KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung presents three ordinances in first House session
Home Minister Sudan Gurung presented three ordinances during the first meeting of the House of Representatives’ first session on Thursday at the Parliament building in Singha Durbar. The ordinances include the Citizenship (First Amendment) Ordinance; the House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance; and the Nepal Special Service (Third Amendment) Ordinance. Following the announcement of the House of Representatives election date on March 5, the previous government had introduced the House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance to update the voter list.
Rabi Lamichhane stresses justice for Gen-Z martyrs, warns against old ‘foreign interference’ claims
Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has addressed the controversy following the arrest of KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak, urging respect for due process and justice. Speaking at the first meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday at Singha Durbar, Lamichhane recalled those who lost their lives during the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, 2025, emphasizing the need for justice. “The first right to justice belongs to the mother of the martyrs; this cannot be called revenge,” he said.
Rabi Lamichhane vows no revenge, promises systemic reforms in first House address
Rabi Lamichhane, chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has stated that the public mandate given to his party is not merely to govern Singha Durbar, but to transform it. Addressing the first meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Lamichhane emphasized that unlike previous governments, his administration will not seek revenge through law amendments or ordinances. “I assure you, no one will face retaliation under our government. Raising questions against the government will no longer result in anyone’s microphone being cut,” he said. “This government will not indulge in foreign manipulations. Civil servants now understand the pace and priorities of the government. No one has the liberty to act arbitrarily.”
KP Sharma Oli gives statement from hospital in Gen-Z protest case
Former Prime Minister and KP Sharma Oli, arrested last Saturday in connection with the September 2025 Gen-Z movement that left dozens dead and injured, has begun giving his statement to authorities from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Oli, who continues to receive treatment for multiple health issues, is unlikely to be discharged immediately. Consequently, teams from the District Police Office and the District Public Prosecutor’s Office have visited him at the hospital to record his testimony. “Doctors have indicated that he cannot be discharged immediately due to his medical condition, so the statement-taking is being conducted at the hospital,” said Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Office.
20th National Assembly session begins, Dahal emphasizes coordination and constructive debate
The 20th session of the National Assembly under the Federal Parliament has officially commenced. During the inaugural session, Narayan Prasad Dahal, chairperson of the House, highlighted that the National Assembly has established itself as a mature, disciplined, and coordinated legislative body and expressed confidence that this reputation will continue in the coming days. Chairperson Dahal noted that as a permanent chamber, one-third of the National Assembly members vacate their seats every two years under constitutional provisions. Recently, 19 members were bid farewell and 18 new members were welcomed. He expressed the belief that the participation of newly elected members would enrich and strengthen parliamentary work.
Angdembe says Nepali Congress ready to embrace Gen-Z movement’s call for change
Bhishmaraj Angdembe, a leader of the Nepali Congress, has said the party is prepared to embrace the changes raised by the Gen-Z movement. Speaking at the first meeting of the House of Representatives, Angdembe recalled that the Nepali Congress has historically led political transformations and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to taking the issues raised by the Gen-Z uprising to a logical conclusion. He stressed the need for a comprehensive study of the incidents that occurred in Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal on September 8 and 9, 2025, criticizing the selective interpretation of events.
UML youth stage protest, demand leadership changes
Youth members affiliated with the CPN-UML staged a demonstration at the party’s central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur on Thursday midday. The protesters surrounded the building and held a sit-in demanding changes in party leadership. This follows a series of protests by the same group on Wednesday, when they reportedly burned an effigy of General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel and staged a demonstration at the party office. The youth cited continued leadership resistance within the party after the September 2025 Gen-Z movement and the March 5 elections as their motivation to intervene. They accused the UML leadership of failing to adapt to the changing political environment.
RSP decides to nominate DP Aryal for Speaker
The Rastriya Swatantra Party has decided to nominate its vice-chair Dol Prasad Aryal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Party spokesperson Manish Jha said the decision was taken unanimously following a proposal by party chair Rabi Lamichhane. The decision was made during a meeting of the party’s parliamentary party held on Thursday. Aryal, who has served as the party’s vice-chair since its establishment, is being entrusted with the responsibility of leading parliamentary proceedings.
