Author: space4knews

‘I Want to Make My Final Everest Ascent with My Daughters,’ Says Lakpa Sherpa

Lakpa Sherpa, the woman who has reached the summit of Everest a record 11 times—the most by any woman—now wishes to undertake her final climb with her daughters. “I love the mountains deeply. I want to rest from my Everest journeys only after climbing it together with my daughters,” Lakpa Sherpa shared.

Though she took a break from climbing to care for her three children, she is now planning to resume regular expeditions to Everest as her children have grown. “If my health remains good, I hope to climb Everest even at the age of 80,” she stated.

In 2000, Lakpa made history by becoming the first Nepalese woman to reach Everest’s summit and return safely. In 2003, she set another record by climbing Everest alongside her brother and sister.

May 25, Bagmati Province – The provincial government is scheduled to present the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 (Nepali calendar) at the Bagmati Provincial Assembly today. The session will commence at 5:00 PM, during which Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota will present the government’s policy and program, according to Ram Kumar Paudel, Secretary of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat.

Additionally, discussions on the principles and priorities of the government’s Budget Bill for fiscal year 2083/84 (excluding tax proposals) will begin today in the provincial assembly. During the previous assembly meeting held on Monday, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Prabhat Tamang had presented the key principles and priorities of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget bill. The assembly is scheduled to hold deliberations on this proposal in a session this morning, as informed by Secretary Paudel.

May 25, Kathmandu – The Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Committee has set maximum wholesale prices for agricultural products today. According to the committee, the prices are as follows: Large Nepali tomato at NPR 70 per kilogram, large Indian tomato at NPR 80 per kilogram, small local tomato at NPR 35 per kilogram, small tunnel tomato at NPR 52 per kilogram, small Indian tomato at NPR 30 per kilogram, red long potato at NPR 30 per kilogram, red round potato at NPR 27 per kilogram, Indian red potato at NPR 28 per kilogram, and dried Indian onion at NPR 38 per kilogram.

Similarly, local carrot is priced at NPR 65 per kilogram, local cabbage at NPR 40 per kilogram, local cauliflower at NPR 50 per kilogram, red radish at NPR 30 per kilogram, hybrid white radish at NPR 30 per kilogram, long bitter gourd at NPR 50 per kilogram, and round bitter gourd at NPR 50 per kilogram.

Moreover, yardlong bean is NPR 50 per kilogram, maize bean at NPR 80, green pea pods at NPR 70, local cowpea (ghiu simi) at NPR 70, hybrid cowpea at NPR 50, kidney bean at NPR 100, winged bean at NPR 35, black soybean at NPR 140, bitter melon at NPR 50, bottle gourd at NPR 55 per kilogram. Local pumpkin is priced at NPR 60, Terai region pumpkin at NPR 50, chichindo at NPR 40, ghiroula at NPR 50, ziguni at NPR 60, ripe pumpkin at NPR 60, long green pumpkin at NPR 45, round green pumpkin at NPR 30, okra at NPR 50, chayote at NPR 70, and pindalu at NPR 40 per kilogram.

Summary: The Supreme Court has clarified that judges cannot be subjected to contempt proceedings merely for delivering judgments that contravene established legal precedents and principles. A bench comprising Justices Sharanga Subedi and Meghraj Pokharel dismissed a contempt petition filed against two judges of the Patan High Court. The court emphasized that errors in law should be addressed through appeals rather than contempt actions.

Kathmandu, 25 May: The Supreme Court ruled that no judge can face contempt charges solely based on decisions that conflict with legal provisions or established precedents. A petition seeking contempt proceedings against two Patan High Court judges was admitted but ultimately rejected by a bench led by Justices Sharanga Subedi and Meghraj Pokharel. The court emphasized that legal errors should be rectified through proper appellate procedures, not contempt sanctions.

The controversy originated when law student Bibek Chaudhary of Nepal Law Campus questioned the methods employed by traffic police and filed a writ petition in the Patan High Court. Dissatisfied with the court’s ruling—which was viewed as violating precedent and judicial principles—Chaudhary submitted a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Patan High Court Judges Rishiraj Bhandari and Gopal Prasad Banstola. He alleged that these judges issued an order contradicting precedent, particularly concerning traffic regulations.

