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The Chairperson of Press Council Nepal, Balkrishna Basnet, emphasized that false and misleading content should not be published in the media as news. He highlighted the confusion such content causes among the general public and its detrimental impact on media credibility.

Addressing a code of conduct orientation program organized by the council on Sunday, focusing on YouTube management, Basnet advised against engaging in journalism that perpetuates falsehoods. “Let’s not pollute journalism by spreading false content,” he stated. He underscored the need for mature journalism, regardless of the medium, emphasizing the importance of working in a non-controversial, accountable, and responsible manner. “Everyone can raise questions,” he added.

Basnet noted a tendency among some YouTube channels to propagate falsehoods, questioning the professional value of such journalism. He expressed concern that current journalism is too focused on insults, suggesting that maintaining professional dignity requires healthy and controversy-free journalism.

“If we don’t uphold standards, this field will never be respected. It is up to us to decide how to conduct ourselves. If we are to do journalism through YouTube, we must adhere to its dignity,” he stated. Basnet also mentioned that the Press Council of Nepal has been conducting orientation programs for YouTube operators who are weak in following the journalistic code of conduct.

The program saw the participation of 30 publishers and editors from various YouTube channels.

Animal Save Nepal hosted an event on the first Saturday of June, bringing together animal rights activists, vegans, and compassionate individuals from across the country. The event aimed to honor, celebrate, and educate the public about animal rights.

The day commenced with a peaceful and silent march from the Swoyambhu gate to Bhagwan Pau Park, where participants united to advocate for the rights of animals and raise awareness of their conditions. The march, led by activists, demonstrated the community’s desire to address animal welfare issues.

Upon reaching the venue, the atmosphere shifted to one of commemoration as attendees engaged in heartfelt performances, sharing stories and poems that highlighted the suffering endured by animals worldwide. A solemn memorial ceremony followed, marked by two minutes of silence, the offering of flowers, and the symbolic lighting of diyos in remembrance of the billions of animals lost to human actions over the past year. The reading of the Declaration of Animal Rights served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and the need for collective action.

Transitioning into a celebration of progress, the event spotlighted achievements in the global animal rights movement, with a focus on Nepal’s contributions. From the establishment of animal shelters and sanctuaries to the rise of vegan restaurants and shifts in public attitudes, milestones were celebrated as signs of positive change. Attendees indulged in vegan cuisine, listened to inspiring speeches, and enjoyed captivating performances that underscored the spirit of unity and resilience.

The celebration concluded with a special performance by KathaGhera Productions, featuring a song from their adaptation of ‘Animal Farm’, leaving a lasting impression on all participants. As the event came to an end, participants left with a renewed resolve to advocate for animal rights and care, motivated by a common vision of a more compassionate world.

“This event marks a huge step in our mission to expose animal exploitation. We are delighted by the public support. Each voice raised today echoes the call for dignity, rights, and liberation for all beings,” said Animal Save Nepal.

Experts have criticized the protest against the US Embassy in Kathmandu, staged under the leadership of a sitting lawmaker to press the embassy to issue a travel visa to Nepali cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Vijay Kant Karna, a former ambassador, emphasized that it is up to each country to decide whom to allow entry. “Not only the US, Nepal also has dozens of countries in its blacklist, meaning it is quite difficult for the nationals of those countries to obtain Nepali visa,” he says.

Chandra Dev Bhatta, an expert on foreign policy and geopolitics, agrees. “Issuing/denying visas is a sovereign right of a country,” he says: “Mass demonstrations are not the right approach when it comes to dealing with visa denials.” 

On May 29, Gyanendra Shahi, a Member of Parliament, had led a demonstration against the US Embassy in the House of Representatives after the host country denied him a visa for the second time in 10 days, crushing his hopes of participating in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and the West Indies. Karna warned that such actions could harm the long-standing relationship between Nepal and the US.

“Despite efforts, including a diplomatic note from the government of Nepal, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), to secure cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane’s participation in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, the US Embassy has stated its inability to grant him a visa,” CAN announced in a press release.

Government Spokesperson Rekha Sharma acknowledged that the embassy had the right to deny visas, even to cricketers, regardless of the government’s initiatives.

Shiva Prasad Regmi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, told ApEx that it is a standard procedure for the sports ministry to seek assistance from the foreign ministry when athletes face visa issues, noting that they made similar requests in the past.

However, assistant spokesperson for MoFA, Rishi Raj Acharya, said he was unaware of the developments. The US embassy, following its initial visa denial, had stated it could not comment on individual visa cases due to confidentiality under the US law. 

Experts believe Lamichhane’s visa denial might be linked to ongoing legal issues, as the District Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to appeal his acquittal by the Patan High Court to the Supreme Court. Lamichhane had returned to Nepal from Trinidad & Tobago, where he was playing for the Caribbean Premier League, in response to an INTERPOL notice issued in connection with a rape case. They suggest that this may have influenced the visa decision.

The US had denied Narendra Modi a visa in 2005 for violation of religious freedom. Modi was supposed to be the chief guest at the Asian American Hotel Owners’ Association in Florida, but the 2002 Gujarat riots came to revisit him in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Tenzing Sherpa, one of Nepal’s pioneering DJs, returned to Kathmandu on Friday after successfully summiting Sagarmatha on May 21 at 4:47 am. He also attempted a Guinness World Record for the highest-altitude DJ concert on May 17, organizing a DJ party at Everest Camp II, located at 6,400 meters.

In late March, he announced the ‘Everest Expedition 2024’ with the slogan ‘Stop Global Warming, Save the Himalayas’.

According to DJ Tenzing, the expedition’s purpose extends beyond personal achievement; it also seeks to promote tourism and raise awareness about the impact of climate change. “Being one of the first DJs of Nepal, it’s my duty too to promote DJ culture in Nepal, and hence I attempted the world record,” he added.

Earlier, Hit Bahadur Tamang, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, commended DJ Tenzing for his efforts to raise public awareness through this expedition. Minister Tamang presented DJ Tenzing with the national flag of Nepal, expressing government support for his endeavor.

Hailing from Solukhumbu, DJ Tenzing has been organizing musical programs in the Solukhumbu region for the past 12 years, particularly on International Everest Day, commemorating the historic ascent of Mt Everest on 29 May 1953.