Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.

Three killed, 10 injured in Sarlahi bus-truck collision

Three people died and ten others were injured when a bus collided with a parked truck in Sarlahi. Inspector Anil Giri of the Hariwan area police office stated that the accident occurred at 6 am today (Thursday) at Bagmati Municipality-1 Rayamazhi Chowk on the East-West Highway. The bus (Lu 1 Ka 8848), traveling from Bhairawa to Janakpur, collided with an Indian cargo truck (NL 011AS 9252) parked on the roadside. “Hari Bahadur Chaudhary from Rupandehi, 85-year-old Dashrath Kuwar from Rupandehi, and 50-year-old Ramkaran Kewat from Mayadevi Rural Municipality-2 of Rupandehi died in the accident,” police inspector Giri said. They were all passengers on the bus, which was carrying approximately 41 people. Ten people sustained injuries, five of whom are critically injured and have been transferred to Birgunj for further treatment, he said.

Gold price up by Rs 600 per tola

The price of gold remained increased by Rs 600 per tola in the Nepali market today. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of fine gold is fixed at Rs 142,800 per tola, while standard gold is traded at Rs 141,500 per tola. On Wednesday, the gold was traded at Rs 142,200 per tola. Likewise, the standard gold was traded at Rs 142,100 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has been fixed at Rs 1,840 per tola today.

Nepali national cricket team returns home after playing ICC T-20 World Cup

The Nepali national cricket team returned home today following their participation in the ICC T-20 World Cup. After competing in matches across America and the West Indies, the team arrived back in Kathmandu early Thursday morning. Nepal’s journey in the World Cup ended in the group stage without a victory, marking their return after 14 years to this prestigious event.

GB Rai’s whereabouts in Malaysia pinpointed: Home Minister

Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has claimed that the whereabouts of GB Rai, wanted in a cooperative fraud case, have been identified. Speaking to journalists in Chitwan on Thursday, Lamichhane disclosed ongoing discussions with the Malaysian Home Minister and acknowledged diplomatic efforts causing some delays. “We have already determined GB Rai’s location. I have received confirmation from the Malaysian Home Minister,” Lamichhane stated. He explained, “Bringing him back has faced delays due to the absence of an extradition treaty with Malaysia. However, significant progress has been made through extensive efforts and diplomatic engagements.”

Parliament obstruction hampered adequate budget discussion: PM Dahal

Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ highlighted the inadequate discussion on the budget, attributing it to the Parliament’s inability to function smoothly. During a ‘direct question and answer program with the Prime Minister’ in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Prime Minister Dahal responded to Nepali Congress MP Tejulal Chowdhury’s query. He expressed his intention to reform the government’s policies, programs, and budget formulation processes. However, PM Dahal emphasized that the irregular parliamentary proceedings hindered these efforts, preventing the desired outcomes.

PM assures orderly and dignified appointment of ambassadors

Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has announced a concerted effort towards enhancing the appointment process of ambassadors, emphasizing transparency, dignity, and performance-based criteria. Addressing queries from parliamentarians during today’s House of Representatives session, the Prime Minister affirmed that ambassadorial appointments will strictly adhere to Nepal’s constitutional principles and foreign policy objectives. “Our government is steadfast in deploying diplomatic missions and their heads abroad, ensuring they serve the nation’s best interests,” stated Prime Minister Dahal. He underscored the government’s commitment to evaluating ambassadors objectively and managing their roles to bolster the nation’s diplomatic endeavors.

PM Dahal signals allowing foreign companies to operate all three international airports

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced the potential involvement of foreign companies in operating all three of Nepal’s international airports. During a House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Thursday, PM Dahal responded to inquiries about the Pokhara International Airport. He indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding international collaboration for the operation of Nepal’s airports. “This morning, I discussed with the concerned ministry about international collaboration for the operation of Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports. I have received positive and encouraging updates on this matter,” stated PM Dahal.

NEPSE declines by 10 points; significant drop in life insurance sector

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a substantial downturn on Thursday, with the index falling by 10 points by the close of trading. The most pronounced decline was observed in the life insurance sector, where the index plummeted by 82 points. Trading data revealed that transactions were subdued compared to previous sessions, with 86,63,699 shares valued at NPR 3,087,074,000 changing hands in 53,017 transactions. In sectoral performance, the finance group showed resilience, recording a gain of 42.02 points. Within this group, 11 companies saw an increase in their share prices, while prices remained unchanged for 3 companies and decreased for 1. Overall, NEPSE reported declines across 186 companies, affecting share prices in 12 out of 13 sectors.

Captain Rohit Paudel admits Nepal’s batting struggles in T20 World Cup; Urges fans to avoid negative comments about Jha

Rohit Paudel, Captain of the Nepal Men’s National Cricket Team, acknowledged that Nepal’s batting performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was below expectations. The Nepali team returned home today after being eliminated in the group stage, failing to secure a single win. In their last two group stage matches, Nepal’s bowling unit exhibited exceptional skills against test nations. However, the batting unit could not match the bowlers’ spirit and performance. During a press conference, Captain Paudel explained that Nepal failed to advance to the Super Eight stage due to challenging pitch conditions and the batting unit’s underperformance. He emphasized that no players enter the field intending to lose. Paudel also addressed the negative comments directed at Gulshan Jha, calling them inappropriate.

Complaint filed against Home Minister Lamichhane and GB Rai in Swarnalaxmi Cooperative Fraud Case

Another complaint has been filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane regarding a cooperative fraud case. The complaint, involving Swarnalaxmi Cooperative and naming both Home Minister Lamichhane and GB Rai, was lodged at the District Police Range in Teku on Wednesday. Yubaraj Paudel (Safal) from Sindhuli submitted the complaint via the post office. This follows an earlier complaint filed on Magh 22 by 25 individuals at the District Police Office in Kaski, also alleging fraud by Home Minister Lamichhane in a cooperative case. Currently, a parliamentary probe panel is investigating the cooperative fraud allegations against Home Minister Lamichhane.

Monsoon to escalate nationwide by Sunday

This year’s monsoon, which has already entered Nepal, is expected to spread across the entire country by this coming Sunday. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the monsoon reached Lumbini Province today and is likely to extend nationwide by June 23. Although June 13 is typically the expected date for the monsoon’s arrival in Nepal, it entered the country via the eastern part on June 10. Progression to the western and far-western regions takes more time due to the influence of the Westerly wind. Once the monsoon becomes more active, it will gradually alleviate the issues of heat waves. Last year, it took three weeks for the monsoon to spread across the country after its arrival.

Phanindra Devkota challenges Maoist Center’s decision at Supreme Court; Hearing scheduled for Sunday

Phanindra Devkota, leader of the Nepal Samajbadi Party and member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, has challenged the decision of the CPN (Maoist Center) to take action against him at the Supreme Court. Devkota filed a writ petition at the apex court, claiming the Maoist Center’s decision was unconstitutional. The hearing for the case is scheduled for Sunday. MP and Minister of Energy, Irrigation, and Drinking Water, Phanindra Devkota, has been removed from his post. Despite instructions from the Maoist parliamentary party, Devkota supported Chief Minister Surendraraj Pandey of the Nepali Congress (NC) with his vote of confidence, leading to his appointment as Minister of Energy.

PM Dahal, Home Minister Lamichhane, and KP Oli hold meeting

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Home Minister and Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane, and Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli held a meeting at Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon. The three leaders met for over an hour at Prime Minister Dahal’s office. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha was also present at the meeting. The discussion reportedly focused on the appointment of ambassadors, the budget, and other contemporary issues. The government recently recalled ambassadors from 11 countries.