KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Nepal stands firm against terrorism: Foreign Minister Dr. Rana
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana has reaffirmed Nepal’s firm stance against terrorism, declaring that the country strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Speaking at a memorial event organized by the Indian Embassy in Nepal on Saturday to honor the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, Minister Rana emphasized Nepal’s unwavering commitment to peace and security.
“Nepal strongly condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism,” she said. “We stand firmly against terrorist activities—wherever, whenever, and for whatever purpose they occur.”
PM Oli dismisses govt collapse rumors
Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has dismissed rumors about the government’s collapse, urging lawmakers to stay focused on their legislative responsibilities and upcoming elections.
Addressing the UML parliamentary party meeting today, Oli criticized those who had predicted the government’s fall following Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s return from Thailand.
“I had told you not to follow those who spread illusions,” he said. “Now even Sher Bahadurji has admitted the government will not collapse. We must focus on our work, not on rumors.”
First round of talks between govt and agitating teachers concludes on a positive note
The first round of talks between the government and teachers who have been staging a protest in Kathmandu for the past 25 days concluded on Saturday at Singha Durbar, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions.
The dialogue was held at the call of newly appointed Education Minister Raghuji Pant in an effort to address the concerns raised by the teachers demanding the swift promulgation of the School Education Bill, 2023.
Nepal Teachers Federation President Laxmikishore Subedi, speaking briefly to journalists after the talks, said the discussion had moved forward positively. “Discussions have taken place. The current discussions have ended with further discussions. No time has been set for further discussions,” he said.
NC General Secretaries engage in talks with teachers
Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma have stepped in to hold talks with the agitating Nepal Teachers’ Federation, which has been protesting for the past 25 days demanding a progressive School Education Act.
The move follows instructions from party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who on April 14 directed the two General Secretaries to become actively involved in addressing the demands of teachers.
Responding to the directive, Thapa and Sharma met with leading representatives of the teachers’ movement at the party’s central office and pledged to take necessary initiatives.
Teachers’ protest enters 25th day amid stalemate over School Education Act
The Nepal Teachers’ Federation has continued its agitation for the 25th consecutive day, as talks with the government on Saturday failed to reach a conclusion.
Despite ongoing discussions, teachers gathered at Bijuli Bazaar in Kathmandu on Saturday, chanting slogans demanding the immediate promulgation of the School Education Act and fulfillment of their long-standing demands.
The Federation has made it clear that the protest movement will persist until the government addresses their demands. Protesters voiced concerns that without a new School Education Act, previous agreements between the government and teachers would remain unfulfilled, affecting the future of education reforms.
PM Oli tells UML lawmakers to take clear stand on nationalism
CPN-UML Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called on his party’s lawmakers to take a firm and clear stance in favor of nationalism.
Addressing a UML parliamentary party meeting at Lhotse Hall of the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwor, Prime Minister Oli highlighted the importance of national unity.
“We must take a clear view, take a stand, and stand in favor of nationalism,” he said. “We must criticize activities that weaken the nation in various ways. Because there is nothing bigger than the country.”
Prachanda accuses Oli-led govt of humiliating teachers
Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has sharply criticized the KP Sharma Oli-led government, labeling it as anti-good governance and accusing it of humiliating teachers for political advantage.
Speaking at the swearing-in and handover ceremony of Press Center Nepal on Saturday, Dahal said that Prime Minister Oli, who once incited teachers to protest while in the opposition, was now disrespecting their demands after assuming office.
“It is strange that the same person who encouraged teachers to protest when in the opposition is now undermining them from the Prime Minister’s chair,” Dahal said.
NC leader Tirtharam Dangol passes away
Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former State Minister for Health, Tirtharam Dangol, passed away on Friday night.
Dangol had been receiving treatment for prostate cancer and kidney-related ailments for an extended period. He died at KMC Hospital in Sinamangal, according to family sources.
