April 28, Kathmandu – Police have arrested two individuals involved in a series of thefts. The apprehended individuals are 27-year-old Ramesh Kumar Tamang from Taplee Rural Municipality-3, Udayapur, and 29-year-old Prabhat Singh Pradhan from Kathmandu-9. The team from Swayambhu Police Station conducted the arrests. They are accused of repeatedly committing thefts in the Raniban and Sanobhayang areas.
Police recovered stolen items including mobile phones, laptops, cash, statues, narcotics, and a total of 135,000 Nepalese Rupees from the suspects.
According to SSP Ramesh Thapa of Kathmandu District Police Office, Ramesh Kumar Tamang is also a fugitive in connection with narcotics-related charges.
Nepal is currently selling electricity to India while also purchasing power from there. Some experts have expressed concern that a major shift in this balance could cause a power shortage in the future.
According to data released by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Monday, Nepal sold 290 megawatts of electricity to India while buying 80 megawatts from the neighbour.
Purchasing agreements with India do not include the option of buying electricity at night, yet Nepal currently faces no shortage during nighttime hours.
During the day, Nepal has been able to meet its electricity demand solely by buying power from India, allowing it to continue exporting electricity to the country.
However, in a new electricity purchase agreement with India that will come into effect in June 2026, concerns have been raised by some experts about the anticipated water shortages in Nepal and the potential challenges this could bring to electricity management.
Relief Provided by Nature
Image source, Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project
An official from Nepal Electricity Authority said, “Nature has currently granted Nepal relief,” resulting in no issues with electricity supply during the night.
Mohan Dangi, Senior Vice President of the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN), noted that electricity production this dry season has increased compared to last year.
Most of Nepal’s hydropower plants operate on a ‘run-of-the-river’ model, relying directly on river water flow, which results in decreased production during the winter season when water levels drop.
According to Senior Vice President Dangi, production is still lower than during the monsoon season and plants are not operating at full capacity.
“However, compared to last year, this year’s production is 10 to 15 percent higher,” Dangi said. “Our 7.5 megawatt project managed to sell electricity worth 2.2 million rupees more than last year.”
NEA officials stated that current rainfall and cooler temperatures have reduced demand while increasing production compared to previous years.
“Hence, it has become possible to sell more electricity to India than to buy from them,” one official said.
Why Are There Concerns About Reduced Production From the Monsoon Onward?
Image source, RSS
Caption, During the monsoon season, excess production often leads to a large amount of electricity being wasted
However, a weather forecast released last Friday by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Climate Science Division has raised concerns.
The department predicts that from May 31 to October 1, nationwide rainfall is expected to be lower than usual.
Similarly, maximum and minimum temperatures are also forecasted to be higher than average.
Experts have stated that all these changes will directly affect hydropower projects.
Attempts to contact energy ministry officials, NEA’s Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, and spokesperson Rajan Dhakal for government assessments were unsuccessful.
Image source, BBC/Ashok Dahal
NEA’s Information Officer Sarvajit Kumar Chaudhary said he is not authorized to speak on the matter, and some officials declined to provide an official comment.
One official noted, “Although rainfall is expected to be below average and temperatures above, the extent of the change will determine the impact’s severity.”
He added that reduced electricity sales to India might decrease revenue for the authority and hydropower projects.
Senior Vice President Mohan Dangi also stated that it is premature to make definitive comments on this issue.
“A study has not been completed, this is a natural phenomenon everyone anticipates,” he said. “However, if we commit to selling electricity, we might find ourselves unable to supply the promised amount to the Nepal Electricity Authority.”
‘Penalties for Shortages’
Image source, Getty Images
Dangi explained that producers are required to pay penalties if they cannot supply the agreed electricity capacity, a condition he finds unreasonable.
According to the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), projects below 10 megawatts must declare their electricity sales one month in advance if they plan continuous production for a week or longer.
“During the monsoon season, when production exceeds the scheduled amount, the authority is forced to sell electricity at less than 50 percent of the price, even if it doesn’t want to,” Dangi said. “This results in price instability and leads to claims that the PPA is unbalanced.”
Currently, around 4,200 megawatts of electricity are connected to the transmission lines, with private sector projects contributing nearly 3,500 megawatts.
