Nepal’s former King Gyanendra woke up Thursday as a commoner after leaving his sprawling palace home and army of servants, in line with the abolition of the country’s dynasty.
It took Pushkar Shah, a Nepal native, seven years and nine months to pedal to 100 countries to spread his peace message to the world. And he says his mission is not over yet — despite being mugged twice in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stabbed in Barbados, kidnapped in Mexico and losing his belongings, including having his bicycle stolen in New Zealand.
Curfew and shoot-on-sight orders have been extended on the Nepalese capital to Friday morning, state television announced. ”The curfew has been extended until 3am on Friday,” said an onscreen strap-line announcement. The royal government had imposed the measure on Kathmandu from 2am Thursday until 8pm to thwart a mass demonstration.