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

Prime Minister Dahal calls for global action on mountainous climate crisis at COP28

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged global action on the mountainous climate crisis at COP28 Dubai, stressing urgency in his keynote address on Saturday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, delivered a keynote address at a high-level roundtable titled “Himalayan: Who will save us from the climate crisis?”

In his speech ‘Himalayan: Who will save us from the climate crisis?’, PM Dahal emphasized the urgent need to address the pressing climate crisis faced by mountainous countries and their populations.

PM Dahal underscored the dire consequences of climate change in mountainous regions, citing the alarming findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He highlighted the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, stressing the need for immediate action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

No plans to ban other social media platforms: Home Minister

Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has clarified that the government is not currently considering the ban of any additional social media platforms in Nepal.

Addressing a conference today at Bharatpur, Minister Shrestha acknowledged the recent ban on TikTok in the country but assured that there are no plans to extend the ban to other social sites. Responding to inquiries about potential bans on other platforms, he stated, “Such reports are not true. The government will instead monitor them.”

Minister Shrestha emphasized that the government aims to uphold people’s freedom and will focus on monitoring rather than restricting access. He stated, “The government will not limit people’s freedom, but we are only looking forward to monitoring them.”

NC General Secy Gagan Thapa calls for investigation of high officials’ assets post-1990

Nepali Congress General Secretary, Gagan Thapa, proposes legislation to investigate assets acquired illegitimately by high-ranking officials since 1990.

Speaking at the Lumbini province conference, he emphasized the need to probe individuals misusing authority and bring them to justice.

Thapa urged creating an environment of accountability within NC, emphasizing the investigation of irregular wealth acquired after the 1990s. He highlighted the importance of distinguishing honest contributors from corrupt figures and advocated for penalizing those found guilty.

3rd Int’l Watercolor Festival kicks off

The Third International Watercolor Festival kicked off in the capital city, Kathmandu on Saturday.

Minister for Youth and Sports, Dig Bahadur Limbu inaugurated the Festival organized at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, where 343 artworks from 39 countries have been put on display.

On the occasion, Minister Limbu pointed out the need to develop art as it helps the country in the international arena and contributes to tourism development.

The Minister expressed commitment to cooperation and collaboration from his place for the development and promotion of the art sector.

Petroleum imports decline by 9 percent

Over the first four months of the current financial year, there has been a notable nine percent decrease in the import of petroleum products.

As per data from the Department of Customs, a total of 800,000 kiloliters of petroleum products, including diesel, petrol, kerosene, gas, and jet fuel, valued at 88,984,422,000 rupees, were imported during this period.

Comparatively, the preceding year witnessed imports amounting to 98,279,966,000 rupees during the same timeframe. This translates to a significant reduction in fuel expenditure, amounting to 10 billion rupees over these four months. Statistics indicate that reduced fuel consumption in the market has contributed to this decline in imports.

NDRRMA allocates 240 million rupees for quake-affected area’s temporary housing

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Nepal has initiated the release of funds designated for the construction of temporary housing in regions affected by the Jajarkot earthquake.

Dhruva Bahadur Khadka, the spokesperson for the NDRRMA, disclosed that nearly 240 million rupees were disbursed on Friday to support housing initiatives for the earthquake survivors. This disbursement supplements the earlier allocation of 220.09 million rupees for the same purpose.