KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Supporters celebrate Raksha Bandhan with Rabi Lamichhane’s cutout
Supporters of Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane marked Raksha Bandhan by tying rakhi on his cutout at the party’s Banasthali office on Saturday. The event included calls from supporters for Lamichhane’s release.
NPL Auction begins: Santosh Karki ‘unsold’, Dev signed by Chitwan Rhinos
The auction for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has commenced. The event began on Saturday at Royal Tulip in Lalitpur, with 38 slots available across eight participating teams. The auction is divided into three categories: Category ‘A’ with 9 players, Category ‘B’ with 37 players, and Category ‘C’ with 118 players. Earlier, CAN had released a list of 150 players for the auction, later adding 14 more, bringing the total to 164.
NPL Auction: Chitwan, Sudurpaschim, and Biratnagar secure two players each as 11 players sold so far
A total of 11 players have been sold so far in the ongoing auction for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). Sudurpaschim Royals, Chitwan Rhinos, and Biratnagar Kings have each signed two players, while Janakpur Bolts, Pokhara Avengers, Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gorkhas, and Lumbini Lions have each secured one player.
‘New constitution offers several rights to indigenous nationalities communities’
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has said that the country entered into the federal system thanks to the struggles of the indigenous nationalities and Madhesi communities. At a programme here Saturday organized by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities on 31st International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Minister Gurung shared that the members of the indigenous nationalities have enjoyed immense rights after the promulgation of the federal democratic republican constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA).
Landslide kills one worker, injures three at Super Nyadi Hydropower Project
A worker at the under-construction 40.27 MW Super Nyadi Hydropower Project in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-6, Lamjung, died after being buried by a landslide this afternoon. Three others were injured in the incident. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramesh Bohora of the District Police Office, the deceased has been identified as 44-year-old Lagan Dhwaj Gurung, originally from Besisahar Municipality-8, where he was temporarily residing.
Rishitarpani, Rakshyabandhan, Janaipurnima festival marked
The festival of Rishitarpani, Rakshyabandhan or ‘Janaipurnima’ festival was marked across the country today by changing Janai (the sacred thread) around the men’s body from the left shoulder to right after having a bath. The festival is also observed by Nepalis abroad. This festival is basically observed by the Hindus in the country. According to tradition, Hindu people receive the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ thread, which is tied around the wrist as an amulet.
Normalcy returning at Kailali Prison
Normalcy is returning to the tensed Kailali Prison. A large number of police personnel have been deployed to normalize the situation arising from a clash between inmates at Kailali Jail in Dhangadhi. Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Singh, the Spokesperson of the District Police Office in Kailali stated that the situation in the jail is under the control of the police administration at present. “We have deployed 50 security personnel in the jail premises to maintain a normal situation,” he said. “We are organizing meetings with the relatives of the prisoners.”
Kailali prison incident: Chief Minister Shah meets Home Minister
Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah met with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Saturday to discuss the ongoing situation at Kailali Prison. The meeting took place at the Home Minister’s official residence in Bhaisepati. According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, discussions covered the recent incident at Kailali Prison, along with matters related to peace and security in the province and disaster management.
Monetary policy offers nudge, fiscal reform needed for real growth: Governor
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Dr. Bishwanath Poudel has said that while monetary policy can offer limited support to economic revival, the responsibility for making the economy dynamic lies primarily with the government and its fiscal policy. Speaking at a policy dialogue organized by the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR) in Kathmandu, Governor Poudel stated, “I cannot give a big push through monetary policy. The recent policy is merely an attempt to make the economy move a little.”
PM Oli returns home after attending LLDC conference in Turkmenistan
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli returned home at midnight on Friday after participating in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), held in Turkmenistan. He was welcomed at the VIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Chief of Army Staff, heads of security agencies, and senior government officials. On the occasion, the Nepali Army presented a guard of honour to the Prime Minister.
PM Oli says Nepal earned Rs 4.5 billion from electricity trade
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that Nepal earned Rs 4.5 billion from electricity trade this year. In a post on social media today, PM Oli said the country exported Rs 4.5 billion worth more electricity than it imported. “We have successfully reduced electricity imports and achieved a trade surplus in power,” he wrote.
CIT Minister Gurung for taking maximum benefit from AI
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has stressed the need to take maximum benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). Inaugurating a seminar on ‘Indigenous Nationalities and Artificial Intelligence: Protecting Rights and Building the Future’ organized by the Indigenous Nationalities Commission here today on the occasion of the 31st International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, he said those who have developed today through the use of AI have already benefited. But all countries in the world, rich or poor, can take maximum benefit from AI.
Third UN Conference on LLDCs: Nepal emphasizes on expanding cooperation and collaboration
Nepal has laid emphasis on expanding mutual cooperation and collaboration, in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) held in Turkmenistan. At a press conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Information and Broadcasting after the return of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from the conference on Friday, it was shared that the countries like Nepal had raised the voice for the additional support from the development partners to the landlocked countries.
