KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Cooling-Off period controversy: Seven member probe committee to be formed
The Parliament has decided to form a seven-member special committee to investigate alleged tampering in the provisions related to the cooling-off period in the Federal Civil Service Bill 2080.
According to CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartuala, the decision was made following discussions among Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire and leaders of major political parties. The committee will be led by the Nepali Congress and will be given a 15-day deadline to complete its investigation.
Seven Major Roads Across Nepal Fully Blocked Due to Floods and Landslides
Continuous rainfall has triggered floods and landslides, leading to the complete obstruction of seven major road sections in different districts across Nepal, according to Nepal Police.
The affected districts include Sankhuwasabha, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Dolpa, Rukum West, Jajarkot, and Bajura.
Police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Binod Ghimire stated that the Koshi Highway in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha has been fully blocked due to heavy rainfall. In Kavrepalanchok, a landslide in Banepa Municipality-4 disrupted the Banepa-Nala-Bhaktapur road, and a bridge above the road was damaged.
Five communist parties unite against Israeli actions in the Middle East
Five communist parties in Nepal, excluding CPN-UML, have decided to launch a joint campaign condemning what they describe as Israeli intervention in the Middle East.
The decision was made during a joint meeting held at the CPN (Maoist Centre) headquarters in Paris Danda on Saturday. The meeting included representatives from the CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’-led CPN, CPN (Revolutionary Maoist), and CPN (Masal).
Maoist Centre General Secretary Dev Gurung said the parties agreed to jointly oppose Israeli actions and organize unified protest programs against what they termed ‘brutal massacres’ committed by Israel against Palestinians.
Tree plantation in 20 hectares of land to curb riverbank erosion
A campaign to plant 32,000 tree saplings in 20,000 hectares of land has kicked off today in a bid to prevent the riverbank erosion. The plantation began on the bank of Mohana River.
Tree saplings of various species would be planted on the riverbank within the area of Dilashaini Shiva Mandir Community Forest at ward no 3 and 13 of Dhangadi Sub-Metropolitan City, it was shared
The Nature Nexus Nepal organized the drive in association with the Division Forest Office, Kailali, said Division Forest Officer, Krishna Dutta Bhatta.
Bhattarai: Without cleansing politics, other sectors cannot be reformed
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has said that meaningful reforms in any sector are not possible unless politics is first purified.
Speaking at a program organized by the Chandralok Foundation in Kathmandu on Saturday, Bhattarai remarked that Nepal’s political environment has become distorted, and cleaning up politics is a necessary precondition for broader national progress.
“We are working to cleanse politics, which has become deeply polluted,” he said. “Once politics is reformed, laws, policies, and the constitution can also be improved accordingly.”
Deuba: Nepal wouldn’t have become a republic without Girija Prasad’s courage
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that Nepal would not have transitioned into a republic had it not been for the courage of former Prime Minister the late Girija Prasad Koirala.
Speaking at a program organized by the Jai Nepal Foundation at the Rastriya Sabha Griha on Saturday, Deuba said Koirala had the resolve to challenge the monarchy at a time when the idea of a republic was unthinkable.
“Girijababu was a true fighter. Without him, the republic would never have happened. He was that brave,” Deuba said. “Back then, people couldn’t even imagine a republican system. He dared to make it happen.”
Madhav Nepal calls for unity in communist movement to ensure social justice
CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal has stressed the need for unity within the communist movement in Nepal to build a just and equitable society where all citizens’ rights are protected.
Speaking at the 5th district convention of the party’s student wing in Kathmandu on Friday, the former Prime Minister said internal contradictions within the communist movement must end to strengthen leftist politics.
He noted that despite the global decline of communism, Nepali citizens endorsed the communist party for its role in national transformation and social justice. “The communist movement in Nepal was born out of national necessity—to ensure equality, economic progress, and an end to all forms of discrimination,” he said.
Music, not oratory, fueled People’s War preparation: Prachanda
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), revealed on Saturday that songs and music were more effective than speeches and theories in galvanizing support during the underground preparations for the People’s War.
Speaking at a ceremony welcoming singer Baba Pakhrin to the Maoist Centre, Dahal stated, “When we were preparing for the war underground, we used songs and music to excite the people.”
He further said “songs, music, and dance played a greater role in preparing for the People’s War than speeches, philosophy, and theoretical explanations.”
Malaysian business delegation meets PM Oli to discuss investment prospects
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with a 20-member delegation from the Malaysia–Nepal Business Council at Baluwatar on Saturday.
The delegation, led by Pradeep Kumar Kukreja (Dato), Executive Chairman of Malaysia’s Paradise Group, is visiting Nepal to explore investment opportunities and understand the country’s business environment.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed interest in establishing meaningful ventures in Nepal and strengthening bilateral business ties. They shared plans to explore sectors such as plastic waste processing, information technology parks, and tourism.
Nepal invites British investors to explore growing tech opportunities
Nepal has called on British investors to explore promising opportunities in the country’s rapidly developing technology sector.