The Supreme Court rejected the claim that the judges disrespected the court by disregarding legal principles. Chaudhary’s writ petition focused on the illegality of traffic police’s use of wheel locks on vehicles parked in prohibited zones, as stipulated under Section 164(1)(b) of the Vehicle and Traffic Management Act, 1992 (2049 BS), which authorizes penalties but does not explicitly endorse wheel locking. Despite this, the High Court upheld the practice, leading Chaudhary to argue that the ruling violated legal principles and precedent, urging contempt proceedings against the bench.

In response, the Supreme Court reiterated that judicial errors or misapplications of precedent do not constitute contempt. It noted that international judicial practices and established legal doctrines support this view, underscoring that judicial independence must be preserved. The Court stated, “Even if a judge makes an error in interpreting the law, it does not warrant contempt proceedings.” It also cited the British precedent, explaining that errors in judgments are to be corrected through appeals, not contempt charges.

The Court further clarified that contempt actions require willful disobedience or deliberate disrespect towards court orders. Mere inadvertent or good-faith deviations from precedent cannot be grounds for contempt. The ruling clarified that precedents may have situational variations and that judicial discretion in selecting applicable legal principles should be respected.

India’s judicial system similarly treats misapplication of precedent as a judicial error rather than contempt. Upholding judicial independence as paramount, the Supreme Court highlighted that judges must remain free from accountability measures related to their decisions except through proper legal channels. This approach aligns with United Nations declarations recognizing judicial autonomy.

Regarding the case at hand, the Patan High Court’s ruling permitting wheel locking on unlawfully parked vehicles was characterized by the Supreme Court as amenable to appellate review. The Court emphasized that contempt is intended to ensure respect and enforcement of judicial orders, not to correct legal mistakes. Since alternatives like appeals remain available, contempt proceedings are inappropriate.

In sum, the Supreme Court affirmed the principle that judges’ decisions—even if flawed legally—are not liable for contempt unless clear, intentional violation of court authority exists. This interpretation reaffirms the priority of judicial independence and correct legal procedure. The Court’s decision was rendered public recently, following a contempt petition filed on 2 April 2026 (19 Chaitra 2082 BS) against two judges.

Tamankhola Rural Municipality in Baglung has utilized public land to expand apple cultivation by investing NPR 4 million over 24 ropani of land. The municipality has planted 1,400 apple saplings imported from Mustang in publicly owned lands of Goradi and Bayali in Ward No. 4. As the apple harvest begins to yield returns, the orchard will be handed over to local communities with plans to integrate agriculture with tourism. (12 Jestha, Balkot, Baglung)

The rural municipality is linking the use of public land with income generation by expanding apple orchards. The land has been protected with fencing and equipped with drip irrigation technology to cultivate the 1,400 apple saplings. Chairman Jok Lal Budha of Tamankhola Rural Municipality informed that the apple orchard expansion took place by clearing bushes on public lands at Goradi and Bayali in Ward No. 4. “The municipality has expanded the orchard under the protection of the ward office, and the 1,400 saplings have been growing for the past year,” Chairman Budha said.

“The apple trees, sourced from Mustang and expected to bear fruit in four to five years, were planted a year ago. We are preparing plans and procedural guidelines for sharing the orchard’s yield,” he added. To ensure returns on the investment, the ward office is actively working on protecting and expanding the apple orchard. Chairperson Chha Prasad Shrepali of Tamankhola Ward No. 4 stated that by planting saplings and properly utilizing public land that was previously misused, the municipality is advancing agriculture linked with tourism.

“The municipality has drafted a production policy. If production is neglected, public land will go to waste. With that in mind, we have established apple orchards complete with fencing and irrigation on public lands that were previously unproductive,” Shrepali explained.

