KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Govt. holding election to establish good governance: PM Karki
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has shared that establishing the foundation of good governance and holding election to the House of Representatives on March 5 are clear mandate given to the incumbent government. She also said the government has been working seriously to fulfill this mandate.
Elections only way out of current crisis: Prachanda
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has said that holding elections within the scheduled timeframe is unavoidable to resolve the current political crisis. Speaking at the program titled “Collaboration for Peace, Stability and Prosperity: A Collective Effort” organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, Dahal said that the way forward is to obtain a fresh public mandate through elections and restore the parliament.
NOC slashes petrol price by Rs 4
Nepal Oil Corporation has reduced the prices of petroleum products. Effective from Thursday morning, the price of petrol has been lowered by Rs 4 per litre, while diesel and kerosene prices have been reduced by Rs 5 per litre each.
Election Commission denies blacklisting candidates over election expense reports; says only fines imposed
Amid widespread media reports claiming that more than a thousand candidates who contested the 2022 elections have been blacklisted and barred from future polls for failing to submit election expense details, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) has clarified that no such decision has been made. The reports named several prominent politicians, including Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Sobita Gautam, alleging they had failed to submit expense statements and were therefore ineligible for future elections.
Kulman Ghising denies relatives’ names in proportional candidate list
Kulman Ghising has clarified that the names of his nephew and father-in-law are not included in the party’s proportional representation (PR) candidate list. Issuing a statement on Facebook, Ghising said false and misleading narratives were being spread by linking certain PR candidates to him, drawing his serious attention. “The individual mentioned in news reports and discussions as my ‘nephew’ is not my nephew. Moreover, he was not recommended from the Ujyalo Nepal Party but from a different team,” Ghising wrote. “Similarly, the person being promoted as my ‘father-in-law’ in the proportional list is also not my actual father-in-law,” he added.
Foreign Minister Sharma leaves for Dhaka to attend Khaleda Zia’s state funeral
Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma has departed for Dhaka to attend the state funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Sharma is accompanied by senior officials from the ministry. He is scheduled to return to Nepal on Thursday, January 1. The ministry said Khaleda Zia’s contribution to strengthening Nepal–Bangladesh relations during her tenure as prime minister remains noteworthy and will be remembered.
Crisis deepens in Ujyalo Nepal Party within 24 hours of merger deal
A serious internal crisis has erupted within the Ujyalo Nepal Party less than 24 hours after it signed a merger agreement with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), with senior leaders openly questioning the decision and demanding that the deal be scrapped. Ujyalo Nepal formally agreed to merge into RSP on Monday, with party chair Kulman Ghising joining RSP in a second-ranking position. However, the agreement, particularly the understanding on leadership roles and proportional representation (PR) nominations, has triggered widespread discontent inside Ujyalo Nepal.
RSP leader Tosima Karki voices dissatisfaction over party’s PR closed list
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Tosima Karki has expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s closed list of proportional representation (PR) candidates for the upcoming House of Representatives election. Taking to social media on Tuesday, Karki criticized the PR list selected by the party, alleging that it failed to provide space for candidates from impoverished and marginalized communities. Stating that the very concept of proportional representation is meant to ensure inclusion of people from geographically remote areas and capable individuals without access or power, Karki said it was inappropriate for relatives of party leaders and those holding vital posts within the party to dominate the PR list.
East–West Highway reopens after 24 hours
The East–West Highway, which had been obstructed since Tuesday morning, has reopened after 24 hours. The highway was blocked after a gas bullet overturned near Lamaha Bridge in Chandrapur Municipality-4 of Rautahat district on Tuesday morning. According to Rajendra Thapa Magar, Inspector at the District Traffic Police Office, the tanker was removed after unloading 21 tonnes of gas overnight.
NEPSE gains 10.87 points, turnover exceeds Rs 5.13 billion
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index rose by 10.87 points on Wednesday, closing at 2,633.76 points amid a trading turnover of Rs 5.13 billion. According to NEPSE, shares worth Rs 5.13 billion were traded during the session. Of the total companies traded, share prices of 163 companies increased, while 89 companies recorded a decline. Prices of eight companies remained unchanged.
RPP unification announcement underway in Kathmandu
A unification announcement program between the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) led by Rajendra Lingden and RPP Nepal led by Kamal Thapa is being held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Earlier, Lingden and Thapa had formally announced party unification and signed an agreement on December 24. Following that agreement, the two sides are organizing a joint event today to officially declare the merger. Party leaders and cadres from both factions are attending the unification announcement program, which marks a significant development in the royalist and conservative political camp.
Madhesh Province government completes cabinet with six new ministers
Nearly a month after the formation of the new government under Chief Minister Krishna Yadav, the Madhesh Province cabinet has been completed with the induction of six additional ministers. The newly appointed ministers took the oath of office and secrecy today at Madhes Bhawan in Janakpurdham, administered by Province Chief Dr. Surendra Lal Karna.
Youth protest in Gwarko demanding access to jobs in South Korea
A group of youths staged a protest in Gwarko, Kathmandu, demanding the opportunity to go to South Korea for employment. The protesters presented a nine-point demand list and demonstrated in front of the EPS Korea branch office, urging authorities to address their concerns regarding overseas job opportunities.
NC need to hold special convention by mid-January to strengthen party unity: Gagan Thapa
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has announced that the party is moving forward to hold a special convention by mid-January (Poush end) to strengthen internal unity and ensure the party is capable of fulfilling its national responsibilities. Thapa stressed that convening the special convention is not only a statutory requirement but also essential for boosting confidence among party members and providing a platform for expressing differing views.
Gold and silver prices down
After several consecutive days of increase, the prices of gold and silver in the local market declined on Wednesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of fine gold has been fixed at Rs 261,000 per tola today. Similarly, silver is being traded at Rs 4,470 per tola. On Tuesday, fine gold was traded at Rs 262,100 per tola, while silver was priced at Rs 4,590 per tola.
Everest Tourism Awards and World Peace Conference to be held in May
AMS Music and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. is set to organize the second edition of the Everest Tourism Awards 2026 along with a World Peace Conference on May 29, 2026, marking International Everest Day. Chairperson of the organizing company, Satyakala Tamang Lama, said the event aims to honor individuals and organizations that have made notable contributions to sustainable tourism, art, culture, and mountain conservation.
Cold wave and dense fog disrupts Narayangadh–Butwal road section, traffic snarls at Daunne
The Narayangadh–Butwal highway has been blocked in the Daunne area due to a severe cold wave, causing major disruption to traffic movement. The road at Khursani Khola in Daunne, West Nawalparasi, has become slippery due to the cold wave, resulting in vehicles skidding and getting stuck. Long queues of vehicles have formed over the past few days, causing passengers significant hardship.
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