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Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has raised concerns over the decision to impose 13 percent value added tax (VAT) on air-travel tickets for visits abroad and demanded its withdrawal. The government in the budget for the upcoming fiscal 2023-24 announced to levy a 13 percent VAT on air tickets for visits abroad. NATTA, as a representative body of tour and travel agents, believes the imposition of VAT on air tickets for international travel would negatively impact the tourism sector. "The provision of charging a 13 percent additional tax on air tickets for foreign visits makes it challenging to afford international trips when the international travel fare is already expensive and it is capable of affecting the travel and tour business," NATTA Chair Ramesh Thapa said in a press statement today. He said the decision to levy additional 13 percent VAT on air tickets for foreign travel is applied when its process is made from Nepal and it is not charged while proceeding for tickets from abroad. "The domestic tour and travel business is certain to be marred by the decision when it is struggling to make through a post-COVID-19 situation. The decision hampers recovery efforts after the pandemic." Thapa further argued the decision to impose an additional two percent luxury tax on services of high-end hotels and restaurants was not expected at all. However, NATTA welcomed the government decision to observe the period from 2023-2032 as a visiting year. The priorities to the constructions of the Nijgadh Airport, other airports, revival of cultural heritages, identification on new touristic destinations and acceleration of infrastructure development are other positive aspects of the budget. The decision to allocate an additional over 2.5 billion budgets to the tourism sector than in the current fiscal year encourages the related community.    

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in smuggling wildlife body parts. The arrestees have been identified as Raj Chepang and Sundar Praja, both of Kalika Municipality-11. Chepang was held from Sauraha on May 27, and Praja from his house on May 28, according to the CNP Information Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari. Two country-made pistols were also confiscated from the house of Praja, he said. The seized pistols have been handed over to the District Police Office, Chitwan. Police are looking into the case.  

Three local levels in Sunsari district have decided to close all public schools within the local levels citing rising temperature. All public schools in Inaruwa Municipality have been asked to shut for a week from June 1 to 7, said the municipality Mayor Kedar Bhandari. This aims to save school children from various problems caused by hot temperature, he said, adding that the classes missed due to the school closure will be compensated by reducing the period allocated for summer vacation. Similarly, Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality has directed community schools to shut for six days from June 1 to 6, and schools in Itahari Sub Metropolitan City have been asked to close for two days on June 1-2. The temperature has soared in eastern Tarai districts since some days affecting the normal life of people.  

Lumpy skin disease has spread across 12 of 14 districts in Koshi Province, according to the Directorate of Livestock and Fishery Development, Biratnagar. In the Province, a total of 1,132 domestic animals have died from the disease, and 85,784 others have been infected, said vet Ghata Raj Kattel. Only Taplejung and Solukhumbu districts have so far remained safe from the disease. According to him, 435 cattle have died in Ilam district, 120 in Jhapa, 182 in Morang, 120 in Udayapur, three in Khotang, five in Okhaldhunga, 74 in Dhankuta, 39 in Terhathum, 37 in Sankhuwasabha, 17 in Bhojpur and 93 in Sunsari.  

The government has decided to impose a two percent luxury charge for services of high-end hotels and resorts, imported liquors and precious metals. The government has made this announcement through the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 that was presented Monday before the Federal Parliament. "Two percent luxury tax shall be imposed for luxury goods and services," the government said in the budget. The high-end hotels and resorts shall charge their clients two percent additionally while providing services from mid-July.  The new fiscal year commences on July 17. The tax is applied on ornaments made up of precious metals and stones such as gold, diamond, pearls and gems worth over Rs 1 million. The tax is levied on imported alcoholic products at the customs point during the times of transportation. In case of the non-payment of the luxury tax, it will be recovered along with a 15 percent interest rate annually. Likewise, if the statement related to luxury tax is not submitted, such a responsible person will be charged a fine of 2.5 percent annually until the submission of the details.

Despite widespread public outcry, including from some members of Parliament, the government has revived the Member of Parliament Development Fund. The same initiative has now been called a local infrastructure collaboration and development program. Following public backlash, the program was canceled through the budget statement of the fiscal year 2078/79. It has now been brought back as a parliamentary constituency development program. "The parliamentary constituency infrastructure development program has been introduced by allocating Rs 50 million for every electoral constituency," Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said while presenting the budget statement in the Parliament on Monday. Under this program, physical infrastructure development projects and programs such as roads, irrigation, drinking water, education, health, tourism, sports, etc. will be selected with a minimum allocation of Rs 10 million per project. The government has allocated Rs 8.25 billion to implement this program for coming fiscal year.  

President Ram Chandra Paudel has pointed out the need to fully implement the provision of reservation guaranteed by the Constitution. In a message today on the occasion of the 5th National Women's Rights Day celebrated every year on Jetha 16 of the Lunar Calendar, President Paudel has said the Constitution of Nepal has provided 33 percent reservation for women in every organ of the state and hence it is the need of the day to fully implement this provision of reservation guaranteed by the Constitution. Extending his best wishes for happiness, peace and prosperity to all those living in the country and abroad on the occasion, the President has also expressed his gratitude by remembering all those who contributed to ensuring gender equality and women's rights. The day is observed commemorating Jetha 16, 2063 BS, when the then reinstated House of Representatives passed four important special resolutions on Nepali women's rights. President Paudel has expressed his belief that this day will provide more energy and enthusiasm to the national and international efforts made to maintain gender equality while ensuring women's rights. Stressing on the need to develop and implement women targeted programs in the areas of education, health, employment, poverty alleviation, livelihood improvement, social security, access to infrastructure and technology, President Paudel said this was essential to ensure equal, meaningful and respectful participation of women in political, social, judicial and other sectors. "Women are still not completely safe in the workplace, educational institutions, public places and the society with an increase in incidents of violence against women and children, which is very sad", the President said. He said that it is necessary to put an end to all kinds of violence, exploitation, discrimination and abuse against women and children by employing all mechanisms of the state to address such activities. "I wish everyone to be inspired to build a civilized society with gender equality by ensuring the safety, respect and rights of Nepali women through positive changes in social attitude, conduct, customs and practice from today onwards", reads the message.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has appealed to all to celebrate the Republic Day in a grand way with due respect to its glory, gravity, and significance. In his address to a special ceremony held at the local Tundikhel on the occasion of the 16th Republic Day today, the Prime Minister made it clear that federalism and principles of inclusion and proportional representation have been adopted so as to address structural and geographical specialty of the Nepali society. "We are now the honored and sovereign citizens of the independent, sovereign and republic nation. The governance system is held by the people's representatives," he said, adding that it was being established that the federal democratic republic was the unique system of Nepal. He underscored the need of connecting this system with the people's lifestyle. People's socio-economic and cultural reformations are the goals of the existing system, according to the Prime Minister who stressed that the focus of all bodies concerned including the government should be for meeting the goals of the republic system. Underlining the need of unity and cooperation among all political parties and the people for the institutional development of republicanism, he was of the view that an unwavering approach was needed on issues of national concerns and to strengthen the foundation of national unity. The Prime Minister said conspiracies were being hatched to reverse the achievements of the federal democratic republic, claiming that no ill efforts to hamper the entire system upon some weaknesses over its implementation would be entertained. "Such attempts will never be allowed to be successful." According to the head of the government, recent circumstances in the country have proved that the development of democracy is possible within the democratic system itself. He appealed to one and all to realize the need of national unity once again to build a prosperous Nepal along with good governance and social justice.