KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Prime Minister Oli departs for Spain
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has departed for Spain.
Prime Minister Oli left for Spain on Saturday evening, leading the Nepali delegation to participate in the United Nations’ ‘Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development’.
Before his departure, Prime Minister Oli was bid farewell at the Tribhuvan International Airport’s VIP lounge by Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakashman Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Tourism Minister Badri Pandey, and others. A contingent of the Nepal Army also offered a guard of honor.
Former President announced her return to politics
“After the demise of the people’s leader, when the party and I, along with the entire nation, were plunged into grief, the party made me a competitor in the Kathmandu parliamentary by-election. I felt that while my parents gave me my first birth, the people of Kathmandu gave me my second birth as Bidya Bhandari.”
A wave of immense enthusiasm swept through party workers as former President Bidya Devi Bhandari announced her return to CPN (UML) politics. On Saturday, they filled the Rashtriya Sabha Griha with thunderous applause and chanted slogans: “Long live People’s Multi-Party Democracy!”
‘Maoist Centre committed to promoting national capital, good governance, and prosperity’
Main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has emphasized promotion of the national capital, good governance, and prosperity as the core principles of his party.
In his address to the secretariat meeting and training programme of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, the former PM claimed they had introduced mega infrastructure projects during his premiership.
His private secretariat shared that he laid focus on promoting national capital and maintaining good governance.
Oli walks out without hearing former President Bhandari, cracks joke instead
Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli left a Madan Bhandari Foundation program on Saturday without listening to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s remarks, citing a scheduled flight at 5 PM.
As Bhandari reportedly urged, “Please hear me out too,” Oli responded in a lighthearted manner, saying, “I already know you speak well,” which drew laughter from the audience. “It’s not just today, I’ve been hearing you speak for years, and I know you speak well,” he added, continuing in a humorous tone.
He also remarked that he knew what Ishwar Pokhrel would say too, suggesting there was no need to wait and listen. “I won’t take much time—I’m in a hurry,” Oli said before leaving the event.
RSP and RPP continue House obstruction over visit visa scandal
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) once again obstructed the House of Representatives session on Saturday, demanding the resignation of the Home Minister and the formation of a high-level investigation committee to probe the visit visa controversy.
As soon as the meeting began, RSP lawmaker Ganesh Parajuli, speaking during the time allotted by Speaker Devraj Ghimire, declared that the party’s protest inside the Parliament would continue.
RSP, RPP walk out of parliament as PM prepares to speak
Opposition parties Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) walked out of the House of Representatives on Saturday, continuing their protest over the visit visa controversy implicating Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
The walkout took place just before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was scheduled to address the House. Lawmakers from both opposition parties stood in protest inside the chamber, demanding the Home Minister’s resignation and the formation of a high-level investigation committee.
RPP lawmaker accuses Home Minister of using probe committee to shield corruption
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Roshan Karki has accused Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak of using the government-formed probe committee to shield himself from accountability in the ongoing visit visa controversy.
Speaking during Saturday’s House of Representatives session, Karki criticized the high-level investigation committee led by Shankar Das Bairagi, calling it a convenient tool for the Home Minister to “protect his earnings.”
PM Oli slams ‘selfish elements’ within party
Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has taken aim at internal dissenters, accusing certain “selfish elements” of acting as if the party’s General Convention has already begun, despite it still being far off. Speaking at a tree-planting event organized by the National Youth Association on the occasion of late leader Madan Bhandari’s 74th birth anniversary in Chandragiri-13, Kankali, Oli stressed that the party’s priority is its “Mission 2084”—a drive to secure a single-party majority in the next general election.
PM Oli credits SEE result improvement to students and teachers
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has praised students and teachers for their hard work in improving the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE), saying it marks a positive shift after several years of stagnation.
Addressing Saturday’s session of the House of Representatives, PM Oli said, “The improvement in the SEE results is a matter of joy. The pass rate rising from below 48 percent to 61.81 percent is a significant achievement.”
PM Oli calls Madan Bhandari the guiding force behind Nepal’s political progress
Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli on Saturday hailed late leader Madan Bhandari as the ideological compass that continues to guide Nepal’s political journey, stating that the country is moving forward with Bhandari’s vision at its core. Addressing a national symposium titled Three Decades of People’s Multiparty Democracy held at the Rastriya Sabha Griha on the occasion of Bhandari’s 74th birth anniversary, PM Oli said Bhandari made an irreplaceable contribution to Nepal’s political transformation.
