Author: space4knews

Sameer Paul Kapoor, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, is preparing to visit Kathmandu next Monday. Kapoor plans to hold high-level meetings in Kathmandu and meet with several government ministers. His visit will last three days, and he is scheduled to return on Wednesday via Turkish Airlines.

Of Indian heritage, Kapoor is visiting Kathmandu with the aim of expanding relations with the new government led by Balen Shah. In October last year, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Kapoor as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, succeeding Donald Lu in this role.

According to a diplomat from the Nepali Embassy in Washington D.C. and an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by The Kathmandu Post, Kapoor’s visit to Kathmandu will span three days. He will fly from Washington to Kathmandu via Turkish Airlines and return on the same flight on Wednesday. However, a formal announcement of this visit has yet to be made. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided any official information as of the time this report was prepared. If Kapoor arrives in Kathmandu on Monday, he will be the most senior foreign diplomat to visit since the formation of the Balen Shah-led government.

Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narasingh KC emphasized that everyone’s priority should be focused on party unity. With the Supreme Court having confirmed the validity of the special convention, KC stated that there is no room for arrogance or ego. He highlighted the necessity of successfully conducting the 15th general convention as a unifying event and campaign. Kathmandu, 5 Baishakh.

KC said, “With the Supreme Court settling the legality of the special convention, our collective priority now should not be any form of arrogance, ego, or power display, but rather an overall concentration on party unity.” He acknowledged that differences of opinion are natural in a democratic party and stressed that dialogue and consensus, while respecting all factions, are essential to make the 15th general convention a success.

“It is our shared responsibility today to include dissenting members, establish a common agenda, and cultivate a culture that prioritizes party statutes, procedures, and institutional interests over personal disputes,” KC wrote. He further noted that to face current challenges effectively, the leadership must enhance generosity, tolerance, and inclusive decision-making processes to build a capable, strong, and unified Congress.

April 17, Kathmandu – The Supreme Court has officially recognized the Nepali Congress led by Gagan Thapa. Resolving a three-month-long dispute, the court dismissed the writ petition filed by former Bahadur Khadka seeking a special general convention. Understand the Supreme Court’s decision in eight key points:

The petition was filed concerning term limits by the Nepali Congress Central Committee, submitted by the president elected through the 14th general convention and the acting president. According to Nepali Congress’s 2017 constitution, sections 17 (1) and 43, the term of the elected Central Committee is four years, with an extraordinary provision allowing an extension of up to one year by the Central Working Committee. The petitioners’ term expired on 2082/08/28 (Nepali calendar), and although the committee extended the term until the end of Magh 2082, that period has also concluded.

As per legal provisions under section 17 (2) of the party constitution, a special general convention must be convened within three months if 40 percent of members submit a written request. Such a request was registered on 2082/06/29 under registration number 101. However, due to delays in scheduling, petitioners had announced a 15th general convention for 2082 Poush 26-28 and later postponed it to 2083 Baishakh 28-31. This indicated the petitioners’ unwillingness to effectively convene the special convention.

The special convention was duly notified on 2082/09/23 and held at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, on 2082 Poush 27 and 28, with information provided to the Election Commission. According to the Commission’s ruling, the call for the special convention was mandatory, and decisions including leadership changes were reviewed and updated as per section 51 of the Political Parties Act 2073. No legal or procedural errors were found.

The letter sent by Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel cannot be regarded as a complaint under sections 43 and 44 of the Act. Gagan Thapa, as the legitimate chief office bearer, had already filed his candidacy on 2082 Falgun 21 for the Federal Parliament direct elections, which have since taken place, conferring political legitimacy. There is no need to annul the notices or proceedings of the special convention. The Election Commission’s ruling is final under section 46 (2) of the Act, thus there is no ground for the issuance of orders sought in the writ petition, leading to its rejection.

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Iran’s foreign minister has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is open again for commercial vessels, but emphasized that ships must use only designated safe routes. Following an attack by the United States and Israel on February 28, Tehran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire on April 22.

US President Donald Trump has stated that American naval blockades against Iranian ports will continue until a peace agreement is reached between the two countries, while calling the situation a “great and wonderful day for the world.” Various maritime organizations are monitoring whether vessels can safely transit the waterway, with tracking data indicating minimal ship movement at present.

On Friday, the first day of a 10-day full ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi declared the Strait of Hormuz reopened. “According to the Lebanon ceasefire agreement, the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the period. Ship movements will be coordinated through the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization,” Araqchi posted on social media platform X.

