KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Auspicious time for Dashain tika set for 10:26 am
The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Development Committee has said the best time for receiving Dashain tika this year is 10:26 am on Wednesday, October 21. According to the committee, devotees should perform Devi Visarjan at 8:49 am on the day of Vijaya Dashami before receiving tika at the auspicious time. Both the person giving and receiving tika should face west. According to the committee, Navaratri and Ghatasthapana will begin on Sunday, October 11. The auspicious time for Ghatasthapana is 11:47 am. Likewise, the auspicious time for changing the flag while facing west is 10:07 am on Monday, October 12. Shri Pachali Bhairav Jatra will be observed on Thursday, October 15, while Phulpati will be observed on Saturday, October 17. The auspicious time for the Shri Tulja Bhawani Jatra on Phulpati is 7:37 am, followed by the auspicious time for Sthirasan at 10:39 am.
Gagan Thapa registers candidacy for Nepali Congress president
Gagan Kumar Thapa has registered his candidacy for the post of president at the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention. Thapa, who was elected party president at the special General Convention, has registered his candidacy for a full term at the 15th General Convention. He became president at the special General Convention held in the final week of last December. Sher Bahadur Deuba had earlier been elected Nepali Congress president at the party’s 14th General Convention. The party had called the special General Convention citing the changed political circumstances following the protests of September 8 and 9. Kishor Singh Rathore has also registered his candidacy to compete against Thapa for the presidency. Likewise, Shyam Krishna Khadki has registered his candidacy for the post.
Nepali Congress candidate uses robot to seek votes at General Convention
Nabaraj Tripathi, a candidate for central member of the Nepali Congress, is using a robot to seek votes at the party’s ongoing 15th General Convention. Tripathi, who is also an engineer, has been walking alongside the robot while meeting General Convention representatives and seeking their votes at the National Assembly Hall. The robot walks ahead of him and asks representatives to vote for Tripathi. After making the appeal, the robot ends by saying, “Jai Nepal!”
Nepali Congress closed session discussions to resume Wednesday
Discussions at the third day of the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention closed session concluded on Tuesday, with the remaining discussions scheduled to resume Wednesday morning. General Convention representatives discussed party president Gagan Kumar Thapa’s political proposal titled ‘National Renaissance and Prosperity’, Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma’s contemporary proposal titled ‘The Decline of Political Culture and the Responsibility for Transformation in Line with the Times’, General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire’s organisational report and Treasurer Umesh Shrestha’s financial report. Representatives from all seven provinces, as well as the party’s sister and well-wisher organisations, took part in the discussions, according to General Convention Management Committee Coordinator Suresh Raj Acharya.
Shyam Krishna Khadki registers candidacy for Nepali Congress president
Shyam Krishna Khadki has registered his candidacy for president of the Nepali Congress at the party’s 15th General Convention. Khadki registered his candidacy to challenge party president candidate Gagan Thapa. Another Nepali Congress leader, Kishor Singh Rathore, is also aspiring to contest for the party presidency. With Thapa also in the race, an election for the post is set to be held. After registering his candidacy, Khadki said he decided to contest the election with the aim of uniting the Nepali Congress.
Court orders Durga Prasai’s release on bail
The Kathmandu District Court has ordered the release of medical businessman and leader of the ‘Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizen Protection Campaign’, Durga Prasai, on bail in an electronic transaction-related offence. A bench led by Judge Umesh Prasad Luintel on Tuesday ordered Prasai’s release on bail of Rs 200,000. Prasai was arrested by the Cyber Bureau on September 28. Police had filed a case against him under the Electronic Transactions Act based on a complaint lodged by Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Rachana Khatiwada.
NC leader Bishwa Prakash Sharma files candidacy for Senior Vice President
Nepali Congress (NC) leader Bishwa Prakash Sharma has filed his candidacy for the post of Senior Vice President of the party. Sharma filed his candidacy for the newly created post on Tuesday during the 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress. He had previously become a vice president of the party through the special general convention. Jhapa leader Uddhav Thapa confirmed that Sharma has filed his candidacy for senior vice president. Sharma has chosen leaders from eastern Nepal as proposers and supporters for his candidacy. The Nepali Congress previously had no provision for the post of senior vice president. The position was created through an amendment to the party statute. There had been speculation within the party that the new post was created with Sharma in mind.
