Author: space4knews

The police have arrested Ganesh Karki, involved in a robbery, by firing shots in the Jadibuti area of Kathmandu. On Saturday, after robbing a woman of her gold in Sukedhara, Karki sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg. Authorities have confirmed that the injured Karki is currently receiving treatment at the Trauma Center.

Near the Royal Party Palace in Jadibuti, a team from the Kathmandu District Police Office fired shots to detain the suspect. The arrested individual, Ganesh Karki, is a resident of Bhadra Kali, Kathmandu. According to SP Pawan Kumar Bhattarai of the District Police Office, Karki was shot in the left leg during the arrest.

On Saturday afternoon, a woman was robbed of her gold and other jewelry in Sukedhara. The police had already apprehended one individual connected to this case earlier that afternoon. SP Bhattarai also stated that another suspect was taken into custody in Jadibuti in the evening after being shot. The arrested individual is currently undergoing treatment at the Trauma Center.

Soyab Shrestha from Bagmati Province clinched the gold medal in the senior men’s épée category at the 7th National Fencing Championship. Anita Adhikari of the APF Club secured the gold medal in the senior women’s foil category. The competition was held in Satdobato, Lalitpur, featuring 96 players from six teams.

Soyab secured the gold medal by defeating APF’s Jung Giri in the senior men’s épée final. Prashant Gurung from Gandaki Province and APF’s Sukiram Tamang both earned bronze medals, finishing in third place. In the senior women’s foil final, Anita defeated Manisha Shrestha of the Tribhuvan Army Club. Sophia Chand from Bagmati and Urmila Majhi from APF claimed third place.

The tournament, organized by the Nepal Fencing Association, commenced on Saturday with the opening ceremony officiated by Chief Advisor to the Minister of Education and Sports, Siddhi Byanjankar. The inauguration was attended by notable figures including Pushpadas Shrestha, President of the Nepal Shooting Association; Ramesh Shivakoti, Secretary of the Nepal Olympic Committee; Prakash Shamsher Rana, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Nepal Taekwondo Association; and Umeshlal Shrestha, former President of the Nepal Hockey Association.

Sujanlal Shrestha, General Secretary of the Nepal Fencing Association, expressed that the sport has not achieved the expected progress due to biased policies of the previous government. He emphasized the need for equal attention to all sports, noting that preferential treatment has caused fencing to lag behind. The competition, which runs until Sunday, features four events.

The government has planned to impose customs duties on the import of 256 products starting from the upcoming fiscal year to promote and protect domestic production. According to the revised customs rates, a duty ranging from 5 to 15 percent will be levied on the import of these goods. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle stated that this measure has been introduced to reduce imports of products that discourage domestic production.

May 29, Kathmandu: The government has decided to impose customs duties on goods competing with domestic products starting from the next fiscal year. To encourage domestic production, preparations are underway to levy customs duties on imports of 256 different items. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced that the budget includes provisions for customs charges to reduce the import of goods that undermine local production.

On Friday, Minister Wagle informed that customs rates ranging from 5 to 15 percent have been determined to promote and protect domestic production. According to the Economic Bill presented to legally formalize the revised customs rates through the budget, imports of 256 sub-heading products under 41 categories will be subject to a customs duty between 5 and 15 percent. The government has termed this levy as the “Domestic Production Promotion and Protection Duty.”

This customs duty will not apply to products produced within Nepal; however, it will be imposed on imported goods as a price increment. Under the new regulations, a 10 percent customs duty has been set on condensed milk, sugar and other sweetened milk products, and powdered, grain, or other solid items containing less than 1.5 percent fat by weight. Additionally, skimmed milk, sugar or other sweetened products, milk-derived cream, and other fat or oily substances will also be subject to a 10 percent customs duty.

May 29, Kathmandu – Shankar Pokharel, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), has strongly opposed the government’s decision to impose additional value-added tax (VAT) on customers consuming more than 50 units of electricity. Responding via social media on Saturday, Pokharel described the move as a misguided policy that undermines the development and consumption of the energy sector.

