KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Magnetic cards, special lenses used to cheat gamblers at Casino Waldo in Thamel
Kathmandu police have uncovered a sophisticated gambling fraud at Casino Waldo, operated by Waldo Dynastic Entertainment Pvt Ltd at Chhaya Center in Thamel, where cheaters used magnetic playing cards and special eye lenses to deceive players. The District Police Range, Kathmandu, made the disclosure at a press conference on Wednesday, announcing the arrest of six people, including the alleged ringleader of an Indian gang. Those arrested include Indian nationals Suresh Mahajan (57), Dinesh Verma (37), Vikram Singh (31), and Pramod Maurya, along with Nepali nationals Chija Khadka and Bhawani Pandey.
High-level political dialogue committee visits RSP office
A high-level political dialogue committee visited the central office of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) on Wednesday. During the visit, members of the team held discussions with the party’s acting chairperson and other senior leaders of the RSP. The visit is part of ongoing consultations with political parties amid the current political situation.
Minister Kulman Ghising claims completion of 101 projects in 100 days
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Urban Development, and Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, on Wednesday claimed to have completed 101 projects during his 100-day tenure. Speaking at a press conference held at Singha Durbar, Minister Ghising said he prioritized citizen-centric service delivery across the three ministries under his charge. According to Ghising, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport completed 36 projects, the Ministry of Urban Development completed 33 projects, and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation completed 31 key projects within the 100-day period.
Election Commission appoints officials for National Assembly polls, seven provincial offices set up
The Election Commission has established provincial offices and appointed election officers in all seven provinces for the upcoming National Assembly elections scheduled for January 25. According to Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, district judges have been appointed as election officers for the polls. The appointments are as follows: Bhimraj Prasai in Koshi Province, Shubhnath Puri in Madhesh, Geeta Shrestha in Bagmati, Himal Belwase in Gandaki, Prakash Raj Pandit in Lumbini, Deepak Dhakal in Karnali, and Bhuvan Singh Thapa in Sudurpashchim.
UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel faces backlash over remarks on geopolitics
CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has come under criticism on social media after making remarks linking the return of ambassadors from major powers to Nepal’s sensitive geopolitical situation. Pokharel, the general secretary of the country’s largest communist party, posted on Facebook late Tuesday night claiming that Nepal’s geopolitics were in a delicate phase, citing what he described as a plan by ambassadors of major power nations to return home simultaneously. “Indications of Nepal’s geopolitics being in a very sensitive situation can be understood from the plan of ambassadors of major power countries returning at the same time,” Pokharel wrote on Facebook.
Department of Passports resumes full-capacity service
The Department of Passports has announced that it will begin issuing passports within two working days, stating that a total of 396,000 passports have already been printed. The Department said the passports will be made available to those requiring them on an urgent basis. According to the Department, it had earlier decided to arrange 700,000 passport booklets for the interim period. With the arrival of the required booklets, passport issuance has resumed at full capacity. The Department said it is now personalizing passports at full capacity and supplying them to applicants from district administration offices, area administration offices, and Nepali missions abroad.
Gold price rises by Rs 900 per tola, continues record-breaking streak
Prices of gold and silver have been continuously setting new records over the past few days, with gold prices rising again on Wednesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold increased by Rs 900 per tola on Wednesday. Gold is being traded at Rs 268,100 per tola today, up from Rs 267,200 per tola the previous day. On Tuesday, the price of gold had surged sharply by Rs 5,500 per tola.
Political dialogue with parties positive and productive: Law Minister Sinha
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anil Kumar Sinha has said that discussions with political parties have been positive and productive. Speaking after meeting leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) at the party’s central office, Minister Sinha said the dialogue focused on ensuring that the upcoming House of Representatives election is conducted in a free, fair, independent, and smooth manner. He said the discussions covered election preparedness, timelines, and ways to prevent irregularities. According to Minister Sinha, RPP leaders emphasized that the election must be held as scheduled and shared suggestions to make the process more effective.
NEPSE inches up by 1.37 points, turnover declines
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index edged up by 1.37 points on Wednesday compared to the previous trading day, closing at 2,585.87 points. Despite the slight rise in the index, total transaction volume declined. Trading turnover stood at Rs 3.22 billion, down from Rs 3.42 billion recorded in the previous session. Out of the traded companies, share prices of 111 companies increased, while 142 companies saw a decline and seven remained unchanged.
Health of Rabilaxmi Chitrakar showing improvement
The health of Rabilaxmi Chitrakar, spouse of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, who was seriously injured in a fire during the Gen Z movement, is improving. NCP Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Joint-Coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal visited Khanal’s residence in Dallu on Wednesday to check on her condition and convey their best wishes for recovery.
Consensus on elections emerges, but Oli and Deuba want firm assurances
President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ appeared united at Sheetal Niwas in pushing for the March 5, 2026, elections as the way forward, while Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli demanded clear political and security assurances before committing to the polls. The high-level meeting, convened on the President’s initiative, brought together the Prime Minister and the top leaders of major political parties amid the ongoing standoff following the dissolution of the House of Representatives.
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