KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Economic Procedure and Fiscal Responsibility (First Amendment) Bill, 2081 tabled in Parliament
The Economic Procedure and Fiscal Responsibility (First Amendment) Bill, 2081 has been tabled in the House of Representatives. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel presented the bill during today’s session of the lower house of the Federal Parliament.
In response to the concerns raised by lawmakers who had submitted notices of protest, Minister Paudel argued that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to solely make laws while leaving all development work to the provincial government.
Chure Committee spends Rs 15 billion in 10 years with little to show for
The President Chure-Terai Madhes Conservation Development Committee has spent around Rs 15 billion over the past decade since its establishment on June 16, 2014. However, questions are being raised about the outcomes and effectiveness of the expenditure.
According to the committee, the financial progress stands at 88.93 percent, while physical progress has reached 91.84 percent as of the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (July 16, 2024).
Nepal ranked second most polluted country in the world
Nepal was ranked as the second most polluted country in the world today, according to the Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir.
The country’s air pollution reached extremely unhealthy levels due to prolonged dry weather and lack of rainfall.
India topped the list of the most polluted countries. In Nepal, the worst air quality was recorded this morning in the Deukhuri area of Dang, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) measured 192, according to the Department of Environment.
Sobita Gautam criticizes Oli-led govt for being ‘control-oriented’
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Sobita Gautam has accused the KP Sharma Oli-led government of taking a control-oriented approach and suppressing emerging voices.
Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, Gautam said the government is overly cautious, intolerant, and has lost public trust, creating a crisis of its own making.
Gautam criticized the government for using the law as a tool of revenge rather than justice. “The government should have made the law a scale of justice, but it turned it into a sword of revenge,” she said.
PM Oli holds a telephonic conversation with Egyptian President to help secure Bipin Joshi’s release
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held a telephone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday evening, requesting his assistance in securing the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was taken hostage by Hamas.
During the call, Prime Minister Oli urged President el-Sisi to take further steps to ensure Joshi’s safe and swift release.
Joshi, a participant in the ‘Learn and Earn’ program, was among those abducted during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In response, President el-Sisi assured that Egypt’s efforts in this regard would continue.
Kathmandu DAO calls for respectful Holi celebrations
The district administration offices of all three districts in the Kathmandu Valley—Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur—have called on the public to celebrate the Holi festival in a dignified and civilized manner.
Anil Poudel, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, urged everyone to celebrate the festival peacefully and with respect.
Nine construction companies blacklisted
The Public Procurement Monitoring Office has blacklisted nine construction companies following requests from various bodies.
Issuing a public notice today, the office stated that these companies have been barred from participating in any public procurement proceedings for a period ranging from one to one and a half years.
Among the blacklisted companies are Taralakshmi Nirman Sewa, Mamata Manju Construction Pvt. Ltd. , Sanam Nirman Sewa, Nirjara Nirman Sewa , G.S. Nirman Sansar Company Pvt. Ltd. and Common Construction.
NEPSE rises to 2,736.48 with Rs. 8.23 billion in turnover
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) saw a positive movement today, gaining 17.28 points (1.17%) to close at 2,736.48, following a loss of 32.21 points in the previous session.
The trading day began at 2,718.13, with the index fluctuating between a high of 2,745.58 and a low of 2,717.29. The total turnover for the day amounted to Rs. 8.23 billion, with 22,941,365 shares traded across 323 companies through 79,236 transactions.
Gold price rises by Rs 600 per tola
The prices of both gold and silver saw an increase on Wednesday, reversing the dip observed on Tuesday.
As reported by the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers, the price of gold surged by 600 rupees per tola, reaching 170,500 rupees per tola.
Yesterday, gold was priced at 169,900 rupees per tola. After rising continuously on Sunday and Monday, the price dropped on Tuesday.
RPP asks: Did ministers stay absent in HoR over fear of monarchy’s growing popularity?
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Bina Lama has criticized the government for its absence during the House of Representatives meeting.
During the second session of the meeting, which resumed after a 15-minute adjournment, Lama questioned the government’s absence, asking, “Did the ministers disappear due to the public support for the monarchy?”
She also called on the ministers to take responsibility for their roles. “Was it because of public support for the monarchy that the ministers disappeared? They are welcome to attend the meeting, but they must be accountable,” Lama stated.
Inter-Legislature Forum submits Pokhara Declaration to PM Oli
The seven-point Pokhara Declaration, adopted during the 10th Conference of the Inter-Legislature Forum, Nepal, has been officially submitted to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The handover took place at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday.
The declaration, formulated during the conference held from December 16 to 18, 2024, in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, emphasizes fostering reciprocal relations among the federal, provincial, and local assemblies.
Bill on Improving Business Environment presented in HoR
The Bill to Amend Certain Nepal Acts Related to the Improvement of Economic and Business Environment and Promotion of Investment 2081 BS has been presented in the House of Representatives (HoR). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel introduced the Bill during today’s lower house session.
