Author: space4knews

12 Chaitra, Kathmandu – The report by the Gauribahadur Karki Commission, established to investigate the protest on 23rd and 24th Bhadra, reveals a contradictory recommendation of both disciplinary action and an award for the same individual.

During the protest, AIG Siddhivikram Shah, who was working in the Operations Department of the Police Headquarters (now the Police Academy), has been recommended for both punishment and recognition.

On page 689 of the commission’s report, it is stated that AIG Shah should be awarded.

The report states, “On 24th Bhadra, during the attack on the Police Headquarters near Bhattabhetni in Tongal and the Hilton Hotel in Nakla, AIG Shah, as the head of the Operations Department, played a leading role by preventing the attackers from entering the main gate, successfully securing the Police Headquarters. Therefore, the Police Headquarters should award him.”

However, the commission also recommended disciplinary action against AIG Shah. On page 725, under the disciplinary recommendations section, AIG Shah’s name appears as recommended for departmental disciplinary measures.

The report cites Article 9, clause (4) of the Police Act 2012 and Rule 109 of the Police Regulations, stating that disciplinary action is required due to shortcomings in duty performance.

March 26, Kathmandu – The Central Committee of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is scheduled to convene today.

The meeting will be held at 4 PM this afternoon at the party’s central office in Bansthali.

The agenda includes discussions on selecting the parliamentary party leader, according to the RSP. Following the Central Committee’s decision, the party’s parliamentary group is set to choose Balen as their leader.

The newly elected members of parliament will take their oath of office today. The Central Committee meeting has been convened subsequent to the oath-taking ceremony.

Once the parliamentary party leader is selected in today’s meeting, Balen is expected to be appointed Prime Minister on Friday. The date for his oath-taking as Prime Minister has already been finalized.

Prior to the election, the RSP had already declared senior leader Balen as their prime ministerial candidate. The agreement between the party and Balen also stipulated appointing him as the future Prime Minister.

March 26, Panchthar – In this eastern hilly district, Chaite rice has been transplanted earlier this year compared to previous years. Most of the fields around Hokmakhola, Fidim-2, have been planted with Chaite rice.

According to local farmer Upendra Aryal, rice transplanting typically started after March 29 in the east, but this year it has been completed in many places much earlier. “We transplant after the seeds sown in January sprout. We have been farming here for many years. This time, the heat has been more intense. Unlike before, the seeds sprouted quickly, probably due to the increased warmth,” he explained.

Chandrakumari Shrestha, encountered in the fields, also noted that rice was transplanted sooner this year. “We face significant water scarcity here. When the soil is warmer, seeds sprout sooner, which might be a reason,” she said.

Recent rainfall has facilitated easier cultivation of Chaite rice. The rice is mainly grown in the Aul area, where there is a tradition of producing rice twice a year. Rice cultivation occurs only where sufficient irrigation is available.

Keshar Bahadur Magarati, Crop Protection Officer at the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Panchthar, confirmed that rice transplanting began a few weeks earlier this year. “Transplanting started as early as the first week of Chaitra,” he said. According to him, Chaite rice farming is practiced in Fidim Municipality, Phalgunanda, Kummayak, Hilihang, and Miklajung regions. “Last year, Chaite rice farming decreased in Panchthar due to damage and erosion to irrigation canals and fields, but with the canal restored this time, rice cultivation is expected to increase,” he added.

Last year, Chaite rice was cultivated over an area of 2,136 hectares.

March 25, Siraha – Hiradevi Mahara had lived in darkness for five years due to untreated cataracts. Financial constraints had prevented her from seeking medical care.

Her world was shrouded in darkness because of the cataract condition. However, during the first week of Chaitra, she was able to attend an extensive free eye camp organized by the municipality. Expert doctors conducted a thorough eye examination.

Following the examination, surgery was deemed necessary and successfully performed. Hiradevi expressed with joy, “Now I can see clearly,” adding that she found it hard to believe such services were available within her own municipality.

Similarly, Shivakumari Sah, approximately 60 years old from Mirchaiya-6, was unable to undergo treatment earlier due to financial difficulties. Smiling, she said, “The poor often lack the means and are worn down by ill health, but receiving free services here has brought a new light into my life.”

Ramshankar Yadav from Mirchaiya-1 and local Sumitradevi Yadav also regained their vision after receiving eye treatments at the same camp.

Mayor Shravan Kumar Yadav of Mirchaiya Municipality informed that, in collaboration with Tilganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu, 312 patients underwent cataract surgery at the camp. He emphasized that all services—from vision testing and cataract screening to eyewear examinations—were provided completely free of charge.

