KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Congress concludes: No alternative to alliance with UML for now
The Nepali Congress has concluded that there is currently no alternative to the party’s alliance with the CPN-UML.
Speaking on behalf of the party following the two-day Central Working Committee meeting, party spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said the Congress saw no viable option other than continuing the existing coalition with UML.
World will have to learn to live with heatwaves: UN
The world will have to learn to live with heatwaves, the United Nations’ weather and climate agency said Tuesday, as much of Europe roasted in high summer temperatures.
The World Meteorological Organization said that in future, people could expect heatwaves to occur more often and be more intense because of human-induced climate change.
PM Oli chairs high-level LDC meeting at Global Finance for Development Summit in Spain
A high-level meeting of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has convened in Seville under the framework of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, with Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli chairing the session.
Prime Minister Oli officially inaugurated the meeting on Tuesday and delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the unique financial challenges faced by LDCs and the need for sustained international cooperation to support their development aspirations.
The meeting focused on mobilizing financial resources, debt sustainability, and inclusive growth for countries classified as least developed by the United Nations.
Strengthening Nepal Airlines is essential for aviation sector development: Tourism Minister
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has stressed that strengthening Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is crucial for the overall development of the country’s aviation sector.
Speaking at a program organized at NAC’s central office on the occasion of its 67th anniversary, Minister Pandey said that all elements of the aviation industry are interdependent, making it imperative to enhance the national flag carrier.
Describing Nepal Airlines as a historically significant institution and the backbone of Nepal’s tourism sector, the minister assured continued government support for the corporation’s development. He urged NAC management and staff to work in an objective, evidence-based, and result-oriented manner.
Chandraman Singh Marg in Kathmandu submerged after brief rainfall
Chandraman Singh Marg, located in Thahiti, Bangemudha of Ward 25 under the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, was submerged in water after a brief spell of rain on Tuesday.
Despite drainage management work being completed just a year ago, the road flooded due to blocked drainage caused by the rain.
Home Minister lists four key achievements and challenges at NC meet
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Tuesday presented a detailed account of his reform efforts and accomplishments since taking office, stating that his tenure has prioritized policy, legal, and structural reforms.
Speaking at the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting, he emphasized that notable results have already begun to surface.
Pro-monarchy movement has fizzled out and won’t rise again: Home Minister
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has informed the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee that the pro-monarchy movement, which had intensified around March 9, has now lost momentum and is no longer a threat.
During his briefing on Tuesday at the party’s ongoing central committee meeting, Minister Lekhak said, “Some thought the pro-monarchy movement might succeed; there were efforts to reverse the political system. But that movement is now defunct—it cannot rise again.”
Home Minister Lekhak: Current coalition government should continue
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that it would be appropriate to continue with the current coalition government led in partnership with CPN-UML.
Speaking at the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress on Tuesday, Lekhak emphasized that the party should focus on strengthening the existing coalition rather than exploring alternatives.
“It is in the interest of the Nepali Congress to move forward by building consensus within the current coalition and including other political forces as needed,” he said.
Prachanda calls for action against tampering in civil service bill
CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has alleged that a serious conspiracy took place during the passage of the Federal Civil Service Bill, and has called for an investigation and action against those involved.
Speaking at the central office bearers’ meeting of the Young Communist League (YCL) in Paris Danda on Tuesday, Dahal said the manipulation and interference in the bill cannot be overlooked.
Ramhari Khatiwada: Cooling-off provision was unanimously included, tampering not committee’s fault
Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Ram Hari Khatiwada, has clarified to the Nepali Congress central committee that the controversial ‘cooling-off period’ provision in the civil service bill was unanimously approved by the committee, and any tampering with it was done later without the committee’s knowledge.
Khatiwada informs Nepali Congress of tampering in civil service bill
Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Ramhari Khatiwada, has briefed the Nepali Congress about alleged tampering in the federal civil service bill.
Speaking as a central committee member during the party’s ongoing meeting in Sanepa on Tuesday, Khatiwada said that a provision known as the “cooling-off period,” which had been unanimously approved by the parliamentary committee, was altered later.
Thailand PM Shinawatra suspended by Constitutional Court
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office by the country’s Constitutional Court, which is investigating whether she breached ministerial ethics during a recent diplomatic spat with Cambodia.
