KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
President to present govt’s Policy and Program on May 2
President Ram Chandra Poudel is set to present the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year in a joint session of both Houses of the Federal Parliament on Friday, May 2.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire informed the House of Representatives about the event during Tuesday’s meeting, reading out a letter received from the Office of the President.
According to Article 95 of the Constitution of Nepal, the President is mandated to present the annual policy and program of the government in a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
Opp’n criticizes govt for dismissing urgent proposal in Parliament
Main opposition Maoist Centre, including opposition parties, expressed strong dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to include their urgent public importance proposal in the parliamentary agenda during Tuesday’s session of the House of Representatives (HoR).
As the session commenced, opposition MPs stood in protest. Speaker Devraj Ghimire then gave the floor to Maoist Centre Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey, who criticized the government for disregarding parliamentary procedure.
Pandey explained that when they inquired about the omission of their proposal from the day’s agenda, they were told that ministers were unavailable to allocate time for the discussion. He called this an example of the government’s neglect of both Parliament and the people’s concerns.
Court seeks written response from Gagan Thapa in contempt case
The Supreme Court (SC) has directed Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa to submit a written response in connection with a contempt of court case filed against him.
The order was issued by a joint bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and Justice Nityananda Pandey. The contempt petition was filed on Sunday by advocates Bishal Thapa, Pratibha Upreti, and Anantaraj Luintel following remarks made by Thapa regarding an ongoing case in the Supreme Court.
President to address both Houses of Parliament on May 2
President Ram Chandra Poudel is scheduled to address the joint sessions of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 2. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, informed the media that the President’s address will take place at 3 PM on that day.
Minister Gurung also shared that a meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday evening also approved the foreign visits of ministers and secretaries. He added that the Cabinet held general discussions regarding the ongoing teachers’ agitation.
HoR endorses Customs Bill
The House of Representatives (HoR) on Tuesday passed the Customs Bill. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel tabled the proposal for the bill’s approval, which was subsequently endorsed by the House.
The bill was originally introduced by the previous government. Then-Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat had registered it in the House of Representatives on 18 Ashoj 2080.
It was forwarded to the Finance Committee of the House for clause-wise deliberation on 18 Chaitra 2080. Following its approval by the committee, the bill was reintroduced in the House on 14 Baisakh 2081, and passed on Tuesday.
Resident doctors continue protest for 27th day in Kathmandu
Protesting doctors continued their demonstrations in Kathmandu today, marking the 27th consecutive day of agitation. Resident doctors, who have been boycotting services since April 4, marched from Maitighar to Baneshwor demanding government action on their longstanding grievances.
The doctors have made it clear that they will not withdraw their protest until the government guarantees them a subsistence allowance equivalent to the Grade 8 pay scale.
NEPSE drops to 2,631 points, trading volume also declines
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index dropped to 2,631.28 points on Tuesday, marking a decline of 15.08 points compared to the previous trading day.
Alongside the index, overall trading volume also saw a decline, with turnover falling from Rs. 8.91 billion on Monday to Rs. 7.57 billion. Out of the traded companies, share prices of 57 increased while 188 declined. All sectoral indices registered losses.
Lawmakers urge govt to address teachers’ demands through dialogue
Lawmakers have urged the government to be sensitive and responsive to the demands of protesting teachers, emphasizing the need to resolve the ongoing crisis through dialogue and consensus.
Speaking during the special hour of Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Sushila Thing called on the government to take the teachers’ agitation seriously. She condemned the April 27 incident where police used batons and water cannons against the protesting teachers.
HoR passes Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts 2081
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts, 2081. The bill, presented by Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, was endorsed unanimously.
Responding to queries raised by lawmakers during the session, Minister Chaurasiya said the government has initiated a process to amend 89 laws and repeal two outdated acts to address technical errors and unintentional loopholes in existing legislation.
Global HR situation ‘alarming’: World Human Rights Report
The 2024 edition of The State of the World’s Human Rights report by Amnesty International has revealed a deeply concerning global human rights situation. Released today, the report highlights an alarming trend toward increased authoritarianism and unchecked corporate greed, which, it warns, are pushing the world into a perilous era. Covering human rights developments in 150 countries, Amnesty International asserts that the world is on the brink of a global human rights crisis.
