Author: space4knews

The Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection has fined three business firms in the Kathmandu Valley a total of 45,000 rupees for consumer fraud. Shankar Food Grocery Store and SDR Store were each fined 20,000 rupees, while Gupta Grain Store was fined 5,000 rupees. During the monitoring, 36 other firms were sensitized about consumer rights and given general directives.

Kathmandu, 24 Chaitra – During market monitoring, the Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection imposed fines on three commercial firms found guilty of consumer fraud. The department conducted inspections at various locations in the Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday, identifying the offending shops and issuing fines totaling 45,000 rupees. Both Shankar Food Grocery Store and SDR Store, located in Kathmandu Metropolitan City ward no. 14, Kuleshwor, were fined 20,000 rupees each.

Similarly, Gupta Grain Store, operating in Gongabu, Kathmandu-26, was fined 5,000 rupees. Meanwhile, 36 other firms received awareness on consumer rights along with general guidance during the monitoring process. Various shops, including grocery stores, fancy stores, mobile shops, cosmetic shops, and food stores operating in New Buspark, Chabahil, Tokha, and Lalitpur Chapagaun areas of Kathmandu, were made aware of consumer rights and given standard instructions.

March 7, Mustang – In the Himalayan district of Mustang, seven tourists, including four foreign nationals, have tragically lost their lives due to avalanches caused by the region’s high-altitude terrain. The District Police Office reported that among those who died were six men and one woman who were visiting the area between mid-September and late March of this fiscal year.

According to Police Inspector Ishwar Mahat, who is the Information Officer at the District Police Office, the deceased group included three Indian men and one Mexican man, ranging in age from 41 to 75 years.

Based on the district police data, on September 8, an avalanche in Muktinath claimed the life of 71-year-old Anand Madhavrao Deshpande from Belgaum, Udarakurd, Karnataka, India. On October 10, 75-year-old Madhav Prasad Sharma Upreti from Mahalaxmi Municipality-4, Imadol, Lalitpur, died in a similar incident in Jomson, Ghaparjong-4. Likewise, on October 26, Jagat Bahadur Timilsina, 50, a resident of Balefi Rural Municipality-8, Sindhupalchok, lost his life due to an avalanche in Marpha, Ghaparjong-2.

Furthermore, on November 8, a 61-year-old Indian tourist died in a hotel located in Ghaparjong-3. On December 26, 74-year-old Indian tourist Chandrakant Shrapat Tambokar died due to an avalanche in Ranipauwa, Muktinath. Then, on March 1, 67-year-old Mexican Federico Lopez Camba died near a permanent bridge in Thasang Rural Municipality-1, Tukuchesh following an avalanche. Finally, on March 4, 41-year-old Sarita Budhathoki died in an avalanche at the Muktinath Temple, Thori Rural Municipality-4, Parsaki.

The police have emphasized the high risk associated with high-altitude trekking in Mustang and have urged visitors to exercise extreme caution to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.

Babunan Chaudhary Kalwar from Rautahat has been arrested in Kathmandu’s Kalanki area on charges related to fake citizenship. A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office apprehended him and handed him over to the Rautahat District Police Office. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Rautahat District Court on September 18.

The accused was taken into custody on Tuesday after being an absconder. The investigation team is proceeding with further legal action as per protocol.

The government has appointed Kiran Pandit as the Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. Pandit is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Foreign Exchange Management Department and has over two decades of experience at the central bank. He holds a postgraduate degree in Sociology from Tribhuvan University and has completed several international courses. 24 Chaitra, Kathmandu.

Kiran Pandit, appointed as Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, is presently the Executive Director of the Foreign Exchange Management Department. Among the bank’s Executive Directors, he ranks seventh. The appointment was made on Tuesday, filling one of the two vacant Deputy Governor positions. Minister for General Administration, Pratibha Rawal, confirmed that only one person has been appointed at this time.

Governor Dr. Bishwanath Paudel had recommended four Executive Directors for the Deputy Governor posts, but only Kiran Pandit has been appointed so far. The government has not provided any information regarding the vacancy for the other position. According to Section 16 of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2058, the appointment of Deputy Governors is made by the government based on the Governor’s recommendation and with the decision of the Council of Ministers.

As part of the Artemis mission, a crater on the Moon is set to be named in honor of an astronaut’s late wife. According to Jamie Hansen, an astronaut on the Artemis II mission who shared the update with NASA’s Kelsey Young, the team is preparing to name several craters visible on the lunar surface and captureable with a camera’s long lens. Among these craters, one bright spot located near the Moon’s surface is to be named “Carol.” This name is proposed in memory of Carol Taylor Wiseman, wife of Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman. Carol passed away in 2020 at the age of 46 after battling cancer.

For the first time, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been installed in a public area at Tribhuvan Airport. Ramji Bhandari, Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 9, stated that the AED is a lifesaving device designed for emergencies involving cardiac arrest. Kathmandu Metropolitan City expressed gratitude to the Health Advancement Program in South Asia Nepal and Tribhuvan Airport for their cooperation.

Kathmandu, 24 Chaitra – An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device has been set up at Tribhuvan Airport. According to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, this is the first time such a device has been placed in a public location within Ward No. 9, which includes the airport. Ward Chairperson Ramji Bhandari explained that the AED can be used immediately in cases of sudden cardiac arrest or when the heart abruptly stops beating, potentially saving a patient’s life. He highlighted that the availability of these devices in public spaces marks significant progress in emergency health safety measures. The Metropolitan City extended thanks to the Health Advancement Program in South Asia Nepal and Tribhuvan Airport for coordinating and implementing this initiative.

