KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
We need to work harder to increase student retention rate: PM Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to make the Student Enrollment Campaign of the School Session 2082 BS successful.
Extending best wishes for the Student Enrollment Campaign that commenced today, he said that parents and stakeholders have a key role to play in making the campaign a success.
PM Oli stressed the need of making school education inclusive and of quality in order to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030, as well as of developing all educational institutions as centres of knowledge and excellence, making education a medium to fulfill the national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.
UML tells former king to take responsibility for March 28 violence, labels Tikune incident as anarchy
The ruling CPN-UML has stated that the destruction and vandalism during the March 28 (Chaitra 15) protest in Tikune, Kathmandu amounted to anarchy and has urged former King Gyanendra Shah to take responsibility for it.
Following the party’s Secretariat meeting on Monday, UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali remarked that the former king’s New Year 2082 message carried a clear political motive.
“Through his New Year message, the former king appears to harbor hopes of reviving the monarchy and reversing the achievements of the present political system,” Gyawali said. “After declaring on February 19 (Falgun 7) that he had taken a step forward, and appointing a commander on March 27 (Chaitra 14), he cannot evade accountability for the events of March 28.”
Irresponsible statements from party people not welcoming practice: NC leader Arzu Rana
Nepali Congress (NC) central member and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, has said irresponsible comments regarding the party made by the party people is not a welcoming practice.
The trend of giving reckless statements and the accusations and counter accusations has increased lately in the political sphere, this has been more prevalent in the Nepali Congress (NC), she complained.
During her address to a party cadres’ meeting and interaction organised by the NC Ilam at Shree Antu today, the leader said such statements may get a media coverage but ultimately will do damage for the party.
Nagarkot Visit Year kicks off with cultural festivities
Nagarkot Visit Year 2082 officially began today, coinciding with the celebration of the Nepali New Year.
Thousands of domestic and international tourists flocked to Nagarkot on Sunday to witness the first sunrise of the new year, marking a vibrant start to the year-long campaign.
The initiative has been jointly organized by Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur, Mandandeupur Municipality of Kavrepalanchok, Banepa Municipality, and Shankharapur Municipality of Kathmandu.
Farmers worried as rain damages wheat crop
Rainfall on Sunday evening has damaged the wheat crop in Banke.
The wheat crop that had just been harvested as well as those in the field was damaged by the unseasonal rain and wind, said Suryalal Yadav, a farmer from Kamdi in Duduwa Rural Municipality-5.
Likewise, Ramsurat Barma, a farmer from Thukaila village in Nepalgunj-17, said that the hail and wind caused great damage to the wheat crop. The harvested wheat has been soaked in the rainwater while yet to be harvested ones were rendered useless by the hail and wind.
Capital expenditure drops to 29%
The government’s capital expenditure has slumped to just 29.2 percent by the third quarter of the current fiscal year 2024/25, according to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG).
As of March 31, only Rs 102.9 billion has been spent under the capital heading, out of the allocated Rs 352.35 billion for the entire year.
The overall budget expenditure has also remained weak. The government had announced a total budget of Rs 1.86 trillion for the fiscal year. However, by April 11, only Rs 998.50 billion—or 53.67 percent—has been spent.
General Secretary Pandey honored in his home district
Rajendra Prasad Pandey, General Secretary of the Public Library Association, has been honored in his home district, Syangja.
Think Tank Syangja presented him with the “Exemplary Leadership Honor 2082” at a ceremony in Walling, the district headquarters, in recognition of his significant contributions to literature, knowledge, social service, and child welfare.
Receiving the award, Pandey expressed his joy at being honored in the land of his birth on the first day of the Nepali New Year.
One dead after being crushed by chariot during Biska Jatra
A man lost his life after being crushed by the Bhairav Nath chariot during the Biska Jatra festival in Bhaktapur on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Sushil Tamkhu, a resident of Bhaktapur Municipality-4, who was currently living in Suryabinayak Municipality-8.
According to Madhav Budhathoki, Chief Superintendent of Police at the District Police Range, Bhaktapur, the incident occurred while the chariot was being pulled from Gaahiti to Yosinghel for the installation of the 55-foot Yosinghel pole at Bhelukhel.
Police seize 894 kg of illegal shaligrams in Mustang
Police have seized a massive haul of illegal shaligram stones in Mustang district.
Acting on a tip-off, the District Police Office at Chhusang Check Post in Baragung Muktikshetra-3 intercepted a Bolero jeep (Ga 3 Cha 8152) carrying 894 kg of shaligrams packed in 34 white sacks.
According to Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari, Information Officer at the District Police Office, the stones were being transported from Ghami in Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-3 toward Jomsom. The driver, 41-year-old Kunsang Renjing Gurung of Surkhang in Loghekar Damodarkunda-5, was allegedly transporting the sacred stones without legal authorization.