According to Dr. Basudev Adhikari, cataract surgery typically costs between NPR 28,000 to 30,000 at hospitals, but each operation here was offered at just NPR 14,000, inclusive of medication, examinations, and transportation.

Mayor Yadav explained that upon learning about elderly members of Dalit and disadvantaged families with vision problems unable to afford treatment, the municipality partnered with Tilganga Eye Hospital to organize this camp.

Health Branch Chief Rajan Kumar Sah reported that from March 16 to 22, screening camps were held across all wards and at Mirchaiya Hospital, treating a total of 4,550 individuals’ eyes, with 312 cataract surgeries successfully completed.

March 26, Kathmandu — A jury in California, USA, has found social media platforms Meta and YouTube guilty of intentionally fostering addiction in a young woman, causing damage to her mental health.

Meta and YouTube were ruled to have failed in warning users about the risks of their platforms, resulting in serious harm to the user.

According to CNN, the case was filed by a 20-year-old woman from California, referred to by the pseudonym ‘Kelly,’ and her mother. They had sued Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap Inc. The lawsuit alleged that these companies attracted Kelly from childhood, fostering an addiction that led to anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and suicidal thoughts. Prior to the trial, reports indicate that TikTok and Snap reached settlements in the case.

The jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay a combined total of $3 million in damages — $2.1 million from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube. The jury assigned 70 percent of the responsibility to Meta and 30 percent to YouTube, according to CNN.

After a seven-week trial and more than eight days of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict. In court, Kelly testified that her social media addiction still affects her daily life; she feels compelled to secretly use her phone even during work hours and spends hours editing her appearance using filters.

Preparation for Appeal

Both Meta and YouTube have expressed disagreement with the ruling and announced their intention to appeal. Meta argued that adolescent mental health is a complex issue that cannot be attributed to a single app. YouTube stated that it is a responsibly designed platform.

CNN notes that this is the first time among approximately 1,500 similar lawsuits filed against social media companies that a case has gone to a full trial. The verdict is expected to guide the outcomes of future cases. Continued losses in such litigation could force these companies to pay billions in damages and implement significant platform reforms.

Previously, a jury in New Mexico also found Meta liable for failing to protect children from sexual predators.

Experts suggest this decision may represent a ‘turning point’ in the history of social media. Parents and advocacy groups have long called for stricter regulations to ensure children’s safety. Following this ruling, pressure is expected to increase on the U.S. Congress to enact stronger child protection laws.

March 26, Kathmandu – The dates for US President Donald Trump’s visit to China have been finalized. Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14 and 15, corresponding to the Nepali calendar dates of Baishakh 31 and Jestha 1, 2083.

During this visit, US President Trump is set to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. This long-awaited meeting will take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15, according to information released by the White House on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.

The China visit, initially expected at the end of March or early April, has been postponed by nearly six weeks. Trump had indicated that due to ongoing conflict with Iran, the talks would be delayed by about a month.

Trump Describes Meeting with Xi as ‘Important and Historic’

Following a press conference on Wednesday, Trump conveyed via the social media platform Truth Social that the US delegation is making final preparations for the ‘historic’ trip. He expressed confidence that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping would be both ‘important and historic.’

According to the Trump administration, the military conflict initiated by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28 may continue for several more weeks.

When questioned about this, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the war with Iran is expected to last between four to six weeks, and President Trump’s China visit schedule was adjusted accordingly.

Meanwhile, during his visit to China, Trump is also expected to invite President Xi to visit the United States.

According to White House Press Secretary Leavitt, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will invite Chinese President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to visit Washington, D.C. later this year. The exact dates for this visit will be determined in the future.

Surkhet – The Karnali Provincial Government has appointed Ravindra Chand as the Member Secretary of the Karnali Provincial Sports Development Council.

The Provincial Cabinet meeting held Thursday morning decided to appoint him to the Member Secretary post.

Earlier, the Member Secretary Selection Committee conducted interviews on January 17 and recommended three candidates. The recommended candidates were Ravindra Chand, Deepak Hamal, and Pramod Hamal.

In the committee’s evaluation, Ravindra Chand scored the highest with 67.17 points, followed by Deepak Hamal with 60.63 points and Pramod Hamal with 52.37 points.

Initially, 21 applicants applied for the Member Secretary position, out of which 10 were shortlisted for the interview. Based on the interview and evaluation, the top three candidates’ names were recommended to the Cabinet. Among them, Chand was appointed as Member Secretary, according to Vinod Kumar Shah, spokesperson for the Karnali Provincial Government and Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives.

