KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Bureaucrats ask Speaker to remove cooling-off period from Federal Civil Service Bill
Top government bureaucrats in Nepal have become increasingly concerned following the inclusion of a proposed “cooling-off period” in the Federal Civil Service Bill.
The provision, which aims to bar recently retired top civil servants—such as the Chief Secretary and Secretaries—from immediately taking political or other government-appointed positions, has sparked discontent among senior officials.
On Thursday, a delegation of secretaries, led by Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, met with Speaker of the House Devraj Ghimire to pressure him into removing the “cooling-off period” from the bill.
Baburam Bhattarai walks off stage after controversial remark on armed conflict deaths sparks protest
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai faced backlash and was forced to leave a public event mid-session after his comments on the Maoist insurgency drew strong objections from victims’ families.
Speaking at a civic discussion on “The Impact of Transitional Justice on Human Rights and Democracy,” organized by the Human Rights Organization of Nepal in Kathmandu, Bhattarai stated that both the state and the then-rebel Maoist forces should share equal responsibility in concluding the peace process.
He emphasized that the armed conflict involved two sides—the state army and the rebel army—and claimed that around 17,000 people had died during the insurgency.
NEA chief Hitendra Dev Shakya dismisses load-shedding rumors as baseless
Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Hitendra Dev Shakya, has stated that recent rumors about the return of load-shedding in Nepal are entirely false.
Speaking at an event in Biratnagar on Thursday honoring industries and businesses for timely payment and high electricity consumption, Shakya said that social media had unnecessarily fueled speculation about power cuts, which he called baseless.
He assured that NEA is committed to ensuring reliable electricity supply and that such rumors would be disproved by continued performance. Addressing recent power trip incidents, he noted that these were technical issues being resolved and not indicative of a supply shortage.
Corruption case filed against former Soru Rural Municipality chief administrative officer and 10 others
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against 11 individuals, including the former Chief Administrative Officer of Soru Rural Municipality in Mugu district.
The accused include former chief Birendra Malla, engineer Prakash Acharya, assistant sub-engineer Manoj Dhami, accountant Jeth Bahadur Budha, planning section chief Nabin Bumi, consumer committee chair Bishnu Dutta Jaisi, treasurer Nanda Devi Jaisi, secretary Paumal Sarki, road construction monitoring coordinator Dalbir Sarki, committee member Dharma Raj Jaisi, and then-acting ward chair of Ward No. 10 Birendra Bahadur Malla.
Public hope towards Maoist increasing: Chair Dahal
CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has stated that the people have developed new hopes in the Maoist Centre.
Addressing a mass gathering held in Burtibang, Baglung, during the Mid-Hill Highway Awareness Campaign launched by his party, he emphasized that the party is moving forward with renewed momentum.
Chair Dahal expressed confidence that this campaign, which involves listening to the grievances and suggestions of ordinary citizens, will create a new political environment in the country.
Minister Dr Rana meets with Japanese Foreign Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, who is on an official visit to Japan, held a bilateral meeting today with Japanese Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.
The meeting focused on various issues of Nepal-Japan bilateral relations, mutual interests and common concerns, marking the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan relations, which began in 1956, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the discussions, Dr Rana expressed her appreciation for Japan’s long standing cooperation in Nepal’s economic, social and other sectors. She also urged Japan to continue its support, especially as Nepal is set to graduate from a least developed country to a developing nation by 2026.
National economy moving towards positive direction: Prime Minister Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the country’s economy is moving towards a positive direction.
Taking to his social media account, Prime Minister Oli noted that exports have increased by 73 percent compared to last year over the past 10 months, indicating that the economy is on a positive path.
“In the past 10 months, exports have risen by 73 percent compared to last year. During this period, exports amounted to Rs 218 billion. The economy is moving in a positive direction,” Prime Minister Oli mentioned.
NC active membership renewal in limbo
he Nepali Congress’s Active Membership Management Committee has decided to extend the deadline for renewing active memberships until mid-Asar (late June to early July).
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by General Secretary and committee coordinator Gagan Kumar Thapa on Wednesday.
Committee member and central leader Prakash Rasaili ‘Snehi’ said that if the renewal process is not completed by the new deadline, the system at the party’s central office will be automatically locked. Technicians are currently being deployed across all 77 districts to facilitate data entry for the renewal process.
