Author: space4knews

Alexander Alimov, 26 Baishakh, Kathmandu – Russia has clearly stated that it will not support the draft proposal on Iran presented by the United States and Bahrain to the United Nations Security Council. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov noted that Moscow sees no positive prospects in the document and urged the US and Bahrain to withdraw their proposal.

In an interview with the daily ‘Izvestia,’ Deputy Foreign Minister Alimov said that the current joint draft by the US and Bahrain is on the Security Council’s negotiation table, but Russia cannot support it under any circumstances. He called on the co-authoring nations to refrain from rushing to a decision and to retract the proposal.

According to Alimov, another draft proposal prepared by Russia and China is still under discussion. The Russia-China proposal clearly calls on the conflicting parties to end hostilities, refrain from the use of force, and resolve differences through dialogue.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also highlighted the importance of ensuring freedom of maritime navigation in the draft but informed that no final decision has yet been made on this matter. Expressing concern about the recent clashes and counterattacks between Iran and the US, Russia conveyed hope that the talks will yield concrete results. Alimov emphasized that Russia consistently supports an end to violence and favors political and diplomatic solutions aimed at establishing a lasting agreement between Washington and Tehran. He further warned that any actions obstructing the negotiation process would be a matter of concern.

26 Baisakh, London – The vote count from Thursday’s local elections across three regions of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, and Wales — has produced unexpected results. In elections held for a total of 5,014 seats across 136 local councils, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has established a strong lead. Reform UK is a right-wing populist and far-right political party known for its tough and uncompromising stance on immigration.

As of midnight Friday, Reform UK secured 1,428 seats. The ruling Labour Party won 955 seats, Liberal Democrats 832, Conservatives 773, and the Green Party 508, with counting still ongoing. These results delivered a significant setback to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. Starmer has accepted responsibility for the defeat. Labour lost over a thousand councillor positions in England, and following historic losses in the Welsh Senedd elections, some Labour MPs are pressuring Starmer to resign. When questioned about remaining as prime minister for upcoming elections, Starmer stated, “Yes, I was elected for a five-year term and I want to complete it.”

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, speaking to reporters in East London, described the electoral outcomes in England as a “truly historic change”. Farage highlighted that in Chelmsford, Essex, the results reflected a fundamental transformation in voting behavior across the UK. His party has won over 1,400 councillor seats, breaking traditional Labour strongholds in the Midlands, Northeast, and Northwest regions. This local election outcome has initiated fresh debate within national politics. The rise of Reform UK alongside Labour’s relatively weak performance and continued pressure on the Conservative Party marks this election as a pivotal moment in British political landscape.

In Wales, governing Labour faced a severe defeat, losing control of areas they have dominated for 27 years. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party appears set to become the largest party. Voters in Scotland and Wales elected representatives for their respective national parliaments, while councillors and mayors were elected in various English councils.

The presence of candidates of Nepali origin has also made a significant impact. Of approximately one and a half dozen Nepali-origin candidates, many have been elected as councillors, though some were unsuccessful. According to reports, former mayor Jeet Ranabhat was elected councillor from the Plumstead and Glyndon ward of Royal Greenwich Borough, London, securing 1,610 votes. First elected as councillor in 2022, Ranabhat has previously served as mayor and deputy mayor of the borough. His wife, Gaumaya Gurung Ranabhat, was also elected councillor for the first time from the Abbeywood ward of the same borough. Both Ranabhats represent the Labour Party.

In Aldershot’s Rushmoor Borough, Jeev Narayan Belwase was elected as councillor for the Manor Park ward, and former Gurkha Uttar Bahadur Gurung for the Wellington ward. Belwase, a Conservative candidate, secured councillor office for the second time, while Gurung, representing Labour, was elected for the first time.

Belwase has served the community for nearly 25 years, contributing to local police, Rushmoor Borough Council, Citizens Advice Bureau, Rushmoor Volunteer Services, Rushmoor Fire and Rescue Services, and the Primary Care Network. He has chaired the Greater Rushmoor Nepali Community and remained active in NRNA UK. Belwase has also been honored with the Rushmoor Volunteer Services and Hampshire Sheriff Awards and was shortlisted for the BBC Community Hero Award.