Total production from projects under 10 megawatts capacity may range between 1,200 to 1,500 megawatts.
“We demand that electricity purchase and sale operations be prioritized,” Dangi said. “Having to pay penalties when water levels are low is unjust, and natural causes should not be blamed on us.”
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The government has incorporated a plan to link sports with tourism and the economy in the policy program for the upcoming fiscal year. President Ramchandra Paudel announced that talent identification programs will be implemented starting from the school level. The policy program also includes objectives to commercialize the sports sector, encourage private sector participation, and ensure social security for athletes.
Kathmandu, 28 Baisakh – The government has outlined a strategy in the forthcoming fiscal year’s policy program to connect sports with national unity, health, tourism, and the economy. Presenting the policy program as the President of Nepal, Ramchandra Paudel stated that talent identification initiatives will be conducted beginning at the school level. Additionally, the policy emphasizes the commercialization of sports, involvement of the private sector, and securing social protection for athletes.
Google Photos has announced a new feature that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to help users create a ‘digital wardrobe.’ This feature scans users’ old photos to organize a digital collection of their worn clothing, aimed at reducing the common dilemma of ‘what to wear?’
The key features of this new addition include automated clothing categorization: Google Photos’ AI identifies garments from your photo library and compiles them into a ‘wardrobe’ collection. Users can filter by types such as jewelry, shirts, pants, and more, making it easier to locate previously worn items that may be tucked away.
Virtual try-ons: Before physically wearing any outfit, users can preview how the clothes might look through a ‘virtual’ trial feature. By selecting different clothing pieces and clicking on the ‘Try it on’ button, users can digitally visualize the ensemble.
Outfit mix and match: Users can combine different pieces from their digital wardrobe to create fresh outfits. These combinations can be saved into mood boards tailored for various occasions like weddings, office settings, or trips, and can also be shared with friends. This new feature is set to roll out first for Android users this summer, followed by availability on iOS devices.
President Ram Chandra Paudel, presenting the budget and policy program for the fiscal year 2083/84 to Parliament, declared plans to make police investigations more technology-friendly. He emphasized enhancing forensic examinations and advancing modern technology for investigations related to narcotics and transnational crimes.
The government has announced a plan to integrate technology into police investigations. President Paudel highlighted the refinement of forensic checks and a focus on technologically advanced investigative procedures. Additionally, there are plans to improve physical infrastructure standards.
He also noted the development of modern technologies for narcotics and cross-border crime investigations. Separate units will be established to handle cybercrime and financial crime probes. Furthermore, President Paudel stated that efforts will be made to effectively confiscate criminal assets.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s response to America’s proposals to end the war was “completely unacceptable,” resulting in rising oil prices. According to Tasnim, an Iranian semi-official news agency, Tehran’s reply delivered via Pakistan called for an immediate halt to the conflict and demanded that the US and Israel commit to no further attacks on Iran. Pakistan has been mediating between the two sides. In Asian markets, Brent crude oil prices surged 4.1 percent, reaching $105.50 per barrel before easing slightly.
The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since February 28 due to the ongoing conflict, disrupting the supply of oil and gas via tankers to various global regions. “I just read the response from the so-called ‘representatives’ of Iran and I do not like it — completely unacceptable,” Trump wrote on social media in reaction to Tehran’s conditions. According to the US news portal Axios, Washington’s proposals did not include conditions for reopening tanker traffic through Hormuz or Iran halting its nuclear material enrichment, unlike Iran’s demands.
The US proposal contained 14 points. Axios cited two unnamed US officials and two additional sources. A few days prior, Trump declared that the war with Iran would soon end. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the war would continue “until the accumulated uranium in Iran is removed.” A ceasefire was declared at the beginning of April to facilitate peace talks. Aside from minor incidents, the ceasefire has largely been observed. Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely on April 21 to allow Iran more time to present a “unified proposal.”