Bureaucrats alarmed over proposed ‘cooling-off period’ in Federal Civil Service Bill
Top government bureaucrats in Nepal have become increasingly concerned following the inclusion of a proposed “cooling-off period” in the Federal Civil Service Bill. The provision, which aims to bar recently retired top civil servants—such as the Chief Secretary and Secretaries—from immediately taking political or other government-appointed positions, has sparked discontent among senior officials.
On Thursday, a delegation of secretaries, led by Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, met with Speaker of the House Devraj Ghimire to pressure him into removing the “cooling-off period” from the bill.
Pro-monarchy movement won’t be tolerated forever: Govt
Minister for Communications, Information and Technology and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung has cautioned that allowing pro-monarchy rallies should not be mistaken for weakness, stating that the government has so far shown restraint by allowing such gatherings.
Concerns raised over irregularities in e-passport tender process
Allegations of serious irregularities have surfaced regarding Nepal’s recent international tender process for electronic passports (e-passports). The Department of Passports, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is being accused of bypassing the legal procurement process while handling two key tenders related to passport printing and data management systems.
PAC directs sub-committees to submit reports within a month
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the House of Representatives has directed its various sub-committees, formed at different times to investigate complaints, to submit their reports without delay.In today’s meeting, PAC Chairperson Rishikesh Pokharel instructed all sub-committees to present their findings within one month. He emphasized the need for swift and effective investigation and urged the sub-committee coordinators to submit their reports as soon as possible. The committee had previously formed nine sub-committees to look into the complaints. A total of 48 complaints were registered with the PAC, which were distributed among the sub-committees for investigation.
Heated exchange erupts between PAC Chair Pokharel and lawmaker Modi
A verbal dispute erupted between Rishikesh Pokharel, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the House of Representatives, and committee member Aman Lal Modi during a meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday. The altercation began after Maoist Centre lawmaker Modi accused Chairperson Pokharel of consistently preventing opposition members from speaking on public interest issues during committee meetings. He criticized Pokharel’s conduct as undemocratic and claimed the Chair was trying to suppress the opposition’s voice.
New NRB Governor faces eight major challenges amid economic uncertainty
After a prolonged tussle, the government on Tuesday appointed economist Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Dr. Poudel holds a PhD from the University of California, USA, and is an expert in economics, agricultural resources, resource management, labor economics, and economic history. He has previously served in various international organizations, worked as a visiting professor at multiple universities, and was also the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission.
While some criticisms have surfaced linking his appointment to political affiliations, his capability to lead the central bank has not been questioned. Analysts say Governor Poudel faces multiple challenges, including the country’s weak economy, Nepal being placed on the FATF grey list, increasing investable liquidity in the banking sector, coordination with fiscal policy, and alignment with NRB staff.
Prachanda slams Dr. Baburam as national laughing stock
Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has launched a scathing attack on Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti) Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, labeling him “the most unintelligent doctor.” Speaking at a press conference in Rukum East, Prachanda dismissed any possibility of party unification with Bhattarai. When asked by journalists about a potential alliance, he responded sharply, “People know him as the most unintelligent doctor. How can we unify with someone like that?”
NEPSE up 19 points on strong banking performance
Nepal’s stock market saw a rise on Thursday, largely fueled by gains in the banking sector. While most other sectors registered losses, the banking index surged by 3.82 percent, leading the overall NEPSE index to climb by 19.04 points. With this gain, the NEPSE settled at 2,688.33 points by the end of trading. Earlier in the day, the index had reached as high as 2,705 points around 12:43 PM but failed to sustain above the 2,700 mark as trading progressed.
RPP Chairman Lingden to engage with youth under 40 ahead of planned movement
Rajendra Lingden, Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and leader of the monarchist alliance preparing for a national movement beginning on Jestha 15 (May 29), is set to interact with youth and professionals under the age of 40 on the eve of the campaign. The event, titled “Why change the system to change the situation? RPP with Youth,” will be held on May 26 at the Rastriya Sabha Griha, Exhibition Road, in the capital.
Nepal Telecom’s profit falls nearly 49%, raising concerns over 5G rollout
State-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) has reported a sharp drop of 48.67 percent in its net profit for the third quarter of the current fiscal year, according to the company’s newly published financial report. The telecom giant posted a net profit of Rs 2.84 billion for the quarter, a decrease from Rs 5.54 billion recorded during the same period last fiscal year — a loss of over Rs 2.69 billion. The company’s cash reserves and current investments have also declined to around Rs 34 billion by the end of the third quarter, signaling concerns about its financial health and liquidity.