First House meeting disrupted as UML demands release of Oli, Lekhak
The first meeting of the newly elected House of Representatives convened on Thursday at the new Parliament building in Singha Durbar, chaired by senior-most member Arjun Narsingh KC. Proceedings were disrupted immediately after the session began, as lawmakers from the CPN-UML stood up in protest. During the demonstration, UML lawmaker Guru Baral accused the government of violating fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Baral cited constitutional provisions ensuring the right to live with dignity, freedom, and equality, arguing that these rights are being undermined in the current political climate. He alleged that former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak have been detained through misuse of criminal procedures.
Harka Sampang stresses agricultural reform as key to national progress
Harka Sampang, chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, has said that national problems cannot be solved without addressing issues in agriculture, calling for government action to modernize farming and integrate technology. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Sampang stressed that agriculture is the foundation of economic transformation. “Without solving the problems of farming, we cannot solve the nation’s problems. That is why we must modernize agriculture and link it with technology,” he said. “We must utilize all resources and means to advance the country toward prosperity.”
UML’s Ram Bahadur Thapa sarcastically critiques RSP’s victory in first House session
Ram Bahadur Thapa, parliamentary leader of the CPN-UML, delivered a sharp and satirical address regarding the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) March 5 election victory during the first meeting of the House of Representatives. Thapa extended ironic congratulations, including to various powers, institutions, and what he termed the villains of the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, 2025, which he suggested contributed to RSP’s win. “Congratulations to RSP for this unprecedented victory. Many deserve credit for laying the foundation of this historic win — the Nepal Army, the government led by Sushila Karki, the Barbara Foundation, and other security agencies also played a role. Thank them as well,” Thapa said.
Oli remanded to custody for two more days
A court has granted permission to keep KP Sharma Oli, chair of the CPN-UML, in custody for two more days for investigation into a homicide-related case. The bench of Judge Purushottam Khatiwada Kshetri at the Kathmandu District Court issued the order allowing investigators to continue the probe. Oli, who was arrested last Saturday, has begun giving his statement from Thursday in connection with the casualties that occurred during the Gen-Z Movement held on September 8 and 9, 2025.
Barsaman Pun pledges constructive support to government, urges lessons from past
Barsaman Pun, a lawmaker from the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), has expressed readiness to support the government constructively while urging leaders to learn from past mistakes. Addressing the House of Representatives on Thursday, Pun acknowledged that although his party had attempted to achieve more in the past, they fell short. “We are ready to support the government in a constructive way. We tried to do much, but could not achieve it,” he said. “We will scrutinize the areas where we fell short.”
Balen govt overlooks foreign-affiliated colleges regulation in 100-point reform agenda
The government led by Balendra Shah has approved a 100-point governance reform agenda in its first Cabinet meeting, but the plan notably excludes regulation of colleges affiliated with foreign universities, an issue that has remained controversial for years. The omission has raised concerns about whether the government is overlooking a critical sector tied to the credibility and quality of Nepal’s education system. For years, questions have been raised about dozens of colleges operating in violation of set standards under the guise of foreign affiliations, with calls for stricter regulation and action against non-compliant institutions. Despite expectations that a strong government would address long-pending and contentious issues, often ignored due to political instability, the absence of this agenda item has fueled skepticism about the government’s intent to reform the education sector.
Sher Bahadur Deuba clarifies Budhanilkantha residence not sold
Sher Bahadur Deuba has clarified that his private residence in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, has not been sold. Through his secretariat on Thursday, Deuba stated that the large property in Budhanilkantha remains unsold, responding to reports that circulated after a group allegedly linked to the Gen-Z movement set fire to the house on September 9, 2025. Recent news claiming that the house was sold for around Rs 4 billion prompted Deuba, currently abroad, to issue a clarification.
Remittance inflows reach Rs 1.44 trillion in eight months, forex reserves surge: NRB
Nepal Rastra Bank has reported that remittance inflows surged to Rs 1,449.65 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, marking a significant 37.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In its latest report on the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal based on data ending mid-March, the central bank stated that gross foreign exchange reserves rose by 27.5 percent to Rs 3,413.77 billion in mid-March 2026, up from Rs 2,677.68 billion in mid-July 2025. The reserves are sufficient to cover prospective merchandise and services imports for 18.5 months.
