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The Nepali football team has been forced to relocate their joint FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifying match to the opposing country due to deteriorating conditions at Dashrath Stadium. Originally scheduled to be held at home, the match against Bahrain will now take place in Bahrain itself, owing to subpar field conditions at Dashrath Stadium. This change in venue could potentially influence the outcome of the game. The negligence of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) in improving the condition of Dashrath Stadium has contributed to this situation. Such mismanagement in football has led players to seek opportunities abroad for a better future.

Furthermore, despite their unnecessary presence, 10 ANFA officials have accompanied the Nepali team currently in Malaysia. Their inclusion with the team serves no practical purpose and appears to be solely for their personal enjoyment, reflecting further mismanagement within the association.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has raised objections to the foreign travel of the 10 ANFA officials, directing the National Sports Council (NSC) to take action against ANFA for their unauthorized trip abroad. 

There is optimism among athletes, fans, and the Nepali populace regarding the actions of the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, particularly his decision to address issues within ANFA. However, Minister Shrestha faces significant challenges ahead. The state of Nepali sports, not just in football but across various sectors, is concerning. 

Athletes are facing payment issues, sports leagues lack consistency, and there’s a notable absence of a proper scouting system. These factors are prompting emerging players to consider opportunities abroad. It falls upon the new minister to rectify these shortcomings within the sports fraternity.

The shortage of sports facilities is a pressing issue, exacerbated by the inadequate functioning of existing ones. Frustrated and disillusioned with the government’s inaction, individuals have taken it upon themselves to fund sports centers. Recently, Binod Kunwar, a cricket enthusiast and entrepreneur, independently financed the construction of a multipurpose stadium in Tilottama municipality of Rupandehi by investing Rs 400m. This significant investment by the private sector serves as a clear indictment of the government’s failure to address the issue. The new minister faces the challenge of increasing the number of government-owned stadiums and improving the conditions of existing ones to ensure that Nepali teams do not have to resort to playing their home games on foreign soil.

General secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Paras Khadka, exemplifies how effective leadership can positively impact the sports fraternity. Since his election to the position, there has been a notable increase in cricketers’ salaries and the organization of regular cricket matches. It is crucial for Minister Shrestha to uphold the expectations of the people and ensure that these positive changes continue.

Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman Sharma Oli has said national interest could be served better with unity among all political parties.

All parties' unity counts for the country's territorial unity, independence and national interest.

Chairman Oli was speaking at a program organized to inaugurate the ward office building for Dodhara Chandani Municipality-6 of Kanchapur district.

"Unity is essential also for curbing corruption and taking action against those involved in financial sleaze," he underscored.

He argued that development activities could not move forward in absence of political concord. Oli further viewed the importance of public service is reflected on how effectively they are delivered to the people. "I take initiative to solve the problems facing the people here," the former Prime Minister vowed.

On the occasion, Mayor of Dodhara Chandani Municipality, Kishor Limbu, sought UML Chairman Oli's cooperation on resolving problems facing the local people.

"Mahakali River erosion is a severe problem here. Shuklaphanta Reserve creates obstruction on development activities," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman Oli inspected the four-lane motorable bridge over the Mahakali River and the site where the dry port is proposed.

Norway's Ambassador to Nepal Torun Dramdal today paid a courtesy call on newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

In the meeting held at the Ministry, matters relating to strengthening the bilateral relations and mutual interests between the two countries were discussed, according to Ministry Spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai.

On the occasion, the two also exchanged views on the enhancement of Norway's support to Nepal.

Similarly, Pakistan's Ambassador to Nepal Abrar H Hashmi and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Nepal Saad Nasser Abdullah Abu Haimed called on Minister Shrestha.

Both ambassadors wished the Minister a successful tenure, it has been learnt.

Death toll in Udayapur jeep accident has reached eight.

Taksar (Bhojpur), March 14: All those eight people killed in a jeep accident at Mainamaini of Belaka-7, Udayapur district, have been identified.

The jeep (Ko 1 Ja 2593) heading towards Dakshin Ghoretar of Bhojpur from Dharan met with an accident at Mainamaini of Belaka-7, Udayapur district at around 10:30 am today.

Police said the jeep fell some 300 meters down the road.

Seven died on the spot while one breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

Police suspected that the accident might have occurred on the slope as the jeep was carrying more passengers than its capacity, the District Police Office, Bhojpur said.

