Unified Socialist to support pro-republican forces

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has said that it will provide all possible support to all programs held in favor of a federal democratic republic.

Accordingly, the party has directed its subordinate committees and organizations to actively participate in demonstrations, public meetings and protests carried out in favor of the republic to defeat those who are engaged in anti-republic activities.

The party has issued a circular to all its committees to generate public opinion in favor of the republic by uniting leftist forces with common political principles and collaborating with change advocates, said Deputy Chief of the Central Publicity Department, Damodar Aryal.

Meanwhile, the party has also requested all party members to make the protest and mass meeting to be organized by the Socialist Front in Kathmandu on March 28 a success.

He informed that the party, which has launched a socialist campaign across the country by prioritizing good governance, job creation, economic prosperity and social transformation, is working to expand its membership.

Trump envoy dismisses Starmer plan for Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer's plan for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine has been dismissed as "a posture and a pose" by Donald Trump's special envoy, BBC reported.

Steve Witkoff said the idea was based on a "simplistic" notion of the UK prime minister and other European leaders thinking "we have all got to be like Winston Churchill".

In an interview with pro-Trump journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin, saying he "liked" the Russian president.

"I don't regard Putin as a bad guy," he said. "He's super smart."

Witkoff, who met Putin ten days ago, said the Russian president had been "gracious" and "straight up" with him. Putin told him, he added, that he had prayed for Trump after an assassination attempt against him last year. He also said Putin had commissioned a portrait of the US president as a gift and Trump was "clearly touched by it".

During the interview, Witkoff repeated various Russian arguments, including that Ukraine was "a false country" and asked when the world would recognise occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian, according to BBC.

Witkoff is leading the US ceasefire negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine but he was unable to name the five regions of Ukraine either annexed or partially occupied by Russian forces.

Israel strikes Lebanon after first rocket attack since ceasefire

Israel has carried out multiple air strikes on Lebanon after several rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, in the worst violence since a ceasefire came into effect in November, BBC reported.

The Israeli military said it had hit dozens of rocket launchers and a command centre belonging to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia and political group, in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry said seven people, including a child, were killed and 40 injured in the air strikes.

Several armed groups operate in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and Palestinian factions, and no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hours after the first set of strikes, a second wave of attacks were carried out at night on targets that included what the Israeli military described as command centres, infrastructure sites and a weapons storage facility in Lebanon.

Saturday's rocket attack from Lebanon came days after Israel reinforced its offensive against Hamas, a Hezbollah ally, in Gaza, according to BBC.

The Israeli military said it had intercepted three rockets in the northern Israeli town of Metula, and there were no casualties.

Hezbollah said it had no involvement, and it remained committed to the ceasefire.

Three bills tabled in National Assembly

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, on behalf of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, presented a proposal in today's meeting of the National Assembly (NA), seeking consideration of the Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to the Promotion of Good Governance and Public Service Delivery received from the House of Representatives.

Soon after the discussion on the proposal began, lawmaker Renu Chand argued that Rule 93 of the National Assembly Regulations, 2075 BS required that any bill brought through an ordinance in the Parliament should be done so as a replacement bill, but the word 'replacement bill' had not been mentioned in the bill presented by the Minister and, therefore, discussions could not be held on the bill.

National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal announced that the meeting has been postponed for some time due to the conflict in the provisions of the regulations.

Three bills have been tabled in the National Assembly today.

National Assembly Secretary Dr Surendra Aryal tabled the Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Improvement of the Economic and Business Environment and Investment Promotion, 2081 BS, the Privatization (First Amendment) Bill, 2081 BS and Economic Procedure and Financial Responsibility (First Amendment) Bill, 2081 BS with the message received from the House of Representatives.