Nigerian Jon Club secured their place in the Khajura Gold Cup final by defeating Four Brothers FC of Nawalparasi 2–1. According to the organizers, the final match between Nigerian Jon Club and Lucknow-based JVM Football Academy is scheduled for Sunday at 4 PM. The tournament winner will receive NPR 700,000 in cash, along with a trophy, medals, and certificates, while the runner-up will be awarded NPR 400,000.
On 5th Baisakh, Nepalgunj – Foreign team Nigerian Jon Club became the second team to reach the final of the inaugural Khajura Gold Cup. In a competitive semifinal held on Saturday, Nigerian Jon Club defeated Four Brothers FC of Nawalparasi 2–1 to earn their spot in the final at Miti Arena. For the Nigerian side, Tajudin Akinsola scored in the 39th minute and Olaobi Afiz added a goal in the 78th minute. Abhishek Mahto responded with a goal for Four Brothers, attempting to overturn their strategy.
During the match, three players from Nigerian Jon Club and two from Four Brothers received yellow cards. With their progression to the final, Nigerian Jon Club has set up a title clash against JVM Football Academy of Lucknow. Both teams are foreign clubs. The final is scheduled to start at 4 PM on Sunday, as announced by the tournament’s publicity coordinator Khagendra Dahal.
Nigerian Jon Club secured their semifinal spot by defeating Armed Police Force 3–0 in the knockout stage, while JVM Football Academy reached the semifinals by edging past the hosts, New Danfe Sports Club Khajura, with a 1–0 victory. The tournament is being held at the Mini Stadium in Khajura-4, D-gaun. A total of eight teams are participating, including the hosts New Danfe Sports Club, JVM Football Academy Lucknow, Kankre Vihar Club Surkhet, Four Brothers FC Nawalparasi, APF Kathmandu, and Nigerian Jon Club of Nigeria.
April 18, Kathmandu – KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (UML), has been discharged from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital after 21 days. His secretariat confirmed that six days following gallstone surgery, Oli was released from the hospital on Saturday evening and reached his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur.
Based on the report from the Gauribahadur Karki Commission, the police arrested Oli on March 27 to investigate incidents related to the Janajati movement. Following his arrest, the Kathmandu police took him to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital the same day for a health examination. Due to detected health issues, he was admitted to the hospital. Throughout this period, police custody and investigation continued while he was hospitalized.
During this time, Oli’s wife, Radhika Shakya, filed a writ petition for habeas corpus at the Supreme Court. Acting on the court’s order, Oli was released from custody on April 9 (Chaitra 26). While still hospitalized, the police released him on bail under the condition of regular check-ins and entrusted his care to his wife. However, he did not leave the hospital that day. Previously, it had been diagnosed that Oli had gallstones, for which surgery was conducted on April 13 (Chaitra 30). After six days of treatment, he has now been discharged from the hospital.
5 Baisakh, Kathmandu — The chariot procession of Red Machhindranath, revered as the deity of rain and cooperation, was held on Saturday. Every year, on the day of Baisakh Shukla Paksha Pratipada, an auspicious time is chosen to ceremoniously place Machhindranath on the chariot. This year, since the date fell on Saturday, the procession was conducted accordingly. The festival is considered officially started once the idol of Machhindranath is moved from Lalitpur’s Ta Bahal to the chariot constructed at Pulchok and installed there.
There is a tradition of keeping Machhindranath’s idol at Ta Bahal in Patan for six months and in Bungamati for the other six months. Accordingly, the idol was placed at Ta Bahal temple last Mangsir. The chariot of Machhindranath is 32 haath long and 48 feet tall. After placing the idol on the chariot, it is pulled and installed at Pulchok for three days, after which the chariot procession continues the following day from Pulchok to Ga Bahal.
The established route of the chariot goes from Ga Bahal to Mangalbazar, then Sundhara, Lagankhel, and finally to Jawalakhel. Traditionally, the king used to conclude the festival by showing the sacred vestment (bhoto) at Jawalakhel; nowadays, the president also participates in this event. After the Bhoto festival concludes, the Machhindranath idol is placed back on the ancient artistic platform and ceremoniously taken with cultural music from Jawalakhel back to Machhindranath Bahal in Bungamati. The Red Machhindranath chariot festival, the longest in the valley, begins on Baisakh Shukla Paksha Pratipada and lasts until Asar Shukla Chauthi, spanning nearly two months.
April 18, Doti – State Minister for Social Development Saraswati Khadka has highlighted the importance of preventing misinformation circulated on social media under the guise of development from obstructing the development process in Sudurpashchim Province. Speaking at the inauguration of the 16th Doti District-level President Running Shield event, she asserted that the provincial government is working diligently and honestly towards the overall development of the province.
