KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Kamal Thapa arrested from Narayanchaur as police break up royalist rally
Tension flared in Narayan Chaur, Kathmandu, on Sunday as royalist protests continued for the third consecutive week since May 29. A rally organized under the leadership of the Joint Movement Committee of royalists began from Narayan Chaur with the aim of marching towards the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Police intervened as the procession attempted to move forward, arresting Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal Chairman and former Home Minister Kamal Thapa along with several others. Thapa, who was at the forefront of the rally, was reportedly dragged away by police during the crackdown. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces at Narayan Chaur as protesters resisted police efforts to disperse the crowd.
‘Real fight begins tomorrow’: Lingden reacts to Thapa’s arrest
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden has issued a strong warning following the arrest of RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa during Sunday’s pro-monarchy rally. Lingden declared that a decisive phase of the protest against the republic would begin on Monday. “I’ve heard that Kamal Thapa and others have been arrested. I respectfully urge the Government of Nepal, the Home Minister, and the Inspector General of Police—bring Kamal Thapa here,” said Lingden while addressing demonstrators at Narayanchaur.
Gandaki Province calls transport entrepreneurs for dialogue amid ongoing protest
The Gandaki Province government has renewed its appeal to transport entrepreneurs to engage in dialogue to resolve their ongoing protest against the legalization of ride-sharing services. At a press conference on Saturday, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transport urged protesting transport entrepreneurs to sit for talks, reiterating the government’s openness to dialogue. The entrepreneurs, who have been protesting since Friday, have so far refused to attend the scheduled meetings. In an effort to facilitate the negotiation, the Ministry has formed a five-member talks team led by Secretary Engineer Kamal Kumar Adhikari. Despite the government’s previous invitation for a meeting on Wednesday, the transport organizations declined to participate.
Minister Sah proposes lowering legal marriage age for girls to 18
Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah, has suggested that the legal age of marriage for girls should be reduced from 20 to 18 years. Speaking at a provincial-level consultation program in Janakpurdham today on the implementation of the draft “National Child Policy 2023”, Minister Sah argued that the current legal age does not reflect social, religious, and parental sentiments. “The government has set the minimum legal age for marriage for girls at 20 years, but I believe it should be brought down to 18,” he stated, adding that he has already submitted a related proposal to the federal parliament.
Senior writer Ganesh Rasik passes away
Noted writer, lyricist, and singer Ganesh Rasik passed away in Kathmandu on Saturday morning after a prolonged battle with health complications. He was 78. Rasik, who had been suffering from prostate cancer, died at Nepal Cancer Hospital in Lalitpur, according to family members. His body has been kept at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj. The final rites will be performed after his daughter, who is currently in the UK, returns to Nepal on Monday.
Nain Singh Mahar criticizes political mechanism, calls for democratic process in party
Nepali Congress Central Committee Member and Head of the Party’s Education Department, Nain Singh Mahar, has criticized the growing trend of sidelining constitutional and organizational mechanisms in Nepal’s political landscape. Speaking at a party workers’ gathering and calendar launch organized by Nepali Congress Panchthar, Mahar questioned both the relevance of current political mechanisms and the internal functioning of the party. Mahar said although Nepal’s Constitution does not recognize informal political mechanisms, such arrangements have increasingly influenced governance, often without effectiveness.
Dolphin census begins in Saptakoshi River
The annual dolphin census has begun in the Saptakoshi River, within the Koshi Wildlife Reserve. The census, which has been conducted since 2022, is led by the Reserve and technically supported by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) Koshi Province Office and the Kathmandu-based Himalayan Nature. According to Bhupendra Prasad Yadav, Senior Conservation Officer at the Reserve, the four-day census will use two different survey methods to count the dolphin population.
16 people fall ill after consuming wild mushrooms in Makawanpur and Chitwan
A total of 16 people have fallen ill in Makawanpur and Chitwan districts after consuming wild mushrooms, with two reported to be in critical condition. According to the Bagmati Province Police Office in Hetauda, residents in rural parts of both districts became sick after eating cooked mushrooms that had grown near their homes. In Okare, Makawanpurgadhi Rural Municipality-8 of Makawanpur, 61-year-old Bir Bahadur Titung and his 8-year-old son Basanta Titung fell ill after consuming mushrooms from their own garden.
One killed, eight injured in jeep accident in Doti
A person died and eight others injured in a jeep accident in Doti district. According to the District Police Office, the accident took place in Kedar Kola village of Bogatan Phudsil Rural Municipality-5. A jeep carrying passengers veered off the road, leading to the fatal incident. The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Meam Bam of Bogatan Phudsil. He was seriously injured in the crash and was rushed to Shaileshwori Hospital in Dipayal, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
PM Oli lays foundation stone for 64 road projects in Madhesh Province
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has inaugurated the construction of 64 major road projects in Madhesh Province, marking one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in the region to date. Speaking at a special ceremony organized by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development in Janakpur, Prime Minister Oli digitally laid the foundation stones for all 64 projects simultaneously. The event has been hailed by the Madhesh Province Government as a historic and proud moment, reflecting its ambition to strengthen transportation connectivity and boost economic growth.
