KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Four new ministers sworn in under Sushila Karki-led interim govt
Four new ministers have been inducted into the Sushila Karki-led interim government. They took the oath of office and secrecy at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas, on Friday. Kumar Ingam has been appointed Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Madhav Chaulagain will lead the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Former DIG Rajendra Singh Bhandari has been given the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, while Shraddha Shrestha has been appointed Minister for Women and Children. The new ministers are scheduled to assume office at Singha Durbar later today. With the latest appointments, the Cabinet under Prime Minister Karki has expanded to 14 members.
NPL: Sudurpaschim and Lumbini to face off for title
The final of the second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) will be played on Saturday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur at 3:30 pm, where defending champions Sudurpaschim Royals will take on Lumbini Lions. Sudurpaschim secured their spot in the title match by defeating Biratnagar by 77 runs in the first qualifier. Lumbini booked their place by beating Biratnagar by 40 runs in the second qualifier, after Biratnagar advanced to the knockout through the eliminator despite losing their first qualifier match. Sudurpaschim, led by Dipendra Singh Aire, enter the final as strong contenders. After losing last year’s final to Janakpur Bolts by 5 wickets, they are determined to defend their title this season.
83 days to election: Committee formed to set population-based inclusion percentages
The Election Commission (EC) has initiated the process of determining proportional representation percentages based on population, as required by the House of Representatives Election Constituency Act, 2074. The percentage allocations will be set for Dalit, Indigenous Nationalities, Khas Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, and Muslim groups. To facilitate this, a six-member committee has been formed under the coordination of Subhash Kumar Bhattarai, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The committee includes representatives from the Election Commission, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and the National Statistics Office.
APF unveils security operation plan for upcoming election
The Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal has announced a comprehensive operational policy to ensure a transparent, impartial, and fear-free environment for the upcoming House of Representatives election. Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Friday, the APF stated that the new policy outlines its deployment strategy and coordination mechanisms with other security agencies. According to APF Spokesperson DIG Manish Thapa, the force will be mobilized in all constituencies as per assigned responsibilities.
RSP extends deadline for proportional representation candidacy applications
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has extended the deadline for submitting applications for proportional representation (PR) candidacies for the upcoming House of Representatives elections. According to party spokesperson Manish Jha, the Secretariat meeting held on Thursday decided to extend the application deadline until December 20. Jha said the extension was made considering several ongoing internal and external processes, including the needs of members integrated during the recent party unification, ongoing discussions with the High Dialogue Committee on possible collaboration, and the understanding reached between Gen-Z movement leaders and the government.
Dhurmus, Suntali plead for Rs 184 million stalled by government delays
The Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation has expressed deep concern over the Rs 184 million pending payment related to the construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Bharatpur. Despite completing much of the construction and transferring the structure to Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the foundation says the dues remain unpaid even after five years of persistent efforts to secure the funds. Foundation chair Sitaram Kattel ‘Dhurmus’ and his wife Kunjana highlighted that they have personally pursued government offices, local authorities, and courts in the United States and Nepal to resolve the issue, but have yet to receive justice.
Labor Minister Bhandari vows to tackle national challenges after taking office
Newly appointed Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Rajendra Singh Bhandari has said he will work to help address the country’s challenges in line with his experience and capabilities. He assumed office at the Ministry in Singha Durbar today after taking the oath of office from President Ram Chandra Paudel. Speaking to journalists after assuming office, Minister Bhandari pledged to expedite work despite the government’s short tenure. He noted that, having served as a founding member of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), he aims to prepare an action plan to dismantle networks involved in organized crime.
Surendra Pandey tells KP Oli not to create unnecessary dispute over two-term limit
CPN-UML Vice-Chair Surendra Pandey has told party chair KP Sharma Oli not to turn the issue of the two-term limit into an unnecessary controversy. Addressing a UML youth gathering in Kathmandu on Friday, Pandey said Oli himself had expressed two different positions on the matter, and therefore, for the sake of political ethics, the issue should not be made a point of dispute. He said the party must settle the two-term debate through healthy internal discussions. Pandey stressed that the UML cannot move forward without the strength of its youth and that the upcoming General Convention must take decisions that reflect this reality.
