Author: space4knews

Pandit Dinbandhu Pokharel conducted a 34-day spiritual journey across more than 12 European countries, engaging in dialogue with Nepalese expatriates. Pokharel provided an in-depth analysis of the lifestyle, emotional state, and the challenges of preserving Nepali identity among the new generation living abroad. He is currently advancing plans to establish a spiritual center in Ramkot, Nagarkot Municipality-7, Kathmandu, with the aim of positioning Nepal as a global spiritual hub.

Having recently returned to Nepal after completing a month-long European tour, Pokharel visited over 12 countries including Belgium, Spain, Norway, Portugal, France, Denmark, and Finland. During this journey, he conducted spiritual programs and interacted directly with Nepalese communities abroad. This marks his third trip to Europe—previous visits were in 2011 and 2022—and overall, he has traveled to 44 countries and conducted spiritual events in approximately 33 countries. During this recent tour, he closely observed the lifestyle, emotional wellbeing, generational challenges, and spiritual needs of the Nepali diaspora.

Pokharel offered a profound analysis touching on multiple aspects, from the lack of inner peace and self-satisfaction among Nepalese who have gone abroad in search of work and income, to the challenge of sustaining Nepali identity among the younger generation. Based on themes such as unity among Nepalese abroad, love for tradition, and the necessity of spiritual awareness, an edited excerpt of Pokharel’s conversation with journalist Basant Ranabhat is presented here.

How do you assess this spiritual journey through Europe? This was my third trip to Europe—in 2011, 2022, and now in 2026. This recent journey lasted 34 days and was historic for me. Everywhere I went, I witnessed enthusiastic participation from devotees. The trip had three main objectives: first, to connect with the hearts of Nepalis living abroad; second, to awaken spiritual awareness; and third, to lay the groundwork for constructing a Nepali cultural center. Overall, I feel this journey was exemplary, unprecedented, and extremely successful.

In your experience, what is the reality of life for Nepalese living abroad? How different is the outward appearance compared to the actual experience? I have often said during my discourses that from the outside, it seems that both work and income are good. However, ‘comfort, reputation, and bliss’ appear relatively less visible. Materially, many Nepalese are capable and established, but internally there is a sense of emptiness, exhaustion, or pain. This is why the purpose of my spiritual journey was not limited to just ‘work and income’; it was also to help people understand the importance of ‘comfort, reputation, and bliss.’

Spiritual programs are not merely fleeting moments of enthusiasm; they have a long-term impact on an individual’s consciousness and thinking. I believe we were somewhat successful in delivering this message. During these programs, participants displayed enthusiasm, energy, and mental calmness. This clearly indicates that despite outward success, many experience a lack of ‘bliss and comfort,’ that is, peace and joy. I feel this spiritual journey contributed to partially filling that void.

The Secretariat meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) has started on 20th Baishakh at the central office in Bansthali. Spokesperson Manish Jha has provided this information. The meeting is scheduled to discuss the framework for selecting local level candidates for the year 2083, the procedures for the general convention 2083, and amendments to the parliamentary party’s regulations, among other topics.

The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning to residents of 11 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 meters away to open areas. The army stated that it has taken actions due to violations of a ceasefire by Hezbollah and cautioned that any fighters or individuals nearby could be at risk.

Israel has frequently conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, targeting buildings it claims are linked to Hezbollah. On Sunday, the Israeli military warned residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes without delay. According to Reuters, the army indicated it may carry out attacks in these 11 specific towns and villages.

According to the British newspaper The Independent, the Israeli military asserted that this operation is aimed at Hezbollah, accusing the group of violating the ceasefire agreement. The military warned that Hezbollah fighters or anyone found near them could be endangered. The Iranian-backed armed group has also launched drone and missile attacks against Israeli forces in Lebanon and northern Israel.

Sagar Dhakal has officially taken the oath of office and secrecy as a Secretariat member of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (Rashwapa) on Baisakh 20. The ceremony was conducted at the party office in Bansthali, where he was sworn in by Party Chairman Ravi Lamichhane.

During the Central Committee meeting held on Baisakh 7, the number of Secretariat members was increased, bringing the total to 16. Chairman Lamichhane’s proposal to appoint Dhakal and Saritashree Gyawali as Secretariat members was approved during this meeting. With these appointments, Rashwapa’s Secretariat now consists of 16 members.

Narayan Datt Paudel, the newly appointed Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Nepal, is scheduled to receive his badge from Home Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha on Monday, April 20. Following Raju Aryal’s completion of his four-year term and mandatory retirement on April 18, the government decided to appoint Paudel as the new IGP.

Although the IGP position became vacant on Saturday, the badge ceremony has been scheduled for Monday due to a public holiday. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the event where Paudel will be formally presented with the badge by Home Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha is confirmed. The outgoing Home Minister Sudhan Gurung had announced that the Prime Minister would confer the badge to the IGP; however, this arrangement could not be implemented following his removal.

The badge ceremony will take place at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, according to sources within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

File photo summary: Member of Parliament Ashika Tamang has called on the government to create a proper learning environment for children living in holding centers. After meeting with displaced victims at the Radhaswami Satsang Byas Ashram in Kirtipur, she urged the government through social media to accelerate the organization of schooling for these children. MP Tamang highlighted complaints that the new enrollment season has passed and that many children have been unable to attend school. Kathmandu, 20th Baishakh – MP Ashika Tamang has appealed to the government to ensure an appropriate educational environment for children living in the holding centers of the displaced settlements. Following her visit to victims at the Kirtipur Radhaswami Satsang Byas Ashram, she drew government attention to their plight. Writing on Facebook, she stated, ‘I have heard complaints that children have missed school and that many have also missed the new enrollment season. It is essential that the government prioritizes and arranges for these children to attend school as soon as possible.’

