Author: space4knews

May 29, Biratnagar – A woman’s body was found under a bridge over the Ratua River in Setumadi, Damak Municipality–10, Jhapa, under suspicious circumstances. The body was discovered inside a white plastic bag around 11 a.m. on Saturday. The identity of the woman, estimated to be between 30 and 32 years old, remains unknown. According to DSP Khagendra Khadka of the Jhapa District Police Office, the police were informed after the body inside the bag was spotted.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the body was likely brought from another location and thrown from the bridge. Police estimate the body may be two to three days old. The deceased woman was wearing a red vest and jeans. She also had a tattoo on her left hand. DSP Khadka stated that the body has been sent to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for a post-mortem examination. Authorities are attempting to identify the woman based on her tattoo and physical description.

Following the government’s announcement to impose value-added tax (VAT) on electricity consumers who use more than 50 units per month, various opinions have emerged regarding its impact. Some critics argue that this decision goes against consumer interests and may negatively affect the campaign to increase electricity consumption, while others contend that since VAT will not apply to those using up to 50 units, the overall consumption will not be significantly impacted.

During the presentation of the Fiscal Year 2083/84 budget, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle informed the public about the provision to charge VAT at a concessional rate on electricity consumption exceeding 50 units per month for end-users. According to the Ministry of Finance spokesperson Amrit Lamsal, the government has proposed a 5 percent VAT on electricity consumption. He clarified: “For example, if a consumer uses 75 units, the first 50 units will be VAT-exempt, and the remaining 25 units will be subject to VAT.”

Former Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, who has led both the Ministry of Energy and the Nepal Electricity Authority, expressed concerns that the VAT decision poses an obstacle to achieving energy transformation goals. He stated, “This decision adversely affects consumer interests, the energy transition targets, and the national campaign to increase the use of locally produced clean energy.” Conversely, Nepal Electricity Authority spokesperson Rajan Dhakal noted, “Although some consumers may find the extra payment burdensome, this will not result in a reduction or stagnation in electricity consumption.”

According to spokesperson Dhakal, the Nepal Electricity Authority has approximately 5.8 million customers, of whom about 1.7 to 1.8 million consume less than 20 units of electricity monthly. However, the authority has not identified the exact number of domestic and industrial consumers using more than 50 units monthly. Former Energy Minister Ghising pointed out that most consumers exceeding 50 units are ordinary households. He emphasized, “In this scenario, the tax decision will increase the monthly expenses of millions of families and make household cooking more expensive.”

Bharisman Punle, a Member of Parliament from the Nepal Communist Party, stated that political forces emerging from social media and digital platforms are not sustainable. He asserted that new powers arising solely through virtual means without a solid ideological and political foundation will soon collapse. Punle highlighted that the main challenge now is to make party workers and organizations technologically savvy. Dated 16 Jestha, Kathmandu.

Addressing an event held in Kathmandu on Saturday, he claimed such powers are bound to face quick decline. Reflecting on recent political trends, Punle remarked that these forces lack thoughtful leadership and a clear political base. He also pointed out that in the current digital era, agenda-setting happens through social media where no definitive leadership exists.

He mentioned that due to the influence of the virtual world, even when physical presence at polling stations during elections diminishes, the results can be unexpected. “The movements that have gained momentum so rapidly can also decline just as quickly. Tomorrow, established parties may once again take charge of the country and society,” he stated.

Key points made by Punle include: agendas are formed on digital platforms, social media, and communication outlets where participants are diverse and without centralized leadership. This process is so rapid and aggressive that it’s difficult to predict when and where it might explode. This situation is observable in Nepal currently. While fewer people may show up physically at polling stations, the social media and online spheres remain highly active.

Therefore, there’s a challenge to modernize organizations to be technology-friendly. Although recent movements have grown swiftly, they can just as quickly deteriorate. Even though parties like Sike Raut’s played a significant role in the 2079 elections in the Madhesh region, they are currently absent from the political scene. Such new powers tend to rise and fall rapidly.

Deputy General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Uday Shamsher Jabara, claimed that Nepali Congress is the most inclusive party compared to other political parties. Speaking at the first general convention of the Nepal Tharu Association on Saturday, he stated that the party’s policies and structure give the Tharu community high priority. According to Deputy General Secretary Jabara, Congress has already established Tharu community leaders in top leadership roles as well as governmental positions.

Jabara welcomed the Nepal Tharu Association as the youngest affiliate organization of Congress and said that successfully completing district conventions in a short period is a matter of pride. He added that despite challenges following his nomination as chairman on Magh 4, 2079 BS, the association has adopted an organizational structure and reached the stage of a historic general convention.