However, Iran’s state television later quoted a senior military official stating that ships are only allowed to navigate designated “routes,” with military vessel movement still “restricted.” This likely refers to the two routes established by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a map of which they had previously released to the media. Some Iranian news outlets criticized Araqchi’s post as well.

Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, described the opening as “unacceptable and incomplete,” noting that as long as the US naval blockade persists, tanker movements would be deemed “illegal.” Other media outlets have requested clarifications from Iranian officials on the matter. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and head of the Iranian delegation in talks held in Islamabad, dismissed Trump’s claims as “seven false claims in one hour” in a post on X.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he stated, “The waterway will not be open as long as [the US] blockade continues.” He rejected Trump’s assertions outright. Hezbollah, a Shiite political and military group based in southern Lebanon, is an Iranian ally. In retaliation for a Hezbollah attack, Israel launched strikes on Lebanon on March 2. All of these incidents occurred in response to the US and Israel’s assault on Iran. Meanwhile, President Trump has indicated that ongoing war termination talks show few disagreements and are expected to continue until Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States and Iran will jointly excavate Iran’s nuclear facilities and transfer uranium to America. In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf accused Trump of making seven false claims within an hour. Iran stated that it will not send its uranium abroad and, although willing to open the Strait of Hormuz, the blockade will remain in place.

According to Trump, representatives from both countries will jointly inspect the nuclear sites damaged by bombing, using heavy machinery to excavate and remove uranium. He also asserted that Iran has agreed never to close the Strait of Hormuz again and indicated that another round of talks could take place over the weekend, with a peace agreement possibly reached within a day or two. However, Iran has accused President Trump of lying.

Ghalibaf stated, “Such claims neither signify an American victory in the war nor offer any benefits in negotiations.” He added that attempts to influence the public via social media are underway, but the Iranian people will not be swayed by U.S. falsehoods. Ibrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security Council, also clarified that Iran will not transfer its uranium abroad.

Rezaei said, “There will be no agreement to fully cease uranium enrichment or to terminate it, as Iran considers it part of its peaceful nuclear program.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei echoed this, rejecting Trump’s claims and emphasizing that uranium holds significance for Iran akin to its own soil and will never be exported under any circumstances.

Trump mentioned that while Iran is ready to open the maritime route known as the Strait of Hormuz, the blockade will continue. The U.S. Central Command has also notified that the blockade will remain in effect until President Trump orders otherwise. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf warned that if the U.S. continues the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open indefinitely. According to him, vessel movements will follow specific routes and require Iran’s permission.

Ghalibaf remarked that whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open or closed will not be determined by social media claims but by physical circumstances. Following Iran’s declaration to open the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire, international oil prices have dropped. Brent crude fell nearly 9% to $90.38 per barrel, marking the lowest level since March 10.

Nepal is set to compete against the United States in its opening match of the ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy 2026 on April 18 at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda. The tournament features five teams: Nepal, USA, Italy, Rwanda, and Vanuatu, each playing against one another twice in a double round-robin format. This will be the Nepal women’s cricket team’s first time playing in Rwanda, with Indu Burma leading the squad as captain.

Kathmandu, April 18 – Nepal will begin its ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy 2026 campaign today, facing the USA at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali. The match is scheduled for 4:45 PM local time. The tournament runs from April 18 to May 15 and includes host nation Rwanda along with Nepal, USA, Italy, and Vanuatu.

According to the double round-robin structure, each team plays the others twice, and the team accumulating the highest points will be crowned champion. The ICC introduced this tournament for the first time to provide competitive opportunities for associate member nations. Among the five participating teams, Nepal holds the highest ranking at 21st place.

Nepal’s second match is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, against Italy. The third match will be against Rwanda on Wednesday, April 22, followed by a contest with Vanuatu on Thursday, April 23. Nepal will face the USA again on Saturday, April 25. Subsequent matches include Rwanda on Monday, April 27, Vanuatu on Tuesday, April 28, and Italy on Wednesday, April 29. Nepal’s squad consists of Indu Burma (captain), Pooja Mahto, Bindu Rawal, Rubina Kshetri, Ruby Poddar, Roma Thapa, Kavita Joshi, Kavita Kunwar, Samjhana Khadka, Anu Kadayat, Suman Bist, Riya Sharma, Rachana Chaudhary, and Manisha Upadhyay.

Janata Secondary School Chandralpur in Siraha has suspended its recruitment process after it was confirmed that the advertisement for hiring teachers and staff was published without the municipality’s approval. The municipality’s education department has demanded clarification from the school, citing violations of regulations that require prior permission or consent to publish such advertisements. However, the school’s principal, Brahmadev Singh, stated that the advertisement was published following internal procedures. Report from 5 Baishakh, Siraha.

