KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Baburam Bhattarai elected Chair of Nepal Socialist Party
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has been elected as the chair of the Nepal Socialist Party (Naya Shakti). He won the position by defeating his contender, Netra Chapagain.
Out of a total of 873 votes cast, Bhattarai secured 802 votes, while Chapagain received 71. Although the vote count is complete, officials have stated that the final results might have minor adjustments.
Maintenance of drinking water supply pipeline at Babarmahal completed
Maintenance of a water supply pipeline which burst on Wednesday open at local Babarmahal, has been completed.
The incident took place when Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was conducting horizontal drilling to install underground power supply cables.
Chief Executive Officer of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), Ashok Kumar Poudel, said the maintenance of the pipeline was completed after around 20 hours. The maintenance was carried out from Wednesday night.
Nepal, India agree on key water resource projects
Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka met with Indian Minister for Water Resources CR Patil in New Delhi to discuss key bilateral water resource projects.
Minister Khadka, who is in India to participate in India Energy Week 2025, held discussions with his Indian counterpart at Shram Shakti Bhawan.
The meeting resulted in an agreement to complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project at the earliest and push forward its implementation, according to senior energy expert Prabal Adhikari from Nepal’s Ministry of Energy.
Air pollution in Kathmandu ranks second globally
Kathmandu has been ranked as the second most polluted city in the world today, according to data from IQ Air, which tracks air quality across major regions.
The air quality in Kathmandu is currently at 183 AQI (Air Quality Index), indicating a high level of pollution.
The rising pollution levels have begun to significantly affect public life. According to air quality standards, any AQI above 50 is considered unhealthy, with conditions worsening as the AQI increases.
Bids approved for floodlights and parapets at TU Cricket Ground
The bids for installing international-standard floodlights and constructing parapets at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur have been approved.
The Federal Secretariat Construction and Management Office under the Ministry of Urban Development approved separate companies’ bids for the projects on Thursday.
Vishan-Ishwari Joint Venture of Lalitpur secured the contract for installing floodlights at a cost of Rs 420 million, while BKOI-KCDC-BG JV, Tangal, won the parapet construction bid for Rs 430 million.
Supreme Court summons officials for discussion on waste management in Kathmandu Valley
The Supreme Court has ordered key government officials, including secretaries from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Forests and Environment, to discuss the ongoing waste management issues in the Kathmandu Valley.
A joint bench of Justices Dr Kumar Chundal and Mahesh Sharma Poudel issued the order today in response to separate writ petitions filed by Advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha and Advocate Bikram Mishra on behalf of Effort Lab.
The petition lists the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Environment, and other agencies as defendants.
FNJ protests govt’s social media bill
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has strongly opposed the government’s move to introduce a social media bill, stating that it threatens press freedom and freedom of expression.
In a statement issued after its first working meeting in Dhulikhel, Kavre, on Monday and Tuesday, the FNJ demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bill registered in the National Assembly.
It called for a revised version to be drafted only after consultations with stakeholders, including the FNJ itself.
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