He questioned the rationale behind increasing the tax burden on electricity users, especially considering the government’s recent declaration of two public holidays intended to address petroleum price hikes and shortages. “Nepal is one of the richest countries globally in terms of water resources. At a time when domestic energy production and consumption should be encouraged, imposing extra taxes on electricity users only discourages the sustainable use of our natural resources,” Pokharel stated clearly.

Furthermore, Pokharel accused the government of attempting to suppress the use of electric vehicles (EVs) through the budget. Given the shortages and rising prices of petroleum products, he argued that this is precisely the time when “green energy” should be promoted. Instead, he said, the additional tax burden on electric vehicles is undermining such efforts. He urged the government to correct these decisions promptly if the aim is merely to increase revenues under the guise of expanding the budget.

Highlighting that electricity consumption increases when the government sells electricity for profit, Pokharel insisted that VAT should not be imposed on this to avoid burdening the public. Instead, he emphasized promoting electricity for import substitution and maximum use in productive sectors. He called for the VAT on electricity to be revoked, decisions to be made in the public interest, and for the government to respect and support domestic energy resources.

May 29, Kathmandu – Information and Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina stated that the government is working result-oriented and resolutely to implement the commitments made to the public during the election period. Speaking at a program organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Rsawpa) in Tadi Municipality–5, Minister Timilsina said that the budget presented in Parliament on Friday is being crafted to address the aspirations of the youth for good governance, prosperity, and change.

He explained that the budget clearly outlines the roadmap for the country’s economy moving forward and incorporates government priorities, revenue policy, and long-term development strategies. Minister Timilsina also noted that through policy reforms, the government is striving to make the development process effective, balanced, and inclusive, while being committed to ensuring proportional development.

“Unlike in previous years, where budgets were fragmented and lacked clear objectives, this time the budget has been formed by focusing on national needs and setting a clear starting point for development,” he said. Claiming that the budget is designed to fulfill citizens’ aspirations for development and prosperity, the minister added that the government is active in ending situations where power is concentrated in limited groups.

He further announced that since the budget speech cannot cover all subjects, detailed plans and programs will be made public through the ‘Red Book’.

In 1847 AD (1904 BS), Jung Bahadur Rana issued a written order promising promotions to Subedar Mannu Singh if he brought an English woman. He orchestrated King Surendra to marry Hiranyagarbhakumari, the sister of the assassinated Prime Minister Fateh Jung Shah, to strengthen political alliances. Jung Bahadur also used his romantic involvement with Putalimaiya, a palace attendant, to secretly acquire political information. Though this might seem like folklore, Jung Bahadur Rana was a historically significant and powerful leader. Through a combination of power and cunning, he not only rose to supremacy but also established a governance system that lasted 104 years, an extraordinary achievement.

Despite several uprisings during his reign, he suppressed all rebellions. He is considered the most powerful ruler in Nepal’s history, with significant support and dedication from his brothers. His relationship with Putalimaiya was not only a personal bond but also politically advantageous. His son, Padma Jung Rana, referred to this relationship in his writings as politically friendly. Later, Jung Bahadur brought Putalimaiya from Hanuman Dhoka to Thapathali Palace, made her queen, and secured ranking for their son.

Jung Bahadur had numerous queens; historian Purushottam Shamsher Jabara listed 42 queens, while Kamal Dixit’s study suggests he had between 32 and 45. He also had over 1,200 concubines. According to the contemporary military officer Khadga Singh Gurung, Jung Bahadur had strong interests in elephant riding, gambling, and wrestling spectacles, and later developed an opium addiction. Historian Ramjee Upadhyay, through the 94-year-old Chandrawadan who served Crown Prince Trailokya Vikram Shah, gathered extensive information on Jung Bahadur’s personal life.