The Janata Secondary School located in Ward No. 8 of Golbazar Municipality, Chandralpur, had issued a large-scale advertisement to hire teachers and staff. However, as the advertisement was released without completing the necessary procedures, the municipality’s education branch directed the school to halt further recruitment activities. According to Ananta Poudel, the Chief Administrative Officer and Head of the Education Branch, there are specific provisions requiring permission or consent from the municipality and the Education Development and Coordination Unit before proceeding with teacher recruitment, which the school did not comply with.

The school had published an advertisement on Chaitra 30, setting a one-week deadline, to recruit a total of 17 staff members, including 15 teachers, office assistants, and a bus driver. Upon seeking clarification, and after confirming that the school had not coordinated with the municipality regarding teacher recruitment, the Chief Administrative Officer Poudel confirmed that the advertisement was suspended and an explanation was requested. Principal Singh indicated that they will discuss the matter with the municipality in due course and proceed accordingly. He stated, “We published the advertisement following our internal procedures.”

Following a summary review of the news, the ‘Tea with Poetry’ event, regularly organized by Dhankuta FM, continues to engage audiences. In the Friday program, poets Uttam Tumsaa and DR Phuyal presented around a dozen poems, while singer Tejendra Gandharv performed several songs. The concept of ‘Tea with Poetry’ originated from a gathering of literature enthusiasts in Magh 2081 (January/February 2025) and has been held every Friday regularly since Falgun 2, 2081 (mid-February 2025). The event took place on the 5th of Baishakh at a multipurpose school courtyard in Dhankuta.
The sweet strains of the sarangi filled the atmosphere, complementing the words delivered on stage that resonated directly with the audience’s hearts. The poets occasionally added color by playing the damaha drum or spiritedly swaying on stage. The audience responded, at times moved emotionally and at others joyfully swaying to the rhythm. Although the scene could be mistaken for a theatrical performance at first glance, it was in fact a poetry concert. The ‘Tea with Poetry’ concert held on Friday afternoon presented a charming and enchanting spectacle, blending literature and music and introducing a fresh flavor to Dhankuta’s cultural scene.
The event exuded warmth beyond simple formalities; participants were not just spectators but travelers sharing a journey of words, melody, and emotion. When poets appeared on stage, the atmosphere turned serious, unveiling themes of love, sorrow, society, and the many facets of life through their verses. The rhythmic clapping after each piece made clear how deeply the words had touched the listeners’ hearts. Meanwhile, the melodies added new dimensions to the ambiance. During this session, poets Uttam Tumsaa and DR Phuyal recited approximately a dozen poems, and singer Tejendra Gandharv performed over half a dozen songs. The fusion of music and literature not only provided entertainment but also strengthened emotional bonds.
This edition marked the 55th installment of the ‘Tea with Poetry’ concert series, organized by Radio Dhankuta FM 106.2 MHz. Vidur Khawas, chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Dhankuta, shared that the program offered a mix of poems expressing anger, grief, and affection. He noted that the ‘Tea with Poetry’ events are progressively nurturing a literary atmosphere in Dhankuta and becoming a hub for poets. The program sees active participation across all age groups—children, youth, and the elderly—who are eager both to present their own work and appreciate that of others. The concept, born from a literary gathering in Magh 2081, has been running consistently every Friday since Falgun 2 that year.
Despite diverse professions and busy schedules, this initiative serves as a unifying platform for literary artists, said Gopal Baraili, chairman of Radio Dhankuta FM. Participants are given opportunities to present poems, ghazals, couplets, or songs, with each session chaired by a different individual. Celebrating its 50th session on Falgun 1, the program also marked its first anniversary by distributing awards for achievements in various literary genres. Additionally, the best poems from each year are compiled and published in the ‘Tea with Poetry’ book series. Baraili also noted the establishment of an endowment fund to ensure the program’s sustainability.
Speaking at the concert, Koshi Province’s Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Indramani Parajuli, emphasized literature’s transformative power in society and applauded the event for conveying a positive message to Dhankuta and the country. Minister Parajuli also pledged a contribution of NPR 10,000 to the ‘Tea with Poetry’ endowment fund.

The Command and Staff Training has commenced at the Military Command and Staff College in Shivapuri for 92 security officers from 10 countries. Major General Pradeep KC of the Nepal Army inaugurated the training, emphasizing the importance of experience exchange and the ability to develop practical plans.

The training includes 79 officers from the Nepal Army, including 4 women, along with 3 officers from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the National Investigation Department (one each). Participants also include 2 officers from China and one each from the United States, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Maldives, Nigeria, and Pakistan, making a total of 92 participants. The Military Command and Staff College was established on January 28, 1993 (14 Poush 2049 BS).

