Author: space4knews

April 18, Lisbon – The Nepali Embassy located in Lisbon, Portugal, has completed one year since its establishment and commencement of services. The embassy has publicly reported significant progress in diplomatic activities and services provided to Nepali citizens during this period. According to Ambassador Prakash Mani Paudel, over 35,000 Nepali nationals have directly received consular services in the past year. He stated, “More than 35,789 Nepalis have benefited from services such as issuance and renewal of passports, authentication of police clearance certificates, educational and family documents, power of attorney, and travel permits.” Ambassador Paudel further emphasized, “Our consular services have become state-of-the-art within this year. We also operate mobile camps across various regions in Portugal, offering services beyond regular office hours and holidays.”

Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Portugal were established on September 1, 1976. The Government of Nepal set up its embassy in Lisbon on March 31, 2025, and began services on April 16, 2025. Although the embassy was formally inaugurated on February 20, 2025, prior to this, all matters concerning Portugal were handled through the Nepali Embassy in Paris, France. While there was an honorary Portuguese Consulate General in Kathmandu, the Portuguese government managed affairs related to Nepal primarily through its embassy in New Delhi, India. However, just two weeks ago, Portugal announced the establishment of its own diplomatic mission in Nepal.

The most frequently requested document authentication service at the embassy is police clearance certificate verification. According to Deputy Chief of Mission and Spokesperson Shatrudhwan Pokharel, 23,789 police reports were authenticated in the last year. Additionally, 5,796 Nepalis, including residents of Portugal, Malta, and Spain, received passports. The embassy also issued 109 travel permits and authenticated 5,655 educational and family-related documents. Moreover, 414 powers of attorney were processed, Pokharel added.

Regarding financial matters, Anil Rana stated that the embassy collected approximately NPR 523 million (EUR 2.99 million) in revenue, largely from police certificate authentication services. Over the past year, the embassy facilitated the repatriation of the remains of 26 Nepalis who had died in Portugal. First Secretary Rambabu Nepal noted that assistance was provided to families facing economic hardships in managing mortuary affairs. Furthermore, seven Nepalis found in destitute conditions on the streets were rescued, and arrangements were made to return them to their families in Nepal.

One of the notable diplomatic achievements after establishing the embassy in Portugal is the rapid advancement in Nepal’s promotion, economic diplomacy, and bilateral relations with the Portuguese government and relevant authorities. The official visit of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai to Portugal on February 20, 2025, marked the first formal bilateral visit in eight years since former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali’s visit in 2018. This visit successfully convened the inaugural meeting of the “Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism,” which had been established eight years earlier but had not held any sessions until now.

Ambassador Paudel remarked, “The meeting two months ago and the embassy’s persistent efforts led to Portugal’s decision to establish its diplomatic mission in Nepal. This is a highly significant achievement for Nepalese diplomacy and bilateral relations between the two countries.” On April 1, 2025, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the establishment of its mission in Nepal, and within two weeks, the visit of government officials was confirmed. According to Deputy Chief of Mission Pokharel, Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, is scheduled to visit Nepal on April 29, 2025. Following this visit, Portugal is expected to accelerate the establishment of its embassy in Nepal.

According to Portuguese government statistics, about 58,000 Nepalis currently reside in Portugal. Unofficial estimates suggest that over 75,000 Nepalis live there permanently or temporarily. The Nepali embassy has also reduced procedural complications, eliminating the need for citizens to visit the Portuguese embassy in India for certain services. Furthermore, the embassy has requested the Portuguese government to recognize Nepali driving permits, and the transportation and immigration authorities have already begun studying this proposal.

Chairperson of the Nepal Journalists Federation Europe Chapter, KJ Rai, expressed that the diplomatic initiatives and services established since the embassy’s opening are in Nepal’s best interests. He said, “Within its first year, the embassy has made invaluable contributions to diplomacy and citizen services. Staff members work tirelessly day and night, actively representing the government and addressing the concerns of Nepali citizens.”

April 18, Kathmandu – The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has prepared a preliminary draft of new standards to regulate the process of altering the numbers and boundaries of rural municipalities, municipalities, and wards, as well as to review the classification of municipalities. The draft, titled ‘Standards for Adjustment of Numbers and Boundaries of Rural Municipalities, Municipalities, and Wards, Mergers, and Reclassification of Municipalities, 2083,’ has been formulated based on the provisions under Sections 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 (2017), the ministry has announced. The ministry has circulated the draft with a three-day deadline for comments and suggestions from the Chief Ministers and the offices of the Council of Ministers across all provinces.