Money laundering case filed against TikToker Tulsa Adhikari, five others
Tulsa Adhikari, a TikToker known as ‘Tulsa Collection’, and five others have been charged with money laundering, the District Government Attorney’s Office said on Thursday. According to the charge sheet, the allegations against Adhikari and the others include concealing the source of illegal assets through hundi transactions, as well as transferring and converting such funds to hide their origin. The case has also been filed against Sapana Wali, Nilika Lamichhane, Premnath Basyal, Prayas Pokharel, and Ganga Adhikari Subedi. Authorities have determined a liability of Rs 65.22 million against Adhikari alone.
Kathmandu Metropolitan to launch night public transport from April 14
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in coordination with Sajha Yatayat, is set to launch nighttime public transport services from April 14 (Baisakh 1) in a bid to improve mobility and safety for commuters. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said the initiative comes in response to the lack of public transport after 8:00 pm, which has forced people to rely on expensive travel options. She noted that the absence of reliable transport has particularly affected students, women, and young girls, who often face financial burdens and safety concerns. “People have been facing difficulties due to the lack of public transport and alternatives. Women and young girls, in particular, have faced harassment, while students are under financial strain. We are introducing this service to address these issues,” Dangol said.
Minister Pratibha Rawal begins direct talks with cooperative victims
Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Pratibha Rawal has initiated direct discussions with victims of troubled cooperatives, as the government moves forward with its plan to refund small depositors within 100 days. The minister began engaging with victims on Thursday morning at the ministry, where people affected by various cooperatives from across the country gathered to share their grievances and concerns. Many of them have been struggling for a long time after failing to recover their savings. The interaction has provided victims with an opportunity to directly present their situation to the government, highlighting the financial and emotional toll caused by delayed refunds.
Govt restricts public notices and ads to state-owned media
The government has decided to make it mandatory for all public notices and advertisements to be published and broadcast only through state-owned media outlets. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers issued a directive stating that the move aims to ensure fiscal discipline and enhance transparency in government spending. With the new decision, all public bodies under the federal, provincial, and local governments will now be required to publish their notices exclusively through state-owned platforms such as Gorkhapatra Corporation, Radio Nepal, and Nepal Television. The policy has been introduced after Balendra Shah assumed office as Prime Minister, signaling a shift toward prioritizing government-owned media for official communications.
Task force formed to draft monsoon preparedness action plan
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has initiated preparations for the National Action Plan on Monsoon Preparedness and Response 2083. An 18-member task force has been formed under the coordination of Joint Secretary Roshni Kumari Shrestha, chief of the Authority’s Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division. Authority spokesperson Shanti Mahat said work on the plan has begun, with representatives from disaster-related federal ministries, departments, the Authority, and all three security agencies involved in the task force.
Shekhar Koirala warns of worse electoral outcome if party disputes persist
Shekhar Koirala, a leader of the Nepali Congress, has warned that failure to resolve internal party disputes could lead to even worse outcomes in upcoming elections. Speaking at the launch event of the Kamal Prasad Koirala memorial publication on Thursday, Koirala said that unusual internal conflicts persist within major parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. He stressed that unless unity is restored within the party, it could face further challenges in the future. “If we fail to unite the party, the situation will become more difficult,” he said, adding that he is actively working to resolve internal differences.
Gold price drops by Rs 3,600 per tola
The price of gold dropped by Rs 3,600 per tola on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has been fixed at Rs 294,000 per tola for the day. The precious metal was traded at Rs 297,600 per tola on Wednesday. Overall, gold prices have increased by Rs 8,400 per tola over the past week. Last Thursday, gold was traded at Rs 285,600 per tola.
Woman found burned in Nepalgunj, police detain boyfriend and two others
A 22-year-old woman was found severely burned near a technical institute in Nepalgunj late Saturday night and later died during treatment. The victim, identified as Srijana Budhamagar, was discovered around midnight near the Bheri Technical School in Nepalgunj-12, Koreanpur. Locals rescued her and rushed her to hospital, but doctors declared her dead early Sunday morning. Earlier that day, Budhamagar had gone to the police after a dispute with her boyfriend Mohammad Arif Dhapali, who had allegedly assaulted her multiple times in the past.
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