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

Gold prices surge by Rs 1,000 today

Gold prices experienced a notable uptick in the domestic market today, rising by Rs 1,000 per tola. As reported by the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of fine gold has been revised to Rs 141,800 per tola, while standard gold is currently trading at Rs 141,100 per tola. In contrast, the price of silver has remained relatively stable, maintaining its position at Rs 1,790 per tola.

National ID mandatory for real estate transactions starting 2025

The government has mandated the use of national identity cards for all real estate transactions starting January 14, 2025. The Ministry of Home Affairs published a notice in the gazette, announcing that national identity cards will be required for buying and selling land or houses. Previously, a citizenship certificate was sufficient for these transactions. The new provision aims to enforce the use of national identity cards, stated Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai. The Ministry has also made national identity cards mandatory for various services, including those related to banking and financial institutions, social security funds, health insurance, pensions, personal income tax registration, driver’s licenses, and company registration and renewal, to be applied in different districts.

Monsoon intensifies from Friday

The monsoon became more active starting Friday afternoon, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The department has urged everyone to prepare for increased rainfall beginning today. A low-pressure monsoon belt has developed and moved north, approaching Nepal, which will cause further rains across the country. Meteorologist Prativa Manandhar stated that the weather will be generally cloudy with light to moderate rainfall nationwide. However, a few areas are expected to experience heavy rainfall due to monsoon winds.

4.2 magnitude earthquake shakes Helambu

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck Helambu Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchok district. According to the National Earthquake Measurement Center, the earthquake occurred at 1:28 am last night. The tremors were felt in neighboring districts as well. Currently, there is no information available regarding any damage caused by the earthquake.

Absence of TERAMOX technology results in annual revenue fraud of Rs 25 billion: Mohan Basnet

Nepali Congress lawmaker and former Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet has claimed that the absence of telecommunications traffic monitoring and fraud control system (TERAMOX) technology in Nepal has resulted in an annual revenue fraud of Rs 25 billion. Speaking during the special session of the House of Representatives on Friday, Basnet emphasized the significant financial losses due to the non-implementation of TERAMOX technology. “TERAMOX technology controls call bypass activities (VoIP),” he stated, adding, “Globally, this technology has stopped call bypass fraud, but in Nepal, over RS 25 billion in revenue is lost annually due to such activities.”

Dispute between Kathmandu Mayor Balen and Ward Chairs escalates, halts municipal assembly meeting

The conflict between Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah and the Ward Chairs has intensified. The opposition from ward chairs to many of Mayor Balen’s initiatives has now affected the municipal assembly meetings. On Friday, Mayor Balen accused the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML representatives of stalling the municipal assembly meeting in a social media post. He mentioned that the representatives from NC and UML proposed spending millions on programs named after party leaders BP Koirala and Madan Bhandari. In contrast, he suggested dedicating programs to four independent martyrs: Shukraraj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand, and Gangalal Shrestha.

District Attorney’s office files cyber crime charges against editor, publisher, and informant of sidhakura.com

Cyber crime charges have been filed against three individuals, including the editor and publisher of sidhakura.com. The Kathmandu District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against Editor Nabin Dhungana, Publisher Yubaraj Kandel, and Rajkumar Timalsina, who allegedly provided the audio. All three have been charged in absentia as they are currently considered fugitives. Sidhakura.com published a news article alleging that a deal was made involving a Supreme Court judge to settle a sting operation case. The article included audio purportedly from the meeting where the deal was discussed. Following the publication, the Supreme Court filed a contempt of court petition regarding the matter. Statements from all three accused were taken, and the case has been referred to the full bench for a final decision.

National Paddy Day to be celebrated in Chitwan on Saturday, PM to attend

National Paddy Day, celebrated annually on the 15th of Asadh in the Nepali calendar, will be observed in Chitwan district tomorrow. On this day, the first batch of paddy is planted, and people enjoy delicacies made from curd, flattened rice, and fruits. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit in Chitwan is organizing the festival at Bachauli, a well-known paddy-growing area. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will be in attendance. Narahari Prasad Ghimire, the Coordinator of the Organizing Committee and Director General of the Agriculture Department, shared that the day will be marked by planting paddy across one hectare using machinery. During the celebration, farmers will be educated about climate-change-resilient paddy breeds, the modernization of agriculture, and climate-friendly agricultural practices, Ghimire said.

Appointment process for Chair of Securities Board of Nepal canceled

The process of appointing the Chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal has been canceled. The committee formed to recommend candidates for the Chairman position announced on Friday that the process has been terminated. In a notice issued today, the committee stated that all procedures related to the appointment have been canceled.

Federal system unsustainable, monarchy should be restored: Kamal Thapa

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP- Nepal) Chairman Kamal Thapa has emphasized the need to change the current trajectory to save the country. “The country cannot sustain the current system and structure. This system has already transformed into a corrupt regime,” Thapa said at an orientation program for new members on Friday, adding, “Federalism is unsustainable for the country and should be abolished. Secularism should be removed, and the Hindu nation should be reinstated.” The RPP-Nepal also argued that the monarchy is necessary to protect the nation’s sovereignty. Criticizing the current state system for increasing foreign pressure and influence, Thapa stated that a mentality of surrender does not serve the country’s interests.

MoHP forms committee to study pharmaceutical industries

The Ministry of Health and Population has formed a committee for monitoring the quality and standard of medicines and the pharmaceutical industries. Health Minister Pradip Yadav constituted the committee through a ministerial-level decision. Additional Secretary at the Ministry Dr Bikas Devkota is the coordinator of the committee which has been tasked with monitoring the quality of the medicines as well as studying the status of the operation, service delivery, capacity, operation process, and standard of the pharmaceutical industries, pharmacies, and related agencies. Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki said the committee will also conduct an on-site study of the quality of medicines, associated problems, and challenges.

Students who failed all subjects in SEE also allowed to retake exams

In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has announced that students who failed all subjects in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) will now be allowed to retake the exams. This decision aims to provide a second chance for a substantial number of students who were previously unable to progress to Grade 11 due to their non-graded status in multiple subjects. Previously only students non-graded in up to two subjects to participate in grade increment examinations.

MoPIT recommends blacklisting Chinese construction company for project delays and quality issues

The Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (MoPI&T) in Koshi Province, Nepal, has recommended placing the Chinese company ‘Chongqing International Construction Corporation’ (CICO) and its Nepali partner ‘Kanchharam Construction’ (KC) on a blacklist. CICO and KC are currently involved in the construction of road sections Korsane-Kerabari-Singhdev (KKS) and Laxmimarga-Dengihat-Babiyabirta-Amahi (LDBA) in Morang District of Koshi under the Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (RCIP), funded by the Asian Development Bank. The companies were awarded a contract worth NPR 70 Crore for the construction of these road sections over two years. However, a ground inspection conducted by Senior Engineer Shaligram Devkota revealed that after five years, only 54 percent of the work has been completed by both companies.

UML Vice-Chair Badal’s son Pratik arrested

Pratik Thapa, son of CPN-UML Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal,’ has been arrested from Boudha, Kathmandu. Pratik had been a fugitive in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee case. The District Police Range in Kathmandu had issued an arrest warrant for Pratik Thapa on Baishak 31, 2080 BS. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has confirmed Pratik’s involvement in the refugee scam.