KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Disaster Relief Funds Reach Rs 17.06 Billion
Contributions to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund have continued following the recent flooding of the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa, with the combined balance reaching Rs 17.06 billion as of Wednesday evening. According to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Rs 12.57 billion is currently deposited in the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund across nine commercial banks. In addition, dollar-denominated accounts maintained at Himalayan Bank and Laxmi Sunrise Bank hold a combined balance of US$29.19 million.
Nepali Congress voting postponed to Friday morning
Voting to elect the new leadership of the Nepali Congress under its 15th General Convention, which was scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed. The Election Committee has set a new time for the voting, saying it will begin at 7 am on Friday. Voting had initially been scheduled for 10 am on Thursday but was postponed three times and pushed back to 2:30 pm. However, voting could not begin even at the revised time.
Advance ticket booking for long- and medium-distance buses to open Friday
The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs has announced that advance ticket booking for long- and medium-distance vehicles will begin Friday to facilitate travel during the upcoming festival season. Federation Chairman Punya Prasad Sitaula ‘Saroj’ said passengers will be able to book tickets from Friday morning. He said the federation has made necessary preparations to manage the expected increase in passenger numbers and prevent passengers from being overcharged or otherwise exploited during the festive period. Sitaula urged passengers to verify three key details when purchasing tickets: their destination, travel date and seat number. “Passengers should clearly confirm their destination, travel date and seat number before booking. Whether purchasing tickets online or at a counter, these details should be checked carefully,” he said.
Former President Bhandari takes oath as UML Senior Leader
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has taken the oath of office and secrecy as a senior leader of the CPN-UML, formally assuming a senior position in the party after completing two terms as President of Nepal. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli administered the oath to Bhandari during the party’s Standing Committee meeting on Thursday. The UML Central Committee had earlier appointed her as a senior leader, placing her second in the party hierarchy after the chairperson. Under a recent party directive, Bhandari will attend meetings of the Central Committee, Politburo, Standing Committee and Secretariat and assist the chairperson in party-related matters. Her role is expected to be presented for formal endorsement at the party’s upcoming statute convention.
Kathmandu’s New Bus Park gets busier as Dashain nears
The number of passengers heading home for Dashain has started to increase at the New Bus Park in Gongabu, Kathmandu, as the festival approaches. With more people leaving Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Dashain in their hometowns, the bus park has begun to see growing crowds of passengers waiting to board public vehicles. People who came to Kathmandu for work and other purposes have started returning home for the festival. Transport entrepreneurs said passenger traffic has particularly increased on long-distance routes.
Minister Pokharel asks university to strictly follow academic calendar
Minister for Education and Sports and Pro-Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Sasmit Pokharel, has emphasized the need of enforcing academic calendar, good governance and utmost use of technology for educational reform. Chairing a meeting of the 67th Senate of the Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur today, Minister Pokharel said time has come for us to make universities research-oriented and internationally competitive. He directed the office-bearers to ensure that all academic activities–entrance exam, admission, classes, examinations and result publication align with the calendar. He, however, said the stakeholders could furnish a convincing reason if deadline of academic calendar is affected or missed. The Minister further viewed producing practical and constructive human resources are instrumental in forwarding national development. “I want to request the concerned professors to engage in teaching and research activities in a way to inculcate problem-solving skills and foster creativity, research capacity and employability.”
UML to hold local-level conventions in December
The CPN-UML party has set dates for conventions of its ward and local-level committees. A first meeting of the party’s Standing Committee held at the party central office in Chyasal on Thursday under the chairmanship of party chair KP Sharma Oli decided to hold ward committee conventions on December 12 and local-level committee conventions on December 19. At the beginning of the meeting, Bidya Devi Bhandari, who was nominated as the party’s senior leader by the third Central Committee meeting, took the oath of office and secrecy. According to UML Publicity Department Chief Niraj Acharya, the meeting also decided to organise a national gathering in the first week of December. The gathering will be attended by office-bearers of provincial and district committees, chairpersons and vice chairpersons of local-level committees, and elected representatives from various levels.
Nepali Congress to cover extra day’s accommodation and meals for General Convention delegates
The Nepali Congress will cover the cost of one additional day of accommodation and meals for General Convention delegates after the party’s 15th General Convention was extended by a day. Nepali Congress Treasurer Umesh Shrestha announced the decision at a press conference on Thursday, saying the party would bear the expenses for the delegates’ additional day in Kathmandu. According to Shrestha, the General Convention was initially expected to conclude by October 8. However, as the election process was extended by a day, the party decided to cover the additional accommodation and meal expenses so that delegates would not face an extra financial burden.
Airlines agree to sell tickets at approved fares after PM Balen’s directive
The government has taken interest in complaints that domestic airfares have been excessively increased ahead of the upcoming festive season. Following a directive from Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and the initiative of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadgaraj Paudel (Ganesh), the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) held discussions with officials and representatives of domestic airlines to address public complaints. During the meeting held at CAAN, officials and airline representatives agreed to sell tickets at fares lower than the approved rates during the festive season. They also decided to publish clear information about the applicable fares across all sales and distribution platforms of the respective airlines.
Forward energy system diversification: Minister Shrestha
Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, said government has prioritized development of economy based on energy, so the regulatory agency in this sector should win the trust of investors, consumers and other stakeholders. Minister Shrestha said it while receiving the annual report of the Electricity Regulation Commission for the fiscal year, 2082/83BS. The market needs and stakeholder’s concerns should be taken into account by the regulatory decisions and policies. Commission’s chair Dr Ram Prasad Dhital handed over the report to the Minister today. The Minister further reminded the need of energy diversification in the wake of recent disasters. Diversification of energy mixing helps reinforce energy security, he said, adding that clear, predictable and credible regulatory atmosphere is instrumental in attracting investment.
President stresses shared national resolve for prosperous Nepal
President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that building a prosperous Nepal cannot be achieved through government efforts alone or by any single sector, but requires a shared national commitment from the state, private sector and society as a whole. Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) today, President Paudel expressed hope that the private sector would play a more responsible, creative and leading role in turning the vision of a prosperous Nepal into reality. He appreciated the private sector’s contribution to Nepal’s economic development and stressed the need for greater government-private sector collaboration to make the national economy more dynamic, productive and competitive.
Indian actor Nana Patekar dies at 75
Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most respected performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, passed away on Thursday at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. Patekar was reportedly found unconscious at his home and was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula for treatment. He was declared dead at 5:20 am. Doctors tried to revive the actor for around 45 minutes, but he did not respond to the treatment. Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, confirmed the actor’s death to news agency ANI and said that a medico-legal case has been registered. A post-mortem examination will also be conducted. The news marks the end of a long and distinctive acting career that saw Patekar move comfortably between Hindi and Marathi cinema. He was never an actor who needed elaborate introductions. His voice, expressions and ability to bring a certain intensity to even a few lines of dialogue made him instantly recognisable to generations of film audiences.
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