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NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian crewmates arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday on board a Russian spacecraft.

A Soyuz booster rocket launched as planned from Kazakhstan's Russia-leased Baikonur launch complex, putting the trio in orbit aboard the Soyuz MS-27. They arrived at the station slightly more than three hours later, Al Jazeera reported.

Kim and Russians Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky are expected to spend around eight months in the space station. NASA stated that Kim will undertake scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to assist train the crew for future space flights while also benefiting people on Earth, according to Al Jazeera.

Kim, a Los Angeles native, is a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy with dual designations as a naval aviator and flight surgeon.   Alongside Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky, the space outpost will also host Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Kirill Peskov; NASA astronauts Don Pettit, Anne McClain, and Nichole Ayers; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said Madhes Province is full of potential having fertile land for agriculture, and the Chure region for medicinal herbs and water resources. Proper utilization of resources with collaborative efforts helps realize progress here, PM Oli reminded.

PM Oli further said the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project, a national pride project will not only contribute to national production and productivity but also create unity among people from hill and plains.

He said it while addressing the Madhes Province Assembly today.

The PM said that there was no meaning of other rights before poverty, so getting rid of poverty needed to be the first right of the people. For this to happen, a journey together for development and prosperity is imperative, the PM stressed.

According to him, industrial estate, petroleum pipeline, railway, postal way, express way, and Ramraja Prasad Singh Hospital are some of the foundations of development and prosperity in Madhes Province. He suggested to the provincial lawmakers that they could develop Birgunj custom point as a trade hub and Janakpurdham city as a destination of cultural tourism.

The PM laid emphasis on the need of strengthening democratic republic with the strong determination for good governance.

Republic is a huge achievement

"The federal democratic republic is the great achievement the country made. This achievement should be taken as the gains of people's struggle, not only as the political achievement.  So, our efforts should be devoted for people's service. We should work for a full democracy", he opined.

He pointed out the need of steering the society to the pace of development and good governance as people want the achievements in their favor.

Stating that social and cultural solidarity, tolerance and harmony are beautiful characteristics of Madhes Province, he lauded the contribution of the disciplined and development loving people of Madhes to maintain Nepal's independence, sovereignty, geographical integrity, national unity and self-respect.

PM Oli reminded that the Constitution has provided autonomy to Madhes Province and it is everyone's responsibility to utilize this autonomy.

The Madhes Province has a special role in making effective the coordination among three-tiers of government and policies and development works they forward.

In his address to the province lawmakers, PM Oli commemorated the roles of Rajarshi Janak, Mata Sita, Maharshi Parashuram, Mahakavi Vidyapati and other luminaries and religious heritages, which he argued, are the sources of knowledge and inspiration.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 1. 73 points to close at 2, 671. 80 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index, however, plunged by 0.44 points to close at 445. 55 points.

A total of 10,643,469-unit shares of 321 companies were traded for Rs 5. 30 billion.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) and Wean Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (WNLB) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Barahi Hydropower Public Limited (BHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 6.72 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 42 trillion.

To those of us living here, Kathmandu can feel a bit mundane, especially when the sun doesn’t shine and there seems to be so much dust in the air. Which is why we at ApEx were surprised when a friend returned from India, having cut her visit short by two weeks, claiming she’d rather spend that time in Nepal. She kept raving about ‘beautiful Kathmandu’ and how she’s never been bored here. Some of the things she mentioned were such simple things that we were stunned to have overlooked them or perhaps even taken them for granted. So, we asked random strangers what they liked to do in the city and compiled a list of five of the most common answers. Here are some foreigner-backed suggestions on how to have some fun in Kathmandu even on days when you feel like there’s nothing to do.

Go pub crawling in the city

Kathmandu is home to some of the world’s best pubs and bars. We aren’t the ones making this claim but tourists we spoke to in the city swear that Kathmandu has the nicest watering holes and restaurants. They are all kinds of places too. If you want a quiet one to nurse a beer, you’ll find plenty of cozy ones to choose from. If loud music is your jam, then you will be spoilt for choice. There’s even a separate scene for cocktails if that is more your thing. Bars like Bitters and Co. in Lazimpat and Barc in Tripureshwor serve unique cocktails that you haven’t tasted anywhere. The good thing is that most of these places aren’t very pricey either. They are good value for money. But if you are on a tight budget, then Kathmandu caters to that too. There are many places in Thamel that have amazing happy hour deals throughout the week where you can buy one get one or even get discounts on bulk orders. Most bars and pubs have a nice selection of food too. So grab your friends and indulge in a delightful Margarita or a crowd-favorite titaura cocktail this weekend.

