Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Airlines operators defend Director General Adhikari amid calls for resignation
The Airline Operators Association of Nepal has come to the defense of Pradip Adhikari, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), following calls for his resignation after the recent Saurya Airlines plane crash. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Association’s Chairman, Manoj Karki, emphasized that CAAN has consistently prioritized aviation security. He argued that misinformation is being spread against the authority in the wake of the air crash. The tragic incident involved a Saurya Airlines aircraft crashing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of 18 out of 19 people on board. Following the crash, several lawmakers demanded Adhikari’s resignation during a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR).
Bagmati CM Lama wins vote of confidence
Bahadur Singh Lama, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Bagmati Province and the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress (NC), secured a vote of confidence on Tuesday. Lama was appointed with the support of the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress and received 64 votes in favor during the provincial assembly meeting. The breakdown of votes included 27 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and 27 from the UML supporting Lama. In contrast, 35 lawmakers voted against him, including those from the CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
PM Oli vows to resign a week before completing two-year tenure
Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, has announced that he will resign from his position a week before his tenure marks two years. During a directive session with ministry secretaries at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, PM Oli affirmed that the new government will continue for the full five-year term. This decision aligns with an agreement reached between the UML and Nepali Congress before ousting the previous government led by CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. As per the agreement, Oli would lead the government for two years, after which the leadership would be handed over to Sher Bahadur Deuba, the president of the Nepali Congress.
NEPSE index surges 1.33 percent in Tuesday’s trading session
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index on Tuesday rose by 1.33 percent, closing at 2,696.65 points, which is an increase of 35.55 points from the previous trading day’s close. This positive movement follows yesterday’s downturn, where the index fell by 20.46 points. The trading day began with the index opening at 2,669.41 points. During the session, it reached an intraday low of 2,609.02 points and an intraday high of 2,709.89 points before ending at the closing value. Today’s trading saw 329 stocks being exchanged through 206,643 transactions, resulting in a total volume of 40,371,778 shares.
Govt’s success is imperative at any cost: PM Oli
Prime Minister (PM) KP Oli emphasized that the current government, formed through the coalition of two major parties amidst a critical national situation, must be made successful at any cost. In a meeting with government secretaries on Tuesday, Prime Minister Oli recalled that during the confidence vote in the Parliament, he had stated the previous government’s failure to meet public expectations. He asserted that the change in government, led by the two major parties — Nepali Congress and UML — was necessary due to widespread public disappointment. These parties have been instrumental in the country’s economic and social transformation, he stated. “Having played a crucial role in the country’s development from the Rana period to the monarchy, we now shoulder the extraordinary responsibility of this government,” he stated. Prime Minister Oli made it clear that failure is not an option and that the government must succeed under all circumstances.
Supreme Court allows transgender individuals to identify as male or female
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order permitting transgender individuals to identify themselves as either male or female in government documents. With this new ruling, those who were born male can now identify as female, and those born female can identify as male as per their desire in documents such as citizenship certificates and educational records. The full order of the verdict, passed by a joint bench of Chief Justice Biswambar Prasad Shrestha and Judge Kumar Chudal in Kartik 20, 2080 BS, was published recently. The decision came after a transgender woman filed a writ petition at the apex court, requesting to be identified in her desired gender in all official documents.
Pretense of left unity will not be repeated: UML leader Pokharel
CPN-UML leader Shankar Pokharel has asserted that the pretense of Left unity will not be repeated. Speaking at a program in Ghorahi on Tuesday, Pokharel criticized the notion of leftist unity, describing it as a one-sided story that cannot continue as it has. Pokharel expressed concerns that small political parties might come to power through unnecessary bargaining, which could lead to ongoing instability in the country. He emphasized the need to polarize political affiliations, urging those with communist views to align with the CPN-UML and those favoring capitalist socialism to align with the Nepali Congress party. He highlighted that when the two major parties decided to collaborate, it naturally raised questions among the public.
Gold traded at Rs 146,000 per tola today
The price of gold in the domestic market decreased by Rs 100 per tola today. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, fine gold is now priced at Rs 146,000 per tola, while standard gold is trading at Rs 145,000 per tola. On Monday, the price of fine gold was Rs 146,100 per tola while standard gold was traded at Rs 145,300 per tola. In addition, the price of silver today is Rs 1,740 per tola.
NC, UML and Maoist Center near breakthrough in TRC agreement
The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Maoist Center are on the verge of finalizing the Transitional Justice bill. They have agreed on all provisions except one critical point, sources said. If this latest agreement holds, Nepal’s 18-year peace process may formally conclude. Previously, milestones including army adjustment, weapons management, and constitution-making have been achieved. The leaders from these parties have nearly resolved three out of four points crucial to amending the Investigation, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2071. “The parties are close to finalizing the TRC Bill. Following further deliberation, we anticipate signing the agreement by Thursday,” a CPN-UML leader said.
UML-NC coalition govt soon: Koshi CM Karki
Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, has said the province would have a coalition government of CPN UML and the NC as per newly developed national politics. Talking to media persons, CM Karki further shared that an agreement was made that UML would have five ministers including the Chief Minister and NC four ministers. He made it clear that a number of ministries would not increase at present. The new Cabinet would be in place within a few days, according to him. CM Karki stated that as the budget had already been implemented, there was no chance of a review.
Nepali swimmer Alexander sets new national record at Paris Olympics
Nepali swimmer Alexander Shah has set a new national record in the men’s 100m freestyle at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics. Shah achieved the record by completing the race in 51.91 seconds, surpassing his previous best of 52.17 seconds. He competed in Heat 3 at La Defense Arena in Paris, where he finished third among the eight swimmers in his heat. Out of 79 competitors in the men’s 100m freestyle, Shah finished in 59th place overall.
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