The deceased have been identified as jeep driver Man Bahadur Basnet (40) of Itahari-9 in Sunsari, Maya Rai (70) of Parbat,  Chandra Prakash Rai (23) and six-month-old  child Bisang Chamling of Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality-2, Bhojpur, Raj Kumari Rai (32) of Hatuwagadhi-5, Padam Bahadur Thapa (68), Kamala Adhikari (45) of Hatuwagadhi-9, and Kishan Rai (42) of Hatuwagadhi-5.

Among them, Kishan Rai died in the course of the treatment, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sudip Raj Pathak said.

Seven more Nepalis serving in the Russian army died fighting Ukrainian forces. 

Issuing a press statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said those killed in Russia include Purna Bahadur from Dhading, Nabin Shahi from Jajarkot, Padam Bahadur Ghimire from Udayapur, Ganga Ram Adhikari from Jhapa and Jit Bahadur BK from Baglung. The two others are Sanjaya KC from Banke and Sundar Moktan from Rasuwa. The MoFA has not shared further details about the deceased ones.

The Ministry has reiterated Nepal's policy not to allow Nepali citizens for their recruitment in foreign countries' armies except for some friendly countries under the traditionally existing agreement.    

The Ministry has also reminded Nepalis of taking No Objection Certificate (NOC) to travel to Russia except for government officials, Russian scholarship holders and those involved in professions and businesses.

Likewise, the Ministry said the government has continued its diplomatic efforts with top priority to repatriate Nepalis recruited in the Russian army.

"The Russian government has been requested again for the repatriation of Nepalis working there and to ensure treatment to those injured, and provide compensation to the families of Nepalis who lost their lives while serving the Russian army," says the MoFA.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has underlined the need of a comprehensive strategy to address complex challenges of climate change, health and social justice.

In his address to an inaugural session of the South and Southeast Asia Regional Conference on Connecting the Dots between Climate Change, Health, and Equity here today, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing these pressing issues.

"While acknowledging the significance of this monumental event, the Government of Nepal sees it as a crucial step forward in our journey towards a future characterized by justice, sustainability, and fairness," he said.

He further added that the challenges posed by climate change are immense, touching every corner of our planet, impacting our societies, health systems, and the natural environment.

"The trumpet call from climate scientists is clear and urgent: we must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5° Celsius. This is especially vital for nations like ours, with our beautiful yet vulnerable mountainous landscapes and as a Least Developed Country (LDC), where the consequences of climate change are not just abstract statistics but harsh realities,'' he said.

"The scientists have explicitly said that the emission of greenhouse gasses should be significantly reduced to maintain the temperature limit of 1.5 degree Celsius. Not only the harsh reality of climate change, but also its consequences are significant especially for least developed and mountainous countries like ours," he said.

Noting that landslides, floods, wildfires, glacial lake outburst and drought are becoming more frequent and deadlier, PM Dahal said, "Such disasters have impacted the most vulnerable populations. The poor, women, children and indigenous nationalities have been impacted of all."

The Prime Minister, referring to the latest reports, said that one-third of the global natural resources, including in the Himalayan range, have been lost and these loss and damage have not only put at risk the biodiversity but also the livelihood of billions of people living in the coastal areas.

Recalling that he has voiced in the international forums from the COP-28 held in Dubai to the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations on various challenges the least developed nations are facing due to climate change, he called on the developed economies to support the least developed and vulnerable countries by means of the urgently needed resources and technologies.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 125, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 125, 000 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 125, 200 per tola. It was traded at Rs 124, 400 per tola.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased by Rs 50 and is being traded at Rs 1, 515 per tola today.

Three Nepalis, who have reached Kuwait for foreign employment, died in a road accident on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Sujan Karki of Sano Bharyang, Nagarjun-2, Kathmandu, Surat Bahadur Kadayat of Layati Panchadewal Binayak-5, Achham and Dhiraj Gurmachan of Bengadawar-3, Dhanusha.

They were heading towards the workplace from the room of Kadayat when a local vehicle hit them while crossing the road in Mahabulla area of ​​Kuwait., it has been learnt.

They had been working at the Papasan Company in Kuwait.

Following the incident, police have taken the driver under control and kept the bodies of the deceased at the Farwaniya Hospital for postmortem.

The Nepali Embassy in Kuwait said that efforts are being made to send the bodies to Nepal.