He emphasized that compared to other national parties, Congress has consistently placed Tharu community leaders in key leadership positions. “Even before the establishment of the multiparty system, Congress appointed Parshunarayan Chaudhary as general secretary. Vijay Kumar Gachhadar served as the party’s central vice president, Umakant Chaudhary as deputy general secretary, and currently, Yogendra Chaudhary holds the position. This kind of inclusiveness is not seen in other parties like UML, Maoist, or Rastriya Swatantra Party,” he stated. Additionally, he pointed out that appointing Dilli Chaudhary as Chief Minister of Lumbini Province is a living example of Congress’s commitment to inclusiveness.

May 29, Kathmandu – Pradeep Paudel, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, has voiced serious concerns about discussions taking place regarding Nepal reverting to a unitary system. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first general convention of the Nepal Tharu Association, a sister organization of the Congress, on Saturday, he mentioned hearing talk about abolishing federalism.

“It is essential to move forward while safeguarding the achievements enshrined in the constitution. There are ongoing discussions about the country reverting to a unitary state system,” stated General Secretary Paudel. “There appears to be an effort to weaken the parliamentary system.” He emphasized the importance of all parties working together to protect these constitutional accomplishments and ensure their full implementation.

He warned that if these achievements are revoked, the nation could return to a unitary system. “It is true that the Tharu community has faced neglect, but the constitution currently grants many rights and opportunities. While not perfect, it is our responsibility to protect them,” said General Secretary Paudel.

He also recalled that the Tharu community has upheld Nepal’s security by residing along its borders and has made significant contributions to national economic development.

Giving a phone or tablet to a small child who is upset or throwing a tantrum may seem like the easiest way to calm them down. However, a study by the University of California, Irvine, USA, has shown that this practice can negatively impact children’s self-control. Researchers from UC Irvine along with six other universities studied 210 families with children aged 9 to 30 months. According to lead researcher Stephanie M. Reich, “Frequent use of mobile phones and tablets by children can lead to behavioral problems in the future.” When children cry or are distressed, instead of comforting or engaging with them through conversation, they are distracted with screens such as phones or TVs. The researchers term this practice as ‘displacement.’ Over time, this can cause larger issues. Even though children are physically present with their parents, the researchers describe the screen-induced detachment as a form of displacement.

Medical professionals note several negative effects linked to increased screen time in children. These include difficulty focusing, falling behind academically, sleep disturbances, reduced sensitivity to aggression, increased obesity, and eye strain. Doctors also highlight that the addictive nature of reels, fast-forwarding, and short videos is causing a rapid rise in attention deficits, irritability, withdrawal from communication, and decreased interest in learning among children. The habit of watching long videos by fast-forwarding is changing children’s behavior, making them quick to impatience when they are expected to listen attentively.

Physicians advise parents to regulate children’s screen time based on age and need. Setting a positive example by limiting their own screen use is an effective way to combat this issue. Doctors recommend sitting together with children to engage in conversation and encouraging offline activities—time spent without mobile devices. Earlier, a comprehensive study by the renowned American health institution, Johns Hopkins Medicine, showed the serious mental and physical effects of screen time on children and adolescents. According to Dr. Jennifer Katzengold, Director of Psychology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, excessive screen time seriously harms children’s mental health. Seeing others’ lifestyles on social media can make children feel inferior, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. Prolonged use of gadgets while lying down on beds or floors puts pressure on the back and neck bones. Experts warn that poor posture from such habits can lead to chronic, non-healing neck pain in the future. Johns Hopkins experts recommend limiting children’s daily screen time to two hours or less. They stress the importance of keeping children completely away from screens during meals, homework, and at least one hour before bedtime. (With contributions from agencies)

Kamala Parajuli, Chairperson of the National Women Commission, stated that although the constitution ensures women’s rights, there remain significant challenges in their implementation and access. She remarked, “Our constitution and laws do guarantee rights, but the greatest challenge lies in the actual exercise and accessibility of these rights.”

Speaking at an event organized in Kathmandu on Saturday to mark National Women’s Rights Day, Chairperson Parajuli noted that various suggestions have been received to strengthen the gender perspective in the ongoing constitutional amendment discussions. She emphasized that the primary responsibility at present is to ensure that constitutionally and legally guaranteed rights reach the targeted groups.

