Author: space4knews

The spacecraft that completely transformed our perspective of the solar system. Initially designed to operate for only five years, two spacecraft are now journeying through the distant reaches of space within our solar system. NASA’s probes, built for the Voyager mission, have become the farthest human-made objects ever sent into space.

Dr. Linda Spilker, a scientist involved in the project, explained how these probes have altered our understanding and outlook of the solar system. It is anticipated that in the future, ‘aliens’ or extraterrestrial beings might discover these probes and potentially visit Earth.

2 Asar, Kathmandu – Member of the House of Representatives Ashish Gajurel has expressed that traveling via public transportation is inconvenient. As the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure Development, Gajurel shared his perspective on the challenges faced during public transit journeys.

During the committee meeting held on Tuesday to initiate discussions related to public vehicle and transportation management, the chairman stated, ‘The wealthy class uses private vehicles, but those traveling by public transportation endure significant difficulties.’ He emphasized the need to identify the root causes of these problems and to deliberate on potential solutions to create an environment that facilitates smooth transit for everyone.

The discussion included officials from the relevant ministries, representatives from traffic management bodies, public transport entrepreneurs’ federations, and freight business representatives. According to the Traffic Management Office, around 2 million vehicles operate daily in the Kathmandu Valley, yet there is an insufficient number of traffic personnel to observe and control them effectively.

Spectators gathered to watch the World Cup were captivated by a display of football skills performed by an American police officer. In Boston, USA, a police officer enchanted Scottish fans assembled to watch the World Cup by demonstrating impressive football techniques.

A video released by the Boston Police on Saturday, June 13, showed the officer performing a ‘keepie-uppie’ — skillfully juggling the football continuously without letting it touch the ground.

June 16, Dhankuta – The blacktopping work on the road stretching from Hile to Chokrok, Bhirgaon, and Madhuganga Dham in Dhankuta Municipality has commenced. Originally constructed in 2000 through community labor, this road is now being asphalted with approximately NPR 360 million in financial assistance from the World Bank. At a time when government budgets and technical resources were scarce, local villagers contributed 96 days of voluntary labor to open the road track.

The road, spanning wards 1 and 2 of Dhankuta Municipality, was initially built to ease pedestrian access between the locals of Bhirgaon and Hile market. Over time, it integrated into the municipality’s ring road concept and has become a backbone supporting Dhankuta’s development.

Under the current World Bank-supported project, about 7.2 kilometers of the road is being upgraded. Of this, 3.3 kilometers have already been paved, while asphalt blacktopping continues on the remaining 4 kilometers. According to Sitaram Gautam, Planning and Monitoring Officer of Dhankuta Municipality, the target is to complete the blacktopping by the end of June, weather permitting. The road upgrade is expected to facilitate easier access for religious tourists visiting Madhuganga Dham and is projected to positively impact local hotels, small businesses, and service-oriented activities.

However, the ring road concept remains incomplete. Although the upper section from Hile to Chokrok, Bhirgaon, and Madhuganga is under blacktopping, the lower section from Bihibarehat through Malbansé to Bhirgaon and Madhuganga has yet to be upgraded. According to Dhankuta Municipality, the delay is due to budget constraints, with only track opening and structural preparations completed so far. Although proposals have been submitted to the World Bank for the lower section upgrades, approval is still pending, Gautam added.

With the upper road blacktopping, travel from Hile market to Bhirgaon and Madhuganga Dham has become more convenient. Completion of the lower section’s upgrade will enable easier access to Dhankuta Bazaar, Bhirgaon, and Madhuganga Dham, thus fulfilling the municipality’s ring road vision.

