KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Oli-Deuba hold talks amid rising sissent within NC
As discontent brews within the Nepali Congress (NC) over the functioning of the coalition government, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba held a one-hour meeting on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
The meeting comes amid growing frustration from senior Nepali Congress leaders toward the Oli-led government.
Following sharp criticism from Dr. Shekhar Koirala, NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa also voiced his dissatisfaction, remarking that the government’s pace was “slower than that of a turtle.”
Govt’s pace sluggish: Gagan Thapa
Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Thapa has expressed disappointment over the government’s inability to meet public expectations, despite the formation of a coalition between the two major political parties.
Speaking at a program organized by the Intellectual Professionals Campaign Council in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Thapa said he had hoped that the coalition would bring significant changes to the constitution and accelerate development work. However, he noted that progress has been sluggish.
“We had expected that once the two major parties formed a government together, there would be immediate changes—especially in governance,” Thapa said.
Madhyapur Thimi comes alive with colorful Sindur Jatra
The vibrant Sindur Jatra featuring 32 khats (palanquin) is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur, on Tuesday.
Among the various festivals observed exclusively in Madhyapur Thimi during Bisket Jatra, the Sindur Jatra with 32 khats stands out as one of the most prominent. During the Jatra, lamps are placed on the khat (palanquin) of the main deity, accompanied by traditional Dhime Baja music.
NEA refutes load shedding rumors, cites weather-related disruptions
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has clarified that recent short-term power outages caused by storms and pre-monsoon weather should not be mistaken for load shedding. In a statement issued Tuesday, the NEA said it remains committed to providing regular, quality, and reliable electricity services to its consumers.
“Our serious attention has been drawn to exaggerated and misleading claims circulating on social media, suggesting the return of load shedding amidst temporary power disruptions caused by storms and adverse pre-monsoon weather in various parts of the country,” the statement read.
American citizen to be deported for chanting pro-monarchy slogans
The Government of Nepal has decided to deport an American citizen who was arrested for chanting pro-monarchy slogans in Kathmandu.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 58-year-old Julian Kirpal will be deported and barred from entering Nepal for the next two years. Kirpal had arrived in Nepal on a tourist visa.
He was arrested on March 27 from Maitighar after he was found publicly chanting slogans in favor of reinstating the monarchy in Nepal. Following his arrest, police handed him over to the Immigration Department for further investigation.
Gold price drops after Rs 10,600 surge over three days
After rising by Rs 10,600 in just three days, the price of gold fell on Tuesday. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Federation, gold dropped by Rs 1,700 per tola today, bringing the price down to Rs 184,300 per tola.
This follows a significant surge in recent days—Rs 5,700 on Thursday, Rs 3,900 on Friday, and Rs 1,000 on Sunday. On Sunday, gold had reached an all-time high of Rs 186,000 per tola.
NC General Secretaries express support for protesting teachers
Ruling Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have expressed concern over the ongoing teachers’ protest in Kathmandu, led by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation.
The general secretaries met with protesting teacher leaders on Monday evening to discuss ways to address their demands. Teachers have been staging an academic strike in the Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor area since April 2, demanding the prompt enactment of the School Education Act.
Teachers’ protest to disrupt new academic session and exams
The Kathmandu-centric protest led by the Nepal Teachers Federation has entered its thirteenth day, with educators from across the country continuing their strike demanding the immediate promulgation of the School Education Act.
Since April 2, teachers have been staging sit-ins and rallies in the Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor area, refusing to return to schools despite the government’s directive to begin student enrollment for the new academic session from today.
The ongoing academic strike has severely impacted the national enrollment campaign and delayed critical education processes, including the checking of answer sheets from the recently concluded Secondary Education Examination (SEE).
NC leader Saud urges swift action to address agitating teachers’ demands
Nepali Congress (NC) leader NP Saud has stated that the party should not delay in playing a decisive role in resolving the issues faced by community school teachers.
As the government has yet to address the demands of protesting teachers even after two weeks of demonstrations in Kathmandu, Saud emphasized that the Nepali Congress must now take a firm stand.
Maoist Center resumes awareness campaign from Nawalpur
The Maoist Centre has resumed its ‘Maoist Postal Road (HUlaki Marga)-Focused Tarai-Madhes Awareness Campaign’ from Gaindakot in Nawalpur. The campaign, which initially began in Jhapa, was put on hold after reaching Chitwan on April 3.
Party Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ arrived in Gaindakot on Monday evening to restart the campaign, coinciding with the Nepali New Year.
Tribhuvan University resumes online application service for certificates
Tribhuvan University has resumed its online application service for transcripts and provisional certificates, removing the requirement for students to be physically present at the Examination Controller’s Office.
Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai, announced that the service officially resumed from 11 AM on April 14, 2025.
According to a notice issued by her secretariat, applicants can now submit their forms online and make payments through Connect IPS.
Gagan Thapa alleges middlemen influence PM’s decisions
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa has raised serious concerns over the growing influence of middlemen in the country’s leadership and economy.
Speaking at a program in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Thapa said the nation’s economic woes are being exacerbated by the undue involvement of intermediaries.
“There is a difference between the private sector and middlemen,” he said. “The current crisis in our economy is the result of interference by middlemen. I’m not pointing fingers at any particular prime minister—but the fact is, middlemen have gained access all the way to the Prime Minister’s bedroom. They have infiltrated the very core of our leadership.”
