KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Shah meets Chinese ambassador to discuss bilateral ties and development cooperation
Prime Minister Balendra Shah held a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Monday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen Nepal-China relations, expand cooperation in various sectors and enhance development partnership between the two countries. Prime Minister Shah stressed the need to deepen Nepal’s longstanding relations with China and work together in areas of mutual interest. Ambassador Zhang congratulated Shah on assuming office and expressed commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between Nepal and China.
Indian ambassador meets PM Balen, conveys Modi’s greetings
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) on Monday and conveyed warm greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Srivastava said the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen Nepal-India relations during their meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar. In a post on X, the Indian ambassador said they exchanged views on deepening the “multifaceted and strong partnership” between Nepal and India. The meeting lasted around 45 minutes. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also confirmed that the discussions focused on further strengthening bilateral relations.
Opposition protests PM Balen’s remarks on Nepal ‘encroaching’ on Indian territory
Opposition lawmakers continued their protest in the House of Representatives on Monday, demanding that Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory be removed from the parliamentary record. The prime minister made the remarks on May 31, saying Nepal had also encroached on Indian land. Opposition lawmakers have described the statement as “anti-national” and have demanded that Shah clarify his remarks in Parliament. At the start of Monday’s House meeting, opposition lawmakers stood up in protest and called for the prime minister to appear before Parliament and provide an explanation.
CIAA investigates assets of former PMs’ former personal secretaries
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has launched investigations into the assets of individuals who served as personal secretaries to former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the anti-graft body is examining the sources of assets belonging to Bhanu Deuba, who served as Deuba’s personal secretary when he was prime minister, as well as Ganga Dahal, who served as Dahal’s personal secretary, and her husband, Jeevan Acharya. The CIAA has begun collecting details of Bhanu Deuba’s assets and financial transactions as part of a detailed investigation, the sources said. The investigation follows a complaint filed with the commission.
Finance minister urges multinationals to expand investment, production and jobs in Nepal
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has said protecting legally made investments, created assets and earned profits is a major responsibility of the government. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of 20 major multinational companies at the Ministry of Finance on Monday, Wagle urged the companies to increase investment, expand their industries, introduce new products and bring new technologies into Nepal. He assured the representatives that the government would support their efforts.
RSP lawmaker urges government to end cooking gas shortage, promote electric stoves
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Lima Adhikari Acharya has urged the government to immediately address the hardship faced by consumers due to shortages of cooking gas. Speaking during the zero hour of the House of Representatives on Monday, Acharya said citizens were being forced to queue for cooking gas with empty cylinders until midnight, calling the situation a sign of government negligence. She said households were struggling to prepare even their daily meals while consumers were compelled to wait in long queues for gas. Acharya also highlighted what she called a contradiction between Nepal’s energy situation and the shortage of cooking fuel.
Chitwan elephant, gharial breeding centres offer free entry to visitors
Visitors will now be able to enter the Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor and the Gharial Breeding Centre at Kasara inside Chitwan National Park free of charge. The National Trust for Nature Conservation has removed the entrance fees collected at the two centres effective from July 19, resulting in free access for both domestic and foreign tourists. Previously, foreign visitors were charged Rs 100, domestic visitors Rs 50 and students Rs 30 for entry. The breeding centres are popular among tourists visiting Sauraha. The Elephant Breeding Centre had been collecting around Rs 7 million annually in entrance fees, while the Gharial Breeding Centre collected around Rs 4 million.
Task force formed to study revival of Biratnagar Jute Mill
The government has formed a task force to study options for reopening the Biratnagar Jute Mill. A decision to form a task force comprising experts was taken at a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday to assess the mill’s existing financial, technical and legal condition and recommend suitable options for its revival. According to Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Birendra Kumar Yadav, the meeting reviewed the current condition of the mill, previous government decisions and study reports prepared by various agencies before deciding to form the task force.
41 disaster incidents reported across Nepal in a single day
A total of 41 disaster-related incidents were reported across various districts of Nepal within a 24-hour period from 10 am on August 8 to 10 am on August 9, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). The incidents left 20 people injured, with snakebite cases accounting for all reported injuries. According to NDRRMA, the incidents included 20 cases of snakebite, nine fires, eight landslides, one lightning strike, two incidents of heavy rainfall and one wildlife attack. A total of 173 police personnel were mobilised to assist with disaster response and relief efforts, the authority said.
Locals, security personnel build temporary embankment to protect Susta
Local residents and security personnel have joined hands to construct a temporary embankment along the Narayani River to protect Susta land and settlements from flooding and river erosion. The water level in the Narayani has risen in recent days, increasing the risk of inundation and erosion in nearby settlements. Locals have been filling sacks with sand and soil and placing them along the riverbank to prevent floodwaters from entering the villages. Since Wednesday, residents of Susta Rural Municipality-5, from Susta Tharu Tole to the area around the Simhal tree, known as a border landmark, have been working alongside the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to build the temporary embankment.
Devotees throng Pashupatinath, Shiva temples across Nepal on final Monday of Shrawan
Devotees have thronged Pashupatinath Temple and Shiva shrines across the country since early Monday morning on the final Monday of the holy month of Shrawan. Despite the rainfall, devotees have been lining up to enter the temples and offer prayers. According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust, all four gates of Pashupatinath Temple were opened from 3 am to facilitate devotees seeking darshan. Arrangements have been made for safe, orderly and convenient darshan, as well as special worship rituals. A large number of devotees have also been arriving at Pashupatinath after bringing holy water from Sundarijal to offer to Lord Shiva.
Thousands of devotees gather at Sundarijal for Bol Bam pilgrimage
Thousands of devotees have gathered at Sundarijal in Kathmandu for the Bol Bam pilgrimage on the final Monday of the month of Shrawan according to the solar calendar. Every Monday during Shrawan, devotees gather along the Bagmati River at Sundarijal, take a ritual bath, wear clean clothes and carry holy water to the Pashupatinath Temple to offer it to Lord Shiva. The Bol Bam pilgrimage on Sunday night was organised by the Bol Bam Kanwariya Association, Sanatan Yuwa Manch Nepal and other organisations. Devotees began arriving at Sundarijal on Sunday evening, where they performed ritual baths and other religious activities before collecting water to carry to Pashupatinath.
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