The Film Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly, has now been presented to the House of Representatives. This bill was registered on April 27, 2025 (Baisakh 14, 2082) and enacted on January 12, 2026 (Magh 28). It aims to develop the film industry as a social, cultural, and entertainment sector.

Kathmandu – The Film Bill, approved by the National Assembly, has been tabled in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Harkraj Rai, Secretary of the House of Representatives, presented the message of the bill during the parliamentary session. The bill was originally registered by then Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, on April 27, 2025 (Baisakh 14, 2082) in the National Assembly.

After detailed discussions and amendments, the National Assembly passed the bill on January 12, 2026 (Magh 28). The House of Representatives will now take forward the process of further consideration. The government introduced this new film-related bill to modernize and replace the Film Act of 1969 (Bikram Sambat 2026) to incorporate inclusivity, federal structure, and new technologies.

The objective of this bill is to promote the film industry as a social, cultural, and entertainment enterprise while positioning the country as a prominent tourism destination through cinema. It mandates necessary screening procedures for domestic and foreign film screenings and aims to foster the development, expansion, promotion, and regulation of the domestic film industry.

Kathmandu, 24 Chaitra – According to Subsection 1 of Section 25 of the Health Insurance Act 2074, any board member who is absent from three consecutive meetings without notification is automatically suspended. The Act states, “If a chairman, member, or executive director is absent from three consecutive board meetings without informing the board, their position shall be deemed vacant.”

Junu Shrestha, who was appointed as a member of the Health Insurance Board, had attended 11 meetings. On 4 Baisakh 2081, the Insurance Board sent a letter to the Ministry of Health requesting necessary implementation actions. Subsequently, Junu unexpectedly attended the meeting held on Monday. She was originally appointed to the board by then Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

As per the rule that a position becomes vacant if a member is absent from three meetings without notification, former board director Dr. Raghuraj Kafle sent a letter to the Ministry of Health. The letter stated, “From 1 Poush 2081 until now, from the fourth board meeting of fiscal year 2081-82 through the eleventh board meeting, there has been continuous absence. The member’s absence has impacted the board’s meetings and decision-making process.”

Since she was physically absent, Junu was removed and her board membership was declared vacant. Since then, the seat has remained vacant, and her name is no longer listed on the board’s website. However, she attended Monday’s meeting. “Junu was present at yesterday’s meeting and marked attendance,” a board member confirmed.

According to other board members, Junu Shrestha’s repeated absences were discussed in meetings. The chairman raised concerns about her absence for three consecutive meetings, although she had not been formally dismissed. Junu had traveled to the UK for studies and after returning recently, she requested board members to allow her participation in meetings.

Meanwhile, Junu met with Health Minister Nisha Mehtas to discuss her situation. “She was not called to the previous two meetings and informed that she had spoken with the minister,” a board member said. “She was included in the most recent meeting.”

Seven members, including the executive director, were present at Monday’s meeting. Junu Shrestha is the wife of Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Shah. Media reports stated that Health Minister Nisha Mehtas appointed Junu Shrestha to the Health Insurance Board as a member.

Following social media discussions on this matter, Junu denied having any new appointment or receiving any official letter, providing clarification. “I have no connection with the reported news regarding appointment as a Health Insurance Board member, nor have I received any appointment letter,” she wrote on social media.

Junu clarified that her previous appointment was in 2080, valid for four years until 2084. She stated, “I have no knowledge of any reappointment and have not received any official notification regarding it. Therefore, the recent appointment news is misleading and I regret the confusion.”

The Meeting Approved the Annual Budget

One board member said that the meeting held on Monday approved the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/083. The insurance program will mark its 10th anniversary on 25 Chaitra, and preparations were discussed for an event to be held on the occasion.

According to board members, the main agenda of the meeting was to approve the budget necessary for annual programming. “The budget was approved to facilitate the publication of a book that will be unveiled at tomorrow’s anniversary event,” a member explained.

The meeting also initiated preliminary discussions on amending the Health Insurance Act. Identified points requiring revision will be further studied and final decisions will be made at the next meeting, members added.

“Junu participated as a member in yesterday’s meeting and her attendance was recorded,” said one member.

CPN-UML lawmakers have advised the government to refrain from acting out of retaliation and bias. UML MP Gurup Prasad Baral raised concerns over violations of the constitution and rule of law, urging directives to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights. In a House of Representatives meeting held on Tuesday, 24 Chaitra, at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, MPs criticized the government for violating the constitution and rule of law from the initial stages, cautioning against working with retaliatory and biased attitudes.

During the session, MP Gurup Prasad Baral emphasized the ongoing breaches of Nepal’s constitution and rule of law, calling for firm instructions to enforce the fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens. He mentioned that the cases filed against former Prime Minister KP Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, related to the events on Bhadra 23 and 24, are likely to be dismissed.

Additionally, UML MP Yashoda Kumari Baral requested the government to open files pertaining to all incidents from 2007 BS up to the Jana Andolan movement. She warned against political retaliation toward Oli and Lekhak and highlighted that violating the rule of law by the current government would result in severe consequences.