Author: space4knews

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.

May 29, Kathmandu – KP Sharma Oli, Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), informed party activists that the government is actively working towards conducting provincial and local elections at the same time. He shared this information via his personal social media account. Oli stated, ‘The current government and the Election Commission are preparing to hold the Provincial Assembly and local level elections simultaneously.’ However, despite this development, some factions within the UML are reportedly disappointed and considering dissent. Oli emphasized the need to transform this discouragement among party workers into hope.

US President Donald Trump held a meeting on Friday with his top advisers to reach a “final decision” regarding extending the ceasefire with Iran; however, no definitive resolution emerged from the discussion. Participants emphasized that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons or bombs, ensure unobstructed passage through the Strait of Hormuz by both sides, and agree to destroy all mines in the waterway. The meeting took place in the White House’s Situation Room, a facility used for managing major crises.

Iran has previously declared that it has not engaged in any negotiations about its nuclear program and insists that its activities are entirely for civilian purposes. On Thursday, US officials indicated that both nations had agreed on a draft framework for an agreement, though it still required approval from President Trump and the Iranian leadership. The proposed deal would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and initiate talks on Iran’s nuclear program’s future. “President Trump will only agree to a deal that serves America’s interests and aligns with his red lines. Iran will never be permitted to possess nuclear weapons,” a White House official told CBS News.

Since the initial ceasefire was implemented on April 8, Trump has repeatedly stated that both sides are close to an agreement and that talks are progressing, but no concrete results have yet been achieved. Recently, both Iran and the US have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. On Friday morning, Trump posted on social media that he is prepared to lift the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. He also highlighted the necessity for Iran to allow the removal and destruction of its enriched uranium. “No financial transactions will take place until further notice,” he stated. “Substantial agreements have been reached on many less critical issues.”

A White House official told the BBC that the meeting in the Situation Room had concluded but declined to share further details. Iran’s Fars News Agency described Trump’s latest remarks as “a mixture of truth and falsehood” and noted that there is no provision in the agreement to dismantle nuclear material. Ismail Bakoi, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified to state television that this represents a “decisive choice focused on ending the war” and that there have been no talks regarding the nuclear issue. The US has long pressured Iran to cease producing highly enriched uranium and destroy existing stockpiles, a material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons. Iran continues to assert that its nuclear program is purely peaceful and denies any plans to develop nuclear arms. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed the possibility of restarting military action in Iran. Speaking at a security summit in Singapore, he said, “We have an abundant and balanced stockpile of weapons, ready for both the region and the world,” adding, “Therefore, we are well positioned.”

May 29, Kathmandu – In the Asian Games women’s cricket qualifier, Nepal is set to face Malaysia in the semifinals. After winning the toss at the Biomass Oval in Malaysia, Nepal has chosen to bat first. A victory in this match will secure Nepal’s spot in the Asian Games. In the other semifinal, Thailand defeated China to advance to the final and has also confirmed their qualification for the Asian Games. Prior to the qualifier, Nepal played two T20 International matches against Malaysia, winning both.

June 29, Kathmandu – Nepali Congress parliamentary leader Bhishma Raj Andembe emphasized the necessity for the state, political parties, civil society, and the entire community to work together with a shared commitment to protect and promote women’s rights. On the occasion of the Eighth National Women’s Rights Day, he issued a congratulatory statement on Saturday, highlighting the collective responsibility to safeguard and advance women’s rights.

Highlighting women’s capacity, creativity, leadership, and contributions as the foundation of nation-building, Andembe stated that inclusive, just, and prosperous societies can only be achieved through meaningful participation and leadership of women in political, social, economic, educational, and cultural spheres. He underscored that the effective implementation of women’s rights guaranteed by the constitution, ensuring equal opportunities, and fostering women’s self-reliance and empowerment are crucial needs today.

“I express my best wishes that this day raises further awareness about women’s rights and inspires us to strengthen the journey toward gender equality, social justice, and prosperity,” said parliamentary leader Andembe.