“We are working day and night for the development of the province. However, the anticipated progress has not yet been fully achieved,” said Minister Khadka. “Development cannot take place by spreading falsehoods on social media.” She emphasized the necessity of cooperation and coordination among the three levels of government for successful development. Referring to the current provincial government’s efforts to continue good initiatives from the previous administration while addressing weaknesses, the minister stated, “We will not tolerate any irregularities in the province. If anyone has information regarding the sale of plans, please inform us through any available channel.”
Addressing the youth, she affirmed that a new government has been formed at the federal level according to the recent mandate, and the fulfillment of electoral promises will have to be observed over time.
April 18, Kathmandu: Youth leaders actively advocating for a special convention within the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) have criticized the ongoing debate over communist unity as an attempt to overlook the party’s transformation efforts. Ten young leaders, who have been advocating for the UML’s special convention, issued a statement on Saturday asserting that such discussions should not overshadow the party’s ongoing restructuring and revitalization campaigns.
“The debate on communist unity, launched untimely to cover up leadership mistakes and divert attention from the core agenda,” the statement reads, “is clearly aimed at making the party more defensive. This attempt will not resolve the central issues related to the party’s problems, its working style, and organizational weaknesses.”
They pointed out that the party’s defeat in the February 3 election was not merely a technical loss but also reflected the public’s serious distrust and doubts regarding the party’s policies, working methods, and leadership.
“Currently, ordinary cadres and youth members are expecting a comprehensive transformation, restructuring, and revival of the party,” the statement emphasized. “We oppose any untimely and malicious attempts at party unification and strongly condemn such activities.”
“We urge the party leadership to take the demands for transformation, restructuring, and revival seriously and to address them promptly through the central committee.” They reaffirmed their commitment to continue the campaign for timely transformation, restructuring, and revival of the party.
April 18, Hetauda – The Makwanpur District Administration Office, in coordination with the District Postal Office, has initiated a door-to-door passport distribution service for citizens at their residences. Currently, this service is limited to the Hetauda market area only. Ramesh Lamichhane, Chief of the District Postal Office, stated that passport delivery has begun across all 19 wards of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, reaching citizens directly at their homes. According to him, the office has distributed 76 passports between April 15 and 17. “Some beneficiaries have collected their passports at the office, while others have received them at home,” Lamichhane added.
A six-member team operates from two postal counters located in Hatiya, Hetauda-16, and Ward No. 2. Four members are stationed at the District Postal Office, and two at the counters, all engaged in the passport delivery operation. During the first phase, 50 passports have been delivered to citizens in various wards, including 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 16, and 17 of Hetauda. Lamichhane further noted that this service has not yet expanded to the other nine local levels of Makwanpur district.
While the service continues smoothly within the Sub-Metropolitan area, geographic remoteness and lack of transportation pose significant challenges in rural regions. Postal offices at the municipality level operate in Thaha Municipality, Bagmati, Bakeya, Manhari, Raksirang, Kailash, Indrasarobar, Bhimfedi, and Makwanpurgadhi rural municipalities. Each has a four-member team comprising a cashier, postal workers, and couriers. Lamichhane explained, “Due to limited resources and manpower, reaching households in remote areas is difficult. Once resource and manpower management improves, we will have the capacity to extend services to village levels.”
The postal office has yet to commence distribution services for citizenship certificates and driving licenses. Vasanta Adhikari, Chief District Officer of Makwanpur, mentioned that plans are underway to expand these services soon. “We have started with passports. We are planning to deliver citizenship certificates, national identity cards, and driving licenses to homes via postal services in the near future,” he said. He also shared that approximately 500 pending passports currently held at the administration office will be prioritized for door-to-door delivery.
April 18, Kathmandu – Samuel Samson, a senior advisor at the US State Department, has been breaking historical norms by holding personal meetings with far-right German parliamentarians in an office located just a short distance from the White House.
Since World War II, American foreign policy has maintained a nearly eight-decade-long stance of keeping Germany’s extreme right-wing parties out of power. However, this policy shifted during President Trump’s tenure, a change made evident by a meeting last September between Samson and Beatrix von Storch and Joachim Pabbie from Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The German domestic intelligence agency has classified this party as a suspicious extremist organization.
The meeting, which evolved into a session of exchanging grievances, reportedly included AfD leaders expressing concern to Samson, then 26, and other American diplomats that the German government might impose restrictions on their party, according to Paul and another knowledgeable source.
Americans have opposed stringent regulations on social media in Europe, framing such measures as tools aimed at suppressing conservative ideas. These groups even discussed a conspiracy theory claiming that mainstream European leaders sought to remove the white race and replace it with black immigrants.