Pramod Hamal Appointed as Vice Chairperson

Similarly, Pramod Hamal from Birendranagar Municipality-5, Surkhet, has been appointed as Vice Chairperson.

Members appointed by the Karnali Provincial Government include Pangkha Bahadur Malla from Khandachakra-7 of Kalikot, Bhim Kumari Bhusal from Birendranagar Municipality-3, Surkhet, Gorkha Bahadur Shahi from Chankheli Rural Municipality-4, Humla, Pawan Kumar Thapa from Dullu Municipality-8, Dailekh, and Kiran Kishor Sapkota from Birendranagar Municipality-4, Surkhet.

March 25, Syangja — A total of 4,275 students from Syangja are set to participate in this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).

According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit of Syangja, 3,221 students will appear in the regular category, while 1,054 students will take the exam under the grade improvement category.

The examinations will commence on Chaitra 19 (April 1). Notably, this year, the number of male students surpasses that of female students. Of the total, 2,174 are male students, while 2,101 are female, indicating 73 more males than females.

In the technical stream, 116 students from six schools across the district will take the SEE exam. Additionally, 16 students from the Sanskrit and Vedic education streams are preparing to sit for the examination.

Across the district’s 11 local levels, 21 examination centers have been designated. Each center will be overseen by the principal or vice-principal of the respective school designated as the chief examiner.

Chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit Syangja, Bishwaraj Acharya, stated that preparations for the exam have been accelerated. Meetings with center chiefs, monitoring visits, and orientation programs are currently underway. Answer booklets have already been delivered to remote centers, with distribution to remaining centers progressing steadily.

Syangja’s Walung Municipality hosts the highest number of centers, with five, followed by Putalibazar Municipality, which has three centers. Both Bhirkot, Galyang, and Chapakot Municipalities have two centers each, as does Kaligandaki Rural Municipality. All other rural municipalities have been assigned one center each.

Compared to last year, both the number of students and examination centers have decreased. Last year, 4,992 students participated, marking a reduction of 717 students this year. Consequently, the number of examination centers has been reduced from 25 to 21.

According to the office, centers with fewer than the minimum required number of students were closed. This year, Tribhuvan Adarsha Secondary School in Putalibazar has the highest number of students among community schools, while Pioneer Secondary School in Walung has the highest attendance among institutional schools.

March 26, Kathmandu – Iran has stated that it is reviewing a proposal from the United States aimed at ending the war in the Gulf region. However, Tehran has made it clear that there is currently no intention to engage in negotiations to reduce ongoing regional conflicts.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed this position. According to him, there are indications that Iran could be prepared for talks if its demands are met, as reported by Reuters.

“This differs from the initial negative reaction, since Iranian officials had previously publicly rejected the possibility of talks with the United States,” Reuters noted.

Iran’s Foreign Minister: Iran Does Not Want War

Speaking to state television, Araghchi explained that Iran’s top leadership is considering the U.S. proposal but rejected the possibility of direct dialogue. “Exchanging messages through intermediaries is not the same as negotiating directly with the United States,” he said.

He acknowledged that Washington has been sending messages through various intermediaries but made it clear that Tehran does not view these as formal negotiations. “Some proposals have come via messages, which have been forwarded to the highest authorities. If necessary, an official position will be announced,” he added.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran does not want a protracted conflict but seeks a permanent solution on its own terms. “Iran does not want war; it desires a lasting end to this conflict,” he stated.

Iran Calls for Inclusion of Lebanon in Any Agreement

According to Reuters, Iran has informed mediators that Lebanon must also be included in any ceasefire agreement.

Reportedly conveyed through Pakistan, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 15-point proposal to Iran includes demands to dismantle Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, halt uranium enrichment, limit ballistic missile programs, and cease economic support for regional allies, according to sources.

Trump claimed at an event in Washington that Iranian leaders are engaged in talks. “They want to make a deal but are afraid to say so openly because they fear their own people. They also fear us,” Trump stated.

The conflict in West Asia, which began after joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, has now entered its fourth week, disrupting trade in the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Tensions escalated further following the February 28 joint assault by the U.S. and Israel, which reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iran has targeted U.S. and Israeli sites in various Gulf countries, creating additional obstacles in shipping routes and impacting international energy markets and the global economy.

Attacks on energy infrastructure and restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz have caused oil prices to rise, increasing international pressure, especially on the U.S. and its allies, to seek a resolution, reports indicate.

March 24, Kathmandu: Those in power often perceive themselves as right and their actions as justified, whether good or bad. However, they are often less aware of the negative aspects of their decisions.

