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

Select areas in Kathmandu to face power outage for six days

Starting today, residents in select areas of Kathmandu will witness daily four-hour power interruptions for six consecutive days. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has announced that electricity service will be suspended from Sunday until May 10 to facilitate the undergrounding of electricity distribution lines. Affected areas include those served by the Kuleshwar, Kirtipur, and Jorpati distribution centers. According to the NEA, power supply will be halted from 11 am to 3 pm each day for the duration of the six-day period.

Nepal unilaterally decided to incorporate a new political map of Nepal on 100 rupee banknotes: Indian Foreign Minister

Contesting Nepal’s decision to introduce a new Rs 100 currency note featuring disputed Indian territories External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi’s position is very clear adding that Kathmandu unilaterally took some measures on their side, India’s Economic Times reported. He said that while both countries were having talks on boundary matters, by doing something unilaterally, Nepal is not going to change the on-ground reality, the newspaper said. “I saw that report. I have not looked at it in detail, but I think our position is very clear. With Nepal, we were having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. And then in the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side. But by doing something on their side, they are not going to change the situation between us or the reality on the ground,” said Jaishankar.

Patan High Court defers cricketer Lamichhane’s case 

Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane’s legal battle has taken a disheartening turn as his case has been deferred by the Patan High Court. Chief Justice Nripdhoj Niraula and Durga Prasad Dhungel presided over the judgment session on Sunday, cancelling Lamichhane’s cause list. Despite Lamichhane’s appeal challenging the Kathmandu District Court’s decision, the hearing scheduled for Sunday faced an unprecedented setback. Positioned third on the judge’s docket, the case was abruptly withheld from public view, marking yet another delay in the proceedings. This is not the first time Lamichhane’s case has been deferred, with previous instances of rescheduled hearings.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa arrives in Kathmandu

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Nepal on Sunday for a whirlwind one-day visit. Yoko’s arrival in Nepal comes in response to an invitation extended by Foreign Minister Narayankaji Shrestha. She received a warm welcome from Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal upon her arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Yoko’s itinerary included a courtesy meeting with President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today itself. Additionally, a bilateral formal dialogue with Foreign Minister Shrestha was on the agenda, during which all facets of Nepal-Japan relations were thoroughly reviewed.

UML delays vote of confidence for Sudurpaschim Province CM Sodari until May 8

The CPN-UML has decided to withhold its vote of confidence for Chief Minister Dirgha Bahadur Sodari of Sudurpaschim Province until May 8. The delay comes as Daman Bahadur Bhandari, recently elected to the provincial assembly from the Bajhang by-election, will only be able to join the assembly proceedings after May 8 due to his involvement in mourning rituals following the passing of his father. Rajendra Rawal, the parliamentary leader of the UML in the province, confirmed that the party’s decision to postpone the vote of confidence is in consideration of Bhandari’s absence.

Life expectancy increases by 21.5 years in Nepal over 30-year period, females outlive males

The Central Bureau of Statistics has released the findings from the National Census of 2078 BS, unveiling significant trends in life expectancy in Nepal. According to the report, the average life expectancy of Nepali citizens has surged by 21.5 years over the past three decades. This remarkable increase is attributed to various factors including a reduction in birth and death rates, improved access to healthcare services, advancements in education, adoption of balanced diets, and enhancements in transportation infrastructure. The average life expectancy of Nepali individuals now stands at 71.3 years, showcasing a notable improvement. However, a gender disparity persists, with females generally outliving males. The average life expectancy for males is reported at 68.2 years, while females have an average life expectancy of 73.8 years.

PM Dahal, Oli, and Lamichhane meet amidst NC’s call for cooperative fraud investigation

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli convened for a meeting on Sunday to discuss current political developments in the country. The trio’s discussions took place amidst ongoing parliamentary obstruction by the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate Home Minister Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in cooperative fraud.

Home Minister Lamichhane discusses GB Rai with Malaysian counterpart in phone call

Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane engaged in a telephone conversation with his Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, primarily discussing GB Rai, the prime suspect in the cooperative fraud case. Minister Ismail took to social media to announce the leaders’ discussion, emphasizing the conversation’s focus on security and the welfare of Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia. However, there was no mention of the specific topic of GB Rai. Nevertheless, Home Minister Lamichhane’s secretariat confirmed that the two leaders indeed addressed the issue of GB Rai, who recently fled to Malaysia.

JSP splits during Upendra Yadav’s overseas trip, seven lawmakers registering new party

The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), led by Upendra Yadav, has undergone a split, with seven lawmakers of the party currently at the Election Commission to register a new political party. Chairman Yadav, who also serves as the Health Minister, is currently in the United States of America to attend the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Population and Development. A rift emerged within the party following its decision to ally with the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center). Amidst escalating tensions, a faction led by Ashok Rai is poised to break away from Yadav’s leadership and establish a new party. Rai is supported by Pradip Yadav, Sushila Shrestha, Raj Kishwor Yadav, and other leaders. Dissatisfaction arose among these leaders after they were not appointed as ministers by the UML and Maoist Center-led government.

With the Speaker’s vote, Chief Minister Adhikari secures vote of confidence in Gandaki Province

Khagaraj Adhikari, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, has successfully obtained a vote of confidence. In the confidence vote, 30 lawmakers supported CM Adhikari, while 27 voted against him, with two remaining neutral. A total of 59 lawmakers participated in the vote. Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital emphasized that a majority of 31 votes out of the 60-member provincial assembly is required to win a vote of confidence and the Speaker can cast a decisive vote in accordance with the constitution. He declared that CM Adhikari secured the necessary confidence vote with his decisive vote. Following the announcement, lawmakers from the Nepali Congress staged a protest.