June 16, Myagdi. A successful trial of grape cultivation has been conducted in Luprang, Ward No. 8 of Jaljala Rural Municipality, near the district headquarters of Beni Bazaar in Myagdi. Tarakumari Regmi, the proprietor of Shrihari Agriculture and Livestock Farm located at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters above sea level in Luprang, has been experimenting with grape cultivation. “Two grape plants introduced from India and grown inside a plastic tunnel began to yield fruit four years ago,” she said. “Last year, we successfully sold grapes worth 35,000 rupees from our farm at a rate of 450 to 500 rupees per kilogram. This year, due to a larger berry size, we expect higher production.”
In Nepal, grape cultivation is generally suitable at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Such locations need to have good sunlight throughout the day. Tarakumari mentioned plans to expand grape farming, with guidance from agricultural experts, provided the grapes remain on the vines until fully ripe without unexpected rainfall.
Having lived in Baglung for five years to educate her two sons, Regmi returned home and began cultivating grapes, tomatoes, and oranges, alongside goat farming. “Because the school was far, I arranged for my two sons, who studied locally only up to fifth grade, to stay in Baglung and continue their education up to tenth grade,” Tarakumari explained. “After they finished tenth grade and moved to Kathmandu for higher studies, I returned home and planted orange trees in the paddy fields, despite relatives and neighbors advising against undertaking potentially unsuccessful ventures.”
Inspired to pursue self-employment, self-reliance, and income generation domestically, Tarakumari receives assistance from local school teachers and her husband, who help her with garden work in the evenings, mornings, and during holidays. Her garden contains around 150 orange and lemon trees along with asatia plants. She reported earning 480,000 rupees last year from orange sales. Along with grape cultivation inside plastic tunnels, she also grows tomatoes and beans within her orange orchard. Grapes are sold locally, while oranges and vegetables find markets in Pokhara and Kusma. Witnessing her income of 1 to 1.2 million rupees annually in savings from the farm, those who once criticized her for planting oranges are now astonished. Her example has encouraged many in Luprang to shift from traditional crops like rice, maize, and millet to orange cultivation.
Tarakumari has received support through technology access, infrastructure development, skill-based training, business plan preparation, visits, and exhibitions from the National Agriculture Modernization Project, Jaljala Rural Municipality, and the Inclusive Entrepreneurial Employment Promotion Program. However, poor road upgrades connecting Luprang via Naglivang create challenges in bringing agricultural products to markets, and monkey damage remains a significant problem, she lamented. Farmers also complained about damage to food crops, oranges, and vegetables caused by hailstorms on May 25 this year.

US President Donald Trump announced that the agreement to end the conflict with Iran has been signed, and its details will soon be made public. “I am very pleased to announce that the signing has taken place,” he stated during discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit. Senior US officials have begun to disclose aspects of the agreement in detail. They noted that formal signing occurred in Geneva on the same day that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. Technical talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program are also expected to commence this week. US officials indicated that the lifting of sanctions on Iran and unfreezing of its assets will depend on Iran’s demonstrated commitment to the agreement.

US Vice President Mike Pence told CNN on Monday that the framework of the agreement is “one and a half pages long.” He indicated that further discussions on more detailed issues would take place in the coming days. Pence summarized that Iran has committed “to regional peace and stability,” including halting financial support to “terrorist organizations,” according to his claim. “Even more importantly, Iran is prepared to make an official commitment not to develop nuclear weapons,” Pence added. According to US officials, the agreement has been electronically signed by Trump, Pence, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. They revealed that additional details of the agreement will be released by Tuesday. Trump stated that following the signing ceremony on Friday, the complete details of the agreement would be made public “soon.” “This document is extremely powerful, and I want to release it as quickly as possible,” he said.

According to the current agreement, both parties will maintain a ceasefire for an additional 60 days, during which remaining issues will be resolved. Despite the agreement between the US and Iran, conflict between the Israeli army and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group continues in Lebanon. Previously, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the agreement to “immediately end all military operations permanently across all fronts, including Lebanon.” Pakistan has been mediating in talks between the US and Iran. US officials said Lebanon has been included in the ceasefire arrangement, though Israel’s withdrawal condition from Lebanon is not covered. Officials stated that Israel retains the right to self-defense. On Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that if necessary, Israeli troops would remain in key security areas of Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The US President directed the removal of the maritime blockade on Iran on Sunday, and immediately after signing, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. He mentioned on social media that oil-carrying ships departed toward Hormuz on Monday. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Iranian state television in a phone interview that after 14-15 hours of talks, a draft agreement was finalized. He described the outcome as a victory for Iran.