Additionally, Pratiksha Gurung was elected councillor for Batter Ward of Reading Borough, becoming the first councillor of Nepali origin there from the Labour Party. Conservative candidate Lakshya Gurung was elected for the third time as councillor from the Edgwarebury ward of Barnet Borough, London. Former deputy mayor Gurung claimed to be the first Nepali to be elected councillor for the third time. Former councillor Kamal Gurung also secured reelection as councillor from Barnet Borough’s Burnt Oak ward representing Labour Party.

Several Nepali-origin candidates faced defeat as well. Dr. Vishal Gurung, Conservative candidate for Rushmoor’s Volington ward, was unsuccessful in his second attempt. Former DSP Shivji Shrestha, running as a Labour candidate in Basingstoke, was also defeated. Narendra Kandel and Tom Adhikari, candidates supported by Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party in the Royal Greenwich Borough, were unsuccessful. Kandel contested against former mayor Ranabhat in Plumstead and Glyndon, while Adhikari stood in Woolwich. Indrahang Limbu, Conservative candidate in Feltham North ward of Hounslow Borough, London, was defeated. Likewise, Conservative candidate Gyan Prasad Gurung lost in Swindon.

April 8, Kathmandu – Meena Kharel has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Nepal Women Association, affiliated with the Nepali Congress. Party President Gagan Thapa designated Kharel, a resident of Chitwan, to lead the women’s organization. In the recent election, Kharel had contested from Chitwan-2 against Ravi Lamichhane, the Chairperson of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP). She has been actively working on behalf of vulnerable women and children. Under her leadership, a directive has been issued to conduct the long-overdue general convention of the association. Since 2016, the Women Association has not held any elections, and the previous committee led by Chairperson Usha Mishra was also unable to organize the convention.

Who is Meena Kharel? Meena Kharel is a well-established name in social activism focused on women’s rights, children, and domestic violence issues. Among the residents of Chitwan, she is recognized as a dedicated social worker committed to rescuing women and children facing abuse around the clock. At 54 years old, Kharel has devoted nearly 35 years to social service. She has fought legal battles for women suffering from single and polygamous marriages, and operates a shelter for helpless children who have lost both parents due to forced causes such as abduction. Known for empowering victims by providing vocational training to help them achieve self-reliance and social integration, Kharel remains more active in social fields than direct politics.

Born in 1971, Meena is a permanent resident of Ward No. 4, Bharatpur Metropolitan City. She holds a master’s degree in sociology. Kharel is the founding secretary of Adarsha Nari Club, president of Adarsha Nari Development Center in Bharatpur, and founder coordinator of Adarsha Griha, a rehabilitation center for vulnerable women and children. She also established Hamro Ghar, a street children rehabilitation center in Narayangadh, and has served as president of Adarsha Savings and Credit Cooperative and founder president of the Community Service Center in Narayangadh. As a child, she was arrested for protesting a fee hike. Kharel actively participated in the 1990 people’s movement as a representative of the student federation (Nevisangh).

She served as the student federation chairperson at Birendra Campus and was a member of the District Working Committee of Congress in Chitwan; she is currently a member of Congress’s central committee. In the local elections of 1997, she was elected as a female ward member of Bharatpur Municipality Ward No. 5. The recent parliamentary election was her first time running for parliament. The Nepali Congress has not won in Chitwan-2 since the 2004 elections. In the February 21, 2023 election, Ravi Lamichhane of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party emerged victorious in this constituency. The Maoist Center won Chitwan Constituency No. 3 in 2007, and from 2013 to 2017, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) consistently won here. In 2023, Lamichhane again triumphed followed by his re-election in the 2024 by-election. In those recent elections, candidates from the coalition including the Maoists ran for Congress. This time, Meena ran independently as Congress did not enter an alliance. Despite internal disputes within Congress, she received full party backing. However, the results were unfavorable. With 54,402 votes, Lamichhane was elected, while Kharel secured 14,564 votes. The CPN-UML candidate Asmin Ghimire received 6,992 votes in the race.

