Author: space4knews

Six out of seven Nepalis injured by falling drone debris in Abu Dhabi have been discharged from the hospital. The Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been in contact with all seven injured individuals to monitor their condition. The debris fell in the Ajban area of Abu Dhabi after a drone, launched by Iran, was intercepted by the UAE air defense system. Kathmandu, 21 Chaitra.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), six of the seven Nepalis injured by falling drone debris in Abu Dhabi have been discharged from hospital. The Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi conveyed updates on the condition of the Nepalis and confirmed that six have been released. Embassy staff have maintained communication with all seven injured individuals.

One injured person remains hospitalized but is reported to be in a stable condition, according to the Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Following reports from UAE government media confirming seven Nepalis injured, the embassy expressed concern and sought updates on their condition. On Friday, after the UAE’s air defense system intercepted a drone launched by Iran using missiles, debris fell in the Ajban area of Abu Dhabi. This incident resulted in a total of 12 injuries, including seven Nepalis and five Indian nationals.

In rural areas, a fascinating legend still circulates today: “When lightning strikes the sky, stone axes fall to the earth.” In some places, these stone axes, known as ‘lightning stones,’ are carefully preserved. As a child, such stories seemed mysterious. Each year, lightning claims the lives of tens of thousands of people worldwide. In Nepal, Makwanpur district is considered the most affected, with Jhapa, Udayapur, Ilam, Morang, and several other districts also significantly impacted. Lightning often damages tall trees, splitting branches, causing them to fall or suddenly wither. If stone tools fell alongside lightning, such objects would be found abundantly in those areas. However, these tools are mostly discovered in remote or ancient settlements and are often kept at home across many generations. In reality, these stone axes are prehistoric stone tools made by early humans. Viewed in this light, while folklore adds mystery, these objects reveal a crucial chapter in human history.

Against this background, this article discusses prehistoric stone tools and, based on them, the early history of human activity in Nepal. The Stone Age is also referred to as the ‘Paleolithic Age,’ marking an early phase of human civilization. During this period, humans primarily used stone tools to meet their daily needs. This use of tools distinguished humans from other living beings. Stone axes, spears, arrows, and similar implements were commonly used for hunting. Determining when stone tool production began globally was difficult without knowing their age.

In the mid-20th century, scientists developed the ‘Radiocarbon Dating’ method. During the 1950s and 1960s, advanced techniques like ‘Potassium-Argon Dating’ were introduced, enabling accurate dating of stone tools that are millions of years old. Subsequently, researchers discovered that human-made stone tools date back up to 2.5 million years. The majority of these weapons and tools have been found primarily in African countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Similar findings have been made in Asian countries like China and India, and stone tools have also been uncovered in Nepal.

March 21, Butwal – Tiger Forest Hotel, featuring the first beer garden in Lumbini Province, has commenced operations in Chilhiya 13, Tilottama, Rupandehi. Entrepreneur Minraj Bhusal of Tilottama established the hotel with a vision to bring a new and unique identity to the region across five bighas of land. The investment in the hotel has surpassed one billion rupees, with financial backing from Shine Resunga Development Bank, according to reports.

According to Bhusal, the hotel is integrated with lush forest surroundings, and the rooms—referred to as “flying villas”—are entirely constructed from pine wood. Additionally, fresh draft beer from Bhusal’s own brewery, which is not bottled but served directly, is available on site. Bhusal is also the owner of the “Baahrsinge” beer brand.

The hotel, connected to the five-star Tiger Palace Resort, is currently operational in the southern section. The first phase includes a beer garden, 20 flying villas, a hall accommodating 50 guests, a Chautari bar, a dance club, and a spa, Bhusal said. The flying villa designs were crafted by Austrian engineers. Bhusal emphasized that apart from Baahrsinge Beer Industry in Kurintar by the Trishuli riverbank, no other place offers this combination of flying villas and draft beer garden.

Construction is nearing completion on a Chinese restaurant with a capacity of around 200 guests and a banquet hall that can accommodate 1,000 guests. Bhusal announced that the official opening of the hotel is planned for the Nepali New Year.

In the near future, plans include adding 40 more rooms, a swimming pool, and a mini-casino to obtain four-star hotel certification. “The purpose of this investment is to provide new and unique hospitality services targeting domestic and Indian tourists,” Bhusal stated. “We present an unprecedented experience in the region where guests can enjoy fresh beer amid a green environment under the open sky.” He also noted that tourists visiting Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, are among the primary target guests for the resort.

Bhusal revealed plans to further invest NPR 1.5 billion in the coming years to upgrade the hotel to a five-star facility, expanding services and amenities aimed at Indian tourists, contingent on political stability and a favorable business environment in the country. “This resort, located away from urban areas amidst serene greenery, will establish a distinct identity for the province’s tourism sector,” he added. “The combination of natural surroundings, open spaces, and authentic architectural style differentiates this resort from conventional hotels. Our goal is to transform it into an exemplary wellness and entertainment tourism destination in Nepal.”

