KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
CAVA Women’s Volleyball League: India clinches title by defeating Nepal
India secured the title in the final match of the CAVA Women’s National League Volleyball by defeating Nepal 3-2 in sets today. In a dramatic final, India emerged victorious after five sets. Nepal won the first set 25-23, but India claimed the second set 25-14 and Nepal took the third set 25-22. India then secured the fourth set 25-21 and the final set 15-5.
Govt forms three-member commission to probe helicopter crash
The government has formed a three-member commission to investigate the Air Dynasty helicopter crash that occurred in Suryachaur, Shivpuri Rural Municipality Ward Number 7, in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on Wednesday afternoon. An emergency Cabinet meeting held this afternoon decided to form the commission, which will be led by senior Nepal Army pilot Subhash Thapa, according to Minister for Communication and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung. The other members of the commission are aeronautical engineer Bishnu Basnet and Tanuja Pokharel.
Kakarvitta border reopens for third-country travelers
The Kakarvitta border, a key transit point in eastern Nepal, has reopened to travelers from third countries. This development comes after a four-year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mohan Pariyar, Chief of the Immigration Office in Kakarvitta, confirmed the reopening. The border had previously been restricted to foreign tourists due to reservations from the Indian side, despite Nepal lifting its own travel restrictions. The Indian authorities informed the Kakarvitta Office that the border would reopen to third-country travelers starting August 1. Since then, arrivals from third countries via India have resumed, and departures from Nepal have also commenced.
NEPSE closes session with impressive 108.35 points surge
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index on Wednesday wrapped up at 2,759.67 points, marking a substantial increase of 108.35 points or 4.08% from the previous trading day. This rise followed a drop of 145.05 points in the last session. The index opened the trading day at 2,644.73 points, hitting a low of 2,630.86 points and a high of 2,759.67 points before closing at its peak of 2,759.67 points. During the session, 330 scrips were traded through 212,681 transactions, resulting in a notable volume of 38,041,267 shares and a turnover of Rs. 17.95 billion.
Govt convenes emergency Cabinet meeting after helicopter crash
An emergency Cabinet meeting was held this afternoon to address the recent helicopter crash. The meeting focused on making crucial decisions regarding relief and compensation after a helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty crashed in Suryachaur, Shivpuri Rural Municipality Ward Number 7, in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Secretariat confirmed the emergency meeting. Meanwhile, PM Oli has expressed his grief over the helicopter crash.
Alliance with Nepali Congress fuels public optimism: PM Oli
Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, announced that the party is undergoing significant transformation. In an inter-party directive issued on Wednesday, PM Oli instructed party members to participate actively in the campaign for party reform. “We are at a pivotal moment for our party’s transformation. Our agreement with the Nepali Congress has instilled hope among the general public,” stated PM Oli. He emphasized that the party now has a favorable position to achieve its vision of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,” thanks to its strong involvement in governance from the central to local levels. PM Oli urged party members to strive towards making CPN-UML the strongest political force in the country.
Helicopter crash: Five killed, including one Nepali and four Chinese nationals
One Nepali and four Chinese citizens have died in a helicopter crash in Suryachaur, Shivpuri Rural Municipality Ward Number 7 of Nuwakot on Wednesday. An Air Dynasty helicopter with the call sign 9N-AJD, en route from Kathmandu to Syapruweshi in Rasuwa, crashed shortly after takeoff. The helicopter departed from Kathmandu at 1:54 PM, but lost contact just three minutes later. It is believed to have crashed at approximately 2:20 PM. DSP Tilak Bharati of the District Police Office Nuwakot stated that five bodies were recovered from the crash site.
Helicopter crashes at Suryachaur in Nuwakot
A helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty has crashed in the Suryachaur area of Nuwakot on Wednesday afternoon. District Police Office Nuwakot DSP Tilak Bharati confirmed the incident. Police reached the crash site after locals reported that the helicopter was found burnt at the accident site. Shantiraj Koirala, SP of Nuwakot, informed Khabarhub that the helicopter collided with a cliff in Shivapuri-7. The helicopter crashed as it collided with the hill.
TRC bill consensus marks major step forward: PM Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has affirmed his commitment to endorse the Transitional Justice (TRC) Bill submitted to top leaders, including himself, on Wednesday from the current parliamentary session. PM Oli emphasized that the report represents the final stage of the peace process and is crucial for providing a legal framework for reconciliation. A task force submitted a report on amending the TRC Bill, 2071, to the leaders of Nepal’s three major parties, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. “This agreement, which addresses reconciliation, compensation, and accountability for conflict-related issues, is a significant milestone in our peace process,” said Prime Minister Oli. “We have endured a painful past, and while there have been positive changes, we must now complete the peace process. Having achieved consensus on these matters, there is no need for remnants of violence to persist,” he added.
Gold price down by Rs 1,400 per tola today
Gold prices have decreased by Rs 1,400 per tola today. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, fine gold is priced at Rs 146,300 per tola on Tuesday. On Tuesday, fine gold was traded at Rs 147,700 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of silver has bene fixed at Rs 1,710 per tola.
Task force submits report on TRC to top leaders, including PM
A report detailing the understanding reached by the task force on finalizing transitional justice in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) was presented to Nepal’s top political leaders today. The CPA was originally signed between the Government of Nepal and the then-rebelling CPN (Maoist). The task force handed over its findings to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar. The report was presented by task force members: Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, and Maoist Centre leader Janardan Sharma.
Foreign Secretary Lamsal stresses promoting economic diplomacy
A virtual meeting was convened with the participation of Ambassadors, Acting Ambassadors, Consuls General, Labour Counsellors, and Labour Attachés from Nepali Missions in the Middle East. Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, who was in Muscat, Oman, for the inaugural Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting between Nepal and Oman, chaired the session on Tuesday. The Nepali Embassy in Muscat reported that the meeting covered a range of issues, including online demand letter verification, the rescue of domestic women workers and labourers, compensation, management of deceased bodies, worker-related problems and solutions, as well as topics related to trade, investment, tourism, and employment promotion. The management of resources in Nepali missions was also discussed. During the meeting, Secretary Lamsal emphasized the importance of streamlining service delivery to be simple, transparent, and effective.
SEE grade increment exam begins today
The National Examination Board (NEB) is conducting the SEE grade increment examination starting today. To accommodate those who did not pass the Secondary Education Examination (SEE), the Board is conducting the grade increment exams from Wednesday. The examination will commence at 11 a.m. Nandalal Paudel, Controller of Examinations (Grade 10) of the Board, has announced that 210,000 examinees will participate in the grade increment exams. A total of 550 centers have been designated nationwide for this purpose.
Foreign national arrested with 6 kg of cocaine at TIA
A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested a foreign national with six kilograms of cocaine at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The suspect, identified as a 51-year-old man from Latvia, reportedly smuggled the drugs on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. According to the police, further investigation of the case is underway.
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