KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Meritocracy key for NRB governor: PM Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed that the vacant post of the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank should be filled on the basis of merit rather than personal or political proximity.
Speaking at the formal inauguration of the Former Planners Forum Nepal, PM Oli stated, “I do not want to bring anyone into the Nepal Rastra Bank based on personal ties. I want capable individuals who can do the job well. The country will progress if merit-based appointments are prioritized.”
Acknowledging the broader political context, PM Oli added, “Although I am the Prime Minister, I am not the only one in the government. That’s why I give importance to meritocracy as much as possible.”
Collaboration vital to safeguard human life and the planet, says PM Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed the need for collective action to protect human life and the future of the Earth amid rising global temperatures and pollution.
Speaking at the launch of the book Climate Calamity: Justice for Loss and Damage by Dr. Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti on the eve of the Sagarmatha Sambaad, PM Oli stressed the importance of securing a safe and dignified future for coming generations.
“As the Earth gets hotter and the environment more polluted, the future of human life and this beautiful world is increasingly at risk. We must act to protect a safe and dignified future,” said Oli. “Our future generations must be safe, respected, and smiling.”
Nearly Rs 290 million earned from former King Birendra’s property under republic
The government has generated nearly Rs 290 million in revenue this year from properties once owned by the late King Birendra and his family, according to the Office of the Auditor General.
The 62nd annual report states that the Nepal Trust earned Rs 288 million and 55 thousand this year through interest and lease income. Of this, Rs 148 million came from interest earnings, and Rs 140.15 million from lease payments by 10 institutions.
The Nepal Trust was established to manage and utilize in the national interest the properties belonging to King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya after their deaths. According to the Auditor General, the Trust spent Rs 69.5 million during the fiscal year.
Court defers hearing in cooperative fraud case against Rabi Lamichhane
The case against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane has been deferred under the ‘hearing continued’ status by the Pokhara High Court.
The case, which involves allegations of cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, was heard on Thursday by a joint bench of Chief Judge Dr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand and Judge Milan Kumar Rai.
Deputy Attorney General Dasharath Pangeni from the Office of the High Government Attorney began arguments on behalf of the state. According to court spokesperson Neel Prasad Paneru, the prosecution’s arguments will continue on Friday.
Nepal Oil Corporation slashes fuel prices
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced a reduction in the prices of petrol, diesel, and kerosene. According to NOC, the price of petrol has been lowered by Rs. 1, while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been reduced by Rs. 3 per litre. The revised prices came into effect from tomght.
Congress lawmaker Mohan Bahadur Basnet suspended after corruption charges
Nepali Congress lawmaker and former minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet has been suspended from the House of Representatives following a corruption case filed against him.
Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire read out the letter of suspension during Thursday’s House session. Basnet was automatically suspended under the Prevention of Corruption Act after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) lodged a case against him at the Special Court.
Basnet, along with 15 others, faces charges of irregularities and corruption in the procurement of the Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (Teramocs). The CIAA has demanded a recovery of Rs 3.21 billion from the accused.
Government approves operation of Damak Business Tower on lease
The government has decided to allow the 18-storey Damak Business Tower in Jhapa to operate on a fee-based model.
Constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 2 billion, the tower had remained largely unused since its inauguration by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Mangsir 22. The decision comes after the building was left idle for an extended period despite the investment.
The tower, located in Damak-3, Dapgachhi, was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of PM Oli’s development agenda. It was built jointly by Chinese company ZCGIEC in partnership with Ashish Om Sairam Construction Company JV.
Deputy PM Singh meets ADB Vice President Fatima
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, held a courtesy meeting with Fatima Yasmin, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on Thursday.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Urban Development, the two discussed ongoing ADB-supported projects and explored potential new areas of investment.
According to Ministry Secretary Gopal Sigdel, ADB is currently supporting projects under the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, and the Department of Local Infrastructure Development.
Forgery ring uncovered in Tarkeshwar, fake documents used for licenses, certificates, and visas
Police have uncovered a forgery operation in Tarkeshwar Municipality, Kathmandu, where fake documents ranging from licenses and educational certificates to dependent visa marriage registrations were being produced.
A raid was carried out on Wednesday at a document forgery workshop operating in Futung, Tarkeshwar-7. Police have arrested three individuals involved in producing counterfeit documents for government and non-government offices, local bodies, banks and financial institutions, and academic institutions.
Those arrested have been identified as Anjani Bayalkoti of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality-1 in Gorkha, Nirmal Khadka of Champadevi Rural Municipality-7 in Okhaldhunga, and Anju Khatri of Kailan Rural Municipality-2 in Makwanpur.
MPs urge government to make ‘Sagarmatha Sambad’ effective
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday extended their best wishes and offered suggestions to the government for ensuring the effectiveness of the Sagarmatha Sambad, which begins in Kathmandu on Friday.
Speaking during the special hour, MPs from various parties emphasized that the dialogue presents a vital opportunity for Nepal to highlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on the country and to push for climate justice and finance from the global community.
CPN-UML MP Ishwori Gharti underscored the importance of advocating for climate financing. “Although Nepal contributes only 0.03 percent to global carbon emissions, we are bearing the brunt of a crisis we didn’t create. Sagarmatha Sambad is an opportunity to bring the plight of mountain nations to global attention,” he said.
NEPSE down for fifth straight day, closes at 2,611 points
Nepal’s stock market continued its downward trend for the fifth consecutive trading day, with the NEPSE index declining by 8.41 points on Thursday to close at 2,611 points.