Recently, the Cricket Association of Nepal revised its players’ ‘central contracts,’ promoting Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Sandeep Lamichhane to the ‘A Plus’ category with a monthly salary of NPR 120,000. This is considered a substantial monthly income for athletes within the context of Nepali sports. While other sports federations have been unable to offer similar benefits to national athletes—resulting in increased athlete migration—the discussion around professionalizing players has resurfaced.

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) was the first to offer monthly salaries to national team players before the Cricket Association of Nepal. Likewise, the Volleyball Association of Nepal had provided monthly salaries to key players for a limited period. But how do athletes from other sports sustain themselves? Is the lack of regular income prompting them to go abroad? Such questions are increasingly being raised.

ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai explained, “It is not the federation that directly pays salaries; clubs provide the salaries. The payment from ANFA is more like a bonus or incentive.” Globally, few sports federations provide monthly stipends; instead, many countries compensate national athletes through central contracts, match fees, bonuses, and awards. Within Nepal, ANFA is recognized as the first federation to start monthly salary payments to national players, initiating NPR 1,500 per month from 1995 and raising it to NPR 2,000 after five years.

The Cricket Association of Nepal has paid monthly salaries since 2014, adapting over time. Meanwhile, the Volleyball Association of Nepal had been giving the national men’s and women’s teams NPR 5,000 per month two years ago, funded by passionate volleyball supporters living in the United States. However, this initiative was not sustainable long-term, and the federation now plans to provide salaries independently. Federation Secretary Roshan Shrestha stated, “The payments were made possible by the support of 40 volleyball enthusiasts in the U.S., but now we must take the initiative ourselves as it was not permanent.”

How do players earn? Globally, only a few sports such as football, cricket, and rugby provide athletes with monthly salaries under central contracts.

May 29, Kathmandu – KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), has stated that conspiracies aimed at eliminating established political parties continue unabated. Speaking on his digital platform, Apani-2, Oli conveyed that there is an ongoing plot to dismantle political parties and leaders who have long struggled for democracy under the pretext of ‘old versus new.’ He wrote, “The conspiracy to displace political parties and leadership with a long history of democratic struggle in the name of old and new continues.”

Following the events of September 8 and 9, Oli noted that as the country was heading toward regression, the CPN-UML advanced the agenda to reinstate the House of Representatives to steer Nepal back on the correct path. However, he clarified that the party had no choice but to participate in elections due to a lack of support from other political parties. “Our analysis that reinstating the House of Representatives is essential to guide the country, which is moving toward regression, back to the path of the constitution and democracy was not supported by other democratic parties in Nepal. As a result, our party was compelled to contest the elections,” he wrote.

Oli also acknowledged that the CPN-UML was unsuccessful in the election due to the absence of backing from other parties. “The election result did not favor our party. It also did not favor the main democratic parties in Nepal,” he said.

Expressing doubts about the election process itself, Oli mentioned that the party plans to issue a separate review report on the matter. “This election was not like the previous one. Its outcome was also not natural,” he wrote on Apani. “In this regard, the party will present its perspective through a review report.”

16 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee has set the maximum wholesale prices for agricultural produce for today. According to the committee, the prices are as follows: large Nepali tomatoes at NPR 60 per kilogram, large Indian tomatoes at NPR 70 per kilogram, small local tomatoes at NPR 22 per kilogram, small tunnel tomatoes at NPR 35 per kilogram, long red potatoes at NPR 32 per kilogram, round red potatoes at NPR 28 per kilogram, and dried Indian onions at NPR 44 per kilogram.

Similarly, local carrots are priced at NPR 80 per kilogram, local cabbages at NPR 40 per kilogram, local cauliflower at NPR 80 per kilogram, hybrid white radish at NPR 20 per kilogram, long eggplants at NPR 60 per kilogram, and round eggplants also at NPR 60 per kilogram.

Further prices include: string beans (tane) at NPR 80 per kilogram, maize beans at NPR 80 per kilogram, pea pods at NPR 100 per kilogram, local winged beans at NPR 80 per kilogram, hybrid winged beans at NPR 60 per kilogram, rajma winged beans at NPR 100 per kilogram, soybean pods at NPR 150 per kilogram, bitter gourd at NPR 50 per kilogram, and bottle gourds at NPR 70 per kilogram. Local parwar costs NPR 70 per kilogram, ghiroola NPR 40, ripe pumpkins NPR 60, long green pumpkins NPR 55, round green pumpkins NPR 40, okra NPR 60, chayote NPR 80, and pindalu NPR 40, with skus priced at NPR 90 per kilogram.