NC President Deuba calls for unified national approach to climate crisis
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed readiness to lead a national effort to develop a unified political stance on climate change and environmental issues, highlighting the urgent need for collective action. Speaking at a program organized by the Nepali Congress’ Department of Environment and Climate Change Affairs in Sanepa on Sunday to mark World Environment Day, Deuba warned of grave threats posed by climate change and pledged to take initiative in forging a common position among all political parties. “As the president of a major party, I am ready to bring all parties together on a common platform for dialogue, coordination, and collaboration to address climate-related challenges,” Deuba said.
Flood damages road and hydropower projects in Bhotkhola section of Koshi Highway
Continuous rainfall since Saturday night has caused severe damage to the Bhotkhola section of the Koshi Highway in Sankhuwasabha district, sweeping away a portion of the road and damaging local infrastructure. According to Bhotkhola Rural Municipality Chairperson Wangcheder Bhote, around 50 meters of an unpaved road between Hatia and Hunggung in Ward No. 3 have been washed away by floods. The floods also damaged several structures including a wooden bridge and two local hydropower projects.
Gold price rises again, silver also becomes costlier
The price of gold increased again today, with silver also becoming more expensive, according to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. After falling by Rs 4,000 per tola from Monday to Thursday last week, gold had risen by Rs 700 per tola on Friday. Today, it climbed by an additional Rs 300 per tola. With this rise, gold is now being traded at Rs 188,000 per tola—unchanged from last Friday’s rate.
Foreign Minister Dr Rana returns home after attending IOMed signing ceremony
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana returned home last night after participating in the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), held in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, on May 30. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Rana attended the ceremony as an observer at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. A total of 32 countries signed the Convention, while more than 50 countries and over 20 international organisations took part in the event.
Former Karnali Development Bank CEO arrested in Rs 2.5 billion embezzlement case
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has apprehended Rajendra Bir Raya, the former board director and Chief Executive Officer of Karnali Development Bank, who had been on the run after allegedly embezzling over Rs 2.5 billion. According to CIB officials, Raya was arrested on Saturday from Belahiya, located in Siddharthanagar Municipality-1 of Rupandehi district. Raya is accused of misappropriating more than Rs 2.5 billion in depositors’ funds while at the bank, following which he fled.
Power supply to ICU and CCU wards disrupted at Narayani Hospital
The power supply to the ICU and CCU wards of Narayani Hospital was disrupted for two hours and 30 minutes, raising serious concerns over hospital management and patient safety. The outage occurred from 10:30 p.m. on Friday to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, reportedly due to negligence by the hospital administration. At the time, 17 patients were undergoing treatment in the ICU and CCU. Fortunately, doctors and nursing staff managed to stabilize the situation by taking necessary precautions and continuing treatment under mobile phone flashlights.
Heavy rainfall blocks rural roads across Udayapur
Several rural roads in the hilly areas of Udayapur district have been blocked following heavy rainfall on Saturday. The road section from the district headquarters Gaighat to Rauta has been obstructed, along with key rural routes such as Rauta–Salle and Rauta–Bhutar. According to local resident Dilliram Magar, roads in the Pambu area including Rauta–Namanta, Rauta–Aaptar, Nametar–Okhreni, and Rametar–Bhadaure have also been blocked.
Four girls from Belbari, Morang missing for four days
Four girls from Lalbhitti, Belbari Municipality-2 in Morang district have been missing for the past four days. The missing girls are 13-year-old Jenisa Nepali and 15-year-old Sabita Pariyar, both students of Mahendra Secondary School in Sundarharaicha-11, and 12-year-old Smriti Karki Doli and Anushka Karki Doli, students of Kabir Secondary School in Belbari-2. According to reports, they left home on Republic Day (May 29), saying they were going to meet a friend.
Diamond Jubilee of Annapurna ascent begins
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking the first successful ascent of Mt Annapurna have begun. The celebrations were inaugurated on Saturday by welcoming a special trekking team at Narchyang Valley—the entry point to the trekking route in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Myagdi. The team trekked from Narchyang to the Annapurna Base Camp. Among the participants was Mathias Herzog, the son of Maurice Herzog—the French climber who first summited the 8,091-meter Mt Annapurna.
Community forest in Dang tackles wildfires and job creation
A community forest users’ group in Dang has found an innovative way to both curb wildfires and boost local livelihoods—by producing organic fertilizer from forest waste. The Ajambari Community Forest in Lamahi Municipality-5 has remained untouched by the seasonal forest fires that have affected many nearby areas. The key, according to the forest users’ committee, lies in the systematic collection and use of dry leaves, grass, and undergrowth—materials that typically serve as fuel for forest fires. “We’ve started producing organic fertilizer from what was once waste—fallen leaves, twigs, and dry grass,” said Pawan Sharma Rijal, chairperson of the users’ committee. “This not only reduces the fire hazard during the dry season but also creates income opportunities for the locals.”
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