General Manager Kshitiz Khanal stated that the resort currently provides direct employment to around 70 locals. The hotel, developed with the objective of offering unique experiences to domestic and international tourists visiting Lumbini, is expected to become a model tourism destination not only for Tilottama but for the entire province, said Mayor Ram Krishna Khanal.

March 21, Kathmandu – The Supreme Court is set to hear the habeas corpus petitions of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak tomorrow (Sunday). According to sources, after the previously issued show-cause order by the Supreme Court, a written response has been received from the opposition. With all parties now aligned, both petitioners are expected to attend the hearing.
The police arrested both individuals on March 14 under a decision to implement the recommendations of the Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission, which was established to investigate incidents related to the JNU movement. Claiming the arrests were unlawful, Oli and Lekhak filed habeas corpus petitions at the Supreme Court on March 15. Separate benches considered these petitions on March 16, issuing show-cause orders directed to the government. Following receipt of the government’s written response, the court will conduct debates during tomorrow’s hearing, sources informed.

March 21, Sankhuwasabha — The Office of the Controller of Accounts (Colenika) has initiated the distribution process of pension slips for retired employees. This marks the first time pension slips have been distributed at the district level, eliminating the need for retired employees to travel to Kathmandu. Chiranjivi Adhikari, the office chief, handed over the pension slip to Rudra Budhathoki as the first beneficiary.

Previously, employees who had retired or resigned from the civil service had to visit the National Treasury at Pulchok and the Pension Office at Tripureshwor to obtain their pension slips, a process that typically took 2 to 4 days and incurred additional costs. However, according to the official, the introduction of the ‘e-Pension Service’ now allows the procedure to be completed within the district, making it more convenient. Pension slips for employees whose retirement or resignation has been approved will be prepared digitally.

After retirement, employees submit the necessary documents to the Colenika office, where their information is uploaded to the online system. Subsequently, the authorized pension slip signed by the relevant office is sent to Colenika and handed over to the beneficiary. Expressing satisfaction with the new system, Rudra Budhathoki, a retired employee from the Irrigation Office, said, “I no longer have to go to Kathmandu, which also saves the expenses incurred by staying there.” This new system is expected to facilitate faster, more cost-effective, and efficient service delivery at the district level.

Pokhara Metropolitan City has demolished nearly 32 structures within the designated boundary of Fewa Lake using bulldozers. The Supreme Court had established a 65-meter standard for Fewa Lake and ordered the removal of structures within this limit within six months. Efforts are underway to identify contaminated land due to the lake’s expansion and to provide compensation accordingly. (March 4, Pokhara)

A controversy arose early Saturday morning as the Pokhara Metropolitan City team prepared to demolish structures encroaching into Fewa Lake’s water. Taking advantage of state inertia and weak enforcement of laws, bulldozers were deployed on structures built along the lake’s shoreline, surprising many residents. The bulldozers demolished parts of these structures and warned owners to clear the remaining belongings, disrupting those who were inside their homes at the time.

Local residents protested the Metropolitan City’s move to bring bulldozers, even temporarily blocking the road near Khapaundi. They expressed anger at the demolition being carried out without prior notice. A recommendation was made for Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) to study the situation on-site at Fewa Lake, while Mayor Dhanraj Acharya faced opposition for his stance.

On Asar 4, 2080 BS (mid-June 2023), the Supreme Court issued an order to maintain a 65-meter boundary standard for Fewa Lake. However, on Chaitra 16, 2078 BS (around March 30, 2022), Pokhara Metropolitan City had unilaterally reduced this limit to 30 meters, a decision that was challenged via a writ petition. The bench, consisting of Justices Kumar Regmi and Hariprasad Phuyal, issued four directives to the central government in response to this case.

Bamdev Gautam, a central member of the Nepal Communist Party, has written an open letter to Prime Minister Balendra Shah requesting the release of KP Sharma Oli from custody. Gautam pointed out that the 74-year-old Oli is elderly and physically unwell, and described the sudden house arrest and detention as inappropriate. He questioned the justification for holding Oli in custody without clear reasons and evidence, stating that action should be taken only after proper verification. Kathmandu, April 4.

Gautam urged Prime Minister Shah to rectify what he called a mistake, emphasizing that it is inappropriate for Oli to suffer such treatment given his condition. He stated, “Allegations against KP Sharma Oli must be thoroughly investigated based on facts, evidence, and law before any conclusions are drawn.”

In his letter, Gautam also posed several questions to Prime Minister Shah: “Why is KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old chairman of the Nepali Congress (UML), being humiliated and held in custody?” He further added, “Shouldn’t all the facts pertaining to his detention be proven by the court before any punitive measures are taken?”

Rajasthan Royals defeated Gujarat Titans by 6 runs in IPL 2026. Chasing a target of 211 set by Rajasthan, Gujarat was bowled out for 204 runs, losing 8 wickets in 20 overs. During the innings, Gujarat stood at 107 for 1 after 11 overs but then lost 6 wickets for 54 runs, sliding to 161 for 7.