UML Vice-Chair Shakya warns Oli’s push for statute amendment ‘against party’s interests’
CPN-UML Vice-Chair Astalaxmi Shakya has strongly objected to the attempts led by party Chair KP Sharma Oli to amend the party statute to expand the number of office bearers, Standing Committee members and Central Committee members. Speaking to Khabarhub on Friday, Shakya said the proposal, expected to be tabled in the Secretariat meeting, was designed to serve personal interests and would ultimately harm the party. She criticized the move to alter the statute only months after the party’s Second Statute Convention, arguing that leaders should not revise rules merely to protect their positions or influence. “After such a broad Statute Convention, you cannot change the statute just because you feel weakened,” Shakya said. “If such a proposal is presented in today’s Secretariat meeting, we will oppose it.”
Ensure voting rights for migrant Nepalis: RPP Chair Lingden
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden has called for guaranteeing voting rights for Nepalis living abroad. He added that inter-district voting is also a pressing need in the upcoming elections. Lingden made the remarks while sharing the decisions of the party’s central committee meeting held on Friday. He argued that it is feasible to implement both inter-district and overseas voting in the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026, and urged the government to move the electoral process forward accordingly.
Ram Kumari Jhakri warns criminal charges against KP Oli over September 8 incident could ‘cripple the state’
CPN-UML leader Ram Kumari Jhakri has warned that attempts to bring former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli under criminal investigation over the September 8 incident pose a serious risk to the Nepali state. In a social media post, Jhakri said pushing for legal or criminal charges against the then-Prime Minister for the Gen-Z protest clashes would amount to dismantling Nepal’s state apparatus. She noted that while the political and moral responsibility of the incident naturally rests with the former Prime Minister, who resigned the following day on September 9, criminal prosecution would weaken the foundations of the government structure. Jhakri argued that police deployed at the Parliament premises were forced to fire shots amid a sudden escalation of risk. Pulling the former Prime Minister into a murder case over such decisions, she said, would undermine the legitimacy and coercive power of the state.
Myagdi’s Mudigaun gears up for visitors
With Gurja and Dhaulagiri peaks towering in the backdrop, stone houses set on terraced slopes, and a rural lifestyle marked by seasonal cattle sheds that shift between valleys and lakes, Mudigaun in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality–4 offers a rare blend of nature and culture. Neat stone-paved streets, traditional homes adorned with hanging corn, and the warm hospitality of the Magar-majority community make the village both picturesque and inviting.
Devghat declared plastic-free zone to protect sacred site
Devghat Dham, one of the five most sacred religious sites in Palpa and Chitwan region, has been declared a plastic-free zone. The Devghat Area Development Committee, in coordination with three local governments, Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Gaindakot Municipality and Devghat Rural Municipality, has taken the initiative to free the holy site from plastic waste. Devghat spans 5,434 hectares, and the move to declare it a plastic-restricted zone has been supported technically by an organization named Sahamati, according to Committee Chairperson Dr. Ishwari Raj Laudari.
Three dead, eight injured in jeep accident in Palpa
A jeep accident in Chiwriwas, Nisdhi Rural Municipality-4, Palpa claimed the lives of three people and left eight others injured on Friday. The vehicle, a Lu 1 Ja 3908 jeep, was traveling from Arun Khola in Mityali toward Rampur when the accident occurred, according to Home Prakash Chaudhary, Deputy Superintendent of Police and spokesperson for the District Police Office. The identities of the three deceased have not yet been confirmed. The eight injured passengers were rescued and sent to Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital in Eastern Nawalparasi for treatment.
Nagdhunga–Malekhu road opens for two days to ease UML General Convention traffic
The Nagdhunga–Malekhu section of the Prithvi Highway, which has been facing daily five-hour partial closures for upgrading work, will remain fully open today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday). Authorities decided to suspend the scheduled closures to ensure smooth movement for participants traveling to the opening session of the CPN-UML’s 11th Central General Convention. According to the Nagdhunga–Muglin Road Project, the road has been undergoing partial shutdowns since December 10 as part of its ongoing expansion and repair work. Project officials informed that although the upgrade schedule remains unchanged, the two-day pause has been introduced solely to prevent traffic congestion during the political event.
