KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Prachanda defends two-point agreement with govt as in national interest
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Chair of the CPN (Maoist Centre), stated today that the two-point agreement reached with the government on Friday was made in the national interest.
Speaking to media persons at Biratnagar Airport on Saturday morning, Prachanda said that for national interest, it is a continuous process of sometimes moving forward with agreements, sometimes stepping back, and sometimes rebelling. He suggested that the agreement could be understood in any way.
The former Prime Minister further explained that the agreement was reached because they believed a prolonged obstruction of Parliament would create problems, and it was deemed necessary to resume parliamentary proceedings.
Risk of wider war grows as Iranian missile strikes cause damage in Israel
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated significantly following a fresh wave of Iranian missile attacks on Israel, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
In a large-scale overnight assault from Friday midnight into early Saturday, Iran launched hundreds of missiles targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. Among the arsenal were several ballistic missiles, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities.
Following the barrage, air raid sirens rang across major Israeli cities, prompting authorities to instruct civilians to seek shelter. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), over 100 missiles were launched, most of which they claim were intercepted or landed off target. However, multiple Israeli news outlets, including The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, reported substantial damage from some of the Iranian strikes.
Gagan Thapa proposes new method to end factionalism in Nepali Congress
Gagan Thapa, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, has put forth a new proposal aimed at ending the persistent factionalism within the party.
He introduced this idea while addressing the third conference and training program of the Nepali Congress Provincial Assembly Regional Working Committee, Constituency No. 6, Province ‘A’, Kathmandu.
General Secretary Thapa believes that factionalism, a long-standing issue in the Nepali Congress, would cease if all active members of the party were empowered to directly elect the party president.
Two-point agreement with ruling alliance will be reviewed: Narayan Kaji Shrestha
Narayan Kaji Shrestha, senior vice-chair of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has said that the party will review the recent two-point agreement made with the ruling coalition that led to the resumption of Parliament.
Speaking at the sixth convention of the party’s Dolakha–Kathmandu Contact Coordination Committee held in Kathmandu on Saturday, Shrestha said that discussions about the agreement have yet to take place within the party.
“An agreement with the ruling parties helped reopen Parliament. But various developments have followed since then. I have not had the chance to discuss them with our chairperson,” he said. “So until we reach a conclusion through discussion, I cannot say anything definitively. The agreement will be reviewed based on whether it served the interests of our party and the campaign for good governance.”
Education Minister aims to pass School Education Bill by June 29
Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Raghujee Pant, announced today that efforts are underway to pass the School Education Bill through the House of Representatives by June 29 (Asar 15).
Speaking at the National Dialogue Program on Sustainability and Excellence of Community Campuses on Saturday, Minister Pant stated that the government is pushing forward with the aim of getting the bill approved by the specified date.
“I want to make sure that we pass the School Education Bill from the House of Representatives by June 29, if possible,” Minister Pant said.
Nepal announces squad for T20I tri-series in Scotland
Nepal has announced its squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series against Scotland and the Netherlands, set to begin this Sunday in Scotland.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) released the squad on Friday evening. Compared to the recent ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 ODI series, two players have been dropped while three new faces have been added to the T20I squad.
Lokesh Bam, Kiran Thagunna, and Rupesh Singh have been included, while Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha have been ruled out due to injuries.
Four crusher and brick factories shut down in Mandandeupur for tax evasion
The Mandandeupur Municipality in Kavrepalanchok district has shut down four crusher and brick industries after they failed to pay taxes despite multiple notices, the municipal office confirmed on Friday.
Led by Mayor Tok Bahadur Waiba, a monitoring team comprising local representatives and members of the local Chamber of Commerce sealed the industries that were either unregistered, had not paid taxes, or had failed to renew their licenses.
The team shut down three brick factories and one crusher plant. The Sant Washing and Crushing Industry, located in Ward No. 9 of Rayobari, was sealed after it failed to pay taxes amounting to Rs. 4.58 million since the fiscal year 2021/22.