“We plan to promote both agriculture and tourism by cultivating apples over 24 ropani, and there is also a proposal to build a resort in the central area of the Bayali orchard.” The orchard development involved expenditure of NPR 700,000 at Goradi and NPR 3.3 million at Bayali, including fencing and irrigation systems. Protective fencing around public lands is expected to increase security and reduce damage to the produce. The saplings planted include Gala and Golden apple varieties imported from Mustang, selected based on feasibility studies, as informed by agricultural technician Bidhan Bagale of the municipality. Bagale noted that apples are likely to thrive well in the cold climate between 2,300 meters above sea level.

If apple production proves successful, the municipality also plans additional investments targeting tourism infrastructure such as lodging and resorts.

The US military has announced a new strike in southern Iran targeting Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay underwater mines, according to US military officials. The US Central Command stated in a release that the attack was conducted “in self-defense” and to “prevent threats arising from Iranian forces.” Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, said, “During the ceasefire period, the US military has exercised restraint while ensuring the safety of its personnel.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei indicated that although there has been some progress in negotiations with the US, an immediate agreement to end hostilities “is not currently feasible,” which led to these attacks. According to The New York Times, Captain Hawkins confirmed that the strike targeted Bandar Abbas, a southern port city hosting the Iranian militia base located near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that after hearing explosions, local officials in Bandar Abbas have initiated an investigation into the incident.

Iran has yet to issue any response to the US strikes. It remains unclear how this latest attack will affect potential peace agreements between the US and Iran. President Donald Trump previously stated that both sides were near reaching a consensus but also instructed negotiators to “not rush” the process. At the time of the strike, ongoing discussions in Doha were taking place, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing optimism on Monday that an agreement may soon be reached.

However, Esmail Baghaei remarked, “While we can say significant progress has been made on many issues, there is no certainty that an agreement will be signed imminently.” Despite downplaying the achievements of senior officials, Iran’s top negotiators and foreign minister traveled to Doha to discuss potential agreements with Qatar’s prime minister, Reuters reported. The US and Iranian forces have been observing a ceasefire since April 8. Iran maintains control over vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy is attempting to blockade Iranian ports.

A 35-year-old woman died after her house collapsed during a severe storm on Monday evening in Brindaban Municipality-7, Rautahat. Phool Kumari Devi, who had been injured, passed away while receiving treatment at Better Nepal Hospital in Garuda, according to police reports.

The house that collapsed belonged to Phool Kumari Devi from Dhamauratol, Brindaban Municipality-7, Rautahat. Rohit Kumar Sharma Badhei, the acting information officer of the District Police Office, stated that the roof tiles and bamboo beams of a single-story mud house owned by Rai were destroyed by the storm, resulting in her death.

सरकारले हुम्ला र बाजुराबीचको सीमा विवाद समाधान गर्न विभिन्न प्रयासहरू गरिरहँदा, सो क्षेत्रमा अस्थायी प्रहरी चौकीको निर्माण अस्थायी रूपमा रोकिएको छ। हुम्ला र बाजुरा जिल्लाबीचको सीमा विवादको पछिल्लो घटनाक्रममा, अधिकारीहरूले अस्थायी प्रहरी चौकीको निर्माण रोकिएको र एक सरकारी टोलीले स्थलमा प्राविधिक अध्ययन गर्ने जानकारी दिएका छन्। रानीसैनको पर्यटकीय स्थल नजिकको लाम्पाटा क्षेत्रलाई बाजुराको हिमाली गाउँपालिका र हुम्लाको खार्पुनाथ गाउँपालिकाले आफ्नो क्षेत्रको रूपमा दाबी गरेका छन्।

अधिकारीहरूको अनुसार, गत हप्ता हुम्लाका प्रदर्शनकारीहरूले स्थानीय प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई, जसमा धनगढीका मेयर गोपी हमाल र बाजुराका dignitaries समावेश थिए, पर्यटन प्रवर्द्धन कार्यक्रममा भाग लिनका लागि सो क्षेत्रमा उपस्थित हुँदा तितरबितर गरिदिए। दुवै पक्षले आफ्नो दाबीलाई समर्थन गर्ने प्रमाण प्रस्तुत गरेका छन्, र एक सर्वेक्षण अधिकारीका अनुसार, स्थलमा अध्ययनपछि समितिले सरकारलाई अन्तिम निर्णयका लागि रिपोर्ट पेश गर्नेछ।

