KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Mahesh Basnet urges end to factional politics in UML, warns against reviving Bhandari in active role
CPN-UML politburo member and former minister Mahesh Basnet has submitted a set of 10 proposals during the party’s ongoing politburo meeting, cautioning against efforts to bring former President Bidya Devi Bhandari back into active party politics. He said such a move would be both unethical and procedurally flawed.
Basnet made his proposals public through social media, urging the party not to breach democratic norms and internal procedures by allowing a return to active politics merely out of personal preference. He emphasized that positions in the party should be decided through established processes, not individual desire.
He argued that if Bhandari’s membership is to be renewed or reissued, it should be decided by the central committee, not on a whim.
IPPAN urges hydropower projects to stay alert amid heavy rainfall forecast
The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has urged all operating and under-construction hydropower projects to remain on high alert over the next three days, citing forecasts of intense rainfall that could trigger floods across several river basins.
In a public statement issued on Saturday, IPPAN said that the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted heavy rainfall on July 19, 20, and 21 (Shrawan 3–5), which may cause river water levels to surpass warning thresholds in multiple regions.
Based on this forecast, IPPAN has called on project operators to undertake necessary precautionary measures to mitigate potential damage.
KMC concludes scholarship entrance exam for grades 11 and 12, results expected by Sunday
The scholarship entrance examination conducted by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) for students seeking admission in institutional schools under the scholarship quota for grades 11 and 12 has been completed in an orderly and organized manner.
According to KMC’s Education Department, the exam was held on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. across 54 examination centers.
Of the 17,229 applications received from all 77 districts, 16,137 students were selected to sit for the test. Among them, 14,173 students appeared in the examination.
Congress leaders stress unity, call for end to factionalism
Leaders of the Nepali Congress have stressed the need to end factional politics within the party, warning that internal divisions are weakening its organizational strength.
Speaking at a program organized by the Nepali Congress Surya Binayak Municipal Committee in Bhaktapur on Saturday, party lawmaker Durlab Thapa said it was time for all those who believe in democracy to actively contribute to party unity. He noted that the party has become weaker due to internal divisions and stressed the importance of bringing all members together.
Rajesh Khadka, secretary of the Nepali Congress Bhaktapur District Committee, said that the party must dismantle the factional structures that stretch from the central level down to local wards, arguing that it would be difficult to work for the people without internal unity.
11 bridges built, 2 under-construction on Pokhara-Muglin road
Altogether 11 bridges have been constructed while two remain under-construction in the western section (Pokhara-Jamune) of the Pokhara-Muglin Road Project.
Bridges were built over various streams and rivers- Myagde Khola , Kumle Khola, Thade Khola, Samdhi Khola, Mul Khola, Phedi Khola-1, Phedi Khola-2, Haledi Khola, Kali Khola in Tanahu district and Katre Khola in Kaski district, according to Pokhara-Muglin Road Project.
Chief of the Project’s Western Section, Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, shared that a bridge was being built at Bijaypur in Kaski district as a part of the road contract and another one at Seti in Kaski district through a bridge contract.
Final touches left as Muglin–Pokhara road project nears completion
Construction work on the Tanahun section of the Muglin–Pokhara road is nearly complete, with major road expansion and paving finished, officials confirmed.
According to Prakash Chandra Bhandari, chief of the Eastern Section of the Muglin–Pokhara Road Project, blacktopping of the 41.5-kilometer four-lane road from Aanbukhaireni to Jamune has been completed. In addition, six-lane road segments have been developed in Dumre and Damauli town areas.
“All major works have been completed. Minor tasks such as access roads, road safety features, and installation of traffic signs remain,” Bhandari said.
NEPSE jumps 138 points in a week after new monetary policy
Nepal’s stock market saw a notable rise this week following the announcement of an investor-friendly monetary policy by the Nepal Rastra Bank.
The policy, which was introduced last week, was interpreted as flexible and capital market-friendly, triggering a wave of optimism among investors. As a result, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index gained significant ground, increasing by 138.83 points in just five trading days—from 2731.80 points to 2870.63.
The monetary policy came into effect at the start of the new fiscal year, and the market reacted with visible enthusiasm.
Trump withdraws US from WHO pandemic reforms
The United States under President Donald Trump has formally rejected recent amendments to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), citing concerns over national sovereignty and personal liberties.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the decision on Friday, arguing that the changes, agreed to at last year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, “risk unwarranted interference with our national sovereign right to make health policy.”
“We will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans’ speech, privacy or personal liberties,” the two said in a joint statement. They also criticized the WHO for what they claimed was vulnerability to “political influence and censorship, most notably from China, during outbreaks.”
Dhakal appointed chair of Rastriya Banijya Bank board
Dev Kumar Dhakal has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) Limited.
Dhakal assumed office following a unanimous decision by the RBB Board at its meeting on Friday.
With over 30 years of experience at Nepal Rastra Bank—the central bank—Dhakal has served in various capacities, most recently as a director. He brings in-depth knowledge of the financial system, banking operations, and regulatory frameworks.
Established in 2022 BS, Rastriya Banijya Bank currently serves around 4.7 million customers through its 309 branches across all 77 districts of Nepal.
Govt mulls mew climbing route to Everest
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has highlighted the need to explore an alternative and safer route to climb the world’s highest peak, Sagarmatha (Mount Everest), citing increasing risks associated with the traditional route.
Speaking during a discussion held at the Ministry on Friday, Minister Pandey said the route passing through the Khumbu Icefall up to Camp 1 has become increasingly complex and dangerous for climbers.
“Sagarmatha is a symbol of our national pride. Every year, thousands of Nepali and foreign climbers attempt the summit. We must prioritize safer, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternatives to ensure their safety,” Pandey said.