Born in Kathmandu in 2004 BS, the 77-year-old held several key positions within the Nepali Congress, including treasurer and district president of the party’s Kathmandu chapter. He also served as the Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Journalist summoned after report on NC leader’s son’s involvement in Bhatbhateni looting
Superintendent of Police Bhuvaneshwar Tiwari of the District Police Office, Dhanusha, has come under pressure following a news report by Khabarhub linking the son of Nepali Congress Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav to the looting of Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Koteshwor during the royalist protest on March 28.
SP Tiwari reportedly showed particular interest in the report after the Kathmandu desk of Khabarhub published the story.
According to sources, cadres of the Nepali Congress-affiliated Tarun Dal visited the Dhanusha police office and exerted pressure on him, demanding an explanation for the publication of the news.
Teachers injured in Jhapa bus accident while returning from protest
A bus (Province 1-01-001-Kha 42) en route from Kathmandu to Jhapa met with an accident early Saturday morning along the Dudhe section of the East-West Highway in Shivasatakshi Municipality-9, Jhapa.
According to Milan Kumar KC, Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Jhapa, 16 people were injured in the crash. The injured are currently receiving treatment at Birta City Hospital and B&C Hospital in Birtamod.
Among the injured were 16 teachers who were returning home after participating in the ongoing teachers’ protest in Kathmandu. One of the injured, teacher Leela Prasad Bhandari, recounted that the bus had been swaying abnormally before it veered off the road and overturned.
Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol calls for CIAA to probe corruption in KMC
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol has publicly questioned the role and silence of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) amid growing allegations of corruption within the city office.
Speaking at an interaction with journalists on Saturday, Deputy Mayor Dangol urged the CIAA to investigate ongoing corruption allegations made by Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah against Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain.
“Why is the Authority silent when so many corruption cases arise? The Authority must investigate the metropolis,” she said, expressing concern over the lack of intervention.
She further criticized the selective and incomplete release of footage from the city board meeting, suggesting that such partial disclosures could mislead the public.
KMC municipal meeting not held for four months amid internal rift
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has failed to hold its monthly executive meeting for the past four months, with the last such meeting taking place on December 23, 2024.
Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, speaking to journalists, said that the lack of meetings has disrupted the city’s agenda and operations.
She pointed to growing tensions between Mayor Balena Shah, herself, ward chairpersons, and Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain as the reason behind the deadlock.
“The municipal meeting has not been held for four months, and we don’t need to keep repeating why,” said Dangol. “The day the mayor decides to call the meeting, it will be held. We cannot act outside the established process.”
PM Oli stresses spreading Buddha’s message of peace amid growing global conflict
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for the global promotion of Buddha’s teachings of non-violence and peace at a time when conflict and hatred are on the rise.
Inaugurating the 4th Asian Buddhist Cultural Festival in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, Prime Minister Oli highlighted that the world needs to draw inspiration from the path of peace shown by Gautam Buddha to counter the current threats to global stability.
“In a time when the clouds of war are looming and sophisticated weapons have been developed that can attack from water, land, and air, peace cannot be established through war and violence,” Prime Minister Oli said.
Govt committed to establishing Lumbini as global center for spiritual study: Tourism Minister
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing Lumbini into a global center for spiritual study and contemplation.
Addressing the 4th Asian Buddhist Cultural Festival held in Lumbini on Saturday, Minister Pandey emphasized that the government is working to integrate spiritual, religious, and historical sites such as Ramgram, Devdaha, Tilaurakot, Gotihawa, and Niglihawa into a unified development plan.
This effort, he said, would be guided by the master plan created by world-renowned planner Kenzo Tange.
Protests continue in Birendranagar demanding justice for road accident victim
Relatives of Kali Bahadur Budha, who died after being hit by a vehicle in Birendranagar, have continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day, demanding justice and appropriate compensation.
Budha, 55, a resident of Hima Rural Municipality-4 in Jumla, was fatally struck by a van (Karnali Province 001 Kha 0915) near Radio Nepal in Birendranagar Municipality-2 on April 20 while he was heading toward the bus park. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Provincial Hospital.
Following the incident, family members and locals began a sit-in protest at Erichowk in Birendranagar, expressing anger over the delay in addressing their demands. The protests, which began on Sunday morning, have gained momentum over the week.