Her mandate includes organizing the Women Association’s general convention within a specified time frame, as well as continuing advocacy and support efforts for women and children in need.

The song contains inspiring words about overcoming any obstructive relationship or situation to find one’s true existence.

Rastriya Swatantra Samajwadi Party (RSWP) MP KP Khanal accused the state of spending billions of rupees over the past seven decades nurturing political workers by fueling the dream of obtaining land ownership certificates (lalpurja). He emphasized that the state must differentiate between issuing land certificates to unplanned settlements on public land without proper measurement and the issue of living on public land without ownership rights.

On 25th Baisakh in Kathmandu, during the meeting of the Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources Committee under the House of Representatives, MP Khanal declared that the ongoing political disputes around land certificates are no longer acceptable. He spoke during the progress review of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation.

Khanal identified himself as the son of a farmer, stating, “Some tried to create controversy by raising the issue of public land, but those spreading misinformation did not understand that I am the son of humble farmers whose family has cultivated the soil for generations without gaining ownership.” He added, “Millions of youths like me still live like ‘non-citizens’ in their own homes.”

He urged the government to grant land ownership certificates to unplanned residents who have lived on public land for generations without proper cadastral surveys. He called on the state to clearly distinguish between fragmentation of public land and those living on land without ownership rights.

Khanal criticized 22 commissions established by old political parties, asserting that their sole role was depleting state treasury funds without delivering results. He proposed forming a powerful committee that includes technical experts knowledgeable in soil and technology rather than party representatives alone. He also appealed for the relocation of squatters to safe locations with guaranteed housing rights.

He affirmed his commitment not merely to occupy a parliamentary seat but to work effectively, stating, “I declared during elections that I am not here for politics centered on land certificates, but to deliver tangible outcomes. Today, I stand to fulfill that promise. For me, the red certificate is bigger than the MP’s logo; it will make brothers across my constituency and the country the rightful owners of their land.”

Summary: Doris Payne engaged in non-violent jewelry thefts for nearly six decades across the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France starting from the 1930s. Ambika Pulami Pun of Syangja, convicted in 18 cases of stealing earrings by gaining children’s trust, has been compared to the 95-year-old Doris Payne. Ambika was arrested and taken into custody by the Kaski Police on April 29 on charges of stealing earrings.

April 25, Kathmandu – In the past, incidents of stolen items were common when Doris Payne entered jewelry stores in America, prompting shopkeepers to file complaints with the police. Investigations often found Doris to be the culprit. She concealed her identity using numerous aliases, 32 different names, 9 passports, multiple birth dates, and 10 social security numbers.

Doris was born into a poor American family in 1930 and turned jewelry theft into her profession from a young age, dominating the world of crime for nearly 60 years. Her method of theft was unique; she never employed violence, issued threats, or engaged in misconduct. Instead, posing as a wealthy woman, she successfully stole items from jewelers. Her crimes extended beyond America to Japan, the UK, and France.

In 1970, Doris was arrested in Nice, France, for stealing a diamond ring worth approximately $500,000 at that time. The ring was never recovered. Even in recent times, despite arrests, police have been unable to locate stolen items. Doris faced multiple arrests and continued facing theft charges until the age of 86. She earned the nickname “Grandmother of Thieves.”

In 2017, Doris was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart but was released on parole due to her age. Now 95, she leads an independent life. A documentary titled The Life and Crime of Doris Payne has been made based on her life of theft.

Ambika Pulami Pun from Syangja appears to follow a theft method similar to Doris Payne’s. Just as Doris avoided violence and impersonated a wealthy woman to steal, Ambika also refrains from violence, instead gaining children’s trust by acting as a friendly companion to them and offering juice before stealing their earrings.

Currently held in custody at Kaski District Police Office, Ambika has prior experience with incarceration. She faces 18 cases of theft and has been convicted in several, yet she shows no sign of reform. She has recently been arrested again for stealing earrings from children using similar tactics.

