of hooliganism. The 40-year-old Gurung, a resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City–17, Pakanajol, was taken into custody last night in the Thamel area. Ramesh Thapa, SSP of District Police Office Kathmandu, confirmed the arrest and stated that an investigation is currently underway.

March 20, Kathmandu – Youth from Karnali have urged the Election Commission to arrange for e-voting in the forthcoming provincial and local elections. To express their concerns, they submitted a memorandum during a meeting with Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari of the Election Commission Nepal.

The memorandum highlights that millions of citizens within Nepal have been effectively disenfranchised from exercising their voting rights. Ashish Devkota, coordinator of the youth group, emphasized that the issue is not confined to Nepalis living abroad, but is a serious concern for citizens residing inside the country as well.

He explained that citizens from remote districts like Mugu, Dolpa, Jumla, Bajura, and Humla face significant barriers, having to spend between NPR 25,000 to 30,000 per person to travel to Kathmandu or Terai districts solely to cast their vote. Consequently, many voters are practically excluded from the electoral process, he added.