Ministry of Communications signs performance agreements with subordinate bodies
Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina and Communications Secretary Rajendra Kumar Paudel have signed a performance agreement for fiscal year 2083/84 BS. On the occasion, heads of divisions and subordinate bodies under the Ministry also signed performance agreements with Secretary Paudel. The agreements were signed by Arjun Ghimire, chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority; Sangita Pahadi (Aryal), managing director of Nepal Telecom; Devraj Dhungana, executive director of the Security Printing Center; Sandip Rai, general manager of Rastriya Samachar Samiti; Urbashi Basnyat, acting chairperson of Public Service Broadcasting Nepal; Hikmat Bahadur Rawal, general manager of Gorkhapatra Corporation; and Santosh Shrestha, chairman of the Advertising Board.
Binod Chaudhary files candidacy for NC Vice President
Industrialist and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Binod Chaudhary has filed his nomination for the post of vice president of the Nepali Congress. He filed his nomination on Tuesday under the inclusive category. Chaudhary reached the office of the Central Election Committee at the National Assembly and submitted his nomination papers as the registration process for the election of new leadership under the party’s 15th General Convention continued. The National Assembly premises have seen a large presence of candidates, delegates and party cadres as the registration of nominations for various posts in the new Central Working Committee continues. A total of 7,114 general convention delegates from across the country will vote to elect the party’s new central leadership at the 15th General Convention.
Gold price stable, silver price falls
The price of gold remained unchanged in the local market on Tuesday, while the price of silver decreased by Rs 15 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Associations, the price of fine gold remained at Rs 291,500 per tola on Tuesday, while silver was traded at Rs 4,415 per tola. On Monday, fine gold was priced at Rs 291,500 per tola, while silver was priced at Rs 4,430 per tola.
Over 50,000 Nepalis return home through Jamunaha in five days
A growing number of Nepalis have been returning home from India through the Jamunaha checkpoint in Nepalgunj in recent days to celebrate Dashain. The number of Nepalis returning home has been increasing daily as Dashain approaches, according to Rajan Prasad Bhattarai, chief police inspector at the Area Police Office, Jamunaha, Banke. He said more than 50,000 Nepalis had returned home through the Jamunaha checkpoint in the past five days. “There is a rush of Nepalis returning home from India to celebrate Dashain from morning to evening. More than 10,000 people are entering Nepal through the Jamunaha checkpoint every day,” he said. “Nepal Police has been coordinating and taking necessary measures to prevent criminal activities, including robbery, against them in the border area.”
Anyone leaking sensitive state information will face action: Home Minister
Home Minister Sudan Gurung has vowed to take action against anyone who breaches the confidentiality entrusted to them by the state, saying no one will be spared for deliberately leaking sensitive information. Gurung made the statement in a social media post on Tuesday. He said anyone who deliberately betrays the state or their organization by misusing confidential information entrusted to them will not receive immunity and will be brought to justice. On Monday, the government suspended Armed Police Force AIG Banshiraj Dahal from his post over allegations of leaking sensitive information. The Home Ministry accused Dahal of violating official conduct and leaking sensitive information. Gurung said he had long observed a tendency among officials and employees working at the Ministry of Home Affairs and its subordinate agencies to disregard their responsibilities and share confidential or sensitive information with unauthorized individuals or organizations.
Finance Minister Wagle meets World Bank President Banga in US
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle held a bilateral meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga in Washington, DC, on Monday. Wagle, who arrived in the United States leading a Nepali delegation at Banga’s invitation, discussed a range of issues, including the reconstruction of physical and economic infrastructure damaged by the devastating Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods, macroeconomic reforms and the mobilisation of around USD 1 billion for insurance and social protection, according to the minister’s private secretariat. Banga expressed condolences over the loss of lives and extensive damage caused by the disaster in Nepal and pledged significant World Bank support for reconstruction efforts.
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