Administrative restructuring in Gandaki: 200 employees to be cut, economic burden to reduce by up to Rs 4 billion
The Gandaki Provincial Government’s initiative to review its administrative structure to reduce administrative and financial burdens has stirred significant debate among government employees and political circles. Based on the report prepared by the committee led by former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey is preparing to cut at least 200 staff positions and abolish dozens of provincial- and district-level offices, triggering widespread concern. According to the Paudel Committee’s findings, the restructuring could save the province approximately Rs 3–4 billion annually.
NASA’s Crew-10 astronauts depart space station for Earth
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 astronauts began their journey home on Friday after completing a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying the four crew members, undocked from the ISS’s Harmony module at 6:15 p.m. Eastern Time (2215 GMT) on Friday. The capsule is scheduled to splash down off the California coast at 11:33 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
Supporters celebrate Raksha Bandhan with Rabi Lamichhane’s cutout
Supporters of Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane marked Raksha Bandhan by tying rakhi on his cutout at the party’s Banasthali office on Saturday. The event included calls from supporters for Lamichhane’s release.
Devotees flock to Gosaikunda for holy Janai Purnima bath
Thousands of pilgrims from across Nepal converged at the sacred Gosaikunda Lake on Thursday to mark Janai Purnima, taking ritual dips in the icy waters and offering prayers despite challenging weather conditions. From as early as 2 am, devotees from districts including Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Chitwan, Dhanusha, Makwanpur, Kaski, Syangja, Tanahun, Gorkha, Bhojpur, Ramechhap, and Saptari gathered for the annual pilgrimage. According to Sanjeev DM, chair of the Gosaikunda Area Development Committee, bathing in the 4,380-meter-high alpine lake is believed to wash away sins and grant blessings.
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine war talks in Alaska next Friday
US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. This will be their first in-person meeting on US soil since 2019. The talks come shortly after a deadline for Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine passed without any announcement on Friday.
Cyclist killed after being hit by bus in Saptari
A 68-year-old man died after being hit by a bus at Chandani Chowk in Agnisair Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality-2, Saptari, on Saturday. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhav Kafle of the Kanchanpur Area Police Office, the victim, identified as Budur Chaudhary of Sitapur, died on the spot after the collision.
Kaligandaki Corridor resumes after obstruction
According to Police Inspector Keshav Thapa of the District Police Office, Baglung, the corridor, which had been completely blocked at Kalakhola in Baglung Municipality-12 due to a landslide on Friday at around 7 p.m., reopened at 10 a.m. today. The disruption had severed road connectivity between the southern parts of Baglung and the district headquarters. With the road now operational, tourist vehicles heading to Mustang, as well as those traveling from Baglung to Butwal, Bhairahawa, Sunauli, and other destinations, have resumed their journeys, Inspector Thapa said.
Unified Socialist to hold CC meeting on August 24
The Unified Socialist has scheduled a central committee meeting in Kathmandu for August 24. According to Damodar Aryal, deputy chief of the party’s Central Publicity Department, the meeting aims to address ideological disputes and internal organizational conflicts.
Stakeholders voice concern over slow economic recovery in Nepal
Nepal’s economy has yet to show signs of the expected recovery, stakeholders said during a policy dialogue organized by the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR) on Friday. Speaking at the event, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Prof. Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel said the global economic environment is currently in an exciting phase. While noting that he has symbolically taken some steps to stimulate the economy, Poudel stressed that fiscal policy interventions were essential to generate broad economic momentum.
UN warns of severe funding gap as global humanitarian needs soar
The United Nations has raised alarm over a deepening global humanitarian funding crisis, warning that less than 17 percent of the $46 billion needed to address worldwide emergencies in 2025 has been secured so far. “More than halfway through the year, the humanitarian funding landscape remains dire,” UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday, citing figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Tea cultivation trial begins in Nawalpur’s Gaidakot
Tea cultivation has started on a trial basis in Baseni village of Gaidakot-18, Nawalpur (Bardaghat-Sustapur), the municipality announced.
Gaidakot Municipality Mayor Madan Bhakta Adhikari said 7,500 tea plants have been planted in Baseni, a hilly area of the municipality’s 18 wards. He explained that the trial was initiated because the geography and climate of the ward are suitable for tea cultivation.
ANFA to hold senior team trials ahead of Bangladesh matches
Nepal national football team head coach Matt Ross has named 39 players for a three-day selection camp to determine the preliminary squad for next month’s international friendlies against Bangladesh. The selection program will run from August 10 to 12 at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) complex. Players chosen from the camp will be included in the preliminary national squad. Nepal is set to host Bangladesh on September 6 and 9 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
Farmers in Madhesh intensify paddy plantation with rain after prolonged drought
Until just 10 days ago, Shambhu Prasad Yadav of Sakhuwaprasauni Rural municipality-2 in Parsa district was uncertain whether he would be able to complete paddy transplantation this season, as a prolonged dry spell had gripped the Madhesh Province. However, the rainfall which is almost regular over the past week has brought much-needed relief to farmers across the province.
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