How many schools does Nepal have?
The number of schools in Nepal has reached 35,055, according to the latest data from the National Planning Commission.
These include institutions operating with both public and private investment, with the private sector covering around 23 percent of school-level education through parental funding.
Nepal’s education sector has seen notable progress in recent years. The total enrollment rate in pre-primary education has reached 84.7 percent. Of the children who attended early childhood development programs, 66.9 percent have now moved on to Grade 1.
Fire at Bheri Hospital medical store causes Rs 30 million in damages
A fire broke out at the medical store of Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj, Banke, on Saturday morning, causing extensive damage to medicines, equipment, and documents.
According to the hospital, the fire was triggered by a short circuit in a refrigerator inside the medical store. Dr. Nirajan Subedi, Chief Medical Superintendent of Bheri Hospital, said the fire destroyed medicines, laboratory equipment, and expensive vaccines, with preliminary estimates indicating losses exceeding Rs 30 million.
Tourism activities pick up in Koshi Province ahead of tourism year
With the announcement of Tourism Year 2082 BS, Koshi Province has ramped up efforts to boost tourism, aiming to attract 1.5 million domestic and international visitors over the year.
Since the campaign’s launch, tourism-related activities have surged across the province’s districts, bringing fresh optimism to local businesses. Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs are hopeful that the initiative will help revive the tourism industry to its pre-Covid heights.
“We are extremely pleased. The Tourism Year will revitalize the hotel business,” said Tumraj Limbu, Chairperson of the Hotel Association in Bhedetar, a popular hill station in Dhankuta district.
Bagmati Cleanup Campaign manages two metric tons of waste in Kathmandu
Continuing its long-running mission with the slogan “Volunteering for the Nation for Two Hours a Week,” the Bagmati Cleanup Campaign managed two metric tons of waste this Saturday.
The cleanup took place from Rudramati Dobhan to Buddhanagar Bridge in Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 10.
The effort marked the 624th week of the campaign, which has been instrumental in revitalizing the Bagmati River and its surrounding areas. According to Bagmati Cleanup Campaigner Kishore Singh Shahi, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Environment Department assisted in managing the collected waste.
FNCCI President stresses state’s role in promoting intellectual property awareness
Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), has highlighted the urgent need for greater state involvement in encouraging intellectual property (IP) registration and awareness in Nepal.
Speaking at a program organized to mark World Intellectual Property Day, Dhakal noted that a lack of adequate knowledge about IP rights continues to pose challenges to their protection.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; the Department of Industry; and the Office of the Registrar of Copyright.
Former President Bhandari calls for emulating leader Adhikari’s character
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari reminisced former Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari as the person who would deliver with a focus on national interest.
Stating that we should all learn from the qualities such as loyalty, sacrifice and austere lifestyle, the former Head of the State called for inculcating the values and ideals of late Adhikari as a true communist leader.
At an event organized on the 26th Manmohan Memorial Day, Bhandari reminded the nationalistic movements and development initiatives taken by leader Adhikari.
Entry passes distributed for travel to Taklakot as border access resumes
The District Administration Office has resumed the distribution of temporary entry passes for Nepali citizens traveling to Taklakot, the autonomous region of Tibet in China, for business purposes.
The distribution follows the seasonal reopening of access routes via the northern border of Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla district.
According to Chief District Officer (CDO) Narayan Pandey, a total of 374 new temporary entry passes have been issued, while several previously issued passes have been renewed.
Effacing original culture threatens identity, warns KU VC
Kathmandu University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle has expressed concern over the erosion of Nepal’s original culture, stating that multinational companies are flourishing at the cost of indigenous traditions.
Speaking at a two-day conference organized by the Religion and Culture Study Association, Nepal, Dr. Wagle pointed to the growing preference for products like Coke, beer, and whisky over traditional foods like mahi (whey) as a clear sign of cultural erosion.
“There was no tradition of dowry in our culture, but it has now been commercialized, boosting multinational trade,” he remarked.
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