When purchasing packaged food items from the market, one should pay attention not only to the taste, brand, or offers but also to the colors on the packaging. Colored symbols such as green, red, yellow, blue, black, and white on packaged foods convey information about the ingredients and health-related aspects. Green indicates vegetarian, red signifies non-vegetarian, yellow denotes egg-based products, blue indicates special nutrition, and black represents highly processed items. Nowadays, consumption of packaged foods is widespread, including sweets, biscuits, frozen foods, chips, instant noodles, and snacks for children. Due to busy lifestyles, many people are drawn to packaged foods. But have we ever noticed the small colored marks on these packages? Many may recognize green or red marks, but recently, some products also feature blue, yellow, or black symbols. These are not mere design elements; rather, they serve as indicators related to the nature, contents, and health implications of the food.

Being mindful about diet in today’s times is essential. People’s eating habits vary greatly—some are strict vegetarians, some consume eggs but avoid meat, and others are vegans who avoid all animal-derived products. Therefore, it is wise to understand the ingredients in the products before purchasing. These colored marks provide a brief insight into the contents inside the packaging. They also signal which items can be consumed regularly and which should be eaten in moderation. Hence, when buying any packaged food from the market, it is important not only to check the flavor, brand, or offers but also to carefully look at the labels and colored symbols on the package.

April 20, Kathmandu – The Secretariat meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is scheduled for today. According to spokesperson Manish Jha, the meeting will be held at 11 a.m. at the party’s central office in Bansthali, where the framework for selecting candidates for local elections will be discussed.

Additionally, the agenda includes discussions on the procedures for the upcoming general convention and amendments to the parliamentary party’s regulations. The meeting will also cover various current issues under different topics. Chairperson Ravi Lamichhane has instructed that attendance of all Secretariat members is mandatory.

April 20, Kathmandu – Preparations are underway to demolish a large house located in the Dhobi Khola corridor in Devinagar. The government has labeled the structure as an encroachment and has initiated plans for its removal. Security personnel are currently collecting materials from the house. A significant deployment of the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and municipal police has been made in the area. The building hosts various businesses including a restaurant, bar, and spa. In recent days, this house has become a major topic of discussion on social media. Meanwhile, reports indicate that other squatter houses in the area have already been demolished.

On May 10, 1996, a devastating avalanche struck during a Mount Everest ascent, resulting in the deaths of 12 climbers and injuring many others. Jon Krakauer documented his personal experience of the Everest expedition and the tragic event in his book Into Thin Air. During that year, the permit fees for climbing Everest were $72,000 per group and $15,000 per individual climber, substantially lower than current rates. The year 1996 remains an unforgettable chapter in Everest’s history.

The avalanche on May 10 claimed the lives of 12 climbers and left numerous others injured. This tragic episode remains a painful scar in Everest’s history, lingering like a wound along its retreat routes. What exactly transpired during the 1996 Everest ascent? At the time, some of the world’s most skilled mountaineers were enjoying their summit experiences under generally clear weather conditions. However, on that fateful day, a violent snowstorm engulfed the mountain, resulting in the deaths of eight seasoned climbers and many injuries.

Within the first decade following the initiation of permit fees by the Nepalese and Chinese governments, 1996 recorded the highest number of climber fatalities. Subsequent years have also seen significant losses: 16 deaths in 2014, 22 due to the avalanche following the 2015 earthquake, and reports from 2024 indicate major incidents in the same area led to the deaths of 16 Sherpas. From 1922 through March 2026, a total of 339 climbers have died unexpectedly on Everest, including 157 who perished while climbing without supplemental oxygen.

Author Jon Krakauer provides a detailed account of the events, medical treatments, and rescue efforts surrounding the disaster. This incident exposed the full spectrum of risks and challenges inherent to Everest expeditions. The majority of fatalities during Everest disasters have been caused by avalanches and storms. Krakauer’s book and its often controversial narratives have contributed fresh perspectives to the discourse on Everest and mountaineering.

April 20, Kathmandu – Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, has expressed concerns about the current government’s commitment to safeguarding press and freedom of expression. In a message on the occasion of Press Freedom Day, President Sharma highlighted a recent rise in incidents targeting newspapers and media outlets, stating that the government has not yet instilled confidence in its protection of press freedom as enshrined in the constitution.

“Currently, the government is led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The Federation remains skeptical about whether this government will uphold the protection of press and freedom of expression, ensure the fundamental rights of the people, and preserve democratic culture as guaranteed in the constitution,” she asserted.

President Sharma described the state of press freedom as increasingly complex and emphasized the need for unity among various professional organizations and civic leaders across the country to safeguard freedom of expression. According to the federation’s media monitoring unit, there were a total of 131 press freedom violations in the fiscal year 2079/80, compared to 73 in the previous year and 62 the year before that, showing a troubling upward trend. Additionally, journalists and media outlets faced 30 attacks, 18 cases of threats to professional safety, 26 instances of seizure and obstruction, 3 policy restrictions, and 2 arrests of journalists. The unit also reported one suspicious death of a journalist.

President Sharma further noted that during the Janga Movement, communication media suffered losses amounting to tens of millions of rupees, and five journalists were shot in clashes, which made the press freedom situation even more challenging. She pointed out that a culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, the fragile financial conditions of media houses, and risks to both the professional and physical safety of journalists continue to exacerbate the crisis in press freedom. Moreover, ongoing economic difficulties in the media sector, journalist migration, the government’s withholding of advertisements and information from private media, as well as the spread of misinformation on social media platforms, present additional obstacles that the media must confront.