KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Warrants issued against 10 activists supporting the Mukkumlung movement in Taplejung
The District Administration Office, Taplejung, has issued arrest warrants against 10 activists involved in the Mukkumlung movement in Taplejung.
The movement has been advocating for the preservation of Mukkumlung, a significant cultural and ecological site in the region.
According to reports, the victims have raised concerns that arrest orders were issued for individuals who were previously injured during protests related to the movement.
Minister Gurung: Gyanendra Shah has forgotten his place
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has accused former King Gyanendra Shah of overstepping his status, stating that the monarchy no longer has a place in Nepal’s democratic system.
Speaking at a press conference to announce recent cabinet decisions, Minister Gurung said that the former king had forgotten the privileges granted to him after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari exits as Nepal’s economy faces mounting challenges
Maha Prasad Adhikari’s tenure as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) comes to an end on April 6. As the head of NRB, Adhikari was responsible for shaping Nepal’s monetary policies, ensuring financial stability, and promoting economic growth.
However, as his departure nears, he leaves behind an economy grappling with instability, a frustrated business sector, and a banking system burdened by bad loans.
His tenure was marred by policy inconsistencies, financial sector mismanagement, and political controversies, leading many to question whether his leadership did more harm than good.
Nepal Airlines: Dubai flight delayed due to routine safety check
Nepal Airlines Corporation has responded to media reports regarding its aircraft operations, emphasizing that passenger safety remains its top priority.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Corporation clarified that its 9N-AKW aircraft has resumed flights following necessary maintenance in Bhairahawa.
It assured that all flights are conducted in compliance with international aviation standards and regulatory guidelines.
Deepak Manange’s sentence reduced by 20%, now only one year left in jail
The Kathmandu District Court has ordered a 20% reduction in the sentence of Rajiv Gurung ‘Deepak Manange’, a suspended member of the Gandaki Province Assembly.
On Friday, Judge Kamal Prasad Pokharel issued the order, reducing the remaining sentence of Manange by 20%. This decision follows Manange’s application for the reduction under Section 41 (a) of the National Penal Code, which allows a 20% reduction if the convicted person surrenders within 60 days of the final verdict.
Shock to UML establishment as Dhakal panel sweeps leadership positions
The establishment faction of the CPN-UML, backed by Chair KP Sharma Oli, has suffered a major setback in a significant upset at the 10th convention of the CPN-UML Morang chapter.
The panel led by former central committee member Binod Dhakal, who previously lost the Koshi Province chair race, emerged victorious, clinching all five major leadership positions.
The election results, announced on Friday evening, revealed that the establishment faction, despite having the support of central leadership like Oli, was defeated by Dhakal’s panel. The election saw a total of 888 votes cast.
NEPSE ends volatile week with marginal gain despite four-day decline
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) experienced a turbulent trading week, ultimately closing at nearly the same level as the previous week.
Despite four consecutive days of decline, a strong surge on Sunday helped NEPSE record a marginal increase of 3.39 points over the five-day trading period from March 2 to 6.
The NEPSE index, which stood at 2815.04 points last Thursday, saw a slight rise to 2818.43 points by the end of this week. The increase of 75.24 points on Sunday played a crucial role in maintaining this minor gain, offsetting the losses suffered in the remaining four trading sessions.
Although the overall index showed only a modest rise, trading activity surged. Throughout the week, NEPSE recorded transactions worth Rs 62.55 billion, averaging Rs 12.51 billion per day. A total of 129.18 million shares were traded, with a daily average of 25.83 million shares.
Energy Minister’s remarks on load shedding draw backlash from NEA employees
Employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) have strongly opposed Energy Minister Deepak Khadka’s statement attributing the end of load shedding in Nepal to India.
Two employee unions—the NEA Employees Welfare Council and the National Employees Union— issued a joint statement on Thursday, condemning the minister’s remarks as an insult to Nepal’s sovereignty.
The statement emphasized that the elimination of load shedding was a result of government planning, efficient management, the dedication of NEA employees, and responsible electricity consumption by the public.
Baraha Cooperative case: 8 in custody, 3 released on bail
The District Court in Sunsari has ordered the remand of eight individuals for trial in connection with the embezzlement of over Rs 10.73 billion from Dharan-based Baraha Savings and Loan Cooperative, while three others have been granted bail.