Maoist Center and CPC sign MoU to strengthen party cooperation
The Maoist Center and the Communist Party of China (CPC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation and exchange between the two parties.
The MoU was signed at a special event organized in Chongqing, China, on Sunday. The agreement covers a wide range of collaborative areas, including party building, state administration, cadre training, and experience sharing, according to delegation member Ramdeep Acharya.
As part of the agreement, both parties will promote the internationalization and professional development of cadre education. This includes cooperation in the development of party schools, curriculum design, teacher training, and modern teaching methodologies.
Mahasnan of Rato Machhindranath and Minnath completed, chariot wheels brought to Pulchowk
The sacred ritual bath of Rato Machindranath, the revered deity of rain and seasons, and Minnath has been completed, marking the formal commencement of preparations for the Rato Machindranath Jatra.
The Mahasnan was performed at Lagankhel with special Tantric rituals, signifying the beginning of the traditional chariot construction.
Following the ritual, the wheels used to build the chariot were brought from Jawalakhel to Pulchowk. The towering chariot, which reaches a height of around 48 feet, is constructed entirely from wood without the use of nails or metal fasteners.
Postponing general convention would be dumb: Shekhar Koirala
Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has warned that any attempt to delay the party’s general convention under any pretext would be politically dangerous.
Issuing a statement on the occasion of the Nepali New Year 2082, Koirala urged party members to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles.
Calling for a united effort to safeguard Nepal’s Constitution from growing right-wing influences, he emphasized the need for the Congress party to initiate timely reforms and reconnect with the public.
Curfew lifted in Birgunj
The District Administration Office (DAO) of Parsa has lifted the curfew that was in effect across Birgunj Metropolitan City from midnight on Sunday.
Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal stated that the decision to lift the curfew, effective from 12:00 a.m., was made after reviewing the overall law and order situation in Birgunj, which has gradually improved. The decision was also based on a consensus reached during an all-party meeting.
However, a prohibitory order remains in place starting April 14 and will continue until further notice.
CIAA appeals Special Court verdicts at Supreme Court
Dissatisfied with the rulings of the Special Court, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed appeals at the Supreme Court on Sunday in two separate corruption cases.
One of the appeals involves former Assistant Conservation Officer Abhinay Pathak of the Sauraha Sector under Chitwan National Park. The Special Court had acquitted Pathak on Ashad 18 despite the CIAA’s claim of corruption amounting to Rs 3,159,735. Challenging the acquittal, the anti-graft body has now taken the matter to the apex court.
In a separate case, the CIAA has also appealed against a Special Court decision dated February 29, 2024 involving three officials from the Survey Office in Rupandehi — Survey Officers Dhruvraj Marasini and Bindeshwar Yadav, and Surveyor Thakur Prasad Gura.
Tourism is foundation of Nepal’s development and prosperity: Minister Rana
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has urged for the promotion of tourism in Nepal, highlighting its vast potential for the country’s development and prosperity.
She made this statement at a retreat organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Antu and Kanyam of Ilam for the heads of foreign missions in Nepal and representatives of various international organisations. “Nepal’s unique culture, heritage and natural beauty are the major attractions to the world, and these invaluable assets are the basis of the country’s development and prosperity.”
Rana praised Nepal’s cultural and natural diversity, as well as its beauty, greenery, biodiversity and heritage, and mountain ranges. Explaining the importance of the Ilam region, she described Ilam as a land of tea plantations, mist-covered mountains, and warm-hearted local people, and urged everyone to experience tea gardens, clean air, traditions, and lifestyle of the tourist destination, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Paudel: Strengthening the federal democratic republic requires economic reform
President Ramchandra Paudel has stressed the need to improve Nepal’s economy by breaking the cycle of low economic growth and strengthening the federal democratic republic.
Speaking at the inauguration of “Nagarkot Visit Year 2082” held at Batasé Hill in Nagarkot today, President Paudel stated that it is a collective responsibility to reinforce the federal democratic system and fulfill the Nepali people’s aspiration for rapid development.
“Tourism, agriculture, water resources, energy, information technology, and industry are the backbone of our economy,” he said. “It is the state’s primary duty to resolve challenges in these sectors, formulate appropriate policies and laws, and create new opportunities. We must generate employment, build an investment-friendly environment, reduce production costs, and promote competitiveness to advance industrialization.”
Jajarkot Earthquake: Damage assessment completed for over 34,000 private houses
As of the end of Chaitra, damage to over 34,000 private houses affected by the Jajarkot earthquake has been recorded.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that detailed damage assessments for 34,035 homes have been entered into its system.
Authority spokesperson and Undersecretary Ram Bahadur KC stated that damage assessments are still ongoing.
Comment