KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Prachanda calls former King a ‘dynasty killer’ and ‘idol thief,’ warns against political interference
CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has strongly criticized former King Gyanendra Shah, labeling him a ‘dynasty killer’ and an ‘idol thief’.
Addressing the third municipal convention of the Maoist Center in Melamchi on Friday, Prachanda issued a stern warning to the former monarch, urging him not to engage in political maneuvers.
“Foolishness has been committed before, and if it happens again, the Nepalese people and political parties will not remain silent,” he said. “Everyone knows who was behind the brutal palace massacre. The people of Nepal are well aware of the mastermind.”
PM Oli inspects ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ Secretariat
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the bodies concerned to streamline the ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ (Sagarmatha Dialogue) programme. The three-day programme has been scheduled in Kathmandu from May 16.
He issued such directives after carrying out inspection and monitoring at Sagarmatha Sambaad Secretariat, which is in operation at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar, today.
A Directive Committee has been formed under chairmanship of Prime Minister Oli, Management Committee under chairpersonship of Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba where Minister for Forests Ain Bahadur Shahi is the Co-Chairperson.
Govt’s move for lifetime perks draws sharp criticism from Koirala
Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has criticized the government’s recent move to provide lifetime facilities to former dignitaries, calling it a misdeed and a reflection of misrule.
Taking to social media, Koirala labeled the government as “destruction and counter-intelligence” and accused it of being trapped in a vicious cycle of poor governance.
He argued that the decision comes at a sensitive time when public anger is growing, opposition within the ruling party is intensifying, and unrest is emerging on the streets.
Gold price increases by Rs 4,000
The price of gold increased in the Nepali market. The price of gold in the market has increased by Rs 4 thousand per tola in a single day.
According to the Gold and Silver Business Federation, the price of gold reached Rs 174,500 per tola today.
On Wednesday, the price of gold was set at 170,500 rupees per tola.
Similarly, the price of silver also increased by Rs 50. Today, the price of silver reached Rs 2,020 in the domestic market.
PM Oli holds meeting of High-Level Political Mechanism
A high-level political mechanism meeting was held today at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, according to Prime Minister KP Oli’s secretariat.
The meeting involved top leaders from the ruling coalition parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.
The meeting came in the wake of recent political unrest, triggered by a royalist protest in Kathmandu on Sunday, March 9, welcoming former King Gyanendra Shah.
Socialist Front to engage with civil society on political scenario
The Socialist Front (Samajwadi Morcha) Nepal is set to engage in discussions with civil society members and intellectuals today (Saturday) to address the current political situation.
This decision was made during a meeting held on Friday at the Unified Socialist Party’s central office in Aloknagar, Kathmandu.
In addition, the Front has scheduled an interactive session with journalists on Saturday.
Lifelong benefits for dignitaries unnecessary, says MP Khatiwada
Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the Federal Parliament, has urged the government to prioritize the people over political leadership.
His remarks came in response to the government’s preparations to introduce a bill that would provide lifelong benefits to former dignitaries.
Expressing his disapproval, the Nepali Congress MP took to social media, stating, “Put the people above the political leadership. Lifetime benefits to former dignitaries are not necessary.”
Shankardev Campus padlocked amid FSU fund misuse allegations
Shankardev Campus was padlocked following allegations that the Free Students’ Union (FSU) President misused FSU funds to admit students ahead of the upcoming FSU elections, scheduled for March 18.
The All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), affiliated with the UML, locked down the campus after FSU President Sushant Basnet allegedly enrolled more than 400 students using FSU funds.
Rhino census postponed this year due to financial constraints
The census, typically held every five years, will not be conducted this year due to financial limitations, according to Ramchandra Kandel, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Kandel explained that in previous years, the census was carried out with the support of donor agencies, but this year, the necessary assistance has not been secured. Furthermore, the government has not allocated any budget for maintaining regular records of rhinos.
Literary writer Lil Bahadur Kshetri passes away
Literary writer Lil Bahadur Kshetri has passed away at the age of 92. Kshetri, a permanent resident of Assam, India, breathed his last at Guwahati on Thursday night, according to chief editor of literary magazine ‘Shabdapath’, Murari Sigdel.
Kshetri was honoured with the Jagadambashree Award in recognition of his contribution to the enrichment of Nepali language and literature through literary writing.
Govt spending exceeds income by Rs 153.47 billion in second quarter
The government’s expenditure has significantly surpassed its income by the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2024/25, according to data from the Office of the Financial Comptroller.
The government’s total income by the end of Falgun (March 13) stood at Rs 738.82 billion, while expenditure soared to Rs 839.35 billion. This discrepancy has resulted in a budget deficit of Rs 153.47 billion within the second quarter.
Tourism information centre established in Namobuddha
A Tourism Information Centre has been set up in Namobuddha, a prominent religious and touristic site, to provide visitors with essential information about the area.
The centre, located in Namobuddha Municipality-1, was established with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which invested Rs 2.6 million, while Namobuddha Municipality mobilized Rs 1 million for the project.
Nepal’s constitution best in the world on women’s issues: NA Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair of the National Assembly, Bimala Ghimire, claimed that Nepal’s Constitution is exemplary globally when it comes to women’s rights.
Speaking at a recent event, she emphasized that despite the progressive legal framework, societal attitudes toward women remain largely unchanged.
Ghimire highlighted that gender equality is not just a political or legal issue but also a matter rooted in values, traditions, and religious culture. She called for a shift in mindset to complement the legal provisions already in place.
Model settlement under construction for disadvantaged communities in Kohalpur
Construction of a model settlement for disadvantaged communities has commenced in Kohalpur, Banke. The settlement, which is being built for Chidimar and Khatik families living in Municipality-14, Havaldarpur, has been funded with Rs 4 million.
Initiated by the municipality, the Neighborhood Service Society (NSS) is undertaking the construction of houses for the most disadvantaged Chidimar and Khatik communities.
Viral infection outbreak overwhelms Solukhumbu’s Phaplu Hospital
An outbreak of viral infections has reached a peak in the mountainous district of Solukhumbu, straining health services at Phaplu Hospital.
The surge in patients suffering from viral fever, cold, cough, asthma, pneumonia, diarrhea, headache, and respiratory issues has created significant challenges in managing healthcare services.
The hospital, a 15-bed facility, currently has over 50 patients admitted, with many in critical condition requiring oxygen support, even in the OPD.
Nepal ends Women’s Day Cup T20I series group stage with win over Hong Kong
Nepal secured a thrilling victory over Hong Kong by 6 wickets in their final group stage match of the Women’s Day Cup, held in Uganda on Friday.
Despite being out of contention for the final, Nepal ended their campaign on a high note with an impressive chase at the Entebbe ground.
Chasing a target of 105 runs set by Hong Kong, Nepal reached 108 for 4 with just three balls to spare. Samjhana Khadka played a crucial knock, scoring 47 runs to lead the team to victory.
Mero Share faces technical glitch, trading disrupted
The Mero Share platform has been temporarily disrupted due to a technical issue in its server. As a result, services provided by CDS & Clearing Limited (CDSC) have been affected.
According to CDSC, one of the servers used to operate Mero Share, C-ASBA, and C-KYC services encountered a technical problem.
A notice issued by CDSC stated, “Due to a technical issue in one of our servers, an immediate memory replacement is required. The replacement process will be carried out on March 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM, during which CDSC services may be temporarily unavailable.”
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