KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
RSP raises concern over Rabi Lamichhane’s arrest, seeks NHRC intervention
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has called the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over “unlawful arrest” and alleged “police brutality” against party president Rabi Lamichhane.
A delegation including Acting General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti and Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar visited the NHRC office this morning to raise concerns regarding Lamichhane’s human rights and to seek intervention from the commission.
Kathmandu tops global air pollution index
Kathmandu Valley continued to top the global list of cities with the worst air quality, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) measurement taken at 6:15 am on Wednesday.
Kathmandu recorded an AQI of 184, placing it in the “unhealthy” category. Following closely behind are India’s capital, Delhi, with an AQI of 180, and Kampala, Uganda, with 157. Medical professionals warned that Kathmandu’s air quality has reached levels that pose serious health risks.
Monarchists threaten mass arrests if detained leaders are not released
The Joint People’s Movement Committee advocating for the restoration of the monarchy has warned of mass arrests if leaders detained during the March 28 protest are not released.
Speaking at a public gathering in Kathmandu on Wednesday, acting coordinator Dr. Jagaman Gurung said they would initiate a mass arrest campaign on May 5 if the detained leaders are not freed and Nabaraj Subedi is not released from house arrest by May 4.
Gurung stated he would lead the arrests himself, emphasizing the movement will now take the form of civil disobedience, not armed struggle.
Durga Prasai claims he is not on the run, offers to publicly appear if safety is guaranteed
Durga Prasai, a controversial figure leading a campaign to restore the monarchy, has claimed in a video statement that he has not fled the country.
He stated that he is in hiding only due to threats to his life, not because he is avoiding accountability.
Following the March 28 protest in Kathmandu’s Tinkune, where two people lost their lives, Prasai had been out of public sight.
Rain brings relief from pollution in Kathmandu after prolonged dry spell
After a prolonged dry period, rainfall was recorded in various parts of the Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday, including areas around Pepsicola and Tribhuvan International Airport.
The showers have brought a sense of relief to valley residents, who have been suffering from high levels of air pollution in recent weeks. With the rain, air quality is expected to improve significantly.
Former Congress leader Karna Malla and ex-UML leader Ganga Chaudhary join Jagaman Gurung’s pro-monarchy campaign
Karna Malla, who left the Nepali Congress, and Ganga Chaudhary, a former leader of the CPN-UML, appeared onstage at a pro-monarchy rally organized by the Joint People’s Movement Committee led by Dr. Jagaman Gurung on Wednesday at Smart Durbar, Shankhapark, Kathmandu.
Both leaders had not previously participated in royalist movements, but were given prominent space at the rally, which also saw the presence of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) chair Kamal Thapa.
Thapa had skipped a similar program organized by RPP at Balkhu on Tuesday, but showed up for the event led by Gurung. Senior RPP leaders were also seen sharing the stage with Malla and Chaudhary.
Government spends Rs 839.36 billion in first eight months of FY 2024/25
The Government of Nepal has spent Rs 839.36 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, according to the latest report published by Nepal Rastra Bank on the country’s current macroeconomic and financial situation.
Out of the total expenditure, current expenses accounted for Rs 584.13 billion, capital expenditure reached Rs 82.34 billion, and financial management, which includes debt servicing, amounted to Rs 172.89 billion.
During the same period, the total revenue mobilized by the government, including allocations to provincial and local levels, stood at Rs 720.35 billion. Of this, Rs 638.80 billion came from tax revenue while Rs 81.55 billion was generated from non-tax sources.
Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves exceed Rs 2.4 trillion, enough for over 14 months of imports
Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves have surpassed Rs 2.4 trillion, according to the latest report on the country’s current macroeconomic and financial situation released by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
As of the mid- March 2025, total foreign reserves reached Rs 2.409 trillion, a rise of 18% from Rs 2.041 trillion recorded at the end of mid-July.
In terms of USD, reserves increased by 13.1%, from USD 15.27 billion to USD 17.27 billion during the same period.
