KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Prachanda rules himself out of prime ministerial race, says he won’t join power-sharing deals
Nepali Communist Party (NCP) coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said he is not part of the race among old leaders for power-sharing and has ruled himself out of the competition for the prime minister’s post. In a video message posted on social media platform Facebook on Sunday, Prachanda said he remains committed to fulfilling the dreams of thousands of martyrs and is continuously engaged in struggle to that end.
Final farewell to journalist Sitaula; figures from Kulman to Balen attend
Journalist Dinesh Sitaula, 45, who passed away during treatment at Grandi Hospital in Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon, was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat. Sitaula collapsed and suffered a brain hemorrhage while in Achham on Friday, where he had accompanied Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah. He succumbed to his condition on Sunday.
Clinker embezzlement at Udayapur Cement: Corruption case filed against eight, including former GM
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against eight officials, including former general managers, over large-scale embezzlement of clinker at Udayapur Cement Industry Limited. The CIAA has concluded that a total of 38,769 metric tons of clinker were embezzled between fiscal year 2017/18 and mid-January 2021.
Maoist party unveils manifesto as it enters electoral race for the first time
The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, has unveiled its election manifesto focusing on uplifting the economic condition of poor and marginalized people through state economic policies. The party made public its manifesto at a press conference on Sunday in the presence of General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand, ahead of the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.
Security, weather, political rift raise HoR election doubts
While the House of Representatives (HoR) elections are still scheduled for March 5, and the government and Election Commission (EC) insist they will go ahead as planned, there are several reasons why some observers and political actors think the polls could be difficult to hold on that date, or even be at risk of postponement or loss of credibility: The elections were called after the House of Representatives was dissolved following the Gen‑Z protests on September 8-9, 2025. Some major parties, including a section of the Nepali Congress and CPN‑UML, are pushing for the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament rather than going to polls immediately.
Muglin-Malekhu road faces delays, project extended after minimal progress
The Muglin-Malekhu section of the Prithvi Highway has seen just 37.5% progress in three years, prompting authorities to extend the project by six months. The road contract, signed on December 30, 2022, was originally scheduled for completion within three years. Bids for the Muglin-Nagdhunga section were invited in three phases, with the deadline for the third phase expiring on December 30, 2025. The extension was granted due to discrepancies in design data and mapping, said Bijay Darai, engineer of the western section of the project.
Patanjali land case: Court orders witness examination in case against 93, including Madhav Nepal
The Special Court has ordered the examination of witnesses in the corruption case involving 93 defendants, including Nepali Communist Party co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal. The case relates to the land scam involving Patanjali Yogpeeth in Sanga, Kavre. The order was issued by a bench comprising Special Court Judges Narayan Prasad Poudel and Dilli Ratna Shrestha. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed the case against 93 individuals, including Madhav Nepal, on June 5. Earlier, on June 25, the Special Court had granted bail of Rs 3.5 million to Nepal. With ongoing proceedings, the case is moving toward a final judgment.
Sitaula, who collapsed during Balen’s campaign, dies
Journalist Dinesh Sitaula, who collapsed in Achham while campaigning alongside senior Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balen Shah, has passed away. Sitaula was airlifted from Achham by a Nepali Army helicopter and transferred to Kathmandu via Surkhet. He was receiving treatment at Grande Hospital in Kathmandu, where he was declared dead on Sunday. According to the hospital, he died at 12:45 pm due to a brain hemorrhage. Sitaula had fainted on Friday morning and was brought to Kathmandu that afternoon, where he was placed on a ventilator at Grande Hospital.
India’s budget focuses on manufacturing, but tax hike unsettles markets
India’s annual budget placed renewed emphasis on boosting the manufacturing sector, yet the Modi government’s reform agenda fell short of market expectations amid global economic shifts influenced by the Trump administration. The absence of bold reforms, coupled with a sharp increase in the transaction tax on derivatives, rattled equity markets, which fell roughly 1% during a special trading session on Sunday following the budget announcement, according to Reuters. India continues to be one of the fastest-growing major economies, with GDP expected to expand 7.4% in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Despite this growth, foreign investors have pulled a record $22 billion from Indian equities since last January, and the rupee has weakened to historic lows.
441 polling stations in Karnali Province categorized as highly sensitive
Police have classified 441 polling stations across 351 voting centers in 10 districts of Karnali Province as highly sensitive. Out of the province’s 1,437 polling stations, the Karnali Province Police Office has placed 651 stations on the sensitive list and 301 on the general list, said Office Spokesperson Ram Prakash Shah. Shah added that preparations are underway to deploy 14,719 police personnel across the province to ensure election security.
Harka supporters join Dhobikhola cleaning campaign (Photos)
The ‘Shramdan’ (voluntary labor) campaign initiated by Harka Sampang in Dharan has now reached Kathmandu. Leaders and activists of the Shram Sanskriti Party, led by Sampang, are conducting a Dhobikhola cleaning campaign under Kathmandu Constituency No. 4. The campaign has also drawn active participation from local residents. Party leader and candidate for Kathmandu Constituency-4, Dr. Barun Amatya, along with local community members, has been actively involved in the initiative.
FNCCI President Dhakal stresses priority on economic issues
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, has said that political parties have failed to prioritize economic issues in their election manifestos. Speaking at a program titled ‘Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos’, organized by the Nepal Economic Journalists Association in Kathmandu on Sunday, Dhakal expressed concern over the growing tendency of political parties to focus on criticizing rivals rather than presenting clear and constructive agendas.
Gold and silver prices decline
Prices of gold and silver declined in the domestic market on Sunday, extending their downward trend from Friday. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Federation, the price of one tola of hallmarked gold has been fixed at Rs 300,000, while silver is being traded at Rs 5,500 per tola today. On Friday, one tola of printed gold was priced at Rs 318,800, while silver stood at Rs 7,065. On Thursday, gold was traded at Rs 339,300 per tola, and silver at Rs 7,505.
Ballot papers printed for 18 constituencies in 15 districts
Printing of ballot papers for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system for the upcoming House of Representatives elections, scheduled for March 5, has been completed. According to the Election Commission, ballot papers for 18 constituencies across 15 districts have so far been printed at Janak Education Materials Limited in Bhaktapur. The printed ballot papers cover FPTP elections in Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Humla, Salyan and Jajarkot.
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