Govt committed to environmental protection and EV promotion: Finance Minister
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel today highlighted the government’s strong commitment to environmental protection and pollution control, urging every Nepali citizen to contribute to this crucial effort.
Speaking at the Electric Vehicle (EV) Rally organized by Annapurna Media Network, Minister Paudel stated that the government is actively formulating policies that prioritize environmental protection, keeping in mind the potential risks posed by climate change.
“Ensuring a clean environment is not just a concern for a specific country; it’s a shared concern for the entire planet,” said Finance Minister Paudel.
Nepal drops one spot in FIFA Women’s Rankings
Nepal has slipped one position to 100th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings released by football’s global governing body.
Previously ranked 99th, Nepal’s points tally dropped by 0.12, pushing the team down to the 100th spot. Among Asian nations, Nepal is now ranked 20th.
Nepal had moved up four places earlier this year after an impressive performance in a home-based four-nation tournament in February, where they defeated Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan, drew one match with Myanmar, and lost to Myanmar in the final.
Meet the man who has rescued over 1,500 snakes in eastern Nepal
As evening fell over Urlabari in Morang, panic spread through a household when a large snake slithered into their kitchen. Terrified, the family called someone they knew could help—Ramesh Bhandari.
Bhandari, calm and composed, arrived swiftly. He reassured the family, identified the species, and safely rescued the snake. For most, this would be a nerve-wracking encounter. But for Bhandari, now 29, it’s routine. For the past eight years, he and his team have been rescuing snakes across eastern Nepal.
A resident of Urlabari-4, Bhandari has rescued over 1,500 snakes from fields, homes, schools, barns, ponds, roadsides—even drains. Whether venomous or not, if there’s a snake, Bhandari responds.
NRN Sujan Katwal awarded prestigious MBE by UK government
Non-resident Nepali businessman and social worker Sujan Katwal has been awarded the prestigious MBE medal by the British government. Katwal was awarded the prestigious ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) in the list of various awards made public on the occasion of the British monarch’s birthday.
Speaking to the media after the announcement, Katwal said that he was very happy, while dedicating the honour to his team, family and community that inspired him to serve society.
Katwal was recognized for his special contribution to the community through social service. He had provided free food to more than 250,000 people during the COVID-19 pandemic and had played an important role in the welfare of the community through various other social works.
Baglung jeep accident: Death toll rises to four
The death toll from a jeep accident in Baglung’s Dhorpatan Municipality–5 has risen to four, according to local authorities.
The accident occurred around 5:45 pm on Friday at Batasedanda when a jeep, with registration number Lu Pra 01001 Cha 1775, was traveling from Burtibang Bazaar to Chaur in Dhorpatan-5. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged approximately 60 meters down a slope.
Two passengers, 70-year-old Narbahadur Karki and 75-year-old Bhimkumari Budha, both from Dhorpatan-2, died on the spot.
Security tightened at Janakpur High Court’s Birgunj Bench after judges harassed inside courtroom
Security has been significantly tightened at the temporary bench of the Janakpur High Court in Birgunj after an incident of misconduct targeting sitting judges inside a courtroom.
The Parsa District Police Office has overhauled the security arrangements by replacing all 14 personal security officers (PSOs) assigned to judges, as well as other personnel responsible for courtroom and compound safety.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when three individuals, reportedly affiliated with the CPN (Bahumat), misbehaved with Justices Dr. Khusiprasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan during a session inside the courtroom itself.
Managing Director of World Bank Group pays courtesy call on PM Oli
Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank Group, Wencai Zhang, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday.
During the meeting held at the PM’s residence, Baluwatar, they discussed mutual cooperation for the achievement of development goals through increased investment and employment opportunities in Nepal. PM Oli thanked the World Bank for accepting Nepal’s six-year strategic cooperation framework (2025-31) and expressed happiness over the World Bank’s continued financial and technical assistance to Nepal on its journey towards the achievement of SDGs and graduation to the developing country.
The government has prioritized youths’ involvement in the modernization of agriculture, the increase of productivity, entrepreneurship, and the service sector, PM Oli reminded, underlining the need for proper compensation to Nepal for the loss and damage caused by climate change.
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