NC cadres shun renewals even in wards of party’s top brass
The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) extended the deadline for active membership renewal until Monday, April 28, after failing to complete the process by the original mid-April 2024 target.
Active membership is a prerequisite for holding positions in party committees at all levels and for participating in the selection of general convention delegates—who in turn elect the party’s leadership.
The party had aimed to double its active membership from the 13th General Convention, reaching nearly 850,000 members by the 14th General Convention.
Of these, approximately 442,000 were new recruits, while nearly 70,000 existing members failed to renew their memberships on time.
Lawmaker Kathayat urges govt to prioritize Karnali in upcoming budget
Binita Kathayat, a lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has urged the government to prioritize Karnali Province in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
Speaking during a special hour of the House of Representatives meeting today, she emphasized that at least 15 percent of the total capital expenditure should be allocated for the development of roads, transportation, education, health, and employment sectors in Karnali.
CIB arrests 21 people for financial fraud
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested 21 individuals from 11 different districts for conducting illegal financial transactions, obstructing the formal flow of remittances into the country.
According to CIB spokesperson Sudhir Raj Shahi, the suspects were operating under various aliases, carrying out unauthorized money transfers at a time when internal remittance channels were disrupted. The group is accused of conducting illegal transactions amounting to over Rs 17.86 billion.
The CIB found that the illegal funds were being deposited into various bank accounts under the guise of digital wallet transactions, bypassing formal banking and remittance channels.
Lawmakers draw govt’s attention to various contemporary issues
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called on the government to address several pressing national issues during Tuesday’s zero hour session.
A majority of lawmakers emphasized the need to resolve the ongoing protest by school teachers, urging the government to respond to their legitimate demands without further delay.
Bhagawati Chaudhary stressed the urgency of finding a resolution to the teachers’ agitation. Similarly, Bhanu Bhakta Joshi criticized the government for its lack of serious attention and urged it to create a conducive environment for the protesting teachers to return to classrooms.
Pokhara Metropolitan City calls for immediate resumption of teaching activities
Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has urged all relevant parties to immediately resume teaching and learning activities in schools.
In a circular, the PMC emphasized that schools must begin the new academic session by April 30.
The Education Division of PMC issued the notice, calling on teachers and school management to promptly restart classes, which have been disrupted for weeks due to protests by the teachers’ federation. The local authority highlighted the need for schools to be operational by April 30.
Narayangadh-Butwal Road: Night Traffic Suspension in Daunne Extended Until May 14
The suspension of night traffic on the Narayangadh-Butwal road in the Daunne area will continue until May 14 due to ongoing road expansion work.
Previously, traffic had been halted between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM until April 28, and this schedule will remain in place.
Bhawishwar Pandey, Chief District Officer of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta), explained that the construction work in the Daunne area requires a few more days, and traffic will be suspended every day from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM until the end of the month.
Gold price rises by Rs 500 per tola
The price of gold in the domestic market rose by Rs 500 per tola on Tuesday, continuing its upward trend amid strong global demand.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, hallmark gold is now being traded at Rs 188,800 per tola, up from Rs 188,300 on Monday.
Meanwhile, the price of silver has remained stable at Rs 1,970 per tola, the same as the previous day.
Janaki Janmotsav celebrations begin in Janakpurdham
The Janaki Janmotsav has officially begun in Janakpurdham with a formal program at the historic Janaki Temple on Monday.
According to Mahant Ramroshan Das, the temple’s spiritual successor, daily recitations of Shri Ram Katha will take place at 4 pm, followed by Janmata Badhaji Mangalgan and cultural performances in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum at 7 pm.
The Akhand Ramayan recitation will also continue without interruption throughout the festivities.
Kathmandu University and Nepal Policy Institute sign MoU for academic collaboration
Kathmandu University (KU) and the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on academic and policy research initiatives.
The agreement was formalized during a ceremony held on Monday at KU’s School of Management in Balkumari, Lalitpur.
