Author: space4knews

Sarita Prasai, a leader of the Nepali Congress, has issued a warning to the party leadership against hindering efforts to unify the party. Addressing Vice Chairperson Bishwaprakash Sharma, she asked, “This gathering is not aimed at dividing the party but at fostering unity. Why did you attempt to obstruct such an initiative?” Speaking at an event held in Biratnagar on 31 Jestha, she highlighted the risk to the nation if the Nepali Congress remains weak.

Prasai expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership’s tendency to respond negatively and try to suppress internal party meetings and grievances, instead of viewing them in a constructive light. Referring to Vice Chairperson Sharma at a program organized by another faction of the Congress, she said, “We are comrades who have long worked together in politics, advancing step by step from the district level of the Nepal Students Union to the central leadership. Now, you are leading the party, and at such a time, there should be efforts to further strengthen the party, yet it is disheartening that you are attempting to stop these meetings.”

Expressing concern over the country’s current political situation, parliamentary deadlock, and ongoing attacks on the constitution, she warned, “Whenever the Nepali Congress begins to falter, it leads the country toward crisis. Right now, there is uncertainty about whether the constitution and the established system will persist. At this critical moment, the nation’s oldest party, the Congress, must not remain in a state of confusion.” Regarding the upcoming local and provincial assembly elections, she stressed that alienating grassroots workers would make winning the elections impossible. “If these comrades do not support you, can the Congress win the elections?” she questioned the leadership. “If we fail to win, what will be our position in the National Assembly?”

May 31, Kathmandu – Foreign Minister Shashir Khanal arrived in Beijing today for a four-day official visit to China. He was welcomed by Nepal’s Acting Ambassador to China, Roshan Khanal, along with officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit comes at the formal invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Minister Khanal is scheduled to participate in various meetings and interactions starting today, with the first event being an engagement with the Nepali community.

During his visit, Minister Khanal plans to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and senior officials of the Chinese government in Beijing. These discussions will focus on strengthening Nepal-China relations and deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. Additionally, Minister Khanal will participate in an investment conference organized by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. The conference aims to promote foreign investment in Nepal. At this event, he will engage with members of the Chinese business community to share information about investment opportunities and potential in Nepal.

In the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 match in Canada, Australia has secured an early lead against Turkey. At the 27th minute, Australia’s Nestory Irankunda skillfully bypassed three Turkish defenders to score a goal. Kathmandu, June 14 – During the FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture, Australia took the initial advantage over Turkey. At BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, Nestory Irankunda’s goal in the 27th minute proved crucial as he maneuvered past three defenders to give Australia the lead.

After the government approved the detailed project report (DPR) for the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway on September 17, 2019, then Nepali Army spokesperson Vignanadev Pandey stated, “We have set a goal to complete the work within three and a half years. Our aim is to show the results of this project during the tenure of the current Chief of Army Staff.” At a press conference held at the Army Headquarters on September 27, 2019, this confidence was expressed while General Purna Chandra Thapa was the Chief of Army Staff. Not only has Thapa retired, his successor Prabhu Ram Sharma has retired as well, and the current Chief of Army Staff, Ashok Raj Sigdel, is now two years into his three-year term. However, the completion of the expressway construction does not appear imminent. Recently, Arjun Jung Thapa, a member of the National Planning Commission who conducted overall monitoring of the expressway, stated, “Considering the current status from zero to 71 kilometers, an extension of two more years seems necessary.” The originally approved DPR specified the expressway length as 72.529 km. However, it was later revised to 70.977 km on November 11, 2024. Years have passed since Pandey expressed hope of “delivering results”; now, with another three years needed for construction, the timeline approaches a decade.

According to the Office of the Auditor General’s report, the Council of Ministers decided to construct the expressway on May 5, 2017, and assigned the Nepal Army with construction management responsibility on August 13, 2017. Initially, the construction was slated for completion by 2021 and later by January 2025. The Council of Ministers extended the deadline to March 2027 during its April 18, 2023, meeting. The 63rd Auditor General’s Report (2027) states, “The construction period was extended until March 2027 without increasing the project cost, based on the Council of Ministers’ decision.” Currently, the project’s modified cost has been reduced by 2 billion NPR to a total of 21.2 billion NPR. At that time, the Nepal Army also informed that the deadline extension was granted without increasing the budget, approximately 21.4 billion NPR. Then Army spokesperson Assistant Rathi Krishna Prasad Bhandari said, “If technical delays related to land acquisition and contract procedures are promptly resolved, the project can still be completed within the scheduled timeframe (by March 2027).”

According to present Nepal Army spokesperson Assistant Rathi Rajaram Basnet, about 47 percent progress—both physical and financial—has been achieved so far. The DPR for the expressway’s starting point in the capital has been prepared by the Nepal Army and submitted to the ministry. Experts say there is increasing hope to resolve the longstanding controversies surrounding the project. Commission member Thapa remarked that approximately 3 kilometers out of the roughly 6.5 kilometers at the starting point have had disputes settled. “Previously, the road passed through farmland, but now the Nepal Army has prepared a new DPR that minimizes impact on people’s fields, temples, settlements, and ghats. We are currently reviewing it,” he added.