Further vegetable greens include: spinach (raiyosag) at NPR 80 per kilogram, palungo at NPR 100, chamssur greens at NPR 100, fenugreek leaves at NPR 100, green onions at NPR 120, and mushrooms priced as follows – button mushrooms NPR 300 per kilogram, oyster mushrooms NPR 500 per kilogram, king mushrooms NPR 320 per kilogram, and shiitake mushrooms NPR 1,000 per kilogram. Other prices include kurilo at NPR 350, neuro at NPR 80, beetroot at NPR 60, sajeewan at NPR 120, red cabbage at NPR 50, cumin greens at NPR 100, celery at NPR 130, parsley at NPR 227, fennel greens at NPR 100, mint at NPR 150, green maize at NPR 50, tamarind at NPR 180, tama at NPR 140, tofu at NPR 160, and gundruk at NPR 350 per kilogram.

Fruit prices set are: Fuji apples at NPR 300 per kilogram, Nepali bananas at NPR 200 per dozen, Malbhog bananas at NPR 220, pomegranates at NPR 450 per kilogram, green watermelon at NPR 40 per kilogram, bhuekathhar at NPR 200 per kilogram, lemons at NPR 227 per kilogram, local cucumbers at NPR 60 per kilogram, hybrid cucumbers at NPR 20, local cross cucumbers at NPR 55, khakatthar at NPR 60, Nepali dry beans at NPR 90, Indian dry beans at NPR 100, local lychee at NPR 250, and Indian lychee at NPR 300 per kilogram.

Additionally, ginger is priced at NPR 140 per kilogram, dried chili at NPR 550 per kilogram, long green chili at NPR 60, bullet chili at NPR 60, mache chili at NPR 50, sheep chili at NPR 55, and fresh green garlic at NPR 200 per kilogram. Fresh coriander is set at NPR 100 per kilogram, dried Chinese garlic at NPR 180, dried Nepali garlic at NPR 130, dried chhyapi at NPR 160, fresh fish such as rahu at NPR 340 per kilogram, bachuwa at NPR 300 per kilogram, and chhadi at NPR 260 per kilogram.

May 29, Kathmandu – The government has announced through the budget that a 3 percent Education Equality Fee will be charged on all types of fees collected from students attending educational institutions operated by the private sector. In the budget presented on Friday by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, it was stated, “To support the construction and expansion of education and health infrastructure and services in remote areas, a minimum rate of equality fee will be imposed on education and health services provided by the private sector.”

According to Section 16 of the bill enacted to implement the government’s financial proposal, an education equality fee will be levied on all types of fees collected by privately operated educational institutions as per Schedule 7. The revenue generated from this fee will be allocated to expanding access to quality education and building educational infrastructure. The clarification explains, “For the purpose of this section, ‘privately operated teaching institutions’ refer to any bodies providing education, including private universities, colleges, schools, technical institutes, except those offering training and refresher courses.”

Private schools have opposed the imposition of this equality fee. School operators and parents have urged for its immediate repeal, arguing that it should not be implemented. Subas Nyaupane, president of the Nepal Private and Boarding Schools’ Association (NPABSON), said, “The equality fee imposes an additional burden on private schools. Charging an extra 3 percent tax on every fee will create hardships for parents. We strongly condemn this provision.” He further stated that this fee could result in injustice to the public rather than development in the education sector.

Former president of the Parents Association, Suprabhat Bhandari, expressed, “Taxing education is not appropriate; taxes should be imposed on income. Fees are paid by students and parents, so taxing the cost of attending school is unreasonable.” He added, “The constitution ensures free and compulsory education, hence equality fees should not be levied.” Meanwhile, Ministry of Education spokesperson Shiv Kumar Sapkota requested that the education equality fee be viewed as a social responsibility. He said, “This is like a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A procedure will be established for its implementation.”