Jung Bahadur employed various methods to attract women. Notably, during his visit to Britain, he carefully managed his relationship with the British beauty Laura Bell. He reportedly signaled to Laura by waving a handkerchief dyed with blue and vermilion from his hand. A Nepalese man named Motilal, serving as an interpreter for Laura, also confirmed their connection. Motilal recounted an interesting story of Jung Bahadur’s first encounter with Laura. Additionally, a letter addressed to Subedar Mannu Singh was discovered, containing promises of promotion and covering expenses if he succeeded in bringing a woman. The draft of this letter dates back to April 1847 (1904 BS) and researchers have verified its authenticity.

The government has reduced the budget for the conservation of the Chure region in the upcoming fiscal year, allocating only around NPR 100 crore. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle stated in Parliament that the budget aims to sustain the water cycle in the Chure and Terai-Madhesh regions. However, stakeholders have expressed concern that the budget provisions for stone, gravel, and sand mining may increase exploitation of the Chure area. Kathmandu, 16 Jestha. The government, which remained silent on Chure conservation in its policy and program, has made a significant budget cut for this region’s protection in the upcoming fiscal year. While NPR 169 crore was allocated for Chure conservation in fiscal year 2082/83, the current government has reduced it to approximately NPR 100 crore for the next fiscal year.

During the budget presentation in the federal parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle remarked, ‘To sustain the water cycle of the Chure and Terai-Madhesh regions, I have allocated nearly NPR 100 crore to activities such as water source conservation, pond construction, landslide control, and embankment building.’ Additionally, the budget statement highlights an ‘Industrial Development’ section that identifies suitable sites from an environmental perspective to manage extraction and processing of stone, gravel, and sand. This inclusion has raised concerns among stakeholders about increased exploitation of the Chure region. Chure conservation activist Sunil Yadav criticized the budget, stating that while the government has arranged for deep tubewells to address water problems for people in Terai-Madhesh, it has still allocated funds that encourage exploitation of the Chure, which is essential for underground water recharge.

According to Yadav, the current government does not understand the sensitivity of the Chure. ‘Previous governments didn’t understand it, and the current government still doesn’t; the Chure is undergoing desertification,’ he said. ‘The upcoming fiscal year’s budget also does not reflect the government’s sensitivity toward the Chure.’ The Chure mountain range covers 37 districts out of Nepal’s 77. It is considered environmentally sensitive due to its biodiversity and water resources. Experts say that exploitation of the Chure is the main reason for drying water sources and declining agricultural productivity in the Terai-Madhesh region.

News Summary

Due to four consecutive days of public holidays, the famous Muktinath Temple in Mustang has experienced an overwhelming influx of pilgrims. According to the District Police Office, more than 25,000 domestic and Indian tourists have entered Mustang over the past three days. With the increasing number of religious tourists, hotels from Lete to the Muktinath area in Mustang are fully booked. Mustang, 16 Jestha – The primary reason for the rising crowds at the shared Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site, Muktinath Temple, is the continuous four-day public holiday.

The Muktinath Development Committee reported that the surge in the number of pilgrims has posed management challenges. According to the committee’s manager, Dinesh Bhusal, from Thursday until Saturday morning, the influx of both domestic and Indian pilgrims has created difficulties in managing the crowd. Typically, except for major festivals like Dashain–Tihar and Chait Dashain, about five to seven thousand religious tourists visit here on average. However, due to the government-declared public holidays, 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims have already visited the temple in the past three days. “Since Friday, large groups of religious tourists have been arriving at Muktinath. The temple premises have become overcrowded, making it difficult to manage, and thus the support of security personnel has been required,” explained Manager Bhusal.