PABSON’s newly-elected office bearers take oath
The newly-elected executive committee members of the Private and Residential Schools Association of Nepal (PABSON), an organization of private school operators, took the oath of office at the 16th National Convention held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Krishna Adhikari, the newly elected president, expressed his commitment to enhancing the quality of education in PABSON-affiliated schools during his tenure.
Sri Lanka to host 2025 SAFF Men’s Championship
Sri Lanka will host the 2025 SAFF Men’s Championship, marking the country’s first time hosting the tournament in 17 years. The decision was made during the SAFF Executive Committee meeting held in Kathmandu.
Sri Lanka Football President Jaswar Umar, who attended the meeting, confirmed the announcement and expressed pride in bringing the tournament back to Sri Lanka.
The championship is scheduled for June next year and will be held at a centralized venue, moving away from the previously planned home-and-away format.
Covered hall constructed at BP Park
A covered hall has been constructed at BP Park in Byas Municipality-3. The Byas Municipal Badminton Club constructed the covered hall at a cost of over Rs 9.66 million.
Byas Municipality had provided Rs 8.79 million for the construction of the covered hall. The covered hall has been constructed on the land owned by the District Coordination Committee.
Nepali Congress lawmakers object to RSP’s land grabbing allegation
Lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress have strongly objected to a statement made by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Sumana Shrestha in the House of Representatives, accusing an NC leader of illegally occupying government-owned land in Tarakeswar, Kathmandu.
Speaking at the house on Wednesday, Shrestha claimed that a Nepali Congress leader had encroached on government land at plots number 62 and 63 at Loktantrik Chowk in Tarakeswar Municipality-9, located in Kathmandu area number 6.
Following Shrestha’s remarks, Nepali Congress lawmakers immediately stood up and protested, accusing her of making irresponsible allegations without verification. They demanded that her statement be removed from the record.
KOICA volunteer supports Namobuddha Municipality with construction of Tourist Information Center
KOICA Volunteer Youngman Lim, with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), successfully completed The Project to Build a Namobuddha Tourist Information Center.
The project involved constructing a 32㎡ lightweight steel-framed building near the Namobuddha Stupa. The center is fully equipped with air conditioning, furniture, an inverter system, a computer, a printer, and a restroom, featuring customized interior designs.
Ncell to discontinue 2G and 3G services by 2027
Ncell, one of Nepal’s leading telecom service providers, has announced plans to phase out its 2G and 3G services in the coming years.
Speaking at the ‘Revitalizing the Telecom Industry’ program organized by the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON) in Kathmandu, Ncell CEO and Managing Director Jabbor Kayumov shared the company’s roadmap for transitioning to more advanced network technologies.
Kayumov revealed that Ncell plans to discontinue 3G services by 2025, followed by 2G services by 2027.
Telecom industry crisis looms in Nepal as stakeholders call for urgent reforms
Stakeholders in Nepal’s telecommunications sector have called for immediate government intervention as the industry approaches a critical juncture.
Speaking at a program titled “Revitalizing the Telecom Industry” organized by the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON) on Wednesday, experts and officials highlighted the urgent need for policy reforms and strategic investments to avert an impending crisis.
First Pokhara-Chengdu commercial flight to launch on March 18
The first commercial chartered flight on the Pokhara-Chengdu (China) route will begin operations on March 18, marking a significant step toward regularizing international flights at Pokhara Regional International Airport in Kaski.
The launch of the airport two years ago did not lead to regular international flight operations.
According to Pokhara Tourism Council Chair Taranath Pahari, this inaugural commercial chartered flight to Chengdu is the result of efforts by the private sector.
FSU elections at 10 campuses in jeopardy
Free Students’ Union (FSU) elections at 10 campuses of Tribhuvan University in the Kathmandu Valley have been thrown into uncertainty due to escalating disputes among student organizations and the resignation of election officers.
The elections have become uncertain at the Central Campus of Tribhuvan University, Padmakanya Multiple Campus, Nepal Law Campus, Shankardev Campus, Bishwabhasha Campus, Valmiki Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Koteshwor Multiple Campus, Public Youth Campus, Saraswati Multiple Campus, and Pashupati Multiple Campus.
The chaos began when the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), affiliated with the Nepali Congress, locked the Central Campus to protest the candidacy of Dujang Sherpa, who had registered as a rebel candidate against the official nominee, Anoj Karki.
Employees’ Union protests split of Civil Aviation Authority
Employees’ unions at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) have voiced strong opposition to the government’s plan to split the authority into two entities.
The Nepal National Employees’ Organization at CAAN submitted a memorandum to Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, expressing its discontent over the proposal.
The union raised concerns over the bill registered by Minister Pandey in the House of Representatives on February 25, arguing that the move would dismantle the existing structure and pave the way for private sector influence in key executive positions, investment, and operations.
They claimed the proposal aims to privatize profit-making airports and benefit vested interests rather than strengthening regulatory capacity and operational efficiency.
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