यद्यपि विवादित क्षेत्र निकै टाढा छ, तर चासो राख्ने पक्षहरूले यस क्षेत्रको महत्त्वलाई औषधीय जडीबुटीको उत्पादन र पर्यटकको मार्गका कारण जोड दिएका छन्। हुम्लाका प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारी टेक कुमार रेग्मीले भने, “त्यहाँ एउटा नदी छ जुन हामीले हाम्रो सिमाना मान्छौं, तर बाजुराले ५० वर्ष पुरानो सर्वेक्षण अनुसार भूमि दाबी गर्छ। यहीँ दुवै दाबी ओभरलैप हुन्छ।” उनले थपे, “त्यो क्षेत्र स्रोतसाधनले भरिपूर्ण छ, जसमा औषधीय जडीबुटीहरू पनि समावेश छन्। रानीसैन पनि एक प्रसिद्ध पर्यटकीय गन्तव्य हो।”

बाजुराका प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारी डोरेन्द्र निरौला भनेका छन् कि खार्पुनाथका बासिन्दाहरूले रानीसैनको सडक अवरुद्ध गरेका छन् र प्रहरी चौकीको लागि योजना बनाइएको स्थललाई आफ्नो दाबी गरेका छन्। यद्यपि विवादित क्षेत्रको सटीक पहिचान गरिएको छैन, बाजुराले प्रहरी चौकीको योजना बनाइएको क्षेत्रको भूमि शीर्षकको स्वामित्वको दाबी गरेको छ। निरौलाले भने, “सटीक सिमाना विवाद छैन। केन्द्रीय सरकारले गठन गरेको समिति अध्ययनपछि सिमाना निर्धारण वा संशोधन गर्ने निर्णय गर्नेछ।”

The US Geological Survey has reported a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the northern arid region of Chile. The Chilean National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry has stated that there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake and so far, no reports of human casualties have been received.

The earthquake occurred in the Atacama Desert area, approximately 31 kilometers from the city of Calama, at a depth of roughly 100 kilometers (63 miles) below the surface. Local media reported that the tremors were felt across the regions of Arica, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, and Atacama.

Chile is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in South America. Residents typically consider earthquakes below a magnitude of 7.0 to pose minimal risk. The country is situated at the convergence of three tectonic plates: the Nazca, South American, and Antarctic plates, making seismic activity a regular occurrence.

The Supreme Court has deemed the petition filed against the recommendation of Dr. Manojkumar Sharma as Chief Justice to be inadmissible. The bench led by Justice Meghraj Pokharel ruled that since the parliamentary hearing of the proposed Chief Justice has taken place and the appointment has been finalized, the court administration’s order at the registrar’s door is upheld.

Senior advocates Dinesh Tripathi and Dr. Premraj Silwal had attempted to file petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional Council’s decision. On May 24 in Kathmandu, the Supreme Court commented that the petition filed against the Constitutional Council’s recommendation of Dr. Manojkumar Sharma for the post of Chief Justice lacks merit.

The separate petitions filed by senior advocates Dinesh Tripathi and Dr. Premraj Silwal had prompted the Supreme Court administration to issue a registrar’s door order. Following a hearing on the appeal against this order, the bench led by Justice Meghraj Pokharel upheld the registrar’s door order as proper.

Since the proposed Chief Justice, Dr. Sharma, recommended by the Constitutional Council has already undergone the parliamentary hearing and been appointed, the Supreme Court found the petition to be ‘inappropriate.’ The order issued by Justice Pokharel’s bench stated, ‘As the process has already changed and there appears no cause to further challenge the recent development, there is no basis to register the present petition and proceed. The registrar’s door order is hereby quashed. Proceed according to the law.’