Chairperson Parajuli highlighted that the current government is positive and women-friendly in its approach to gender issues and expressed satisfaction with its performance so far. She pointed out that, for the first time in history, women constitute 40 percent of the cabinet and that sufficient budget allocation has been made for the Ministry of Women, which she described as a positive achievement.

She added, “Now, it is essential for the state, government, civil society, and various organizations to collectively develop concrete strategies to enhance access to women’s rights. We have observed that the current government has embraced gender issues with a positive outlook and is committed to effective implementation.”

Saptari, 30 May – A 55-year-old farmer named Sahadev Lougi died after receiving an electric shock in Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality-1, near the Kosi embankment, on Saturday. Police reported that the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. when Lougi was installing a motor used for pumping water in the field of local Tirpit Narayan Jha, located approximately one and a half kilometers east of the Kosi embankment. Lougi suffered the electric shock at the site and died instantly. The deceased’s body has been sent to Gajendranarayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj for examination. The District Police Office in Saptari confirmed that further investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Nepal, aiming to secure the title at the Kavre Women’s Championship held on home soil, ended the tournament without winning any medals for the first time, while new players gained valuable experience and international exposure. Nepal was defeated by India in the third-place match, resulting in a medal-less outcome. Following this competition, Nepal entered the FIVB world rankings for the first time, positioned at 61st.

The championship, which began on May 22, Nepal’s National Volleyball Day, saw the Nepali women’s team set sights on winning the trophy. However, the tournament concluded on May 31 with Nepal unable to break into the top three. The loss to India in the bronze medal match forced them to finish without any medals on home ground.

Although Nepal had consistently won medals in previous editions, this time they failed to secure any. Coach Jagadish Bhatt stated, “Our performance was good, but we couldn’t achieve the expected medal. It was disappointing for volleyball fans to have their hopes unfulfilled.” Nepal won 2 out of 5 matches and lost 3. Being defeated twice by India highlighted weaknesses in the squad. Head coach Bhatt added, “We had set a target for third place. Some errors in service and weakness at critical moments prevented us from succeeding.”

The team featured six new players, with Niruta Thagunna appointed as the new captain. Six players making their senior team debut participated for the first time. Coach Bhatt emphasized the need to provide further opportunities to these newcomers and praised 17-year-old Mina for her strong performance. Although there are no immediate plans for Nepal to compete in other international tournaments, their participation in the 20th Asian Games, scheduled for September in Aichi Nagoya, Japan, has been confirmed.

16 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has initiated preparations for the upcoming provincial and local elections by organizing the division of responsibilities among its leaders and cadres. The party launched a new campaign through Apani-2, released on Friday. The Secretariat meeting held on 10 Jestha had previously assigned the division of tasks among central leaders. This document outlines the task distribution, political messages from Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and arrangements for deploying leaders down to the local levels.

According to Niraj Acharya, head of the publicity department mentioned in the document, the party has commenced its election preparations with this campaign. He stated that under the “Mission Party Awakening” drive, leaders have been dispatched to local levels. Specifically, in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities, leaders have been appointed as in-charges directly from the central committee and assigned to wards as well. The deployed leaders include central committee members up to senior district-level leaders. “Central members, central advisory members, members of central commissions, House of Representatives candidates, and senior provincial and district leaders have all been assigned roles,” Acharya informed.

At the municipal level, as per the “Mission Party Awakening” campaign, central officials and members have been given responsibilities across provinces, districts, people’s organizations, and departments.

In the Asian Games women’s cricket qualifier semifinal, Nepal has set Malaysia a target of 127 runs to win. Winning the toss, Nepal opted to bat first and scored 126 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs, led by an unbeaten 46 runs from captain Indu Barma. A victory in this match will secure Nepal’s spot in the Asian Games. Thailand has already reached the final, ensuring their qualification for the Asian Games. Kathmandu, 30 May.

Nepal posted 126 runs for 6 wickets at the Biomass Oval against Malaysia in the 20-over match. Captain Indu Barma top-scored with an unbeaten 46, commanding attention throughout the innings. Kavita Kunwar contributed 33 runs off just 15 balls. Nepal found themselves at 92 for 5 in the 18th over but added 34 crucial runs in the last two overs. For Malaysia, Winifred Duraisingam took 2 wickets, while Aisa Alisa and Mahira Ejati claimed one wicket each. A win here would see Nepal qualify for the Asian Games.

In the other semifinal, Thailand defeated China to reach the final and have secured their place in the Asian Games. Even if Nepal loses this match, they still have a chance to qualify by defeating China in the third-place playoff.