The court’s decision marks a dramatic escalation in the political crisis engulfing Paetongtarn, the 38-year-old daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who also appeared in court the same day over separate royal defamation charges.
The Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend Paetongtarn from her duties as Prime Minister while it deliberates on her conduct during a border dispute with Cambodia that turned deadly in May, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
Doctors across Nepal wear black armbands in protest against consumer court verdict
Doctors and health workers across Nepal are wearing black armbands today in protest against a recent verdict by the Consumer Court, which ordered hospitals and doctors to pay hefty compensation for alleged medical negligence.
The protest is being led by the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), which has stated that all doctors and healthcare professionals will continue providing services with black armbands for 72 hours as part of their initial phase of protest.
“This is just the beginning,” said Dr. Sanjiv Tiwari, General Secretary of the NMA. “All doctors and healthcare workers across the country are united in expressing concern over the verdict that unfairly targets the medical community.”
Singers Samikshya Adhikari and Eleena Chauhan meet Home Minister
Singers Samikshya Adhikari and Eleena Chauhan, who have recently been facing verbal abuse and harassment on social media, met with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Tuesday to raise concerns about their situation.
The two singers visited the Ministry of Home Affairs and shared details of the cyber harassment they’ve been enduring.
They highlighted the emotional and reputational impact of the abuse and urged the government to take action against those responsible.
Nepal beat Bhutan by 298-runs to reach semi-final of U-16 East Zone Cup
Raunak Srivastava smashed a scintillating century to help Nepal thrash Bhutan by a massive 298 runs in the ACC Men’s U-16 East Zone Cup cricket tournament on Tuesday.
With this commanding win, Nepal has secured a place in the semifinals as the top team from Group A.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a mammoth 358/5 in 50 overs. Raunak led the charge with a brilliant 168 runs off 132 balls, hammering 16 fours and 5 sixes. His innings proved to be the backbone of Nepal’s formidable total.
Ready to face action if found guilty: Khatiwada
Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives, has called for a thorough investigation into the recent tampering of the Federal Civil Service Bill, specifically regarding the controversial cooling-off period provision.
Speaking to reporters at Singha Durbar on Tuesday ahead of a scheduled committee meeting, Khatiwada said the alteration of the bill—without consensus—was a serious legislative error that must be examined.
“Such a serious mistake should never happen in the process of lawmaking. We are in favor of an investigation,” Khatiwada said. “How did a provision that was agreed upon through long consensus get changed? This must be looked into.”
Khullamanch gets a green makeover
The historic Khullamanch, which once stood as a witness to Nepal’s political transformations and mass movements, has now taken on a new green identity, with its open grounds covered in lush grass.
Ten months ago, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) planted grass over the once-barren and misused site as part of an effort to restore and revive the space. Over the years, Khullamanch had been repeatedly encroached upon and repurposed for various non-public uses.
During the construction of the Kathmandu View Tower, the open ground had been converted into a bus park and commercial stalls. Later, when the new building of Bir Hospital was being constructed, the area was used to store construction materials and even served as living quarters for workers.
Maoist Centre demands resignation of Ramhari Khatiwada over Civil Service Bill tampering
The CPN (Maoist Centre) has demanded the resignation of Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, after it was revealed that a key clause in the Federal Civil Service Bill was altered without parliamentary consensus.
The controversy centers on the “cooling-off period” provision that originally barred retired or resigned civil servants from holding constitutional or government positions for two years after leaving service.
This clause had been unanimously agreed upon by the committee. However, the version tabled and passed in the House of Representatives included an exemption—reportedly inserted without the knowledge of several committee members—that rendered the cooling-off requirement ineffective.
RSP tells Ramhari Khatiwada to resign over Civil Service Bill controversy
The opposition Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has called on Ramhari Khatiwada, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, to resign over his role in the controversial changes made to the Civil Service Bill—specifically the clause related to the “cooling-off period.”
RSP spokesperson and Member of Parliament Manish Jha made the demand through social media platform X (formerly Twitter), accusing Khatiwada of mishandling the bill and presenting a version in Parliament that differed from the one tabled by the committee.
“Mr. Chair of the State Affairs Committee—how did a different version of the Civil Service Bill appear than the one you tabled in the Federal Parliament?” Jha wrote. “Either fix this or accept your incompetence and resign from the committee.”