The draft emphasizes that any proposal to alter or merge the number and boundaries of local levels and wards must primarily consider factors such as population, geography, administrative convenience, the state of infrastructure development, economic capacity, availability of natural resources, as well as linguistic, cultural, and community composition. Additionally, the draft requires attention to service accessibility, population density, settlement growth and urbanization, market development, accessibility to transportation services, watershed management, social and economic impacts, and the preservation of cultural and linguistic identities.

According to the draft, during boundary adjustments of rural municipalities or municipalities, a local level must be confined within a single province and district. When adjusting ward boundaries, the draft stipulates that the former village development committee and municipality wards should not be split. Furthermore, the geography of a single ward must fall within the same electoral constituency for both the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly. To conduct studies on these matters, the draft proposes forming a study committee chaired by the Chief of the District Coordination Committee. This committee would include the deputy chairpersons or vice chiefs of the concerned local levels, assistant chief district officers from the District Administration Office, heads of Survey and Revenue Offices, and the chief administrative officers of the respective local levels. Based on the committee’s report and findings, the local assembly (either rural or municipal) must pass a proposal with a two-thirds majority, which would then be forwarded to the provincial government. If the provincial government finds the standards met, it will recommend the proposal to the federal government through the ministry. The ministry, in turn, will submit the proposal to the Cabinet for approval, as outlined in the draft.

Former acting president of the Nepali Congress, Purnabahadur Khadka, has called a meeting of the office bearers and central members elected from the 14th general convention. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 12:15 PM at the Smart Hotel in Dhumbarahi. This comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision validating the committee led by Gagan Thapa, prompting Khadka’s faction to convene for discussions. Kathmandu, 19 April.

The secretariat of Khadka announced the meeting to be held at the Smart Hotel in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, on Sunday at 12:15 PM. “The meeting has been organized to discuss with the office bearers and central members elected from the 14th General Convention available in the valley,” Khadka’s secretariat stated. The Supreme Court had released its verdict regarding the Nepali Congress’s dispute over legitimacy on Friday.

Following the Election Commission’s validation of the special general convention that elected a new committee under Gagan Thapa on 18 January, Khadka’s faction took the matter to the Supreme Court. After the court upheld the Election Commission’s decision and validated Thapa’s committee, Khadka’s group has continued discussions on Saturday as well. Another meeting was held today at Khadka’s residence in Golfutar, which was attended by former deputy speaker Bimlendra Nidhi, former ministers Dr. Shashank Koirala, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, as well as leaders NP Saud, Meen Bishwakarma, and Ramesh Lekhak. However, Dr. Shekhar Koirala and his supporting leaders did not attend the meeting.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has initiated a program every Saturday in the Asan area to promote social, cultural, and traditional commerce. Vehicle entry is completely banned every Saturday from Kamalachhi Chowk to Asan. This initiative aims to preserve the originality of Asan while sustaining traditional lifestyles, festivals, rituals, and ancestral knowledge.

5th Baisakh, Kathmandu – Starting this Saturday, a program to promote social, cultural, and traditional trade has been launched in the ancient Asan area of Kathmandu. To protect Asan’s authenticity, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has introduced the “Vibrant and Prosperous Asan” program to be held every Saturday. The objective is to uphold Kathmandu’s cultural identity, traditional lifestyles, festivals, rituals, and the intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage and ancestral skills.

With the organization of social, cultural, and traditional trade promotion events in areas spanning Kamalachhi Chowk, Bhotahiti Chowk, and Mahaboudha to Asan, vehicle access is fully restricted in this zone every Saturday. During the program, vehicle entry from Jamal via Kamalachhi Singhdhoka towards Asan will be prohibited.

The responsibility of managing traditional cultural programs and social activities in Asan has been assigned to the Metropolitan Police Force. This initiative is expected to ensure continuous transmission of cultural identity, traditional lifestyle, festivals, and rituals to future generations.

April 18, Kathmandu—The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a nine-point directive mandating the implementation of a ‘one-window service system’ across district and regional administration offices nationwide to enhance service delivery and make it more citizen-friendly. The ministry has instructed all administration offices to establish the system within the current fiscal year’s budget and to ensure the allocation of the minimum required budget for the following year. It has also reminded the Chief District Officers (CDOs), appointed as government representatives, of their critical role in maintaining peace and security, safeguarding public welfare, and promoting public service and good governance.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung had directed that services provided by administration offices should be arranged to operate through the one-window system starting from the day he assumed office. Furthermore, the ‘100 Government Reform Agenda’ approved by the Cabinet on March 26 (Chaitra 13) emphasizes working in a way that builds citizens’ trust in public services. In line with this directive, the ministry, through a decision at the secretary level, has ordered the institutionalization and immediate implementation of innovative practices already adopted in some districts—such as token systems, citizen hearings, online recommendations, and free help desks—under the one-window service system across all districts.

