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The government has introduced a more flexible fee structure for foreign visitors entering the restricted area of Upper Mustang. Under the revised rule, foreigners visiting Upper Mustang, an area bordering China’s Korala crossing, will now be charged $50 per day, instead of paying a mandatory $500 lump-sum fee for a 10-day permit. The new provision allows trekkers to pay only for the number of days they actually spend inside the restricted zone. 

According to Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, the permit fee was revised by amending Schedule 12 of the Immigration Regulation, 1994. The previous rule required every foreign visitor to buy a minimum 10-day permit at $500, after which an additional $50 per day was charged if they stayed longer. Other requirements like traveling in groups of a minimum of two and through government authorized companies, however, still remain.

Local governments and communities in the region had long been demanding a complete removal of Upper Mustang from the restricted-area list. Upper Mustang falls within the Annapurna Conservation Area and remains listed as a restricted and controlled zone. High permit costs have long discouraged trekkers, resulting in only a small fraction of the roughly 150,000 foreign tourists who enter Mustang each year traveling beyond Kagbeni and Muktinath into the restricted northern area. Nepal first declared its northern villages as restricted areas in the 1970s following security concerns after Chinese takeover of Tibet and the Khampa uprising. 

However, officials say restricted areas were declared due to cultural sensitivity, environmental fragility, and security concerns. After multiparty democracy was established in 1990, the government gradually opened many of these areas to foreign trekkers through a special-permit system administered by the Department of Immigration. 

Restrictions in Mustang currently apply to Lomanthang Rural Municipality (wards 1–5), Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality (wards 1–5), and Baragung Muktichetra Rural Municipality (ward 3 and Satang village of ward 5). Similar rules also remain in place in Upper Dolpa, Manaslu and Tsum Valley of Gorkha, Upper Humla, parts of northern Taplejung, Lower Dolpa, Lamabagar and Tso Rolpa areas of Dolakha, the Kimathanka area of Sankhuwasabha, Nar and Phu of Manang, sections of Solukhumbu and northern Rasuwa, Upper Mugu, Bajhang, and Darchula. 

Debate continues over whether restrictions should be fully lifted. Advocates for removal argue that the rules, which date back to the Khampa insurgency era in Mustang and were reinforced following China’s annexation of Tibet, are no longer relevant. Others, however, caution that unrestricted tourist inflow could affect the region’s carrying capacity and disrupt its distinct cultural and geographical landscape.

Lumbini Lions are playing against Chitwan Rhinos in the only match to be played today under the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament.

This will be the first match of the tournament for Lumbini, led by Rohit Poudel, who is also the captain of the National Men's Cricket team of the country.

Meanwhile, Chitwan Rhinos led by Kushal Malla is playing their second match.

In the first match, Chitwan defeated Karnali Yaks by four wickets to collect two points.

The day-night match is scheduled to start at 4 pm at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and will be played under floodlights, installed for the second season of NPL 2025.

A person died in a tractor accident at Chiuri, Nalgad Municipality-1, Jajarkot.

The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Karan BK of Chiuri, Nalgad Municipality-1, who was assistant to the driver of the tractor (Bhe 2 Ta 559).

The tractor was heading towards Chisapani from Chiuri when the incident took place, police said.

BK succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Nalgad Municipal Hospital.

Further investigation into the accident is underway, while the reason behind the incident is not yet known, police said.

The World Children’s Day 2025 is being observed across the globe, including Nepal today under the theme "My day, my rights."

The theme focuses on amplifying children's voices and the importance of their rights while another prominent theme "For Every Child, Every Right," emphasizes that every child deserves affection, care, and the opportunity to grow.

At the call of the United Nations, the Day is celebrated annually on November 20. Also known as Universal Children’s Day, this was the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

On the same day in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, the Day has also marked the anniversary of the day the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Meanwhile, UNICEF, the UN's specialized agency working for children and their rights, has appealed to all to amplify children’s voices and stand up for the rights of every child. Children and young people are powerful agents of change, bringing new ideas and perspectives that can help shape a better world for all of us.

In his World Children's Day message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that the future is defined by how we care for the next generation, but acknowledged that children's rights are under attack from poverty, conflict, and climate change.

He urged that, on this day, we should listen to children and amplify their voices as they advocate for their rights, emphasizing that it is our responsibility to build a safe and equal world for every child.

The weather today will remain partly cloudy in the hilly and mountainous regions and mainly fair in the remaining areas of the country.

Light rain and snowfall are possible at one or two places of the hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, according to the Weather Forecasting Division.

The meteorological analysis by the Division states that there is currently no significant effect of the weather system across the country.

The Madhes Provincial Assembly has removed Speaker Ram Chandra Mandal from his position after a motion citing “conduct inconsistent with the dignity of the office” was passed with a two-thirds majority on Wednesday. The assembly discussed the proposal in its meeting and endorsed it through a division of votes.

Deputy speaker Babita Kumari Raut announced Mandal’s dismissal, stating that 76 members voted in favor of the motion. A total of 78 provincial lawmakers were present.

A stunning bicycle kick and two stoppage-time goals sealed Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait. Austria needed a late equalizer to also make it back to soccer’s showcase event for the first time since 1998, while top-ranked Spain clinched its spot after equaling Italy’s 31-match unbeaten record in competitive games in Europe.

Belgium and Switzerland also secured their places for the 2026 World Cup as European qualifying finished Tuesday. Five automatic spots were still available in Europe. Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C, with Scott McTominay scoring a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into the match, sending the Hampden Park crowd into raptures.

A draw would have given Denmark the group win and the Danes were in good position after Patrick Dorgu equalized in the 82nd, but Kieran Tierney put the hosts ahead again three minutes into added time. Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line.

“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how this is the opportunity we’ve waited for. What a night, eh?” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “This was the chance, one game. This was like a playoff final. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step and it’s always the hardest.”

Denmark, which saw Rasmus Kristensen sent off in the 62nd, finished second in the group, two points behind Scotland. A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly, while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.

Nepali narrative film Lokanti, produced under the banner of Krishan Films, is set to hit cinema halls across the country simultaneously from Friday, Dec 12. Along with the announcement of its release date, the makers have also unveiled the film’s first-look poster. Directed by Ranjit Rana, Lokanti is presented as a complete family drama, placing themes of family, love, struggle, peace, and subtle social conflicts at its core.

Actor Yasraj Garach plays the lead role in the film, which has been shot in the natural and authentic locations of Kavre district. The movie aims to highlight the social sensitivities embedded within a family love story.

Produced by Santosh Neupane, the film features actress and model Richa Thapa opposite Garach. Other key cast members include Bimala Limbu, Kumar Neupane, Bikash Adhikari, Daman Rupakheti, and Govinda Prabhat. The film also marks the acting debut of Kumar Neupane and Bikash Adhikari, both of whom have expressed excitement about their first venture.

The music is composed by Bikash Chaudhary, while Ronish Tamang has handled the cinematography. Rooted in Nepali culture, Lokanti promises audiences a fresh blend of emotion and social storytelling.