Speaking at the high-level Nepal–UK Tech Forum held at the Nepali Embassy in London, government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and tech entrepreneurs from both countries expressed strong interest in strengthening digital cooperation.
Nepal’s Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Chandra Kumar Ghimire, highlighted Nepal’s democratic and inclusive credentials, along with recent policy and economic reforms. He noted that Nepal has become an energy-exporting nation and now boasts a vibrant IT market. He urged British companies to outsource IT services to Nepal and invest in the sector.
Monsoon delay and lack of fertilizer affect rice planting, farmers worried
Most fields in Siraha remain dry even as the monsoon month of Ashad nears its end.
Farmers are struggling to start rice planting due to insufficient rainfall and a shortage of chemical fertilizers. Although the fields are plowed and seeds are ready, the lack of water and fertilizers is delaying planting.
Ramkumar Yadav, a farmer from Lahan Municipality-23, says, “Without timely rain, we cannot begin planting. We have prepared the fields and seeds, but there is no water or fertilizer yet. We can only move forward once it rains.”
Sudurpaschim CM meets NC President Deuba after losing support from Nagarik Unmukti Party
Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah met Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday, a day after his government lost the support of the Nagarik Unmukti Party.
CM Shah visited Deuba at his Budhanilkantha residence in Kathmandu, though no official details about the meeting have been made public. His press coordinator, Dammar Bam, confirmed that they discussed the recent political developments in the province.
On Friday, the Nagarik Unmukti Party withdrew its support from Shah’s government. Despite this, the ruling coalition in Sudurpaschim remains mathematically unaffected, meaning Shah still holds a majority.
Nepal retains ACC U-16 East Zone Cup
Nepal has won the ACC U-16 East Zone Cup title, defeating Singapore by 2 wickets in the final match held on Saturday.
Chasing a modest target of 114 runs, Nepal reached the score in 29 overs, losing 8 wickets along the way.
Joy Thapa anchored the chase with an unbeaten 24-run knock to take Nepal across the line.
Crude soybean oil import of Rs 52 billion, export more than Rs 55 billion
Crude soybean oil imports through the Birgunj checkpoint have surged significantly in the current fiscal year.
In the first 11 months, imports reached Rs 52.58 billion, marking a massive increase of 613.41 percent compared to Rs 7.37 billion during the same period last year, according to Deepak Lamichhane, Chief Customs Administrator at Birgunj Customs Office.
Meanwhile, exports of refined soybean oil have also grown substantially. In the same 11-month period, 2.58 million liters of refined soybean oil worth Rs 55.3 billion were exported through Birgunj, compared to just 464,138 liters worth Rs 88.3 million in the previous fiscal year.
Surplus and low demand leave Kailali farmers struggling to sell Chaite Rice
Santlal Chaudhary, a farmer from Bhajani Municipality-3 in Kailali, is worried. Despite cultivating Chaite rice on three bighas of land this season, he has yet to find buyers for his harvest.
“I’ve tried pleading with traders, but they either offer too low a price or show no interest at all,” said Chaudhary. “Selling at the rates they offer won’t even cover my production costs. At this point, I regret planting Chaite rice altogether.”
Although the government has set a minimum support price for Chaite rice, most traders have shown no willingness to purchase at that rate. Farmers are currently selling their rice for Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per quintal, significantly below last year’s market price of Rs 3,800 per quintal. Even at those lower rates, many farmers are still unable to find buyers.
Bridge collapse in Kavre shuts down Banepa–Nala–Bhaktapur road
The Punymata Khola bridge on the alternative route of Araniko Highway, specifically on the Banepa–Nala–Bhaktapur road section, has collapsed.
The bridge is located at the boundary of Banepa Municipality wards 1 and 4 in Kavre district. Following the collapse, the entire road has been completely closed to traffic, according to Sunil Dhwajju, Chief of the District Traffic Office in Kavre.
The bridge gave way during the night near the Nala Pulbazar area, causing significant difficulties for passengers and local residents trying to travel. Vehicles are now forced to use other alternative routes.
Dengue no longer a seasonal disease in Nepal as year-round infections surge
Once considered a disease confined to the summer and monsoon seasons, dengue fever has now become a year-round threat in Nepal.
Experts attribute this alarming shift to the growing impacts of climate change, which have extended the breeding season of mosquitoes and disrupted traditional rainfall patterns.
Dengue is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which usually lay eggs in clean, stagnant water during the monsoon. However, these mosquitoes are now active throughout the year—even in cooler, high-altitude regions—raising the risk of year-round transmission and making dengue one of Nepal’s growing public health challenges.
Govt ends pension, gratuity for new hires; mandates contribution-based system
The government is set to implement a contribution-based social security system for all government employees appointed from the upcoming fiscal year, replacing the traditional pension and gratuity system, according to the Ministry of Finance.
In a circular issued to all ministries, Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal Insurance Authority, Securities Board of Nepal, and all public institutions, boards, committees, and authorities, the Finance Ministry has instructed that arrangements be made to apply the new system starting from the next fiscal year.
The ministry has made it clear that any financial liability incurred by failing to implement the contribution-based model will not be borne by the government.
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