This time, three countries will jointly host the World Cup. A record 48 teams will participate, playing a total of 104 matches over 39 days. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the 48 teams, there will be 104 games in total, with 72 matches taking place during the group stage alone. The opening match will be held at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
As of April 28 in Kathmandu, just one month remains before the start of FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite being the grandest carnival of world football, the excitement surrounding this World Cup has not been very prominent so far. Ongoing conflicts in West Asia, indications that Iran may not participate, and differing time zones in the United States affecting the match scheduling have somewhat dampened overall enthusiasm. However, this edition of the World Cup is set to be larger than ever before, with three nations hosting simultaneously. The unprecedented 48-team format will see a total of 104 games played over 39 days. Due to the increased number of teams, an additional knockout round has been added. The tournament will open in Mexico and conclude with the final in the United States.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by three North American countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—from June 11 to July 19. As hosts, all three nations have automatically qualified for the tournament. Matches will be held across 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The opening game will take place at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This edition will also feature four debutant teams: Jordan and Uzbekistan from Asia; Cape Verde from Africa; and Curaçao from North and Central America. All four qualified through their respective continental qualification stages. Among the past World Cup winners, Uruguay is the oldest champion, having won the inaugural tournament in 1924. Over 22 completed editions of the FIFA World Cup, eight different nations have claimed the title, including five European countries and three from South America.
Kushang Sherpa, a bus assistant driver, has been arrested in Ekantakuna, Kathmandu, for allegedly punching a passenger. He was taken into custody in connection with the bus bearing the registration number Ba 5 Kha 6840. Navaraj Adhikari, SSP of Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, confirmed Sherpa’s arrest and stated that he has been handed over to the Lalitpur District Police Office.
The arrest followed widespread circulation of the video on social media, prompting immediate action from the traffic police. Kushang Sherpa, 26, hails from Salpa Silicho Rural Municipality-4 in Bhojpur. SSP Navaraj Adhikari said, “Sherpa, a resident of Sukedhara, has been detained and forwarded to the Lalitpur District Police Office for further legal proceedings.”
As the House of Representatives session was commencing, opposition parties staged a disruption. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal addressed the members, urging them to lift the obstruction. Following the Speaker’s request, the meeting has proceeded. Kathmandu, 28 Baishakh.
At the outset of the House of Representatives meeting, opposition parties caused a disruption, prompting Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal to call for the removal of the obstruction. He highlighted that the emergency session had already been scheduled and requested members to refrain from disrupting the proceedings. Following the Speaker’s appeal, the session resumed.
April 11, Kathmandu – The government has announced that it will make all economic transactions cashless starting from the upcoming fiscal year. This declaration was made by the President during the presentation of the upcoming fiscal year’s policy and program. According to President Ramchandra Paudel, economic transactions will be conducted in a cashless and transparent manner in the coming fiscal year.
The United States Department of Defense, the Pentagon, recently released previously classified documents concerning UFOs. These documents include accounts from ordinary people reporting sightings of unidentified objects from Earth, as well as astronauts observing unknown phenomena from the Moon. The files, once confidential, were made public last Friday under the direction of former President Donald Trump. In 2023, Trump instructed the release of these materials, citing “widespread public interest” in UFOs. Interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial life has notably increased in the U.S. in recent years. In fact, the U.S. Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in 50 years in 2022, during which the military committed to greater transparency on the issue. On that Friday, the Pentagon uploaded 161 files to its official website, with additional documents expected to follow in the coming days.
Earlier in February, former President Barack Obama sparked public curiosity when he stated that aliens “are real, but I have not seen them myself.” He later clarified that he was speaking about the statistical possibility of extraterrestrial life rather than confirmed evidence. During the same month, Trump authorized the Pentagon to publish files related to “aliens and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”
The recently released files include military notes, reports from various Apollo missions sent to the Moon, and accounts from individuals claiming UFO sightings who believe these objects might be of extraterrestrial origin. The documents also contain records of “flashes of light” witnessed by Apollo astronauts, as well as transcripts of conversations among Apollo mission crew members from the 1960s and 1970s. Notably, communications from Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and Apollo 17 missions had previously been kept classified.
Renowned Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, in an interview published on Friday, recounted witnessing several unexplained phenomena during lunar missions. “I saw a source of very bright light which we assumed could possibly be a laser,” he said. The files also mention Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean’s observation of particles and flashes during spacewalks.