Annual inflation posts 3.75 percent in eight months of fiscal year
In the eight months of the current fiscal year, 2081/82, the year-on-year inflation has been recorded to be at 3.75 percent.
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) made public the statistics on macroeconomic and financial status of the country in the last eight months on Wednesday and claimed that the inflation was within limit.
The inflation of the food and beverage in this period was 3.34 percent and the inflation in non-food and service category stood 3.97 percent.
Ward Chair Found Dead
Tarakhola Rural Municipality, Ward no. 3 Chairperson Karna Bahadur Bhandari has been found dead. Police said he was found hanging from a wooden pole near his house at 11:00 am today.
The locals had informed the police after seeing him hanging. Police have retrieved the body and sent for a post-mortem, while investigation continues over the incident, said Bijay Yadav, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Baglung.
Bhandari was elected from the CPN (Maoist Center) in the local level elections held in 2079 BS.
Rainfall hits eastern Terai amid worsening pollution in Kathmandu
Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning has been recorded in the eastern Terai since Wednesday morning, affecting districts such as Jhapa and Morang. Meanwhile, pollution levels have surged across much of the country, including Kathmandu, due to a prolonged dry spell.
ADB projects Nepal’s economic growth at 4.4 percent
Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 4.4 percent in the current fiscal year, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB highlights that the economic sector will improve as Nepal’s economy rebounds from a growth rate of 3.9 percent in the previous fiscal year.
The growth in the last fiscal year is attributed to increased hydropower production, higher wheat yields, and growth in the service sector, all contributing to the overall economic improvement.
Gold price, which dropped by Rs 6,900 in four days, sees increase today
The price of gold, which had been continuously falling for the past four days, saw a significant rise today. The price of gold increased by Rs 2,000 per tola today.
According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Federation, the price of gold was set at Rs 175,400 per tola today. The price of silver has also increased today. It went up by Rs 5 per tola, and was traded at Rs 1,835, according to the Federation.
RPP Nepal distances itself from RPP protest in Balkhu
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal has clarified that it did not participate in the protest and vigil organized by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Balkhu on Tuesday, citing a disagreement over the use of flags.
RPP Nepal General Secretary Rajaram Bartaula said the party chose not to attend the rally after being asked to carry the RPP party flag instead of the national flag. “They used the party flag because it was their program. If they had used the national flag, we would have gone,” Bartaula told Khabarhub. “We were not even invited, but we gave moral support.”
Nepal opens 476 peaks for climbing to boost adventure tourism
In a move to promote adventure tourism, Nepal has officially opened 476 mountain peaks across the country for climbing. From the remote cliffs of Humla in the far west to the iconic Pathibhara region in the east, these peaks offer an expansive range of options for mountaineers seeking both challenge and beauty.
The newly opened peaks include some of Nepal’s most visually stunning and geographically diverse summits, such as Kanchenjunga and Kumbhakarna (Phaktanglung) in Taplejung, as well as several lesser-known but equally majestic mountains in Dolpa, Upper Mustang, and beyond.
Nepal begin T20I series in Hong Kong with convincing win over Qatar
Nepal made a strong start in the four-nation T20 International cricket tournament, defeating Qatar by 8 wickets in their opening match at the Mission Road Cricket Ground in Hong Kong this morning. Chasing a target of 152 runs, Nepal reached the total comfortably in just 17 overs, losing only two wickets.
Kushal Bhurtel led the charge with a brisk 38 runs, followed by captain Rohit Paudel with 37, Aasif Sheikh with 33, and Bashir Ahmed chipping in with 30. Qatar’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the lone successful bowler, claiming both Nepali wickets.
Ambassador Sumnima Tuladhar presents letters of credence to Danish King
Nepal’s Ambassador to Denmark, Sumnima Tuladhar, has formally presented her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Frederik Andre Henrik Christian of Denmark. The presentation took place during a special ceremony held at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Following the ceremony, Ambassador Tuladhar paid a courtesy call on the Danish monarch, during which she conveyed warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the King’s continued good health and the prosperity of the Danish people.