‘Right from the beginning, we sensed how willing they were to listen to us,’ said Paul, ‘They were taking notes on many points.’
Samson has been leading Trump’s push to reshape US-European relations. Traveling across Europe, he has been strengthening ties with far-right groups, favoring such actors over moderate forces.
He accuses decades-experienced diplomats of restricting freedom and employs a strategy of repeatedly meeting with extreme rivals to empower them. Having graduated college just five years ago, Samson has adopted a firm stance against conventional American diplomatic norms.
In March, he held a secret breakfast meeting with UK far-right nationalist Nigel Farage, discussing topics such as abortion and censorship. In May, in Paris, he attempted to present a case before the human rights commission on behalf of far-right French leader Marine Le Pen concerning alleged injustices.
‘They were seeking someone who could lend credibility to their narrative,’ said Magali Laforcade, head of the commission.
However, this approach has yet to yield significant results. Marine Le Pen remains ineligible for the presidency. Hungary’s far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom Samson has praised, was recently defeated in elections. Several European far-right leaders currently view ties with Trump more as a burden than an opportunity.
Still, this remains a core component of Trump administration policy toward Europe.
Samson and most officials envision Europe in 2026 as a place where ‘woke’ culture and identity-based politics have become extreme. Protectionist policies and increased media regulation prevail while patriotism and national pride decline.
They argue that the European bureaucracy has sacrificed freedom of expression by regulating American tech companies and efforts to remove or restrict access to sexual abuse content on social media.
‘Europe has become a battleground of digital censorship, mass immigration, restrictions on religious freedom, and democratic self-governance,’ Samson wrote on the State Department’s Substack account.
In 2025, Samson was the most prominent diplomat openly criticizing European leaders. In November, Sarah Rogers became the State Department’s Public Diplomacy head and later traveled to the UK, meeting diplomats there.
Rogers conveyed Samson’s message with a slightly different style and voiced complaints about rising immigration and crime in the UK.
Many have discussed the topics of these meetings and talks, but due to lack of official authorization, names have mostly been kept confidential.
Both Samson and Rogers declined to give interviews. A State Department deputy spokesperson said, ‘They are engaging in tough dialogues that will strengthen Europe-US relations.’
“Building an Empire”
Son of a Filipino mother and an American father, Samson developed a religious character early on.
In 2013, as the student body president at his Catholic primary school, he spoke about ‘personal faith in God, intellectual respect, and social consciousness.’
During high school, he ran for student committee president with the slogan ‘Make Sack Great Again,’ and was known as a staunch conservative, according to the school newspaper.
While studying at the University of Texas, he faced racial slurs and threats. Working on Republican Senator Ted Cruz’s staff, Samson described his experiences as a conservative identity.
He recounted, ‘Even when I wore a Reagan-Bush-themed shirt to class, people threw harsh insults at me.’
Heidi Altman, a volunteer at the Catholic school who met Samson, said, ‘He was dedicated to building a Christian state. He would discuss politics and teach leadership.’
Soon, Samson moved to Washington DC and grew close to Vice President JD Vance, an early supporter of the American Moment organization, which aimed to launch careers of young conservatives.
Samson spent nearly three years in the organization, serving as chief strategist.
Vance has said, ‘This fight will be won not by the desperate but by those who believe in the future.’
When Trump returned, Samson was appointed senior advisor in the State Department’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor division.
In a December meeting, Samson (left) with a senior Hungarian official.
The department, established by the US Congress in 1977 to promote freedom, supports groups advocating women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and press freedom.
After Samson’s arrival, diplomats began searching for his records online. He mentioned knowing the Vice President personally, which made him notably assertive.
According to Nick Solheim, head of American Moment, Samson’s role was fitting, centering Christianity and freedom of expression in government service.
A former official revealed that Samson accused the European Union of restricting freedom of expression and instructed on how to counteract punitive measures. The office took three months to assess the impact of digital regulation.
Disliking the term ‘human rights,’ Samson sought to rename the department but failed; instead, he established the ‘Office of Natural Rights’ within it.
To him, ‘human rights’ are man-made political ideas, while ‘natural rights’ are God-given. He provided staff with a document titled ‘Natural Rights Doctrine,’ emphasizing the goal of avoiding criticism.
Unrest in Europe
In 2025, Samson toured Europe attempting to implement his principles.
He prioritized support for French anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen, who aspired to become the first far-right president since World War II but was currently trailing in elections.
In April, a court ruled Le Pen ineligible for public office for five years, despite her leading in polls. In May, Samson sought to involve the human rights commission in opposing the French government.