The court issued the order after recording the statements of all 11 accused, who were arrested following complaints of large-scale financial fraud affecting thousands of depositors.
The investigation, led by the District Police Office, Sunsari, resulted in a 440-page charge sheet detailing the fraudulent activities.
Setback for UML establishment in Morang as rebel panel leads after half of votes counted
The establishment faction of the CPN-UML, backed by Chair KP Sharma Oli, is trailing in the ongoing vote count for the party’s 10th district convention in Morang. The counting, which began on Thursday, has so far put the rebel faction in the lead.
Out of 439 votes counted, the panel led by former central committee member Binod Dhakal, who previously lost the Koshi Province chair race, is ahead in five key positions, including the district chair.
For the district chair position, Ajambar Rai from Dhakal’s panel has secured 225 votes, while Rajkumar Ojha, backed by Oli and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, follows with 202 votes.
Trump backs off from import tax hike decision
U.S. President Donald Trump has temporarily halted his plan to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for a month.
Instead of increasing tariffs, Trump has signed an agreement allowing additional imports from both countries. This marks the second time in two days that the U.S. has reversed its stance on trade with its key partners, raising concerns in the financial sector.
Following the decision, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed gratitude, while Canada’s trade minister announced that Canada would also suspend its planned tariffs on U.S. goods.
Three killed in tipper accident in Sankhu
Three people lost their lives in a tipper accident in Sankhu, Kathmandu, early Friday morning.
According to Kathmandu District Police spokesperson Apil Raj Bohora, the tipper crashed into a house while the victims were sleeping inside.
The accident occurred at around 3:45 AM when a tipper (Ba 2 K 6580) lost control and veered off course. Further details are yet to be disclosed.
Madhesh CM orders closure of 10 private hospitals in Rautahat over violations
Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh has ordered the immediate closure of 10 private hospitals in Garuda and Shivnagar, citing their failure to meet regulatory standards.
During an inspection late Thursday evening, Singh found that these hospitals were operating illegally, charging exorbitant fees, and violating health regulations.
As a result, he directed authorities to shut them down until they comply with the required standards. The hospitals include Ananda Hospital Acupuncture Center Pvt. Ltd. in Shivnagar, Garuda Municipality-5, Anamika Hospital, Roma Hospital, Saraswati Hospital, Sun City Hospital, Garuda Hospital Pvt. Ltd., Netra Jyoti Hospital, Hope Hospital, and others in Garuda-4.
Gold price falls by Rs 500
The price of gold in the Nepali market has dropped by Rs 500 per tola on Friday, marking a slight decline after recent fluctuations in the precious metals market.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, fine gold is now being traded at Rs 170,200 per tola, down from Thursday’s price of Rs 170,700 per tola.
Holi officially begins with the erection of Holi chir in Basantapur
The vibrant festival of colors, Holi, has officially commenced across Nepal following the ceremonial erection of the Holi chir at the historic Basantapur Durbar Square.
The bamboo chir, adorned with colorful flags and cloth pieces, was raised on the south side of Gaddi Baithak at exactly 8:33 am on Friday morning.
The festival traditionally begins on the eighth day of the Nepali month of Falgun with the setting up of this ceremonial structure, marking the official start of Holi celebrations in Kathmandu and surrounding regions.
Machhapuchhre Bank freezes account of activist Saru Limbu over Pathibhara cable car protest
Machhapuchhre Bank has frozen the bank account of Saraswata Limbu (Saru), a prominent activist involved in the protests against the construction of the Pathibhara Cable Car.
The bank’s action follows a request from the District Police Office, Taplejung.
Limbu, a member of the negotiation committee representing the protesters during previous talks with the government, was informed of the account freeze when attempting to withdraw money from her account.
Nepal to play against Namibia in first match of Four-Nation Women’s T20 series
Nepal is all set to play against Namibia in the first match of the Four-Nation Women’s T20 series to be held in Uganda.
The match will be held at Entebbe Cricket Oval ground in Uganda on Saturday at 4:45 pm according to the Nepali standard time. Nepal is vying with the Namibia’s women’s cricket team for the first time.
Four countries-Nepal, Namibia, Hong Kong and host country Uganda- are contesting in the series. In the series, all teams will play two games against each others.
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