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The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts as it moves to reshape the U.S. diplomatic posture abroad with personnel deemed fully supportive of President Donald Trump’s “America First” priorities, according to Associate Press. 

Africa is the continent most affected by the removals, with ambassadors from 13 countries being removed: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda, according to Politico. 

Second is the Asia-Pacific region, with ambassadorial changes coming to six countries: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam affected.

Four countries in Europe (Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia) are affected; as are two each in the Middle East (Algeria and Egypt); South Asia (Nepal and Sri Lanka); and the western hemisphere (Guatemala and Suriname), according to Politico. 

Police have arrested some of the members of the Miraj Dhungana group, who had reached Maitighar to mount pressure on the government. 

The Kathmandu District Administration had not allowed the group to stage a demonstration in Kathmandu.

Dhungana’s group on Monday morning had reached the District Administration Office, Kathmandu to take permission to stage a protest in Kathmandu.

The administration, however, did not grant permission to the group.

The group has announced a nationwide protest today, demanding the formation of an all-party government.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has stressed that the party should participate in the coming elections after holding its 15th general convention. 

Addressing the party cadres and voters of Kathmandu constituency-6, he mentioned that the NC should participate in the elections even by holding a special general convention if regular general convention is not possible. 

Leader Thapa complained of prolonging the meeting of the party's central committee with the intent of postponing the general convention. 

"The elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) will be held on March 5 to bring the Constitution on a right track. The main responsibility of NC is to bring the Constitution on a right track," he argued, adding the NC should engage in ending corruption and mismanagement as per people's aspiration. 

The NC General Secretary argued the NC is shouldering the major responsibility of managing the country because it is the national force. 

He expressed the view that political parties should move ahead by correcting themselves as per the Gen Z sentiments and demands. 

In his opinion, the country would see a next round of uncertainty if the elections are not held on March 5.

The gunmen who allegedly carried out a deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last week threw four undetonated explosives at the start of the attack, including a "tennis ball bomb", according to newly released documents, BBC reported. 

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences including 15 counts of murder over the attack at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. Akram, who was shot by police during the attack, was released from hospital on Monday and transferred to a prison.

The second alleged gunman, his father Sajid Akram, was shot dead, according to BBC. 

The Nepal Army (NA) has made it clear that it fully respects the decisions of the President and the Executive in the course of normalizing the situation following the Gen Z movement in the country.

It is the responsibility of a major state institution to facilitate in holding dialogues among stakeholders to quickly manage the crisis so as to prevent it from further worsening, NA said. 

"Although questions are raised even on the positive coordination and dialogues NA held at the critical hour, NA never floated a political agenda nor has shown ambition of interfering with power. It is clear from the present situation that NA is committed to democratic system," said an explanatory article of the NA. 

The NA is always committed to the enforcement of the letter and spirit of the Constitution. "With firm commitment to the Constitution, the NA works under government for national unity and national security," the article stated, adding that NA never harbours political ambition, but "it was true that it facilitated to end the political vacuum created in the wake of Gen Z movement."

The security agency further wondered: "If the NA had a political ambition, could we be in this situation now?" Instead of making cursory remarks and observations, objective analyses help strengthen all security agencies including NA and it is for the welfare of the entire nation, it reminded.

Simbokpa Danda of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha district has got 4G service from Nepal Telecom. 

With the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) of Nepal Telecom going on air, the locals have been benefitted from modern communications facilities. 

Chief of Nepal Telecom in Khandbari, Prem Rai, informed that the 4G service was a huge achievement because the people at Simbokpa Danda were deprived of communication facilities for long.

A technical team led by Telecom engineer Ashish Acharya, Chairman of ward no 2 in the rural municipality , Jippa Bhote, Nepal Army personnel and locals set up the tower.

Irrespective of the distant and difficult mountainous geography, the team was successful to install the tower and launch the 4G service, Nepal Telecom added.

It was informed that even the Kimathanka area of Bhotkhola rural municipality-1 would be provided with the modern communications service in a few days.

The Mechinagar Municipality in Jhapa district has run a campaign against gender-based violence (GBV) in 10 schools in the municipality. 

Students from grades 9 to 12 are attending the event which is primarily focused on ending gender-based violence. The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the World Bank have supported the intervention. 

Chief of Women and Children Section of Mechinagar Municipality Jayanti Kharel said the program was started at Jyamirgadhi Secondary School and will be run in the remaining schools in the municipality.

Expert of the Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Project Kamala Upreti said that the municipality was selected for the intervention, as the Mechinagar Municipality has recorded the highest number of GBV cases in the province. 

The schoolchildren will be made aware about the gender-based violence, and will be trained on ways to counter, raise voice and file complaints in case of gender-based violence, officials said.

The students have shared ideas on the 'bad touch' and 'good touch', and also the role of teachers and schools to prevent the possibilities of GBV.

Former Asian Development Bank vice president and Chancellor of the University of Nepal Dr Biswo Nath Lohani hasidentified policy uncertainty, regulatory fragmentation, overlapping agencies, weak contract enforcement and lack of accountability as major barriers to attracting investment in Nepal.

Addressing the 31st Annual General Meeting of the Nepal–India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), Lohaniurged the government to act as a “partner, not a gatekeeper,” stressing the need for a mindset shift from approvals to facilitation. He warned that without policy certainty, speed and reliability, investments could bypass Nepal.

Similarly, former Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri asking Nepal to figure out the market, said that Nepalis fortunate to have huge potential, and now needs to incubate new sets of private players.

Delivering the special remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy Dr Rakesh Pandey informed Embassy’s initiatives in strengthening the Nepal India economic relations.

“Nepal is the most hydro-happening country,” said executive member of NICCI and vice-president of IPPAN UttamBhlone Lama. “After successful hydropower generation, the private sector now wants to focus on high- capacitytransmission lines,” he added. 

The event featured a panel discussion on private sector collaboration and cross-border power trading, where officials fromNepal and India highlighted growing opportunities for private participation in hydropower and electricity trade. NepalElectricity Authority Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya welcomed private sector involvement, while Indian officials shared India’s experience and invited Nepali power producers to participate in India Energy Week.

Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal said NICCI could play a key role in strengthening investor linkages betweenNepal and India and encouraged the private sector to better understand market dynamics. He also awarded certificates to top tax-paying NICCI members and launched a baseline survey on Nepal’s fruit candy (Titaura) industry, highlighting itsexport potential and role in women-led MSMEs.

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Anil Sinha said foreign direct investment has increased in several sectors. 

NICCI President Sunil KC outlined the chamber’s activities, while leaders of major Nepali business associationsreaffirmed NICCI’s role in deepening Nepal–India economic ties.

On the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Chandra PrasadDhakal, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) President Birendra Raj Pandey, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce(NCC) President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal highlighted the role of NICCI in strengthening the bilateral trade andeconomic relations between Nepal and India.

Atletico Madrid eased to a 3-0 victory at Girona in LaLiga on Sunday thanks to first-half goals from Koke and Conor Gallagher and one in added time from substitute Antoine Griezmann as they ended the year with a fourth straight win in all competitions, Reuters reported. 

The visitors provisionally rose to third, two points above Villarreal, who have three games in hand and host leaders Barcelona later on Sunday. Relegation-threatened Girona, who have won only one of their last five games, remained 18th.

Atletico targeted Girona with crosses into the area from the start and it paid off in the 13th minute when midfielder Koke hammered home with his right foot from outside the box after Arnau Martinez botched an attempted clearance from the right, according to Reuters.