Man climbs Everest from sea level in under 4 days
Andrew Ushakov has set a new record as the fastest person to summit Mount Everest from sea level, completing the journey in 3 days, 23 hours, and 7 minutes. Ushakov began his attempt in New York on May 15 at 12:30 a.m., starting at sea level. He flew to Kathmandu, then to Everest Base Camp, before beginning the ascent. He reached the 8,848.86-meter summit at 9:22 a.m. on May 19. The majority of climbers typically take over 50 days to complete the Everest climb, largely due to the need for acclimatization. Ushakov, however, trained for the expedition by spending over 400 hours in a hypoxic tent designed to simulate high-altitude conditions.
Gold price rises by Rs 1,700 per tola
The price of gold has increased in the domestic market today. The price has surged by Rs 1,700 per tola (11.66 grams) today and reached Rs 191,500. It was traded at Rs 189,800 per tola on Wednesday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. Similarly, the Federation has set the price of silver at Rs 2,025 per tola today.
Two Israeli embassy staff killed in Washington D.C. shooting
Two employees of the Israeli embassy in the United States have been shot and killed near the Jewish Museum in Washington D.C., according to authorities. The assailant, who reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” before opening fire on a group of Israeli diplomats, has been apprehended by local police. U.S. media outlets identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago.
Two arrested for foreign employment and visa fraud
Police have arrested two individuals in separate cases of fraud involving foreign employment and fake travel arrangements. In the first case, 32-year-old Ramesh Kumar Yadav, originally from Inaruwa Municipality, Sunsari, and currently residing in Pepsi-Cola, Kageshwari Manohara Municipality–16, was arrested for allegedly defrauding three individuals of Rs. 2.68 million. In a separate incident, Srijesh Karki, a 21-year-old operator of Gilt Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd., residing in Lainchaur, Kathmandu Metropolitan City–26, was arrested on fraud charges.
Mechi Customs Office collects nearly Rs 13 billion in revenue over 10 months
The Mechi Customs Office has collected Rs 12.94 billion in revenue during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2081/82, achieving 91.51 percent of its target for the same period. According to Ishwar Kumar Humagain, Information Officer at the Customs Office, the revenue target up to the end of Baisakh was Rs 14.14 billion. He noted that during the same period in the previous fiscal year 2080/81, the target was Rs 15.86 billion, but only 76.85 percent of that amount was collected. “This year, however, we have achieved 91.51 percent of the target,” he said.
34 killed in road accidents in Parsa over 10 months
Thirty-four people have lost their lives in road accidents in Parsa district during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, according to the District Police Office. In response to the rising number of fatalities, the District Traffic Police Office has been organizing weekly traffic awareness programs aimed at promoting road safety and reducing accidents. Chief of the District Traffic Police Office, Lokraj Bhatta, stated that although 51 people died in road accidents last fiscal year, this year’s number is comparatively lower, thanks in part to ongoing awareness efforts.
Commercial tea production begins in Baglung’s Kathekhola
Tea farmers in Kathekhola Rural Municipality of Baglung are enthusiastic as the tea plants they cultivated by clearing overgrown bushes have started yielding commercial harvests. The success story began in Reshma, Ward No. 7, where tea cultivation on previously unused land has now reached the stage of regular harvesting. Currently, tea is being cultivated on 162 ropanis of land across areas such as Baur, Tingring, and other parts of Reshma.
Paragliding in Pokhara gets a lift with return to original landing site
Pokhara’s paragliding industry is showing signs of revival after months of uncertainty caused by the operation of the Pokhara International Airport. A new decision to allow landings at the original site in Khapaudi and extend flight hours has brought fresh optimism to paragliding pilots and operators.
Sarus crane numbers declining in far-west Nepal
The population of Sarus cranes, a vulnerable and protected bird species, is steadily declining in the Kanchanpur and Kailali districts of far-western Nepal, according to local conservationists. Once commonly seen in the region’s wetlands, sightings of the tall, elegant cranes have become increasingly rare. Experts attribute the decline to multiple factors including habitat loss, chemical use in agriculture, climate change, and poaching.
Over 25 million condoms imported in 10 months
Nepal imported over 25 million male condoms during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, according to data released by the Department of Customs. The statistics show that a total of 25,371,534 male condoms were imported during the review period, amounting to a total value of Rs 182.99 million. Despite the sizable import volume, the government collected only Rs 7,000 in revenue from condom imports during this period, the department noted.
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