External critics call for reforms, but the ruling entities tend to dismiss opposition. It is only when situations sharply change that the significant repercussions emerge.

A similar scenario has unfolded within the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

As Nepal’s largest sports organization, the football federation is viewed by many institutions as an example of strong infrastructure and budgeting. Nevertheless, failure of the leadership to fulfill their responsibilities has brought numerous problems to light.

Following the recent announcement of early elections, disputes within Nepali football have intensified, reaching court intervention.

Off the field, political conflicts between the National Sports Council (NSC) and ANFA have escalated through formal correspondence.

Due to lack of clarification from ANFA, the NSC imposed a three-month suspension on the association this Wednesday. ANFA now finds itself burdened by decisions it made unilaterally.

The NSC’s suspension decision was made based on Article 29(2) of the Sports Development Regulations 2020.

ANFA’s executive committee will remain suspended for the next three months.

The Path from Early Election Announcement to Suspension

The primary reason for the suspension was ANFA’s announcement of an early election on January 29.

This decision triggered significant controversy within Nepali football, with external individuals and clubs protesting that the move violated federation statutes.

Despite this, ANFA leadership claimed that according to majority decisions, they would hold the general assembly and early election on January 28 in Jhapa.

The NSC then issued 11 directives to ANFA, which the federation ignored, resulting in disputes leading to court cases and election postponements.

While the NSC instructed organizing elections from the district level upwards, ANFA insisted it would follow FIFA and AFC directives, allegedly neglecting local procedures.

The NSC took firm action citing ANFA’s failure to follow directives and proceeding without approval, leading to the suspension.

Nevertheless, ANFA plans to hold elections on March 26, and FIFA and AFC representatives have recently visited Nepal.

Efforts to contact ANFA’s president, general secretary, and spokesperson for comment have been unsuccessful so far.

Why Was ANFA Suspended?

1. Failure to comply with directives from the National Sports Council and disregard of the Sports Development Act, 2020.

2. Initiating an unauthorized election process without official approval.

3. Ignoring NSC’s directives and providing unsatisfactory responses to official correspondence.

4. Moving forward with activities without self-compliance or due process.

5. Prioritizing international federation directives over national laws.

6. Not fulfilling responsibilities according to the constitution approved by the NSC.

7. Refusing to comply with regulations and ignoring the accountability standards required by the regulatory body.

8. Operating contrary to the Sports Development Rules.

What Happens Following the Suspension?

The NSC formally announced the three-month suspension this Wednesday. No official response has been received yet from ANFA.

Throughout the suspension, ANFA is prohibited from conducting any football-related activities, and the impact on Nepali football is expected to be significant.

ANFA has already postponed the National League, the Martyrs Memorial Women’s League, and the scheduled Nepal-Hong Kong friendly matches.

Additionally, the Nepali women’s team’s participation in the FIFA Series 2026 in Thailand is also expected to be affected.

What Are the Chances of the Suspension Being Lifted?

The NSC has imposed the suspension for only three months, and if ANFA complies fully with the issued directives during this period, the suspension can be lifted.

According to Article 29(3) of the Sports Development Act 2020, compliance with directives allows the Council to rescind the suspension.

Steps to Lift the Suspension

ANFA must follow nine key directives given by the NSC and report back to the Council on compliance, after which lifting the suspension is possible.

ANFA has repeatedly been asked to follow directives but has failed, complicating the current situation further.

These nine directives include:

1. Maintaining stability within the federation’s constitution and implementing any new constitution only after obtaining NSC approval.

2. Incorporating clarifications regarding the Sports Development Act, 2020 in the federation’s statutes.

3. Clarifying the meaning of the Sports Development Rules, 2022 within federation regulations.

4. Including provisions for democratic elections every four years within the constitution.

5. Ensuring election procedures for officials and members follow rules.

6. Establishing provincial and district-level structures and ensuring representation in the constitution.

7. Holding a general assembly within three months following the fiscal year-end and conducting periodic elections every four years.

8. Implementing necessary amendments and modifications.

9. Obtaining approval for elections as per constitutional provisions and proceeding accordingly.

Consequences if Suspension Is Not Lifted

If ANFA fails to comply with directives, the NSC may form an interim committee.

According to Article 29(4) of the Sports Development Act, 2020, the existing committee can be dissolved, and a new committee must be formed within three months.

If the interim committee also fails to form a new committee within that period, the Council has the authority to deregister the federation.

Furthermore, the Council is empowered to notify relevant international institutions, Nepal Olympic Committee, and government ministries.

The Act also provides ANFA the opportunity to present its defense to the Council before stricter actions are taken.