On April 19 at 4:55 PM, two earrings worth approximately NPR 100,000 went missing from a 6-year-old girl in Hemja Ramchowk, Pokhara. Her family reported the incident to the police. CCTV footage from the crime scene showed a yellow scooter with the plate number ग२५प ३५८४.

The footage revealed a woman wearing a raincoat on the yellow scooter offering juice to the child, after which the earrings were missing. Investigation found that on April 5, the scooter had been rented from ‘A One Motorbike Rental and Tours.’ The woman who rented it is Ambika, now in police custody.

Ambika, aged 25, originally from Chapakot Municipality-3 in Syangja and currently residing in Rambazar, Pokhara, was arrested by Kaski police on April 29 from Mahendrapul, Pokhara. Investigations revealed she deceived children by saying, “I am your mommy’s friend,” showed affection, gave ice cream and juice, and stole their earrings.

Just as American police pursued Doris Payne actively, Nepalese police track Ambika as soon as children’s earrings go missing. According to Kaski police spokesperson DSP Hari Basnet, “Ambika is consistently fortunate in earring theft cases. These incidents occur frequently and she immediately comes under police scrutiny.”

Ambika targets children wearing earrings, and once found alone, she quickly preys on them. Over the past decade, she has become adept at coaxing children and stealing earrings. DSP Basnet confirmed that Ambika has been found guilty in 18 theft cases over this period.

On July 6, 2021 (Asar 22, 2078 BS), Kaski District Court convicted Ambika in 18 theft and robbery cases, sentencing her to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of NPR 20,800 for 11 theft charges. For the remaining 7 cases, she received sentences ranging from 6 months to 1.5 years and fines between NPR 5,200 and NPR 10,400. She has been arrested once again on accusations of stealing earrings.

Senior leader of the Labour Culture Party, Sudan Kirati, has described the National Independent Party as undemocratic and authoritarian. He expressed concern over government interference in the judiciary and the rise of political parties becoming akin to religious institutions, with leaders being idolized. Kirati clarified that the increase in authoritarian tendencies within old political parties and the lack of internal democracy and leadership style were the main reasons he left the CPN Maoist Centre. Kathmandu, 25 Baishakh.

Speaking at an event in Kathmandu on Friday, where he joined the Labour Culture Party led by Harkraj Rai, Kirati made these remarks. He accused the government of interfering in the judiciary and voiced worries about political parties functioning like religious organizations and the deification of their leaders. Criticizing old political parties for rising authoritarianism and leadership pressured by intermediaries, Kirati stated during the party induction program, “The government is riding the horse of Nazism. But remember, Nazism and fascism have reached their end in history. I was not even allowed to speak for two minutes before I left.”

Kirati also made it clear that the disappointing interference in party and government operations is no longer acceptable. He emphasized that the future political path must integrate nature, culture, and technology.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has released projections indicating below-average rainfall and higher temperatures across Nepal during this year’s monsoon season. Meteorologist Sudarshan Humagain of the department stated that the rainfall and temperature forecasts were made considering the conditions of El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). According to the projections, from May 31 to October 1, there is a 35 to 65 percent probability of reduced rainfall and increased temperatures over most areas.

While some regions of Nepal are expected to receive average rainfall, the majority of locations are anticipated to experience below-average precipitation. Sudarshan Humagain from the department’s climate analysis division explained that these projections are based on climate model assessments from the World Meteorological Organization’s Climate Information Production Centers and evaluations from the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF).

The SASCOF meeting held in Male, Maldives, included participation from meteorologists representing nine countries, including Nepal. Currently, the Indian Ocean is neutralizing the ENSO conditions and trending toward El Niño. Climate expert and disaster specialist Dr. Dharma Raj Upreti noted that although rainfall might be adequate until mid-June, dryness is likely toward the end of June, with a possible resurgence of monsoon activity by late September.