Shop for trinkets in New Road

New Road has always been a place Kathmandu residents head to for shopping, and for all kinds of shopping too. From dry fruits and spices to fabrics and shoes, you will find everything you need at New Road. No wonder it’s so crowded during the festivities and on holidays. Despite markets cropping up in all parts of town, people still like to go to New Road to get what they need. Things just feel better and cheaper there. And in recent times, New Road has gotten a makeover, thanks to the brilliant mayor Balen Shah who is determined to turn the city into the picturesque place it was always meant to be. With roadside parking off limits, the place looks wider and cleaner. Shopping is also a better experience as you don’t keep dashing into people every two minutes. Take this as a perfect opportunity to shop for things like accessories, belts, bags, and clothes among other things at the ever growing market. Don’t stick to the main streets and explore the hidden alleys as well—there are lots of shops selling curios and various other things for super affordable prices. You can get bags for as little as Rs 500 and earrings for Rs 100.

Get a relaxing massage 

If this rising pollution has you concerned and you don’t want to spend a lot of time outdoors but still don’t want to be holed up at home, we recommend you spend a day at the spa. Could there be a better way to pamper yourself and feel relaxed and rejuvenated than a spa session that includes a full body massage, a head oil, and perhaps a sauna session too? A German couple we bumped into in Kathmandu confessed that they have been getting massages every week since they have been in Kathmandu three weeks ago. They made it a point to never visit the same establishment twice as there are just so many places to choose from, they said. So far, every place they have gone to has been good and they haven’t had a bad experience. The cost is more or less the same with some popular ones charging slightly more for the services. Many spas even offer full day packages that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Ayurvedic treatments like Shirodhara and Abhyanga are also available these days and these can be therapeutic and relaxing.

Discover public spaces

One of the joys of living in Kathmandu is discovering public spaces that feel like mini excursions in themselves. Basantapur is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike and, on any given day, you will find many people just lazing around, sipping tea or iced coffee, while strolling through the market or sitting on one of the many benches or temple steps. But apart from Basantapur, there are many other places in Kathmandu, including but not limited to temples and religious sites, that can serve as places of interest—where you can simply sit by yourself, meditate, or read a book if you are so inclined. These days, many communities have taken it upon themselves to create little parks of sorts in their area where people can hang out and spend some time outdoors. Watching people go about their days and do their own thing can be incredibly relaxing and rewarding. One of the most recommended things was a stroll in your area or some place new to discover hidden gems and alleys.

Enroll in a class to learn something new

Want to learn to make tiramisu or bake bread? Or maybe you want to sharpen your dancing skills?  Enroll in a random class to add some cheer to your days and pick up a skill along the way. There are just so many random classes and workshops being held in Kathmandu these days that you are sure to find one to suit your taste and mood. Dance classes seem to be really popular these days with many institutes offering drop-in classes for all forms of dance like hip-hop, classical, contemporary etc. Macrame training or jewelry making training are also offered by small businesses that want to expand beyond just selling their products and these can be neat things to learn if you are into art and crafts. Many shops that sell Thangka and other paintings in Thamel also take in students who are eager to learn how to paint for a nominal fee. All in all, if you want to learn something new, rest assured that there’s someone willing to teach it to you and you won’t have to put in regular hours either.

Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, addressed the 58th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development in New York today.

In his address, Minister Paudel shared that Nepal had made a significant progress in reduction of child and maternal mortality in the last three decades. The case of child marriage was dropped and use of family planning contraceptives increased in Nepal, he added.

"Nepal is committed to improving health facilities for its citizens. However, the government's lone efforts are insufficient for it," he said, underlining the need for international cooperation and solidarity for continuous improvement in health indicators.

The health minister also made the international community aware that budget limitation and lack of infrastructures in remote areas were still hindering the convenient health services. Even climate change is risking the previously gained health progress, he informed.

Information about it was shared by Minister Paudel's private secretariat.

In the UN commission event, the minister underlined the need for an increase in foreign assistance to Nepal to face challenges in the health sector.

Cooperatives are no longer permitted to lend or collect savings indiscriminately. With the approval of the Directives and Standards for Cooperatives Engaging in Savings and Loan Transactions, 2081, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has imposed strict limits on loan issuance and savings mobilization.

Although cooperative representatives had protested against such restrictions, the NRB introduced the new directives on Friday as a regulatory response to widespread misuse of cooperative funds, which had caused market distortions and harmed the public. The standards were approved by the central board of directives.

Under the new provisions, cooperatives can only collect savings from their members. According to the guidelines, savings collection is capped at 15 times the organization’s primary capital fund.