Humla workers compelled to work below minimum wage
Despite the government’s recent decision to raise the minimum wage, workers in Humla are still forced to work for wages far below the legal threshold.
The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security has set the new minimum wage effective from the current fiscal year. According to the updated rates, the monthly minimum wage (excluding tea estate workers) is Rs. 19,550, with daily wages set at Rs. 754, hourly wages at Rs. 101, and Rs. 107 for part-time workers.
These rates were determined under Sub-section 1 of Section 106 of the Labor Act 2074, in line with recommendations from the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee as per Section 107.
95 killed in 1,296 road accidents in Jhapa over past year
A total of 1,296 road accidents occurred in Jhapa district during the fiscal year 2024/25, resulting in the deaths of 95 people, according to the District Traffic Police Office, Jhapa.
Chief Police Inspector Ganesh Poudel reported that 1,934 people sustained minor injuries, while 139 others were seriously injured in these accidents.
Over the same period, action was taken against 52,875 drivers, generating Rs. 395.55 million in revenue. Additionally, 3,174 individuals were penalized under the Intoxicated Driving Act, from which more than Rs. 1.8 million in fines was collected.
Regulation under TRC Act to be finalized soon: Law Minister
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is preparing to formulate regulations in line with the recently amended Transitional Justice Act to enable the full functioning of Nepal’s transitional justice mechanisms.
Despite the appointment of office-bearers to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), progress has been hampered due to the absence of necessary regulations that would allow the commissions to begin substantive work.
“The government is committed to bringing the transitional justice process to a conclusion,” said Law Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya in a statement to the national news agency RSS. “We have intensified efforts to prepare the regulations based on the provisions of the amended Act,” he added.
Sudurpaschim govt directs awareness drive against chhaupadi practice
The Sudurpaschim Province government has instructed all local levels and District Administration Offices across the province to launch awareness campaigns against harmful social practices, including the discriminatory chhaupadi tradition.
A cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ Office in Dhangadhi on Friday decided to take immediate steps after a recent incident in Krishna Municipality-1, Kanchanpur, where a woman died from a snakebite while staying in a chhau hut during her menstruation.
According to the provincial government, the incident highlighted the continued danger posed by the chhaupadi tradition, prompting the administration to intensify efforts to eliminate such harmful customs and regulate discriminatory behaviors including caste-based untouchability.
Over 64,000 receive free legal aid from KMC
More than 64,000 people have received free legal consultations through a service launched by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) in collaboration with Nepal Law Campus.
The program, which began on January 31, 2023, has seen increasing demand across all 32 wards, according to KMC Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol.
Before the service was introduced, legal aid was largely inaccessible to many citizens due to high costs and complicated procedures, Dangol said. “Now, with legal assistance provided for free at ward offices, we are witnessing long queues of people seeking support,” she added.
Skywalk opens for tourists at Ainapahara in Tanahun
A newly constructed skywalk has officially come into operation at Ainapahara, a scenic tourist destination in Abukhaireni Rural Municipality-2 of Tanahun district.
Launched for commercial use on Friday, the skywalk is expected to boost tourism and offer visitors a unique and adventurous experience.
Constructed over a period of one and a half months, the 50-meter-tall and 57-meter-long overhead structure was built at a cost of Rs 1.5 million.
PM Oli claims 2.55 km of roads built daily in last fiscal year
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has claimed Nepal witnessed significant progress in physical infrastructure development, with an average of 2.55 kilometers of road being blacktopped each day in the current fiscal year.
In a post on social media on Saturday, PM Oli claimed that Nepal had made its biggest leap in infrastructure development over the past six years. According to him, a total of 932 kilometers of road have been blacktopped during the current fiscal year alone.
“Six years ago, when our government was in power, the pace of infrastructure development was high. That momentum declined in between, but now that we are back in government, the pace has picked up again. Data shows encouraging progress,” Oli said. “This momentum must be further accelerated,” he added.
South Korea’s ex-president indicted for abuse of power
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Saturday on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of official duties related to his controversial declaration of martial law last year. The indictment comes amid a widening investigation into an alleged insurrection.
Yoon triggered a major political crisis on December 3 when he attempted to undermine civilian authority by deploying troops to the parliament to block lawmakers from rejecting his martial law declaration. He became the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody after resisting arrest for weeks, even using his presidential security team to obstruct investigators.
Though released on procedural grounds in March, Yoon’s trial on insurrection charges has continued. He was detained again last week after a court issued an arrest warrant citing concerns that he might destroy evidence.
442 hectares of forestland reclaimed from encroachers in Madhesh
The Forest Directorate of Madhesj Province has reclaimed 442 hectares of encroached forestland during the fiscal year 2081/82 (2024/25), according to officials.
The reclaimed areas include 175 hectares in Sarlahi, 111 hectares in Saptari, 54 hectares in Bara, 45 hectares in Parsa, 30 hectares in Dhanusha, 12 hectares in Rautahat, 10 hectares in Siraha, and 3 hectares in Mahottari.
Despite this progress, Forest Directorate Director Jagganath Prasad Jaiswal said that 16,599 hectares of forestland across all eight districts of the province remain under encroachment.
UML politburo discusses vice chair Poudel’s statute amendment proposal
The politburo meeting of the CPN-UML, chaired by party chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, is underway at the party headquarters.
According to UML’s publicity department chief Rajendra Gautam, the meeting is currently focused on discussing the statute amendment proposal presented by vice chair Bishnu Prasad Poudel. So far, 32 politburo members have shared their views on the proposal, while 40 members are yet to speak.
The politburo is expected to endorse three key documents already approved by the party’s secretariat, the political report by Chair Oli, the statute amendment proposal by Vice Chair Poudel, and the organizational report prepared by General Secretary Shankar Pokharel.
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