CIAA files corruption case over sanitary pad procurement in Kalaiya
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against former officials of Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan City, Bara, over irregularities in the procurement of sanitary pads.
The case involves the purchase of sanitary pads during the fiscal years 2021/22 and 2022/23, with the contract rate fixed at Rs 79.1 per packet. The CIAA claims the procurement process was manipulated for personal gain, resulting in financial losses to the state.
Adequate stock of school textbooks: JEMC
With the start of the new academic session, the Provincial Office of Janak Education Materials Centre (JEMC) has confirmed that it has an adequate stock of school-level textbooks.
According to Office Chief Dhan Bahadur KC, a total of 3,134,108 textbooks for grades 3 to 12 are currently in stock. These books have already been dispatched to six districts, including Chitwan. The centre is distributing and selling textbooks in Eastern Tanahun (Devghat and Khairhani Rural Municipalities), Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Makawanpur, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), and Chitwan.
Daunne road section closed daily for four hours amid upgrading works
The Daunne section of the Narayangadh-Butwal road has been closed for four hours daily starting today to facilitate road upgrading work.
According to Shiva Khanal, Information Officer of the Narayangadh-Butwal Road Construction Project, the section will remain closed from 11 am to 3 pm daily until April 13. From April 14 onwards, the road will be closed nightly from 11 pm to 5 am to continue the construction work.
27 houses destroyed in fire in Achham
A massive fire broke out at Jayagarh Bazaar in Bannigadhi Jayagarh Rural Municipality of Achham on Monday night, destroying 27 houses and causing losses estimated at over Rs 70 million.
According to Achham Police Chief Ishwori Prasad Bhandari, the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded at the IME center operated by Pushparaj Sharma in the heart of the market. The flames quickly spread through the densely packed area, engulfing homes and shops in the vicinity.
Hiking trail connects tourist site Narsinghkot to Burtibang
A new hiking trail has been constructed to connect the scenic tourist destination of Narsinghkot in Nisikhola Rural Municipality-7 with Burtibang Bazaar in Baglung district. The trail, complete with concrete railings, aims to provide easier access for both domestic and international tourists.
The project was implemented by the Tourism and Industry Office, Baglung, with funding of Rs 1 million from the Gandaki Province Government for the current fiscal year.
Compensation provided to 143 affected people in conservation area
The Api Nampa Conservation Area Office has decided to distribute financial compensation to 143 individuals affected by wildlife damage in the conservation area. Manoj Awasthi, the Information Officer at the office, stated that the compensation will be provided to residents of the conservation area for losses incurred due to wildlife, including the loss of life, livestock, and crops.
Japanese Ambassador Toru visits religious sites in Birgunj
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Maeda Toru, visited several historic and religious sites in Birgunj today. Ambassador Toru arrived directly from Simara Airport and began his visit with worship at the renowned Gahawamai Temple.
2nd National Horticulture Expo-2025 begins tomorrow
The Second National Horticulture Expo-2081 is set to begin at Bhrikutimandap from Thursday and will run until April 13. According to the event organizer, Nursery Association Nepal, all preparations for the expo have been completed.
Rabin Kumar Gautam, Expo Coordinator and Senior Vice President of the Association, said this year’s expo will feature an extensive and integrated showcase of commercial nursery products—including flowers, fruits, agricultural plants, forestry, and herbs.
PM Oli inaugurates Panini Conference
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the historic Panini Conference today during an event organized at Panini Rural Municipality in the Arghakhanchi district. The two-day conference brings together Sanskrit scholars, religious teachers, researchers, and policy-makers.
The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport of Lumbini Province, the Tourism Development Council, Panini Rural Municipality, and Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality.
Resumption of regular flights at Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport demanded
Entrepreneurs and the business community of Rupandehi have called on the concerned authorities to resume regular flights at the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport.
At a press conference held today, the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupandehi; the Siddhartha Network Rupandehi; and the Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce jointly announced a phase-wise protest program to push for the fulfillment of their demand.
Comment