Despite the drop, share prices of 82 companies increased, while 164 declined and one remained unchanged. The total daily turnover also decreased, falling from Rs 8.73 billion the previous day to Rs 7.8 billion.
The hotel and tourism sector saw the highest growth, increasing by 4.91 percent, fueled by the satisfactory third-quarter financial statements of companies in the sector. The trade sector also posted a moderate rise of 0.70 percent.
In contrast, several sectors experienced losses. The development bank sector recorded the highest drop at 2.12 percent. The banking sector fell by 0.30 percent, finance by 0.79 percent, hydropower by 0.65 percent, investment by 0.04 percent, life insurance by 0.41 percent, manufacturing by 0.45 percent, microfinance by 0.06 percent, non-life insurance by 0.40 percent, and others by 1.14 percent.
Annual reports of two parliamentary committees tabled in HoR
The annual reports of two key parliamentary committees—the International Relations and Tourism Committee and the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee—were presented in Thursday’s meeting of the House of Representatives.
Rajkishore Yadav, Chairperson of the International Relations and Tourism Committee, presented the “Annual Report of the International Relations and Tourism Committee, 2025”, highlighting the committee’s efforts to review policies, programs, and implementation outcomes in the tourism and foreign affairs sectors.
According to Yadav, the committee has conducted 40 meetings since its formation, offering significant input on issues such as foreign travel effectiveness, and legislation related to the Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Services Authority. The committee also directed improvements in the management of the Pashupati Area Development Fund.
Govt declares seven wards of Kanchanpur disaster-hit
The government has declared seven wards across two municipalities in Kanchanpur as disaster-hit areas. Minister for Communications, Information and Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, informed that a Cabinet meeting held recently made the decision in view of the upcoming monsoon season.
The areas will remain under the disaster-hit designation for a period of three months.
Saru of Nepali origin elected mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough
Former British Gurkha Captain Bhim Saru Magar, a British citizen of Nepali origin, has been elected as the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough in the United Kingdom.
Captain Saru, a councillor from the ruling Labour Party, was elected mayor during the Borough Council’s annual meeting held today. He secured 20 votes, defeating his rival Will Markham, who received 15.
Of the total council members, 19 belong to the Labour Party, 17 to the Conservative Party, and two to the Green Party. Four councillors were absent during the vote.
Health Minister forms committee to revise health institution operating standards
Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has initiated the revision of health institution operating standards to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services across Nepal.
The Ministry of Health has formed a committee to update the existing Health Operating Standards 2020 and the guidelines on the establishment, operation, and upgrading of health institutions 2013.
The revision aims to address gaps in the current standards, including the absence of specific guidelines for specialized institutions such as eye hospitals, ear, nose and throat (ENT) hospitals, and nuclear medicine centers.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Saroj Sharma, head of the ministry’s Quality Measurement and Regulation Division. Other members include Dr. Anup Bastola, joint secretary of the ministry; Roshni Laxmi Tuitui, chief nursing administrator at Bir Hospital; Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, senior public health officer; Deputy Secretary of Law Gopikrishna Regmi; among others.
PM Oli holds talks with Russian delegation, raises concern over Nepalis in Russian military
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli met with a Russian delegation led by Batu Khasikov, head of the Republic of Kalmykia under the Russian Federation, at his official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.
The two sides discussed the long-standing and friendly Nepal-Russia relations. During the meeting, Khasikov invited PM Oli to participate in the International Buddhist Conference scheduled to take place in Kalmykia this September.
In response, Prime Minister Oli requested Khasikov to forward an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an official visit to Nepal.
NC’s Khatiwada questions appointment of advisors
Nepali Congress (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Ramhari Khatiwada has strongly objected to the growing practice of appointing advisors in both federal and provincial governments, claiming many of them serve as middlemen rather than providing genuine guidance.
Speaking during a meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Khatiwada criticized the trend of appointing unofficial advisors who lack constitutional recognition but wield influence through backdoor connections.
He pointed out that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made arrangements for the appointment of a total of 91 advisors, including 45 secretariat members and an expert group of 46 individuals. “These appointments are excessive and lack proper accountability,” he said.
Chinese delegation meets PM Oli
A Chinese delegation led by Xiao Jie, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, met with CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday at his residence in Baluwatar.
During the meeting, the Chinese delegation extended best wishes for the success of the upcoming Sagarmatha Dialogue, scheduled to begin in Kathmandu on May 16. They also expressed China’s readiness to deepen the long-standing friendly relations between the two nations.
NEPSE Chair Paudel promoted to secretary
NEPSE Chair Shobha Kant Paudel has been promoted to the position of Secretary. The decision was made during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting. Paudel, who also serves in the Economic Policy Analysis Division of the Ministry of Finance, was appointed NEPSE Chair by the ministry in December 2023.
Gold price drops by Rs 3,500 per tola
The price of gold in Nepal fell sharply by Rs 3,500 per tola on Thursday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. Gold was traded at Rs 181,800 per tola, down from Rs 185,300 the previous day. The decline follows a drop in prices in the international market.
Fire breaks out at garment shop in Satungal
A fire broke out early this morning at a garment shop in Satungal, located in Chandragiri Municipality-11, Kathmandu. The blaze started around 5:30 am, and efforts are underway to bring it under control. According to Shailendra Thapa, Joint Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents are actively involved in firefighting operations.
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