Last autumn, Samson met German AfD parliamentarians, indicating a shift in American policy.
Laforcade described the dialogue as ‘pointless and evasive,’ refusing to comment further. She suspected foreign interference and informed the government.
The same day, Samson and colleagues visited the Reporters Without Borders office, expressing dissatisfaction with the European Union’s Digital Services Act.
The law aims to protect users from abuse and requires social media platforms to remove illegal content.
Yet, Samson and other administration conservatives claim it is an attempt to silence far-right voices in Europe.
During the meetings, Samson reportedly said, ‘France is slowly becoming like North Korea.’
By year-end, technology regulation had been integrated into US policy, reflected in national security strategies and State Department plans.
Memos circulated to numerous embassies outlined goals from 2026 to 2030 to ‘rebuild a civilizational alliance with European nations infected by post-Cold War neoliberalism.’
These memos differed significantly from previous guidance, urging diplomats to condemn restrictions on free speech and religious freedom, and warning that immigration posed a national threat in Europe.
For mainstream European leaders, these memos illustrated a fundamental revolution in American perspectives. Gender equality, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ issues are deprioritized; religious freedom and far-right voices are given precedence.
The Trump-led US is prepared to limit support to Europe until its politics lean toward the far-right.
Influential Circumstances
By the end of 2025, Samson and Rogers were fully focused on advancing Trump’s new European strategy. They conducted European tours towards year-end to promote their agenda.
In early December, Rogers met British diplomats in London, sharply criticizing rising immigration and related crime (although official data suggests crime has decreased).
She criticized the police for arresting a transgender rights artist and expressed confidence in the British system’s issues.
British officials were stunned. ‘Everyone was caught off guard,’ one said.
Rogers, a former free speech lawyer with clients including the National Rifle Association and MAGA supporters, did not adopt Samson’s full confrontational style but strongly supported him.
Somewhat higher in rank than Samson, Rogers occasionally uses a less confrontational approach but remained focused on issues raised by Samson in the first quarter of 2026.
Samson during his early days in Austin.
In December, Samson’s final major European tour took him to Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. In Hungary, he made his boldest public statement against the old European order.
Speaking at Hungary’s Institute for International Affairs, he declared, ‘This is clearly not a Europe of freedom of expression and self-governance.’
His ‘Office of Natural Rights’ vowed to ‘take action protecting the core social interests from both traditional authoritarian and modern ideological extremes.’
Yet, four months later, the impact Trump’s administration hoped for had not materialized.
Before Hungary’s election, Vice President Vance visited Budapest, calling Orban a leader standing for Western civilization’s values.
However, in the recent election, Hungarian voters defeated Orban, who had been in power for 16 years.
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.
April 18, Kathmandu – Indian National Congress MP and leader Priyanka Gandhi described the failure of the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha as a major victory for democracy. She also called it a defeat of the government’s conspiracy. At a press conference held on Saturday, she asserted that the opposition unity thwarted the Modi government’s attempt to weaken democracy and alter the country’s federal structure.
According to Gandhi, the defeat is clearly reflected on the faces of the ruling party leaders, and it guarantees the triumph of both the Constitution and the nation. Questioning the government’s intentions, she said, “This was not merely about women’s reservation; rather, it was linked to reorganization where the government sought to impose its will without considering the data from the caste-based census.” She argued that this incident proved how the government’s arbitrary actions can be stopped when opposition parties unite.
Commenting on the government’s labeling of this day as a ‘black day,’ Priyanka stated, “The Modi government has suffered a major blow for the first time, which is why they regard this day as black. But this setback was necessary to save democracy.” She warned the government’s propaganda efforts and media that the women of the nation now understand the reality, and such theatrics will not last long. On Friday, the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha failed to secure the required majority in voting, which the opposition hailed as a triumph of their strategy.
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.
May 5, Kathmandu – According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has announced that it will resume full control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Quoting the statement released by the IRGC, Iranian news agencies reported that this maritime passage will return to its previous status, with armed forces maintaining strict surveillance over the area.
Iran has accused the United States of maritime piracy and described the US blockade as an act of maritime robbery. Earlier, on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that all commercial ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would be fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period.
In response, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social thanking Iran. He wrote, “Iran has just announced that the ‘Strait of Hormuz’ is completely open and ready for passage. Thank you!” However, within minutes of this public message, Trump posted again clarifying that the US blockade in Hormuz would continue.
This contradictory situation has created global uncertainty about the true status of the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran has warned it will completely close the route if the blockade of its ports is not lifted, some ships have been seen passing through. Yet, it remains unclear how many vessels have safely transited this critical maritime corridor. The ongoing tension between the two countries has further complicated global fuel supplies and security arrangements.
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.
