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Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was officially placed under custody by a Turkish court for trial on corruption charges, just days after his detention sparked nationwide protests, Aljazeera reported.

Imamoglu and at least 20 other people were imprisoned as part of a corruption investigation, the court said. A decision on a separate probe into terror has not yet been made.

The court opted to release the mayor under judicial control measures for a second terror-related charge, according to stations Halk TV and AHaber, potentially preventing the government from choosing a trustee to oversee the country's largest city, according to Aljazeera

The mayor, a key opposition member and prospective contender to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was jailed by the government on Wednesday on charges of "terrorism" and corruption.

Imamoglu has refuted all claims, referring to them as part of a "smear campaign".

Eleven tourists have died due to altitude sickness in Mustang district in the last one year. Nine foreign backpackers and two Nepalis died due to altitude sickness from April 13, 2024 till date.

Information Officer at the District Police Office, Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari, said that most of the Indian tourists died while visiting the Muktinath temple and other places in the district.

According to Adhikari, among those who came to Mustang for worshipping at Muktinath temple and for trek in other places, five died in Muktinath of Waragung Muktikshetra-1, five in Jomsom of Gharpajhong-4 and one in Thasang Rural Municipality-2.

Among the dead are tourists aged between 58 and 81 years.

The District Police Office said two tourists died in the month of April, one in May, two in September, five in October and one in December. A 63-year-old American citizen was among those who died from altitude sickness, police inspector Adhikari said.

In 2023 BS, 17 people lost their lives due to altitude sickness. The deceased include 11 foreigners and six Nepali nationals, Adhikari added.

Nepal Tourism Board emphasized the promotion of Buddhist tourism at the 'Nepal-Myanmar Trade and Tourism Expo 2025' held in Yangon, Myanmar.

The program was organized on March 21 and 22 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Myanmar.

During the expo, Buddhist tourism was promoted and Nepali tourism products, information technology solutions, and other products were also showcased.

A total of 16 tourism companies from Nepal and 30 from Myanmar took part in the event.

On the occasion, Nepal said that special emphasis should be given to promote Buddhist tourism while urging Myanmar tourists to visit Lumbini through flights to the new Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa) in Nepal.

Myanmar Union Minister U Tun Ohn, Nepal's Ambassador to Myanmar Harish Chandra Ghimire and Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Shiva Agrawal jointly inaugurated the expo.

Addressing the program, Minister U Tun Ohn stressed on the need for cooperation in tourism promotion while strengthening trade relations between Nepal and Myanmar.

The pesticide examination laboratory set up in Harre of Bheriganga Municipality-4, Surkhet to test the quantity of pesticide residue in vegetables and fruits entering Karnali Province has been left abandoned. The laboratory remains unused as the provincial government has not managed the required funds and human resources for its operation.

The Karnali Provincial Government had constructed a building to house the pesticide testing laboratory six years ago at a cost of about Rs 7 million. However, the building has not been used yet due to lack of sufficient funds to purchase the necessary equipment for the staff and laboratory. 

According to Senior agricultural economist Chitra Bahadur Rokaya,  the Chief of Integrated Agricultural Laboratory of Karnali Province, although the laboratory building was constructed six years ago it has not been operational due to lack of budget and human resources. He said that the office has requested the line ministry to manage funds and human resources but it has not been managed so far.

The ministry has allocated only Rs 2.9 million for the operation of the laboratories in Harre and Kapurkot, Salyan. Rokaya said a budget of Rs 6.5 million was sought but less than fifty per cent was received, which is not sufficient to procure the necessary equipment and goods for the laboratories.

The office had also requested at least six employees each for the laboratories in Harre and Kapurkot but they have not been available so far.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Karnali Province is working to transfer funds from other headings to address the lack of funds for the operation of the laboratories, said the ministry's spokesperson, Agricultural Extension Officer Dhan Bahadur Kathayat.