Garbage piles in Kathmandu Valley rivers remain untouched despite years of cleanup campaigns
Kathmandu Valley’s rivers continue to remain burdened with massive piles of garbage, despite years of cleanup drives, awareness campaigns and government-led initiatives. Even today, scenes of people dumping waste directly into the rivers are common. Plastics, household waste, construction debris and other materials cover both the river surface and its banks, forming thick layers of pollution. Locals say that at times, dogs, birds, and even cattle are seen wandering among the garbage heaps, a stark reminder of how complicated and severe the situation has become.
Snow leopard kills 19 livestock in Marpha, causing over Rs 600,000 in losses
A snow leopard attack in Marpha, Jomsom, left 16 sheep and 3 goats dead on Thursday night, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Jomsom. The predator entered the livestock shed of local resident Santosh Pariyar, located near the Temperate Horticulture Development Centre in Gharapjhong-2, and killed the animals. According to ACAP Jomsom chief Rajesh Gupta, Pariyar had 45 sheep and goats in the shed, of which 19 were killed in the attack. The initial loss has been estimated at over Rs 600,000.
Property worth Rs 6.7 million destroyed in Dang fire
Property valued at approximately Rs 6.7 million was destroyed after a fire broke out at the Waste Management and Resource Centre in Rapti Rural Municipality-2. According to Chakra Bahadur Shah, Information Officer at the District Police Office, the blaze damaged a building, various machines, and other materials stored at the centre. A structure constructed for waste management purposes was also destroyed. The fire was brought under control after nearly two hours with the help of a fire engine from Gadawa Rural Municipality and a mini fire engine from Rapti Rural Municipality. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and police said an investigation is underway.
Eight people die in fire incidents within a month
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has called on the three tiers of government to ensure coordination and facilitation in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts to prevent fire-related disasters during the dry season. Issuing a notice today, the NDRRMA also urged UN agencies, NGOs, development partners, the private sector, civil society, and the media to contribute from their respective sectors to help minimize fire risks. Authority spokesperson Shanti Mahat appealed to all stakeholders to play an active role in raising awareness and enhancing public safety.
Two arrested with brown sugar from Nagdhunga
Police have arrested two individuals with brown heroin at Chandragiri Municipality-2, Nagdhunga. The arrestees have been identified as Sajol Rawat, 24, of Panauti Municipality-8 in Kavrepalanchok, and Saroj Timalsina, 25, of Dhunikharka, Bethanchok Rural Municipality-3. According to police, they were found in possession of two grams of brown heroin. Authorities said that further investigation into the case is underway.
Officiating CEC urged to ensure voting eights for Nepalis living abroad
Former Minister Sumana Shrestha, along with returnee migrant workers and Gen-Z representatives, submitted a memorandum today to Officiating Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ram Prasad Bhandari, urging him to ensure voting rights for Nepali migrant workers living abroad. The delegation also called for the provision of inter-district voting in the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections. According to the memorandum, the request aligns with the Supreme Court’s 2074 BS ruling that mandates ensuring voting rights for Nepali citizens working or residing overseas.
One arrested with stolen Rs 1.23 million
Police have arrested a man in possession of stolen cash totaling Rs 1,023,500. Superintendent of Police and spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, identified the suspect as 28-year-old Deepak Gajurel, a resident of Belkot Municipality-9, Nuwakot, who is currently living in Thamel, Kathmandu Metropolitan City. According to police, the stolen cash and various items were recovered from Rajshree Finance in Sinamangal and from the office of Nepal Holiday Trek and Travels, located on the first floor of Hotel Lotus Grand in Sohrakhutte, Kathmandu-16.
Election can clear national hurdles: Bhusal
Leader of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and former minister Pampha Bhusal has said that the upcoming House of Representatives election would help remove obstacles facing national politics. Addressing a unity assembly organized by her party in Damauli on Friday, Bhusal said the country would get back on the right track after the election scheduled for March 5, 2026. “Adverse situations will ease once the HoR election is successfully held,” she reiterated. Bhusal confirmed that the NCP would participate in the forthcoming election but emphasized that the government must ensure an environment conducive to voting. “It is the government’s responsibility to hold a free and fair election, and all parties need to cooperate in this effort,” she underlined.
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