Under the MoU, the two institutions will work together on joint research, publications, and academic exchanges involving researchers, professors, and students. They also committed to mobilizing research grants in the field of public policy and supporting each other’s academic initiatives, said Dr. Dinesh Kafle, Head of the Department of Global Engagement at KU.
Women’s service organization urges inclusive reforms in Political Parties Act
The Women’s Service Organization has submitted recommendations to the Election Commission, calling for the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities, people with disabilities, and youth in the proposed amendment to the Political Parties Act, 2013.
The organization also highlighted the need to make election expenses more economical.
A team led by the organization’s Chairperson, Bhavana Bhatta, handed over a letter of suggestions to Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari on Monday.
The suggestions were prepared following consultations with political leaders, women’s organizations, civil society members, indigenous and marginalized communities, and disability rights and sexual minority activists.
ADB-donated EVs remain unused in Lumbini due to legal dispute
Electric vehicles introduced to promote eco-friendly tourism in the Lumbini region have fallen into disuse due to legal ambiguities and delays in vehicle registration.
Under the South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project of the Asian Development Bank, 19 electric vehicles — including 14 vans and five buses — were provided to the Lumbini Development Fund through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
The vehicles, equipped with air conditioning, disabled-friendly features, automatic doors, and card payment systems, were intended to offer efficient and environmentally friendly transportation for tourists in the sacred birthplace of Buddha.
CIAA files corruption case against nine including govt employees
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case against nine persons, including a chief administrative officer, on charges of corruption in the construction of an agricultural road at Dhankaul rural municipality, Sarlahi.
CIAA registered the case at the Special Court, accusing chief administrative officer Krishnamohan Prasad Sah, engineer Upendra Prasad Sah, assistant Mohamad Rafiq, sub-engineer Sashinjan Kumar Singh of claiming recovery of Rs 779 thousand from them.
Equal development of all provinces essential: Minister Dahal
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, emphasized that development programs must be implemented across all provinces in accordance with the principles of federalism. He stressed that every province should experience equal prosperity.
Speaking at a program organized by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure of Madhesh Province on “Inter-Province Unity and Diversity in Infrastructure Development in Federalism,” Minister Dahal stated that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure balanced development, so that all citizens can benefit from the rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
Man kills wife over domestic dispute in Myagdi
A man killed his wife by attacking her with a wooden stick at Beni Municipality-7 in Myagdi district on Monday morning. The deceased has been identified as Bhagawati BK, 27, a native of Jaljala Rural Municipality-3 in Parbat district, who was currently residing in Mangalghat, Myagdi.
According to a preliminary investigation, Raju BK fatally struck his wife Bhagawati on the head with a wooden stick during a domestic dispute. Bhagawati died on the spot.
Yarsagumba collection season begins in Manang
The collection of Yarsagumba, the prized Himalayan herb, has begun in Manang. Along with locals, collectors from neighboring districts such as Lamjung, Gorkha, and Dhading have also arrived in the region to gather the valuable fungus.
Collection is being carried out in accordance with the Conservation Area Management Regulations 2053, Conservation Management Directive 2056, the Collection and Transportation Directive 2080 for Himalayan protected areas, and other relevant legal provisions.
Nepal Tourism Board engages youth to promote emerging destinations
The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has initiated a campaign to engage the younger generation in discovering and promoting emerging tourism destinations across the country.
As part of this initiative, the board organized a program titled Connecting Content Creators with Package Curators in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
The event aimed to bring together tourism entrepreneurs and content creators to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of lesser-known destinations. Video content featuring tourist spots—from Api Himal in the far west to the Mundhum Trail in the far east—was showcased, covering under-promoted areas in all seven provinces.
Proactive engagement of NC departments energizes the party: President Deuba
Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the proactive involvement of the party’s various departments has brought new energy and dynamism to the organization.
He made the remarks at a program organized by the NC’s Poor and Disadvantaged Uplift Coordination Department at the party’s central office in Sanepa.
The event marked the submission of a report recommending policies and programs aimed at identifying, uplifting, and empowering disadvantaged communities.
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