This year’s monsoon is projected to bring below-average rainfall with a 55 to 65 percent likelihood to the southern parts of Karnali Province, most of Lumbini Province, eastern Madhesh Province, and southern Koshi Province. Similarly, most areas of Sudurpashchim Province, western Madhesh Province, and central Koshi Province are expected to see below-average rainfall with a probability ranging from 45 to 55 percent.

April 8, Biratnagar — Depositors defrauded by Barah Savings and Credit Cooperative Limited in Dharan have sent a letter to Ravi Lamichhane, Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), urging the return of their savings. The Barah Cooperative Victims Coordination Committee wrote to Lamichhane requesting the recovery of nearly NPR 1.1 billion in savings. Victims have reported that the cooperative has embezzled funds belonging to almost 10,000 ordinary depositors across the country, including Dharan in Sunsari district.

Since December 2021, depositors have been unable to retrieve their money due to the absence of repayments and the disappearance of the cooperative’s management, plunging thousands of families into crisis, according to the letter. Invoking the commitments made by RSP during elections, victims have appealed to Lamichhane to help create a conducive environment for recovering the depositors’ funds.

Following the disappearance of key officials, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City’s executive committee declared Barah Cooperative ‘distressed’ on September 7, 2025. However, the lack of substantive action since then has left victims dissatisfied. The Coordination Committee has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the cooperative’s assets and liabilities, the arrest and prosecution of main executives, and concrete measures to refund the savings. After the distress declaration, chairman Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, director Amar Bahadur Bishwakarma, and Ganga Bahadur Kalikote have been absconding. The letter sent to Ravi Lamichhane outlines these concerns in detail.

April 24, Pokhara – The Pokhara Metropolitan City had issued a notice on April 17 to vacate encroached public and leased land and buildings. Following this, the Pokhara Valley Municipal Development Committee (PVDC) also issued a notice on April 21 to vacate lands under its ownership. The PVDC is the largest government agency holding land in Pokhara and manages properties including the Pokhara bus park, which has been the subject of disputes for five decades, except the areas under lease agreements. According to a recent study by the metropolitan city, out of 205 ropanis of bus park land, only around 19 to 20 ropanis remain vacant. The rest is occupied by squatters, disorganized settlements, and residential structures owned by individuals to whom the committee has sold or leased the land at various times.

In the institution area around Prithvi Chowk, land registered under the Pokhara Valley Municipal Development Committee has been occupied by labor organizations affiliated with the UML, Congress, and Maoist parties. These groups have constructed buildings and operate their offices there or lease them out. Although these labor organizations collect rent, they have not paid any dues to the government.

Buildings belonging to major local sports and cultural organizations such as Sahara Club and the Himalayan Cultural Family are also located in this area. These institutions have similarly been earning income by leasing their buildings. Since 1989, these political organizations have a history of occupying land in coordination with PVDC chairpersons. During the Maoist peace process, the Young Communist League (YCL) even established a camp there. Subsequently, other Maoist-affiliated labor groups built structures on committee land, continuing to house party leaders and members while leasing out parts of the buildings.

Civic activists have repeatedly raised concerns that government land should not be occupied and leased out. Over 11 ropanis of land in front of the Hong Kong Bazaar has been encroached upon by squatters or organizations linked to political parties. After the government led by Mayor Balendra Shah began efforts to clear these encroachments, older political organizations and various institutions agreed to vacate the land and buildings in the Prithvi Chowk area.

Mayor Dhanraj Acharya of Pokhara Metropolitan City has issued multiple notices offering alternatives. Those who have not vacated the premises have now been informed that eviction will proceed in accordance with the law. Mayor Acharya stated that political party-affiliated labor organizations and institutions in the institution area have agreed to vacate the buildings by May 23.

“They have now approached us confirming they will leave. Some business owners have already started efforts to clear these party and institution-run shops. Since the business owners who rented these spaces will need to coordinate, I have advised them to do so themselves,” Mayor Acharya said. “We have many options, but we do not have additional land to offer.”

The mayor added that there is near-complete consensus to vacate the land within the specified deadline. While discussions were held both collectively and individually, and multiple options provided earlier, the time for alternatives has passed, making it necessary to proceed with clearing the land.