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has incorporated the government’s policies and programs along with the key points of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (Raswapa) manifesto into the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. The process of reimbursing savings to distressed cooperative savers through an integrated Savings Protection Fund will be continued. The budget also announces collaboration with the private sector in managing the operations of Gautam Buddha and Pokhara regional international airports. This announcement was made on May 29, in Kathmandu.

The budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Wagle includes the government’s policy agenda, a hundred-point program for governance reforms, and topics highlighted in Raswapa’s manifesto. Key issues such as landless individuals, squatters and those living in unplanned settlements, reimbursement of cooperative depositors’ funds, the operation of two international airports, non-residential Nepali citizenship, public institution reforms, and startups have also been integrated into the budget unveiled on Friday.

Both the government’s governance reforms and Raswapa’s manifesto emphasize conducting a unified digital asset survey of landless, squatter, and unplanned settlers nationwide. The government’s agenda included completing the asset collection and verification of landless and squatter populations within two months. The budget presented by Minister Wagle declares that the management of landless Dalits, landless squatters, and residents of unplanned settlements will be completed within the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget outlines measures to reimburse funds to cooperative depositors. Raswapa had pledged to begin repaying small savers within 100 days of the government formation. During the presentation of the government’s policies and programs, President Ramchandra Paudel also addressed the issue of cooperatives. The government is committed to establishing an integrated Savings Protection Fund to refund the deposits of savers in troubled cooperative institutions through loan recovery mechanisms.

Incorporating even a small amount of physical activity into daily life offers long-term health benefits. While I sometimes struggle to get out for a morning walk, I make the effort because I understand how beneficial it is for me. Conversations with recent researchers have revealed that exercise positively impacts not only our bodies but also the brain, memory, and overall well-being. It’s not necessary to engage only in intense workouts; a new study shows that even small bouts of exercise can significantly influence health and longevity. Daily activities as brief as five minutes—such as slow walking, cycling, or climbing stairs—could prevent one in ten premature deaths and extend millions of lives.
However, the study does not imply that just five minutes of exercise guarantees complete health. Even a little activity is far better and more practical than none, and minor physical movement still improves overall health. For those already active and fit, an additional five minutes yields modest benefits, but for less active individuals, the gains can be substantial. “Physical activity greatly helps reduce high stress and fatigue,” explains Nicole Logan, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island. “We understand that physical activity, muscle strength and quality, and bone robustness are indicators of longevity and healthy living.”
The study included 150,000 adults from the UK, the US, and Scandinavia. “Just five minutes of daily short physical activity makes a major difference in premature mortality,” said Alf Eklund, Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He has demonstrated the significant health benefits of five minutes of exercise at the population level. While adults are recommended by the World Health Organization to exercise 150 minutes weekly, this research highlights that even those unable to attend gyms or engage in sports benefit from five minutes of daily exercise.
Reducing inactivity proved beneficial too. Cutting sedentary time by 30 minutes daily reduced premature death risk by 7% on average. Physical inactivity is a risk factor for chronic disease and early mortality. Eklund emphasized the importance of consistency. “Start small to build your health and gradually increase,” he advised.
The study further shows that short-term exercise leads to lasting health advantages, so adding small bursts of physical activity in daily life can have a major impact without huge lifestyle changes. Stretching exercises that target muscles are also advantageous. A US study found that people born in the 1960s and 1970s who combined aerobic exercise with stretching had lower mortality rates.
Another study showed that brief, regular exercise sessions, known as “exercise snacking,” improve cardiovascular health. Extensive research on adults has underlined its effectiveness. Many people have adopted this practice, with 82% maintaining the habit, given its simplicity. For those unable to visit gyms, exercise snacking at any time of day is feasible. Activities like dancing to music in the kitchen or brisk stair climbing elevate heart rate beneficially.
Mary Murphy, Professor of Exercise and Health at Ulster University in the UK, explains that small exercises stimulate the body’s metabolism. “Even after stopping exercise, our metabolism remains elevated for some time.” Growing awareness about the benefits of exercise snacking has elicited positive responses from the public. Minor adjustments can lead to significant change. For instance, signage encouraging stair use instead of escalators or elevators has successfully motivated many.
Amanda Daley, Professor at Loughborough University, UK, emphasizes that small changes can have lasting meaningful impacts. “Sometimes we do things without thinking, and those become habits,” she notes. “You take stairs because you’ve formed that habit.” Daley suggests parking five minutes farther from destinations as a simple way to reduce sedentary behavior, which can also aid exercise in the short term. A small-scale study with colleagues observed this habit being repeated frequently, helping to make regular exercise more manageable over the long term.

