KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Voting for new Nepali Congress leadership to begin at 10 am Thursday
Voting to elect the new Central Working Committee of the Nepali Congress will begin at 10 am on Thursday as part of the party’s 15th General Convention. According to the Central Election Committee, 7,255 General Convention representatives will vote to elect the new leadership. Voting had initially been scheduled to begin at 7 am, but was delayed by three hours due to rain and some technical reasons. Prem Bahadur Khadka, coordinator of the Central Election Committee and senior advocate, said voting would begin at 10 am. Seven polling centres have been set up at three locations in Kathmandu. Separate polling centres have been arranged based on provinces and representation categories to facilitate voting, according to the Election Committee.
Supreme Court orders Gandaki government not to take long-term decisions
The Supreme Court has issued an interim order directing the Gandaki provincial government not to make or implement any decisions of long-term significance. A single bench of Justice Shrikant Poudel issued the order on Wednesday while hearing a writ petition filed by Lil Bahadur Thapa, including a certiorari petition. The court’s order was based on claims concerning the CPN-UML’s withdrawal from the Gandaki provincial government and the failure to implement the constitutional provision requiring the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence within 30 days under Article 188(2) of the Constitution of Nepal.
Government moves to reduce period for declaring missing persons dead from 12 years to 45 days
The government has recommended issuing an ordinance to amend existing laws and remove legal obstacles to declaring missing persons dead. A Cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday decided to recommend an ordinance to amend some Nepal Acts related to disasters, introducing provisions to remove legal hurdles in declaring missing persons dead. Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokhrel said the existing provision requiring a person to have been missing for 12 years before being declared dead would be reduced to 45 days in view of the Bhotekoshi floods. The meeting also decided to recommend to the president the issuance of ordinances to amend some Nepal Acts related to land and forests.
Cabinet recommends land and forest ordinances to President
The government has decided to recommend to the President the issuance of ordinances to amend some Nepal Acts related to land and forests. A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday decided to recommend an ordinance to amend some Nepal Acts related to land and another to amend some Nepal Acts related to forests, government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokhrel said. The Cabinet also approved compensation for 153 victims recommended by the National Human Rights Commission for compensation, Pokhrel said.
Gagan urges Deuba faction to stop approaching courts
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has called on leaders of the faction outside the party establishment to end internal disputes and work together to strengthen the party. Addressing the final day of the closed session of the party’s 15th General Convention at Khulamanch in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Thapa recalled the long contributions of senior leaders to the party and urged the rival faction to end the disputes and unite. He said it was time to stop approaching the courts and wasting time and to bring the matter to an end. Thapa recalled that after the court’s decision on April 17, he had made it clear that he would move ahead with the 15th General Convention rather than continue approaching the courts.
Four security officials recommended for departmental action over Tinkune protest
The National Human Rights Commission has recommended departmental action against four security officials for failing to effectively implement a security plan during the pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune on March 28, 2025. In a report on the incident made public on Tuesday, the commission recommended action against the then chief district officer of Kathmandu and officials from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. Those facing the recommendation are then Kathmandu Police Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bishwo Adhikari, Superintendent of Police (SP) Appeal Raj Bohora, Armed Police Force SP Shailendra Shrestha and then Kathmandu Chief District Officer Rishiram Tiwari.
Rabi Lamichhane congratulates Modi on completing 25 years in public service
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane has congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in public service. In a message posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, Lamichhane congratulated Modi and said he was inspired by the transformation and rapid progress India had achieved under his leadership. “India’s transformative journey and rapid progress under visionary leadership is truly inspiring,” Lamichhane wrote. He also noted that Nepal and India share a common history, deep cultural ties and close people-to-people relations, describing the relationship between the two countries as long-standing.
Gagan Thapa declares all factions in Nepali Congress have ended
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has declared that all factions and groups within the party have come to an end. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention on Wednesday, Thapa claimed that groups formed around the Koirala and Poudel names, among others, no longer exist. “Special or otherwise, the Koirala-Poudel factions have all ended. There is no group. From today, all factions are over,” Thapa said. He pledged to move the Nepali Congress forward as a united party rather than on the basis of factions following the General Convention. He said the party must end the groups and divisions that have existed for a long time and move forward in unity.
Gagan urges Deuba faction to stop approaching courts
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has called on leaders of the faction outside the party establishment to end internal disputes and work together to strengthen the party. Addressing the final day of the closed session of the party’s 15th General Convention at Khulamanch in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Thapa recalled the long contributions of senior leaders to the party and urged the rival faction to end the disputes and unite. He said it was time to stop approaching the courts and wasting time and to bring the matter to an end. Thapa recalled that after the court’s decision on April 17, he had made it clear that he would move ahead with the 15th General Convention rather than continue approaching the courts.