June 15, Kathmandu – The Sudurpaschim Province government has presented a budget amounting to NPR 3.77 billion. Finance Minister Bikram Singh Dhami submitted the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a midnight session of the Provincial Assembly. He emphasized special focus on agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure development while unveiling the budget. The minister also announced a 10 percent increase in salaries and allowances for government employees.
The budget was presented at midnight due to disputes among ruling parties. Additionally, Minister Dhami did not disclose detailed ministry-wise allocations during the presentation. Regarding revenue sources for the budget expenditure, he mentioned NPR 172 million from internal revenue mobilization, and an estimated NPR 1.024 billion as revenue sharing from the federal government.
Furthermore, the budget estimates NPR 7 million from federal royalty allocation, NPR 906.33 million from financial equalization grants from the federal government, NPR 965 million in savings from the appropriations of fiscal year 2082/83, NPR 603.58 million from conditional grants, NPR 38.8 million from supplementary grants, and NPR 52.76 million from special grants, according to the minister’s statements.

As the World Cup football tournament unfolds, fans are enjoying not only the matches but also the spectacle of vibrant music, colors, and songs. Thanks to captivating melodies and powerful lyrics, World Cup songs have long become a focal point of the competition even before the games begin. Recent official anthems have been performed by renowned artists such as Pitbull and Shakira.

But how are these timeless World Cup songs created? Decades ago, when Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup, the songs produced for those events continue to be fondly remembered by many today. These ‘cult classic’ tracks remain etched in the minds of even those who were not alive at the time. Football enthusiasts recall these songs to revive fond memories and evoke positive emotions. Notable examples include England’s “World in Motion” and the Republic of Ireland’s “Put ‘Em Under Pressure,” both released before the 1990 World Cup, famously featuring the “Ole, Ole, Ole” chorus.

The innovation in production techniques at the time made “World in Motion” and “Put ‘Em Under Pressure” defining elements in making the 1990 tournament a transformative event in World Cup history. It is said that these songs captured a shrewdness and true focus on the sport itself. “I believe it was a peak moment,” some commentators note, “and since then, no other songs have surpassed them.” England fans still take delight in collectively singing “World in Motion” today.

What are fans singing this year? After three decades, Scotland has qualified for the World Cup once again. Among many unofficial songs that have gone viral on social media, a track performed by comedian Rosco McClelland has become especially popular among Scotland’s supporters, known as the Tartan Army. England fans continue to sing “It’s Coming Home,” a song that has become deeply ingrained in the national team’s cultural identity.

According to reports, the population of Arghakhanchi has decreased by over 20,000 in the last decade, dropping to 177,086. Due to rapid migration, 7,362 hectares of cultivable land have been left fallow in Arghakhanchi over the past ten years. In the last five years alone, nearly 25,000 people from 5,082 households have relocated from Arghakhanchi to other areas. (29 Jestha, Kathmandu)

Previously, there were no motorable roads in the villages; residents had to go as far as Butwal to buy essentials like salt and oil in Dhakar. There were no water taps in homes, requiring people to carry water from ponds for drinking. However, now the village roads are paved, every household has access to drinking water, and electricity and internet services are available. Despite such significant development and facilities, villages in Arghakhanchi are becoming increasingly deserted.

A few years ago, 45 households lived in Chhapa, ward no. 11 of Shitganga Municipality. Today, all these homes stand empty. Similarly, Gauchaur in ward no. 9 of Sandhikharka Municipality has also seen mass depopulation. According to Shivlal Chundali, a teacher at Argha Rajasthan Secondary School, student numbers have declined as migration from villages has increased. The school once had 550 students, but now only 200 remain.

Arghakhanchi holds significant potential for religious and natural tourism. According to Krishna Prasad Shrestha, the municipal chief, tourism combined with agriculture-based enterprises and organic production can help retain youth in the villages. Arghakhanchi currently stands at a crucial crossroads of change. The main reasons for migration include lack of employment opportunities, agricultural risks, and the poor quality of social services.

After the formation of the new government, the first high-level meeting with the UK held last week has energized representatives of the Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GESO). The meeting focused on discussions about discrimination faced by Gorkha ex-servicemen and reaffirmed a commitment to continual efforts on this matter. However, according to GESO, the British government has yet to provide any concrete response regarding their demand for equal pensions. It was reported that the Nepalese government urged during the meeting for a prompt resolution grounded in justice, fairness, and respect. The British Ministry of Defence has also expressed its commitment to working continuously on this issue in collaboration with the Nepalese government and representatives of the Gorkha community.