The nine-point directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs is as follows: 1. One-Window Service and Infrastructure Management—Establish counters that facilitate smooth and user-friendly processing of new and duplicate citizenship certificates, passports, national identity cards, and minor identity documents. 2. Help Desk and Token System—Set up computerized help desks at office entry points. 3. Citizen Notice and Coordination—Maintain digital and audio-equipped citizen notice boards. 4. Complaint and Grievance Management—Keep records of complaints and resolve them promptly and actively. 5. Decent Conduct and Cleanliness—Ensure staff behave respectfully and courteously toward service recipients. 6. Strict Control of Middlemen—Exercise strict supervision to prevent unauthorized middlemen from entering the office. 7. Implementation of Job Descriptions—Prepare and apply objective, performance-based job descriptions for every position within the administration office within 15 days. 8. Training and Orientation for Staff—Provide orientation and training for ward office staff regarding recommendations and related tasks. 9. Monitoring, Transparency, and Reporting—Empower CDOs to continuously monitor service performance.

May 18, Dharan – Police in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-13 apprehended three Indian nationals in possession of 59 kilograms of illegal cannabis on the Koshi Highway. The joint police team from the District Police Office Dharan and the temporary Amarhat police post intercepted the suspects on Saturday morning while they were traveling from Bhendetar toward Dharan in an Indian Scorpio vehicle bearing the registration number BR 10 PB 2241.

According to Bhishan Babu Rai, Deputy Superintendent of Police and head of the District Police Office Dharan, the cannabis was discovered concealed beneath the car’s seat inside a false bottom compartment. The arrested individuals include 22-year-old driver Subidh Kumar from Baluwa Bazaar-6, Supaul District, Bihar State, India; 22-year-old Rohit Kumar from the same area; and 40-year-old Mohammad Jamsher from Supaul Bazaar-1. All three have been detained at the District Police Office Dharan for further investigation, authorities confirmed.

April 18, Kathmandu – Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Nepali Congress’s legitimacy dispute, outgoing Acting Chairman Purna Bahadur Khadka is engaged in discussions with senior leaders of his faction. In this context, Khadka convened a meeting this afternoon with former officials, outgoing central committee office-bearers, and central members.

The meeting is being held at Khadka’s residence in Golfutar. Alongside Khadka, former Deputy Chairman Bimalendra Nidhi, former senior ministers Dr. Shashank Koirala, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, and leaders NP Saud, Meen Bishwakarma, Ramesh Lekhak are participating. According to sources, several other members of the outgoing Central Working Committee are also attending.

Notably, Dr. Shekhar Koirala and his supporters did not attend the meeting called by the outgoing Acting Chairman Khadka. Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court had upheld the Election Commission’s decision to recognize the committee led by Gagan Thapa, selected through a special general convention, as official.

Both Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba, elected during the 14th general convention, and Acting Chairman Khadka had filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court contesting the Election Commission’s decision. After the court’s ruling went against their faction, they have described the verdict as unexpected. Khadka is preparing to announce an official stance tomorrow, Sunday, following consultations with his top leaders.

April 18, Myagdi – Local residents in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 of Myagdi have repaired the road section connecting the tourist site Ghodepani to Luliyaghumti through volunteer labor, facilitating smoother transportation. The repair initiative was launched after a rise in accidents in the Luliyaghumti area along the Pokrebagar-Ghodepani road.

A total of 80 residents from Pokrebagar, Kurmuni, Hallekhark, Birouta, Bhuvanithan, and Ghargau contributed two days of labor for the repairs, according to Ram Krishna Khadka, president of the Pokrebagar Youth Club. The Annapurna Rural Municipality provided wire mesh used to construct a 13 cubic meter retaining wall, while approximately 30 meters of stones were placed on the uphill curves.

Following the repairs, vehicles have been able to operate smoothly on the road, Khadka said. The volunteer labor campaign was coordinated this week by Ward Chair Ram Bahadur Khadka, community leaders Rajaram Baruwal, Bipin Baruwal, and Ram Krishna Khadka. During the repair work, stone transportation, refreshments, and dozer operations were supported with 50,000 NPR cash from Muktinath Cable Car Pvt. Ltd. and material donations from other benefactors.

Both locals and tourists had been facing difficulties due to deteriorating road conditions and landslides in the Luliyaghumti and Hallekhark areas. Local entrepreneur Shiv Khadka explained that landslide-induced narrowing of the road and the inability to properly adjust its grade and curves made vehicle ascent challenging, resulting in frequent stalls and accidents.