Nepal Police deploys over 50,000 personnel for festival security
Nepal Police has implemented the ‘Festival Security Plan 2083’ from Wednesday to ensure reliable and effective security during Bada Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals. Central Police Spokesperson Abhi Narayan Kafle said the plan aims to maintain normal daily life during the festive period, ensure the security of transactions involving banks and financial institutions, and provide full security to passengers travelling to different destinations. “Taking advantage of the festive season, incidents such as theft and robbery, gambling and betting, smuggling and border-related crimes may increase,” he said. “A large number of police personnel have been mobilised to control such criminal activities.” Police have identified the transportation of explosives, customs evasion, theft and robbery at banks and financial institutions, looting, artificial shortages of food, clothing and consumer goods, black marketing, the sale of expired or adulterated products, hundi transactions and circulation of counterfeit currency as potential security challenges.
Gagan Thapa’s ‘National Renaissance and Prosperity’ proposal approved
Various proposals and reports have been approved at the closed session of the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention. The closed session held at Khulamanch on Wednesday approved the political proposal titled ‘National Renaissance and Prosperity’ presented by party president Gagan Kumar Thapa and the contemporary proposal titled ‘The Decline of Political Culture and the Responsibility for Transformation in Line with the Times’ presented by Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma. The closed session also approved General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire’s organisational report and Treasurer Umesh Shrestha’s financial report. With the approval of the political, organisational and financial reports, the Nepali Congress General Convention has now moved toward the process of selecting new leadership.
NC president gets greater authority to nominate 61 central members, four joint general secretaries
The Nepali Congress statute grants the party president the authority to nominate leaders to various positions within the party. Under the statute, the president can nominate four joint general secretaries. The president can also nominate 61 central working committee members. The statute also allows the president to select the party treasurer from among the nominated central members. The party’s organisational structure has been expanded through this General Convention, with several new positions added. One woman general secretary, one senior vice president and one vice president have been added. Likewise, some additional provisions have been introduced for the posts of joint general secretaries. Apart from office-bearers elected by the General Convention, the party president will nominate leaders to various positions under the authority granted by the statute.
Angdembe warns algorithm-driven popularity could push Nepal toward a Ukraine-like situation
Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has said the party must not split, break apart or become divided over ideology at a time when the country is facing difficult circumstances. Addressing the closed session of the Nepali Congress General Convention on Wednesday, Angdembe said it was uncertain when forces driven by algorithms and cheap popularity could push the country into a disaster or a situation like Ukraine. He said the Nepali Congress should not split, break apart or become ideologically divided under such circumstances. Angdembe said the party should move forward by embracing the trust shown by General Convention representatives, ranging from young representatives to senior citizens over the age of 80.
Efforts underway to make Gagan Thapa Nepali Congress president unopposed
Efforts are underway to make Gagan Kumar Thapa the unopposed president of the Nepali Congress at the party’s 15th General Convention. After presidential candidate Kishor Singh Rathore withdrew his candidacy, the Thapa camp has reportedly continued discussions with Shyam Krishna Khadgi to persuade him to withdraw his candidacy as well. Thapa, Khadgi and Rathore had registered their candidacies for the party presidency at the 15th General Convention. According to the Election Committee, three candidates had initially filed their nominations. Rathore withdrew his candidacy on Wednesday, leaving Thapa and Khadgi in the race for the presidency.
Anti-money laundering department raids Cholendra Shumsher Rana’s residence
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has raided the residence of former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana, as well as the homes of some people close to him and his relatives. According to sources, a team from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation has reached Rana’s residence and the homes of people close to him and is carrying out searches. A few days ago, a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office had taken Rana into custody from his residence for several hours around midnight before releasing him.
SC refuses to release businessman Shankarlal Agrawal
The Supreme Court (SC) has refused to release businessman Shankarlal Agrawal, who is in custody pending trial in a money laundering case. A single bench of Supreme Court Justice Mahesh Sharma Poudel on Wednesday refused to register a writ of habeas corpus filed by Agrawal. The bench also upheld the Supreme Court administration’s decision not to register the petition. Earlier, a bench of the Special Court comprising judges Basudev Acharya, Hemanta Rawal and Bidur Koirala had ordered Agrawal to be remanded in custody. The Patan High Court had previously ordered Agrawal to be kept in custody in a banking offence case. However, the Supreme Court later ordered his release on bail.
Preparations underway to reopen all major roads before Dashain
The government has accelerated efforts to repair major roads blocked by floods and landslides and reopen them before the Dashain festival. Department of Roads spokesperson Shubharaj Neupane said work to repair highways and roads damaged by recent natural disasters was progressing rapidly, with the aim of restoring traffic on all major routes before Dashain. “Road repair work has also been expedited in flood-affected districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha,” Neupane said. “Transportation up to Dhunche in Rasuwa will resume within the next four to five days, while the road to Mustang will also be reopened soon.” He said some inconvenience for travellers could remain, but there would be no situation in which people would be unable to return home from Kathmandu Valley or the transportation of food and other essential goods would be completely disrupted because of road blockages.
Tharu Commission presents annual report to President
The Tharu Commission presented its annual report for the fiscal year 2082/83 BS to President Ram Chandra Paudel. Acting Chairperson of the commission Subodh Singh Tharu presented the report to President Paudel at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas, according to the Office of the President.
Dalit Commission presents annual report to President
The National Dalit Commission presented its annual report for the fiscal year 2082/83 to President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday. Commission Chairperson Dev Raj Bishwakarma presented the report to President Paudel at a programme held at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas, according to the Office of the President.
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