Another document features an audio recording capturing the communication between Gemini 7 astronaut Frank Borman and mission control during the 1965 flight. In it, Borman reports seeing an unidentified object on the left side of his spacecraft, describing it as a “bug” followed by “millions of tiny particles.”
Lawmakers have welcomed the Pentagon’s initiative, emphasizing the need for government transparency regarding UFOs. Republican Congressman Tim Burchett described the disclosure as “an amazing step forward.” However, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene alleged that the document release is a tactic to divert public attention from more serious U.S. issues such as fiscal management and the situation in Iran.
Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish La Liga title by defeating Real Madrid 2–0 at their home stadium. Marcus Rashford scored the opening goal from a free-kick in the 9th minute, followed by Ferran Torres’ strike in the 18th minute. With three matches remaining in the season, Barcelona has confirmed the championship with 91 points and remains unbeaten on their home ground. April 27, Kathmandu.
In the second El Clásico of the season, Barcelona triumphed over their archrivals Real Madrid, claiming the La Liga crown. The match, played last night at Barcelona’s home, ended 2–0 in favor of the hosts, marking their second consecutive league title and their 29th overall. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a beautiful free-kick in the 9th minute, and Ferran Torres doubled the lead in the 18th. No further goals were scored thereafter.
With this win, Barcelona has secured the La Liga championship with three games left to play. They currently hold 91 points from 35 matches, while second-placed Real Madrid has 79 points from the same number of games. Barcelona has remained unbeaten at home this season, winning all 18 matches on their turf and displaying an impressive performance. Under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona has now achieved 11 consecutive wins, successfully advancing their title campaign.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams for the first time, with four countries earning their inaugural spots in the tournament. Jordan and Uzbekistan have qualified from the Asian region for the first time, while Curaçao and Cape Verde have secured their debut World Cup participation from the CONCACAF and African zones, respectively. Kathmandu, 28 Baisakh.
With only one month remaining until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, an expanded roster of 48 teams will participate. Among the teams qualifying for the first time are Jordan and Uzbekistan. Jordan will appear in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Uzbekistan secured its place through the third round, where 18 teams were divided into three groups to compete for qualification.
Jordan earned its World Cup spot by defeating Oman, while Uzbekistan qualified after playing 10 matches, achieving 6 wins and 3 draws. In the group stage, Jordan will face the reigning world champions, Argentina. Curaçao and Cape Verde are also making their World Cup debuts. Curaçao secured qualification with 3 wins and 3 draws in 6 matches. Cape Verde reached the World Cup for the first time after winning 7 and drawing 2 of their 10 matches.
In a collision that occurred in Raitherkhor, Ward No. 2 of Ishwarpur Municipality, Sarlahi, a motorcycle struck a bicycle, resulting in one death and one injury. The Indian-registered motorcycle bearing number BR 30 E 6902, traveling from Myankhor towards Sukanahat, collided with a bicycle coming from the opposite direction around 8:15 PM on Monday night.
The cyclist, Kisun Dev Sah, was critically injured and taken to Malangwa Provincial Hospital for treatment, where doctors declared him deceased. The 14-year-old rear passenger on the motorcycle, Bikky Kumar Raut, sustained minor injuries and is currently receiving medical care, according to police reports.
The motorcycle rider, Manish Sah, has been taken into police custody following the accident. Further investigations are ongoing by the District Police Office of Sarlahi.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Mahendra Kumar Dasvir, chief of the Kanchanpur distribution center in Saptari. He is accused of accepting a bribe of NPR 140,000 by promising to install a transformer and provide an electric line for a charging station.
According to the Commission, Dasvir threatened to cut the electricity line if the bribe was not paid after bargaining with the service recipients for the amount. This has been confirmed through the investigation.
On April 28, in Kathmandu, the Nepal Electricity Authority filed the case through the CIAA at the Special Court against Mahendra Kumar Dasvir. The charges relate to taking a bribe while arranging the electric line for the charging station.
The CIAA stated, “After completing the necessary procedures to provide the electric line for operating the charging station, it was proven that Dasvir bargained for and took NPR 140,000 from the service recipients, threatening to cut the line if unpaid. Therefore, today a charge sheet has been filed demanding penalties and fines under the Corruption Control Act.”