मई ३०, काठमाडौं – नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले आजको लागि विदेशी मुद्रा विनिमय दरहरू निर्धारण गरेको छ। केन्द्रीय बैंकका अनुसार, अमेरिकी डलरको किन्ने दर NPR १५१.७१ र बेच्ने दर NPR १५२.३१ तोकिएको छ। यस्तै, युरोपेली युरोको किन्ने दर NPR १७६.६४ र बेच्ने दर NPR १७७.३४ रहेको छ। ब्रिटिश पाउण्ड स्टर्लिङको किन्ने र बेच्ने दर क्रमशः NPR २०३.५९ र NPR २०४.३९ छन्, जबकि स्विस फ्र्याङ्कको किन्ने दर NPR १९३.८३ र बेच्ने दर NPR १९४.६० छ।

अस्ट्रेलियन डलरको किन्ने र बेच्ने दर NPR १०८.६४ र NPR १०९.०७ छन्; क्यानाडियन डलरको दर NPR ९०.८४ (किन्ने) र NPR ११०.२७ (बेच्ने) रहेको छ; र सिंगापुर डलरको दर NPR ११८.७६ (किन्ने) र NPR ११९.२३ (बेच्ने) छ। जापानी येन (१० युनिट प्रति) NPR ९.५२ मा किनिन्छ र NPR ९.५६ मा बेचिन्छ। चिनियाँ युआनको किन्ने र बेच्ने दर क्रमशः NPR २२.४२ र NPR २२.५१ छन्, र साउदी अरबको रियालको किन्ने दर NPR ४०.४३ र बेच्ने दर NPR ४०.५९ छ।

कतारी रियालको किन्ने र बेच्ने दर NPR ४१.६६ र NPR ४१.८२ छन्, थाई बाटको किन्ने दर NPR ४.६६ र बेच्ने दर NPR ४.६८ छ, र यूएई दिरहम NPR ४१.३१ मा किनिन्छ र NPR ४१.४७ मा बेचिन्छ। मलेशियाली रिङ्गिटको किन्ने दर NPR ३८.२६ र बेच्ने दर NPR ३८.४१ छ; दक्षिण कोरियाली वोन (१०० युनिट प्रति) NPR १०.०७ (किन्ने) र NPR १०.११ (बेच्ने) छ; स्विडिश क्रोना NPR १६.४१ (किन्ने) र NPR १६.४७ (बेच्ने) मा छ; र डेनिस क्रोना NPR २३.६४ (किन्ने) र NPR २३.७३ (बेच्ने) मा तोकिएको छ। केन्द्रीय बैंकका अनुसार, हङकङ डलरको किन्ने दर NPR १९.३६ र बेच्ने दर NPR १९.४४ छ; कुवेती दिनार NPR ४९४.६२ (किन्ने) र NPR ५९६.६१ (बेच्ने) मा छ। बहराइन दिनारको किन्ने र बेच्ने दर NPR ४०२.३९ र NPR ४०३.९८ छन्, र ओमानी रियाल NPR ३९४.०५ (किन्ने) र NPR ३९५.६१ (बेच्ने) मा छ। भारतीय रूपैयाँ (१०० युनिट प्रति) NPR १६० (किन्ने) र NPR १६०.१५ (बेच्ने) मा तोकिएको छ। केन्द्रीय बैंकले थप जानकारी दिएको छ कि यी विनिमय दरहरू आवश्यकतानुसार कुनै पनि समयमा संशोधन गर्न सकिन्छ। वाणिज्यिक बैंकहरूले निर्धारण गरेका विदेशी विनिमय दरहरू फरक हुन सक्छन्। अद्यावधिक दरहरू केन्द्रीय बैंकको आधिकारिक वेबसाइटमा उपलब्ध छन्।