Birgunj Customs records Rs 434 billion in imports from India
In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 434.26 billion from India through the Birgunj Customs Office, reaffirming India’s position as Nepal’s largest trading partner through this major customs point.
According to Deepak Lamichhane, Chief Customs Administrator at Birgunj, trade with India dominates both the import and export volumes handled at the customs. Indian imports account for 76.80% of the total goods imported through Birgunj.
In terms of imports, Argentina ranked second after India, with goods worth Rs 46.74 billion (8.27% of total imports). China followed in third place, contributing Rs 28.86 billion worth of imports, which represents 1.22% of the total.
Global Shapers Kathmandu’s WEF prize-winning political workshop concludes
The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub’s award-winning project Shaping Political Futures, recipient of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Innovation Prize 2024, concluded its two-day political imagination workshop titled Power, Process, Structure, and Discourse on June 28–29, 2025.
Organized in collaboration with Karkhana Samuha, the workshop was held in Kathmandu and brought together over 30 passionate youth, policy thinkers, and civic actors from across Nepal to spark fresh dialogue on politics, policy, federalism, and civic engagement.
The event created a vibrant space for reimagining political systems and fostering emerging leadership rooted in inclusion, empathy, and evidence.
Shekhar Koirala slams unauthorized changes to Civil Service Bill
Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has strongly condemned the unauthorized alteration of the Civil Service Bill, calling it a grave crime against the nation and its people, and an affront to parliamentary sovereignty.
In a statement released via Facebook today, Koirala criticized the unauthorized changes made to the bill that had been tabled in Parliament with unanimous agreement, stating that such actions were not minor procedural lapses, but rather serious offenses against the democratic process and public trust.
“Altering a unanimously endorsed bill without due process is not just unethical—it is a blatant insult to our sovereign Parliament and a betrayal of the people,” Koirala wrote.
Foreign Minister calls for climate aid for mountain nations at FAO conference
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has called on the international community to provide grant-based climate finance and support for sustainable agriculture systems, especially in mountainous regions like Nepal that are facing severe impacts from climate change.
Addressing the 44th Session of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Conference in Rome on Monday, Minister Rana highlighted the urgency of securing international climate financing for vulnerable countries like Nepal.
“Mountain regions in Nepal and similar countries are among the hardest hit by the climate crisis,” she said. “Yet, these areas are often neglected in climate finance and adaptation efforts. This needs urgent attention.”
Nepal Airlines Corporation enters 67th year; eyes international expansion
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national flag carrier, has entered its 67th year of operation. Established on July 1, 1958, the airline began its journey with a 28-seat Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft.
Today, it operates wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft on international routes. NAC currently flies internationally to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore in India, as well as to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Narita (Japan), Doha (Qatar), Dubai (UAE), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
These routes are serviced by two wide-body A330 and two narrow-body A320 aircraft. Domestically, NAC serves remote areas using two Twin Otter planes, though its presence in the domestic market has declined due to a limited fleet.
Disaster relief materials handed over to five police units
Krishnapur Municipality has handed over disaster relief materials to five police units within the municipality to support disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Mayor Hemraj Ojha handed over the materials during a program held in the municipality. According to him, the materials—distributed in sets of five to each unit—include raincoats, searchlights, ropes, and gumboots.
The relief supplies were provided to the Riot Police Battalion in Banka, the Area Police Office in Gulariya, and police posts in Banai, Gajraula, Raikwar Bichwa, and Ward No. 1.
Energy minister returns home after attending SCO ministerial meeting
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, returned home last night after participating in the fifth energy ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held in Zhejiang Province, China.
Minister Khadka described the visit as fruitful and said that discussions were held on enhancing energy cooperation with China. He also shared Nepal’s energy goals and development plans at the meeting.
“Energy is no longer just a matter of trade—it is the foundation of our sustainable development and shared prosperity,” he said. “Nepal now aims to drive its development forward by prioritizing the energy sector.”
Governor’s share market ties raise hopes for pro-market reforms
Newly appointed Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel is preparing to unveil the monetary policy for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, and share market investors are closely watching, hopeful for reform.
Investors recently submitted their demands to the central bank, expressing cautious optimism under Poudel’s leadership, especially after years of discontent during former governor Maha Prasad Adhikari’s tenure.
Many policies under Adhikari were seen as restrictive for stock market participants, particularly small investors.
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