Four injured in lightning strike in Sankhuwasabha
Four members of the same family were injured after a lightning strike hit Khandbari Municipality-9, Satimeure, last evening during a storm accompanied by wind and rain.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Daksha Kumar Basnet of the District Police Office confirmed the incident, stating that the injured have been identified as Kopila Shrestha, her 18-year-old son Gagan Shrestha, her 18-year-old daughter-in-law Babita Magar, and her 13-year-old daughter Niruta Shrestha.
One-horned rhino ‘no poaching’ reaches 516 days
Poaching of the One-horned rhino has not occurred for the last 516 days. Though rhinos died at Chitwan National Park and its surrounding areas due to natural cause, it has not been poached.
Information Officer of the CNP, Abinas Thapa Magar, poachers killed two rhinos at Chaparchuli area under the eastern sector of the Park on November 16, 2023. The CNP had arrested nine people for their involvement in killing the rhinos and made them public.
Supreme Court orders closure of brick kilns in Panchkhal
The Supreme Court has issued an order to close the brick kilns operating in Panchkhal Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk. The directive follows a writ petition filed by locals, alleging that the brick kilns were causing severe environmental and public health damage. The court issued the order after hearing the petition.
Local activist Shree Krishna Dhimal, along with other residents, had earlier filed the writ petition, naming Panchkhal Municipality, the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Education, and the Department of Archaeology, among others, as respondents.
One arrested with cannabis at Tribhuvan International Airport
Authorities at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) apprehended a man in possession of 6.97 kilograms of cannabis last night. The suspect, a 27-year-old Indian national, had arrived in Nepal aboard a Thai Air flight. According to TIA Security Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police Somendra Singh Rathaur, the narcotics were discovered during a routine luggage inspection upon arrival.
NNRFC recommends borrowing limit of 5% of GDP for Federal Govt
The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC) has recommended borrowing ceilings for the federal, provincial, and local governments for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26.
According to the Commission’s recommendation, the federal government may mobilize internal loans of up to five percent of the country’s estimated gross domestic product (GDP).
Similarly, provincial and local governments may borrow up to 12 percent of their total revenue, including revenue generated internally and received through fiscal transfers.
Madhesh Chief Minister Singh extends best wishes on Judshital festival
Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, Satish Kumar Singh, has extended his best wishes to all sisters and brothers in the Madhes Province on the occasion of the Judshital Siruwa festival.
In a message of best wishes today, the Chief Minister has wished for peace, happiness, good health and a long life among the people of the Madhesh.
High-level political mechanism meeting scheduled for Wednesday
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called a meeting of the high-level political mechanism for Wednesday.
According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the decision to hold the meeting came after a discussion between PM Oli, who also chairs CPN-UML, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting is expected to take place at Baluwatar, either in the afternoon or evening.
Deuba calls Nepali Congress Central Committee meeting
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has called a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee.
The meeting has been scheduled for Baisakh 17 (April 30) at the party’s central office in Sanepa.
General Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel issued a notice on Tuesday, urging all office bearers, members, and invited members of the Central Working Committee to attend the meeting.
Kathmandu Valley sees light rainfall
Various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley, experienced light rainfall this afternoon.
According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light to moderate rains were recorded in most areas of the Koshi and Bagmati provinces today.
Min Kumar Aryal, a meteorologist at the Division, said that the rains were triggered by the influence of the Westerly winds and the increased activity of local winds.
Price of petroleum products drop
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has reduced the price of petroleum products.
A meeting of the NOC Board of Directors has decided to decrease the selling price of petrol, diesel and kerosene by three rupees per liter, to be effective from Tuesday midnight.
With the revision in rates, petrol price has been fixed at Rs 157.50 per liter for the first category, Rs 159 for the second category and Rs 160 per liter for the third category.
Rs 250 million cash seized from truck: charges filed against driver and owner
The Department of Revenue Investigation has filed a case at the Kathmandu District Court against truck driver Kushang Lama and alleged money owner Narayan Paudel for foreign currency misappropriation.
On Chaitra 4, a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office seized over Rs 250 million in foreign currency from a container truck (Na 7 Kha 1652) driven by Lama, en route from Tokha to Jhor in Kathmandu.
Based on the evidence collected, the Department stated that Lama and Paudel have been charged under Sections 3, 4, 5, and 9 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 2019.
The confiscated amount has been valued at Rs 253.4 million as per the exchange rate set by Nepal Rastra Bank. The Department is seeking fines and additional penalties under Section 17 of the same Act.
Bindu Pandey meets UML Chair Oli, four-months after her suspension
Four months after her suspension, CPN-UML leader Bindu Pandey met party chair KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday.
Pandey, who was suspended as a Standing Committee member by the UML Secretariat on Poush 10, held a one-hour discussion with Oli at Baluwatar.
According to sources, the two discussed recent political developments and the circumstances surrounding her suspension.
Rector KC assigned responsibility of TU Vice Chancellor
Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, KP Sharma Oli, has assigned Rector Prof Dr Khadga KC with the responsibility of Vice Chancellor for three months.
The post had remained vacant after Vice Chancellor Keshar Jung Baral resigned from the post.
Rector KC has been assigned with the responsibility of VC following the decision of Chancellor Oli as per the Clause 21 of the Tribhuvan University Act, 2049 until appointment of next VC.
Brother kills 11-year-old sister under drug influence, dumps body in water tank
15-year-old boy has confessed to killing his 11-year-old sister in Lalitpur while under the influence of drugs, according to the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
The tragic incident occurred in Lalitpur Metropolitan City-12, Mangalbazar, in a rented house formerly occupied by the Bohora family.
The family had vacated the house on Falgun 25, but the girl had been missing since Chaitra 4. Her decomposed body was later discovered in the water tank of that same house.
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