To date, a total of 1,507 officers from various forces have been trained at this college, including 1,308 from the Nepal Army, 17 from Nepal Police, 29 from the Armed Police Force, 20 from the National Investigation Department, 1 from the Ministry of Defense, and 132 officers from 13 other countries.

5 Baisakh, Kathmandu – Nepal Rastra Bank has set the foreign currency exchange rates for today. The rate for US Dollar is set at a buying rate of NPR 148.39 and a selling rate of NPR 148.99. Similarly, the European Euro has a buying rate of NPR 175.06 and a selling rate of NPR 175.76, while the UK Pound Sterling is priced at NPR 200.75 for buying and NPR 201.56 for selling. The Swiss Franc has a buying rate of NPR 189.65 and a selling rate of NPR 190.41.

The Australian Dollar’s buying rate is NPR 106.40 and selling rate NPR 106.83, while the Canadian Dollar stands at NPR 108.49 for buying and NPR 108.93 for selling. Likewise, the Singapore Dollar is bought at NPR 116.62 and sold at NPR 117.09. The Japanese Yen (per 10 units) has a buying rate of NPR 9.32 and a selling rate of NPR 9.36. The Chinese Yuan is priced at NPR 21.75 for buying and NPR 21.84 for selling. Saudi Arabian Riyal stands at NPR 39.56 for buying and NPR 39.72 for selling, while the Qatari Riyal is priced at NPR 40.70 for buying and NPR 40.86 for selling.

According to the central bank, the Thai Baht’s buying rate is NPR 4.63 and selling rate NPR 4.65. The UAE Dirham is bought at NPR 40.40 and sold at NPR 40.56. Malaysian Ringgit has a buying rate of NPR 37.54 and a selling rate of NPR 37.70. The South Korean Won (per 100 units) is priced at NPR 10.03 for buying and NPR 10.07 for selling. The Swedish Krona is bought at NPR 16.18 and sold at NPR 16.25, while the Danish Kroner has a buying rate of NPR 23.42 and a selling rate of NPR 23.52. Nepal Rastra Bank has set Hong Kong Dollar rates at NPR 18.95 for buying and NPR 19.03 for selling. Kuwaiti Dinar is priced at NPR 484.62 for buying and NPR 486.58 for selling. Bahraini Dinar stands at NPR 393.53 for buying and NPR 395.12 for selling, whereas the Omani Riyal is set at NPR 385.42 for buying and NPR 386.98 for selling. Indian Rupee (per 100) is bought at NPR 160 and sold at NPR 160.15.

Nepal Rastra Bank has stated that it may revise these exchange rates at any time as deemed necessary. Commercial banks may offer slightly different rates, and the latest exchange rates will be available on the central bank’s official website.

Basantapur area of Kathmandu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. File photo. Kathmandu, 19 April – World Heritage Day is being observed today to promote the conservation of heritage and raise public awareness. Established by UNESCO, the day has been celebrated annually on April 18 since 1983 to safeguard World Heritage sites globally. In Nepal, the designated World Heritage areas include Kathmandu (Basantapur, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, Changu Narayan, Pashupati, Boudha, Swayambhu), Lumbini, Chitwan, and Sagarmatha National Park.
On this occasion, the Tourism Office under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Bagmati Province government has organized a morning trek in the capital. According to the office chief, Pawan Kumar Pokharel, the trek will proceed from Gahana Pokhari to Bhatbhateni Temple. Following the trek, there will be an interactive program focusing on the cultural significance of the Handigaun area, which will include participation from the Minister for Culture and Tourism of Bagmati Province, Suresh Shrestha.

After his arrest, he was admitted to the hospital citing illness. On Thursday, he was released from custody following a court order. On Friday afternoon, he was discharged from the hospital.

Police have arrested Ram Kumar Pakhrin and Shiv Ghising in Kathmandu’s Thamel area with 28 counterfeit 500-rupee banknotes. The arresting authority also confiscated a machine used to print fake notes, according to SSP Ramesh Thapa of the Kathmandu District Police Office.

The arrested individuals are 32-year-old Ram Kumar Pakhrin from Phulbari, Rautahat, and 24-year-old Shiv Ghising from Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality-5, Sindhuli. They were apprehended by a team deployed from the Sohakhutte Police Post.

Besides the 28 counterfeit 500-rupee notes, the authorities seized the printing machine used to produce the fake currency, SSP Ramesh Thapa confirmed.

Following the arrests, the Kathmandu District Court has granted a five-day investigation period, during which the police will continue their inquiries.