The history of British Gorkha recruitment spans over two centuries, and the Gorkha community has been advocating against inequality for three decades. In April 2022, a high-level dialogue committee was established to address these demands, conducting multiple meetings at ministerial and task force levels. The virtual meeting held on May 8, 2023 (Jestha 25) included Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and UK Defence Minister John Healey. Shortly after the meeting, Healey resigned from his post, and Amanda Solloway-Jones was appointed as the new Minister for Armed Forces within the Defence Ministry.

Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Khanal shared on social media that discussions centered on the longstanding demands of the Gorkhas, including equal pension rights. He stated, “Considering the historic and significant contribution of the Gorkhas to Nepal-UK relations, I urged the British government to resolve these issues as soon as possible based on justice, fairness, and respect.” The clear stance taken by the Foreign Minister received positive feedback from representatives of the Gorkha community.

“This was the first time a meeting at the level of both Defence and Foreign Ministers took place where the Nepali Foreign Minister emphasized ending discrimination; we view this as a very positive signal,” said GESO Vice President Dharma Tamang. However, some members of the Gorkha community have expressed less enthusiasm regarding the ongoing negotiation process. Padmasundar Limbu, Chairperson of the British Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (BIGESO), emphasized adherence to the Supreme Court of Nepal’s directives, stating, “The Supreme Court has issued binding orders to ensure that all Gorkha recruitment matters are handled respectfully without impacting relations with friendly nations.”

Dharma Tamang noted that discussions during the meeting remained stuck on longstanding points. Veterans who retired from the British Army before 1997 have long demanded equal pensions, protesting the discrimination faced. Previous meetings have seen the British side reject the demand for equal pensions as impossible and proposed alternative solutions. Tamang explained that they have offered an 11-point proposal for easier resolution. However, the British side made no comments on these points during last week’s meeting. Minister for Veterans and People, Amanda Solloway-Jones, acknowledged some progress but admitted that a definitive response has not yet been provided. There have been allegations that the British side is attempting to divert the matter away from the issue of pension equality.

In a written reply to BBC News regarding the latest talks, the UK Ministry of Defence reiterated its commitment to social dialogue and progress. “The meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from the Gorkha ex-servicemen community. We acknowledge their sentiments and are committed to continued efforts on this important issue,” a ministry spokesperson stated. “We will maintain cooperation with the Nepalese government and the Gorkha community in the days ahead.”

The Shape of Momo, set against the backdrop of Sikkim and co-produced by India and South Korea, is director Triveni Rai’s first narrative film in the Nepali language. This film explores the internalized patriarchy and the struggle for personal freedom through the story of Vishnu, a 32-year-old woman who returns to her rural home from Delhi. It is said that cinema is a blend of visuals and sound; if either falters, even the strongest storyline will weaken the film. By this standard, Triveni Rai’s The Shape of Momo is largely a commendable work.

This Nepali-language film is set in the Himalayan region of Sikkim and marks the director’s debut in narrative filmmaking. It has gained recognition and appreciation at international film festivals. The story is narrated from the perspective of Vishnu (played by Goumaya Gurung), a 32-year-old woman who leaves her life in Delhi to return to her Himalayan village. At home, she finds her elderly grandmother ill, her mother, and her pregnant sister; notably, there are no men in the household. Yet, despite the absence of men, patriarchy persists. The film successfully conveys the message that structural flaws allow patriarchy to survive within women themselves, even in the absence of men.

The plot is straightforward yet impactful. It does not rely on major events or surprising twists. Vishnu’s return home sets the stage for internal family conflicts, social expectations of the village, and her personal struggles. Coming from a modern, independent lifestyle in Delhi, she feels like an ‘outsider’ in her village. As an educated, privileged, and progressive thinker, Vishnu confronts the daily struggles, endurance, and internalized patriarchy among women in her community.

This nuanced approach prevents the film from becoming a superficial feminist narrative. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s theory of power, the film portrays how patriarchy spreads and perpetuates itself—even when men are absent, women continue to uphold it. Director Rai weaves this story based on her own experiences; the lead character is even named after the late father of the director herself.

Overall, The Shape of Momo is a film that raises profound questions through a simple narrative. To label this film as simply ‘Indian’ or ‘foreign’ would be unjust. Ultimately, what is freedom? Is leaving family the only path to liberation? Are traditions merely constraints or sources of comfort? To some extent, viewers may find their answers during the one-and-a-half-hour runtime of this thoughtful film.