“The organization can borrow up to five percent of its total assets from banks, financial institutions, or cooperative banks. However, such borrowing cannot exceed 100 percent of the capital fund,” the directive states. “Cooperatives that invest 51 percent or more in collective guarantees may borrow up to 20 percent of their total assets or up to 10 times their capital fund.”

The maximum operational limits are set as follows: Rs 1m for cooperatives operating in one district, Rs 25m for those operating in more than one district, and Rs 50m for those covering more than one province.

Cooperatives can operate ordinary, regular, and periodic savings accounts for up to three years. However, at least 25 percent of total savings must be maintained as regular savings. The procedures for savings mobilization must be approved by the cooperative’s general assembly.

Deposits exceeding Rs 1m must be accompanied by disclosure of the source of funds. For monitoring financial resource limits, data from the previous quarter regarding primary capital, total capital, and assets will be used as the basis.

The organization cannot issue loans to members who have held membership for less than three months. Furthermore, it can lend up to a maximum of 15 percent of the primary capital fund per member, provided the member has been saving regularly. Loans without collateral must be backed by guarantees from at least two members and cannot exceed the borrower’s total savings. Directors may only borrow against the security of their own savings and are not allowed to take any additional loans.

Cooperatives are allowed to invest in shares of licensed cooperative banks, small farmers’ microfinance institutions, and government-issued bonds. However, they are prohibited from investing in shares or debentures of other institutions.

These regulations do not restrict the payment of membership fees to umbrella associations as permitted under the Cooperative Act 2017. Cooperatives may purchase or construct office buildings through a competitive and transparent process, provided they have been operating at a net profit for the past three consecutive years, have no accumulated losses, and maintain the minimum capital fund. Such investments must not exceed 25 percent of the primary capital or 50 percent of the reserve fund.

If property is acquired in violation of these conditions, the equivalent amount must be deducted from the primary capital fund during calculations. Property transactions require approval from at least 51 percent of the general assembly and must be reported to the regulatory body within 30 days.

Except for specialized cooperatives, organizations engaged in large-scale transactions are required to allocate at least 50 percent of their total loans to productive sectors such as agriculture, industry, and business development. Cooperatives that fall outside this threshold must comply by July 2026. In such cases, they may offer a grace period for repayment of interest or installments.

If a cooperative secures a loan from a bank or cooperative bank by pledging a member’s property, that member is prohibited from taking an additional loan exceeding the original amount borrowed. However, this does not apply to directors who pledge their personal property for institutional purposes.

Cooperatives may lend up to 90 percent of a member’s savings as a secured loan. For loans backed by immovable property, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is capped at 60 percent for properties in sub-metropolitan areas and 70 percent for properties in municipalities or rural municipalities.

Loans are to be categorized based on the repayment status of interest and installments. Loans repaid on time or within three months of maturity are considered good loans. Loans overdue by three to six months are non-performing, those overdue by six to 12 months are doubtful, and loans overdue by more than 12 months are classified as bad loans.

Two persons died and 22 others were injured in a van accident at Bharabliya Village in Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality-7, Rupandehi.

According to the District Police Office, Rupandehi, the deceased have been identified as Asmita Yadav (12) of Gaidahawa Rural Municipality-1 and Janmati Yadav (48) of Shuddodhan Rural Municipality-6.

The accident took place when the four-wheeler (Lu 1 Cha 2763) with 24 passengers was returning home after participating in a ritual at Lumbini-based Mayadevi Temple. It overturned at Shivagadhiya on Monday evening due to over speed, said Sandeep Gupta, an eye witness. 

Of the injured, three have been receiving treatment at Life Care Hospital, Lumbini, while remaining 19 at Universal College of Medical Sciences, Ranigaun, Bhairahawa.

Police have arrested the jeep driver, Ashok Pasi (26) of Shuddodhan Rural Municipality-4 for the investigation, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suraj Karki. 

Bethanchowk Rural Municipality recently hosted a community session focused on eco-friendly and climate-smart farming practices. The event was organized by Project Resilient Minds under the Youth for Climate and Social Action grant, supported by the British Council in partnership with the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON). Around 60 participants attended the session, including students, local farmers, community members, and representatives from the Bethanchowk Rural Municipality. The session aimed to promote awareness and knowledge of sustainable agriculture and climate resilience at the local level.

The program featured a presentation by the Agricultural Department Head of Gham Power, who discussed climate-smart farming techniques, the use of renewable energy in agriculture, and sustainable land management. According to the organizers, the event is part of a series of ongoing initiatives in the area focused on community engagement, sustainability education, and climate action.