Gyanendra Shahi calls for social boycott of Home Minister and his supporters
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi has called on the public to socially boycott those involved in the ongoing visit visa scam, including their supporters. Speaking to the press outside the Federal Parliament building on Saturday, Shahi said social isolation is necessary to hold the guilty accountable and prevent such scandals in the future.
Nepal ramps up global push for migrant workers’ health rights at World Health Assembly
Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel has launched high-level international efforts to build momentum around Nepal’s proposal on safeguarding the health and safety of migrant workers. The initiative, first tabled during the recent World Health Assembly (May 18–27), is set to be advanced further at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Nepal, currently serving on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), is seeking broader global support for its call to hold employers accountable for the health and safety of migrant workers—many of whom come from Nepal and work in challenging environments abroad.
Arika Gurung wins gold at Thailand Open Karate as Nepal bags multiple medals
Nepali karate star Arika Gurung has won a gold medal at the Thailand Open Karate Championship, defeating Thailand’s Chanakan Khieokham in the senior women’s kumite above 68 kg category.
This victory adds to Gurung’s growing list of achievements after she made history last year by winning a silver medal at the Asian Senior Karate Championship and recently clinched a bronze at the Karate 1 Premier League.
Cleanup drive caried out at Thorong La
A targeted cleanup campaign was recently carried out along the Thorong La section of the Annapurna Circuit, one of the most challenging and high-risk trekking routes in the world.
The effort focused on the stretch between Tanki Manang and the Thorong La Pass — the highest and most dangerous part of the famed trail.
Dengue cases surge in Jhapa
Amid rising dengue cases in Jhapa district since mid-April, the local government has launched a ‘Search and Destroy’ campaign to eliminate mosquito larvae breeding grounds. Health officials reported that 61 dengue infections have been detected in the district between April and June. According to Om Khadka, coordinator of the epidemic control and prevention program under the Health Division of Birtamod Municipality, 54 cases were found in Birtamod, one in Damak Municipality, and six in Gauradaha Municipality.
Paddy planting in full swing across the country
Although the monsoon arrived on time this year, only 17.2 percent of paddy planting has been completed nationwide so far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Sudurpaschim Province leads in planting progress, with 40 percent of its paddy fields already planted. In Karnali Province, 23.9 percent of the planting has been completed. Surprisingly, Madhesh Province—considered Nepal’s rice basket—has recorded the lowest planting rate to date.
PM Oli backs naming and shaming of cyberbullies
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has spoken out against the rising trend of online abuse and toxic behavior on social media, urging society to protect itself from such destructive tendencies.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Oli expressed support for Nepali singers Alina Chauhan and Samikshya Adhikari, who have recently taken a stand against cyberbullying.
Mango festival being held in Dhanusha
A two-day mango festival is set to take place in Dhanusha today and tomorrow. The Chitrapur Mango Festival–2082 is being organized by the Chitrapur Mango Agro Tourism Board on June 28 and 29 in Chitrapur, Bateshwor Rural Municipality-1. Pradeep Mahato, Chairman of the Chitrapur Mango Agro Tourism Board, said the festival aims to promote local mango varieties and establish Chitrapur as a “mango tourism destination.”
Kathmandu Gurkhas announce retained players for NPL Season 2
Kathmandu Gurkhas have announced the list of players they have retained for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The franchise made the announcement on Saturday through its official social media platforms. Among the retained players is national team fast bowler and team captain from the inaugural season, Karan KC, who served as the team’s marquee player. Alongside him, the Gurkhas have retained Bhim Sharki, Dipesh Kandel, Shahab Alam, Pratik Shrestha, and Rashid Khan.
Flights disrupted at Taplejung’s Suketar Airport for two weeks
Taplejung’s Suketar Airport has remained non-operational for the past two weeks, with no flights taking off or landing since June 13 due to poor weather conditions. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), which had resumed flights at the airport in mid-April after a four-month pause, has been forced to cancel all scheduled operations since June 15. According to Narayan Kumar Karki, the NAC station in-charge at Taplejung, four scheduled flights have been cancelled so far because of low visibility and dense fog triggered by the monsoon.
Comment