He added, “Currently, the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed to assist with crowd management. The simultaneous arrival of large numbers of religious tourists has also positively impacted tourism promotion.” Given the temple’s location on a narrow cliffside surface, managing the crowd remains challenging. The government’s recent decision to declare Sundays as public holidays has contributed to the increased tourist presence in Mustang. With four consecutive holiday days from Thursday onward, the number of pilgrims visiting Muktinath has surged further. Hotels from Lete to Muktinath are entirely occupied. The Muktinath Development Committee has arranged various measures—including queue management, provision of hot water, and medical treatment to prevent altitude sickness—to facilitate a smoother pilgrimage experience.

The District Police Office also confirmed that over 25,000 tourists have entered Mustang within the previous three days. According to police inspector Santosh Basnyal, 5,586 tourists entered via the Beni–Jomsom highway on Wednesday, followed by 7,827 on Thursday, and 9,086 on Saturday through the Ghasa entry point. Vehicles and tourists are recorded at the Ghasa police post. The authorities anticipate that the number of tourists will rise further, especially since the government has extended the public holiday to include Sunday. Outside major festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, and Chait Dashain, typically only five to seven thousand tourists visit the area, but the recent surge in pilgrim numbers has made management more challenging.

Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the first President of Nepal, stated that the protection of the Himalayan region is not solely Nepal’s responsibility but a shared global duty. Expressing deep concern over the impacts of climate change on the mountains, glaciers, and ecological systems, he emphasized the necessity of international cooperation. “Nepal’s mountains are globally significant landmarks. Ensuring their protection and preservation requires unity from the international community,” he asserted on June 16 in Kathmandu.

Speaking at the ‘AMS Everest Tourism Awards 2026’ event, he voiced his worries about the detrimental effects of climate change on mountains, glaciers, and the ecological system. He further underscored the imperative need for worldwide collaboration to safeguard these natural treasures.

Former President Yadav highlighted Nepal’s geographical diversity and social unity, noting how the various contributions of the Terai, hills, and mountain regions create a unique national identity. He described the Terai as an agricultural and spiritual center, the hills as embodying resilience and cultural heritage, and the Himalayan region as a symbol of Nepal’s pride. He suggested that Nepal’s strength lies in its diversity.

Referring to Mount Everest as a symbol of human courage, determination, and international friendship, Dr. Yadav expressed the view that Nepal’s mountain tourism sector has the potential to foster mutual understanding among different cultures and nations. “Nepal’s mountains are a shared identity for the world. Their protection and preservation demand solidarity from the international community,” he stated. “Tourism serves as a bridge connecting people across borders and creating opportunities. However, we must never forget our responsibility to preserve our fragile Himalayan environment.”

May 29, Lalitpur – The book titled History of Journalism in Lalitpur, published by the Lalitpur branch of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), was officially launched on Saturday. The event took place during the branch’s 25th Annual General Meeting, where former Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut inaugurated the book. Raut described the publication as an important document reflecting Lalitpur’s journalism sector and expressed gratitude to the branch for this significant work. He emphasized that under democratic governance, journalists play a crucial role in exercising freedom of speech and expression while protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.

On this occasion, seven journalists who have made noteworthy contributions to the field were honored with various awards. Dilli Acharya of Rajdhani Daily and Naresh Gyawali of Ratopati received the Heera–Siddhi Award for Active Journalism, recognizing their long-standing impactful roles in societal transformation through journalism. Similarly, Gyan Prasad Paudel of Naya Sadak Daily was awarded the Dharmaratna Shakya Award for Living Journalism, and Janardan Pokhrel of NepalKhabar received the Radha–Lakshman Active Journalism Award.

Rita Budhathoki of The Dipost was honored with the Samrat Acharya Memorial Journalism Award for her contributions to cancer awareness reporting. Additionally, Ishwor Maharjan of Nepal Television and Kedarnath Dahal of Media Sanchaar Dot Com were given the Lalitpur Journalism Award for their significant efforts in highlighting issues related to Lalitpur. During the program, Ramhari Karki, president of the FNJ Lalitpur branch, shared that over the past 18 months, the branch has conducted various training sessions and capacity-building programs aimed at the professional development of journalists.