With 15 runs needed off the final 2 overs, Jofra Archer conceded just 4 runs, and in the last over, Tushar Deshpande gave away only 4 runs while dismissing Rashid Khan. Gujarat opener Sai Sudarshan scored a brisk 73 runs off 44 balls. Jos Buttler added 26 runs, while Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada remained unbeaten with 24 and 23 runs respectively.

For Rajasthan, Ravi Bishnoi took 4 wickets for 41 runs in 4 overs. Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, and Riyan Parag claimed one wicket each. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Rajasthan posted 210 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Dhruv Jurel top-scored with 75 runs off 42 balls, including 5 fours and 5 sixes.

Rajasthan achieved their second consecutive win and returned to the top of the points table with 4 points. Gujarat, suffering their second straight defeat, remain without points and occupy seventh place.

March 21, Kathmandu – The launch ceremony of the Maithili travel memoir Jaganmukti, authored by outgoing Executive Chairman of the National News Agency (RASAS) Dharmendra Jha, was held recently. The book was inaugurated by Surendra Raj Pande, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, during the ‘Baglung Media Mela 2082’ organized by the Nepal Journalist Federation Baglung.

Known in literary circles by the pen name Bihwal, Dharmendra Jha’s book chronicles the journey from Muktinath, a shared pilgrimage site of Hindu and Buddhist devotees located in Mustang district beyond the Himalayas, to Jagannath, located on the seashore. He noted that Jaganmukti is the first book written in Maithili about Muktinath and expressed confidence that it will help Maithili speakers learn about and understand Muktinath better.

Highlighting the recent increase in the number of Maithili speakers visiting Muktinath, Jha stated, “Every Maithil household worships Shaligram. Muktinath is the primary center for Shaligram worship.” The book covers various experiences from the journey within its total 102 pages and includes important photographs. Dharmendra Jha has previously published numerous works including Rasta Takait Jingi, Ek Srishti Ek Kavita, Ek Samayak Bat, Shahark Bheedme Esagar Hum, Vyomak Ohi Paar, Maithila Mithak, Nepaliyai Maithili Chhapa Patrakaritako Itihaas, Bhramarka Utkrisht Natakharu (translation), and Gonu Jhaka Kathaharu, among others.

March 21, Kathmandu: A Bolero jeep carrying passengers met with an accident in Lamjung, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Additionally, 12 others sustained injuries in the incident. Among the injured, three are reported to be in critical condition, according to Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jitendra Kumar Basnet of the District Police Office, Lamjung.

The jeep bearing the number plate Ga 1 Kha 6470, which departed from Besisahar heading towards Ustha, crashed near Ngabi in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-7 at approximately 5:45 PM. The vehicle, ascending uphill, fell roughly 50 meters off the road, police stated. DSP Basnet confirmed that 14 people, including the driver, were onboard the jeep.

All passengers were injured at the scene of the accident. While transporting the injured for medical treatment, two individuals succumbed to their injuries. The deceased have been identified as 40-year-old Tribeni Gurung and 34-year-old Pushpa Ghale, both residents of Ustha, Marsyangdi-7. Of those injured, three critically wounded individuals have been referred to Chitwan Hospital, DSP Basnet reported. The driver, Karan Adhikari, is also among the injured, and authorities have yet to determine the exact causes of the accident.

The film Snow Leopard, directed by Pema Choden, was screened at the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF). This film had its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival 2023. Under the ‘Sichuan Panorama’ segment at NIFF, four films were showcased, including Home Away Home Close, Learners from the Top of the World, and Sunrise Over the Plateau.

Snow Leopard portrays the life of a Tibetan herder and explores the coexistence between humans and the environment. The film was well received in Venice as well. On Saturday, alongside Snow Leopard, the other three films—Home Away Home Close, Learners from the Top of the World, and Sunrise Over the Plateau—were shown at the Tourism Board Hall located in Bhrikuti Mandap.

Directed by Guo Yifei, Home Away Home Close tells the story of a young man overcoming geographical challenges to launch a public service initiative called ‘Mobile Photo Studio’ for local herders. Learners from the Top of the World, directed by Jack Malatere, highlights educational themes. The film Sunrise Over the Plateau, directed by Xiao Xiaowei, depicts significant changes in education, economy, and culture within a typical family.

Within this panorama, two additional films, Warrior King and Discovering Sichuan 2026, are scheduled to be screened on Sunday. The ‘Sichuan Panorama’ at NIFF is a special showcase outside of the competition. On Saturday, films in competition were screened at Civil Mall, Chhaya Center, and the Russian House. Additionally, the Tourism Board hosted the ‘NIFF Feature Pitch’ event, where emerging writers presented story ideas to producers.

March 21, Rukum East – A water tanker accident in Thawang Rural Municipality of Rolpa has resulted in one fatality. The water tanker with registration number RA 1 T 3834 crashed near Thawang Bazaar around 6:10 PM on Saturday evening. The identity of the deceased has not yet been disclosed.

Following the accident, a team led by Police Inspector Ramchandra Bagale from the Thawang Area Police Office arrived at the scene. The police are currently gathering further details about the incident.