Ward Chair Ram Bahadur Khadka shared that delays in implementation of the federally budgeted road improvement plan increased risks, prompting the community to mobilize a volunteer labor effort for temporary repairs. “Delays by the Local Infrastructure Development Office in Pokhara in addressing the Luliyaghumti and Hallekhark road repairs have increased accident risks and suffering,” he said. “After persistent demands from local representatives, the office finally allocated a budget of 30 million NPR on Thursday and called for contract bids for the project.”

The Iranian military has reclosed the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of failing to keep its promises. The announcement of the waterway’s reopening on Friday initially had a positive impact on global markets. However, US President Donald Trump stated that until a peace agreement is reached, the US will continue to blockade vessels departing from the Gulf region. Marine tracking data show four LPG gas carriers along with numerous oil and petrochemical tankers moving through the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. Following the US Central Command’s blockade on Monday, 21 vessels were turned back.

Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited an IRGC statement saying Iranian forces have reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz. The military condemned the US’s ‘so-called blockade’ as ‘maritime piracy’ and expressed dissatisfaction. Iranian forces indicated that the reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz was necessitated by the US’s failure to remove the blockade on this vital waterway as promised.

The operation of the Strait of Hormuz has become a point of contention between the US and Iran. On Friday, President Trump claimed progress toward an agreement between the two nations, a claim rejected by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. Earlier that day, Iran’s Foreign Minister had announced the reopening of the strait for commercial shipping, emphasizing that vessels must use designated safe routes. State television quoted a senior military official stating that while ships can use the assigned passages, military vessels remain prohibited from transiting the strait.

While giving opportunities to new players in T20, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has prioritized experienced players for the ODI team currently facing challenges. Kathmandu, April 17. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has, for the first time, announced national teams under different captains for the T20 and ODI formats. A 15-member squad led by Dipendra Singh Airee has been named for the upcoming T20 series against the UAE scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, Rohit Paudel will captain Nepal in the ODI series against Oman and the UAE starting April 25 under the ICC World Cup League 2.

Previously, Rohit Paudel captained both formats, but CAN handed the T20 captaincy to Dipendra Singh Airee from Friday, marking Nepal’s first instance of having different captains for T20 and ODI formats. Historically, the same player had led in both formats.

CAN has also distinguished players between the two formats. Former T20 captain Rohit Paudel is omitted from the T20 squad this time. Alongside him, five players who were part of the previous T20 squad have not been included. Experienced players such as Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Asif Sheikh are also out of the squad, creating opportunities for younger players. Kushal Malla, Santosh Yadav, Arjun Saud, Hemant Dhami, and Shahaw Alam have been selected for the T20 team, with Santosh and Hemant making their debuts, while Kushal, Arjun, and Shahaw were part of prior squads.

Young cricketers Santosh and Hemant made impressive batting and bowling performances in the Prime Minister’s One-Day Cup. Notably, Hemant Malla earned the Best Bowler award by taking the highest wickets.

For the ODI squad, experienced players remain the focus. Arjun Kamal, who scored the most runs in the Prime Minister’s Cup held in Madhesh Province, has been selected for the ODI team for the first time. Vinod Bhandari returns to the squad after three years. Other than that, the ODI team has seen little change compared to last season. Despite their excellent performances in the Prime Minister’s Cup, Santosh Yadav and Hemant Dhami have not secured ODI squad places.

Players like Sher Mall, Narayan Joshi, and Dinesh Kharel, who performed well, have also been excluded from the ODI team. The differing selections between T20 and ODI indicate distinct evaluations for the formats. Despite limited Prime Minister’s Cup impact, Rohit Paudel will continue to captain the ODI team. Also, Kushal Bhurtel, Bhim Sarki, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, and Karan KC are included in the ODI squad.

Nepal’s performance in the ICC World Cup League 2 has been weak, with only five wins out of 20 matches. As each game is critical, CAN appears to have preferred experienced players over newer players in good form.

The demand to have separate squads and captains for different formats has been longstanding. Cricket fans have requested distinct teams and captains to avoid form impairment caused by playing both formats. While T20 requires aggressive and quick scoring, ODI demands patient innings progression. Considering these differing styles, CAN has appointed different captains and players for each format.

Previously, the same players were commonly named in both T20 and ODI squads, but this time different squads have been selected. Seven players from the ODI squad, including Rohit, are not part of the T20 team. Rohit, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Bhim Sarki, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Vinod Bhandari are in the ODI team, whereas Kushal Malla, Sandeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, Santosh Yadav, Sher Mall, Hemant Dhami, Arjun Saud, and Shahaw Alam are in the T20 squad. Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Basir Ahmad, Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, and Arif Sheikh have been selected in both squads.

