Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
UML Chair Oli bats for higher participation of women in party responsibility
CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has stressed the need for more women’s participation in the party’s activities. Addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Chitwan District Committee of the party on Friday, the UML Chair directed the party leaders to take women on board the party’s assignments. There has been less corruption in the fields where women have taken their responsibility against their men counterparts, the former prime minister added. Likewise, chairman Oli instructed the party cadres to unite and make the party strong by ending internal disputes but by promoting internal interactions. The district committee convention of the UML was completed last week.
Bandana Rana re-elected to UN Committee
Bandana Rana of Nepal has been re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which works to end all forms of discrimination against women. Rana secured her victory with 146 votes during the election held in New York on Friday. She will serve from 2025 to 2028. Following her win, Lok Bahadur Thapa, the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, expressed gratitude to the member states for their support. The 23-member committee addresses global issues faced by women, monitors the implementation of commitments made to the UN, and oversees all forms of discrimination against women.
Nepal’s third largest substation completed in Hetauda, ready for MCC connection
A 400 kV substation, one of Nepal’s largest, has been completed in Thana Bharyang, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-11, Makwanpur. The substation aims to strengthen and expand the country’s electricity transmission and distribution network. The substation, built on Gas Insulated System (GIS) technology, is the third largest in Nepal and was charged and put into operation on Friday. Additionally, 220 kV and 132/11 kV substations in Thana Bharyang, part of the Nepal-India Transmission and Trade Project, were also charged on the same day, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The Hetauda substation, along with Dhalkebar and Inaruwa, form the trio of GIS automated substations aimed at enhancing reliable and quality electricity supply across the East-West corridor and facilitating power trade with India. With the completion of the Hetauda substation, an infrastructure capable of transmitting about 4,000 MW of electricity has been established.
Only 65 percent completed after five years on a four-year contract worth Rs six billion
The Chinese contractor responsible for constructing civil structures under the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project has significantly delayed the work. Guangdong Yuantian Engineering Company Limited, the main contractor for civil structures including headworks, powerhouse, penstock, and surge shaft, has not met the deadlines. The contract was signed on July 29, 2019, between the Chinese company and Raman Construction under a joint venture agreement. The contract, valued at Rs 6.16 billion, stipulated that the civil construction would be completed within four years, by July 29, 2023. However, nearly a year after the contract period expired, only 65% of the work has been completed. The Chinese contractor has repeatedly failed to adhere to the contractual terms. The company was tasked with constructing a 120-meter-long headworks with two gates on the Bheri River, penstock pipes, and the powerhouse. Despite the lapse of the contractual period, it remains uncertain how much longer the contractor will take to complete the remaining 35% of the work.
NATTA elects Thapaliya as Chairman
Kumarmani Thapaliya has been elected as the president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA). Thapaliya defeated his closest rival Pramod Dahal to be elected as the new President of NATTA, an umbrella organization of tour and travel operators in the country. Prior to this, Thapalia has served as treasurer and general secretary of NATTA. He has been involved in tour, travel and trekking business for the past one and a half decades.
Home Minister Lamichhane responds to Sambhav Sirohiya’s video message, requests evidence of claims
Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has responded to accusations made by Sambhav Sirohiya, Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group (KMG), stating that his father, Kailash Sirohiya, was arrested after the media house refused Lamichhane’s request not to publish news related to him concerning a cooperative fraud scam. In a video message released on Friday, Sirohiya claimed that his father was arrested solely because the media house declined the news suppression request from Home Minister Lamichhane. In response, Lamichhane asserted that he is too busy to look into Sirohiya’s accusations. Speaking with media persons at Singha Durbar recently, he mentioned that he has not watched the video yet. “I have not watched the video. I got the information from a second person,” said Lamichhane, adding that after making such accusations, he hopes Sirohiya will present evidence to support his statements.
Pradip Paudel criticizes Home Minister Lamichhane for retaining post amid investigation
Pradip Paudel, a lawmaker from the Nepali Congress (NC), has criticized Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane for retaining his position despite an ongoing investigation into a cooperative fraud case. “Home Minister Lamichhane continuing in his post amid an investigation is like thinking one is clothed while standing naked,” Paudel remarked. Speaking at an event organized in Kathmandu on Saturday, Paudel stated that Lamichhane should have resigned on moral grounds after a parliamentary probe panel was formed to investigate the case.
China conducts done delivery test on Mt Everest without Nepal’s consent
In a blatant violation of Nepal’s rule, China completed its first-ever drone delivery tests on Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, from the Nepali side. DJI, in partnership with Nepalese Airlift, 8KRAW, and local guides, achieved the first drone delivery on Mount Everest without the permission of the Government of Nepal. This test was made using DJI’s FlyCart 30, which can carry up to 33 pounds (15 kg), and was operated under extreme high-altitude conditions. During the tests, the FlyCart 30 carried three oxygen bottles and 1.5 kg of other supplies from Everest Base Camp (17,389 feet) to Camp 1 (19,685 feet). On the return flight, it brought back trash from Camp 1.
PM Dahal to fly to Delhi at 1:25 PM on Sunday
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to fly to Delhi at 1:25 PM on Sunday afternoon via a Nepal Airlines flight. PM Dahal is set to visit India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM Dahal is embarking on this official visit at the cordial invitation of Indian PM Modi. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 9 in New Delhi. PM Dahal will be accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, and other high-ranking government officials. He is expected to return to Nepal on June 10. An official at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi informed that PM Dahal will hold a brief meeting with his Indian counterpart on Sunday.
JSP Convention: 20,000 participants expected, Ashok Rai faction excluded
The Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) is anticipating 20,000 participants at its first national convention, according to the organizers. “The party is organizing its first national convention on June 10 and is expecting as many as 20,000 participants in its inaugural session,” stated Manish Suman, the party’s spokesperson. “We are expecting both national and foreign leaders and party cadres at the session. We have also invited leaders from other parties,” Suman added. So far, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), and Netra Bikram Chand, Secretary General of the Nepal Communist Party, have confirmed their participation in the convention, according to Suman. In addition to Nepal and Chand, the party has extended invitations to KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Rabi Lamichhane, and CK Raut, among other leaders. These leaders have yet to announce their decisions regarding attendance. However, the party has excluded the splinter faction led by Ashok Rai from the event. “They are not part of our party anymore,” said Suman.
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