According to former national team captain and former selection committee chair LB Kshetri, having different squads for different formats allows better management of players’ abilities. He stated, “We had long advocated for different ODI and T20 teams. This approach provides players a great chance to showcase their skills. Players’ abilities vary, and this facilitates better management.”

5 Baisakh, Taplejung – Tourist arrivals have started increasing in the Kanchenjunga region, home to the world’s third highest mountain, located in Taplejung. As the weather improves, both domestic and international tourists are flocking to the area. The period from the first week of Chaitra to the third week of Jestha is considered the best time to visit Kanchenjunga.

According to Tansichiring Sherpa, Tourism Assistant at the Ghunsa Checkpost of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council, 165 foreign tourists have visited the region in the past month. There are two main peak tourist seasons here annually; the first from Chaitra to Jestha and the second from Ashwin to Mangsir. Last year, 750 international tourists visited during the first season alone, the Ghunsa Checkpost reported.

There are two primary trekking routes to reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp. One passes through Ganeshchok in Panchthar and the Sirijangga rural municipality, while the other is accessible by air via Suketar Airport from Kathmandu and then through the Fikkal rural municipality. Catering to tourists, there are currently 52 hotels of varying sizes operating along the Kanchenjunga trekking route, as per the Conservation Area Management Council.

In Fikkal rural municipality-6, Gyapla, ‘Singhi Namjong Hotel’ has been established with an investment exceeding NPR 70 million. Additionally, four hotels built at elevations between 3,500 to 4,500 meters above sea level have been constructed with investments over NPR 10 million, according to Tourism Assistant Sherpa at Ghunsa Checkpost.

In the district headquarters of Phungling market, large-scale hotels have also been developed, focusing on tourists. With increasing tourist arrivals, local tourism and hotel entrepreneurs have become more optimistic. The primary sources of livelihood for the local communities within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area are tourism, hotel business, and animal husbandry. Most families in Ghunsa, Phale, and Yampudin areas are directly connected to tourism, Sherpa noted.

He added that while some have become self-employed by running hotels, others earn income as tourist guides or assistants. Due to limited agricultural prospects, young generations are increasingly inclined toward tourism-related occupations rather than animal husbandry.

Kanchenjunga has a historical significance with its first ascent on May 25, 1955. Previously, a trek from Phungling took about 24 days, but now both base camps can be reached and return completed within 11 to 16 days. Tourist demand peaks during Chaitra, Baisakh, Jestha, Ashwin, Kartik, and Mangsir. Mountain climbing mainly occurs in Baisakh and Jestha, Sherpa explained. Visitors come from countries including Japan, Germany, Australia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, the Philippines, Spain, Sweden, among others. A smaller number of tourists and climbers also come from India and China.

Following the Supreme Court’s recognition of Gagan Thapa’s leadership in the Nepali Congress, much attention has shifted to the upcoming strategy of the Deuba faction. Leaders aligned with Deuba expressed that the court’s decision was “unexpected” and indicated plans to formulate their future approach. One leader remarked that they had previously rejected the special general convention held months ago and continue to do so. Meanwhile, Congress spokespersons have assured that there will be no obstacles in moving forward with unity among all factions.

The Supreme Court verdict appears to have settled months-long debates within the Congress regarding official leadership as of Friday. Vimlendra Nidhi, a leader close to then-President Deuba, declined to comment on the court’s ruling at present. “Secondly, we’ve never accepted the special general convention and still do not,” Nidhi told the BBC. He added that discussions with colleagues will be held to decide the next steps. “We will deliberate and establish the way forward,” he noted.

Leaders of the Deuba faction had been hopeful that the Supreme Court would rule in their favor. However, the verdict delivered on Friday seems to have disappointed them. “The order did not meet our expectations,” said NP Saud, a leader from the Deuba camp. Regarding future plans, he explained, “We will confer with fellow party members after the Supreme Court’s decision and make determinations.” He further added, “A concrete decision will be reached within a week to ten days.”

Addressing the conclusion of the dispute after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Congress spokesperson Devaraj Chalise stated, “The legal and statutory disagreements have ended following the court decision.” He emphasized, “Now, the path forward is to include everyone, establish the notion that Congress belongs to all.” The court’s order officially recognized the committee led by Gagan Thapa. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by the Deuba faction challenging the Election Commission’s recognition of Thapa, effectively upholding Thapa’s leadership.