KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Home Minister Aryal recommended for National Assembly membership
The government has recommended Om Prakash Aryal for appointment as a member of the National Assembly of Nepal. A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to recommend Aryal to Ram Chandra Poudel for nomination to the upper house. Aryal was appointed Home Minister on Bhadra 30 by interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki. He previously served as a legal advisor when Balen Shah was mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. A legal professional, Aryal was also involved in the process of forming the current interim government.
Lamichhane instructs leaders not to announce ministerial names on their own
Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane, has instructed party leaders not to publicly declare ministerial candidates on their own, stating that the parliamentary party leader has yet to be selected. Lamichhane issued the directive while virtually participating in a secretariat meeting held at the party’s central office on Sunday. The meeting was convened to finalize the names of 57 proportional representation candidates expected to win seats from the party’s PR list.
CIAA files corruption case against former Revenue Investigation chief over Rs 7 million bribe
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption and money laundering case against former Director General of the Department of Revenue Investigation, Jhalak Ram Adhikari, along with two others. The anti-graft body on Sunday accused Adhikari of accepting a bribe of Rs 7 million from Shrikrishna Shrestha Bijyu, operator of H.K. Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., promising to facilitate an investigation related to revenue leakage.
Cabinet decides to accept $24.26 million grant assistance
The Cabinet has decided to accept grant assistance worth $24,267,427 for a project aimed at reducing disaster risks in Nepal’s glacial river basin areas. According to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, a Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Sunday approved the grant to be received from the Green Climate Fund through the United Nations Development Programme. The funding will support a project aimed at reducing risks from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Nepal’s Himalayan river basins and protecting local livelihoods and property.
Supreme Court upholds EC decision declaring Matrika Yadav winner in Dhanusha-1
The Supreme Court of Nepal has upheld the decision of the Election Commission of Nepal declaring Matrika Prasad Yadav of the Nepali Communist Party as the winner from Dhanusha Constituency-1. A joint bench of justices Binod Sharma and Meghraj Pokharel on Sunday refused to issue an interim order in a writ petition filed by Kishori Sah Kamal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party against the Election Commission.
PM Karki says she never imagined Oli would lose election
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said she never imagined that K. P. Sharma Oli, chair of the CPN-UML party, would lose in the March 5 election. In an interview with Rastriya Samachar Samiti on Sunday, Karki said she was surprised by the result, noting that Oli had long maintained a strong political base in the area. “Oli has been active in politics there for 30–40 years. It is his support base and stronghold, so I never imagined he would lose,” she said.
Shrestha appointed Chair of NTNC
Adarsha Kumar Shrestha has been appointed the Chairman of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Prime Minister and Trust’s Patron Sushila Karki appointed Shrestha, a permanent resident of Sindhuli district, to the post for five years, PM’s Press Advisor Ram Bahadur Rawal said. The post was lying vacant after the resignation of Chairman Ain Bahadur Shahi. Shrestha holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
NCP nominates nine PR lawmakers after winning eight direct seats
The Nepali Communist Party has submitted the names of nine candidates to the Election Commission of Nepal for election to the House of Representatives of Nepal under the proportional representation (PR) system. The list includes five men and four women. Of the nine nominees, seven are from the faction led by party coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal and two from the camp of co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal.
RSP recommends 57 candidates for PR seats
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has recommended 57 candidates for the proportional representation (PR) seats in the House of Representatives of Nepal. A meeting of the party’s Central Secretariat held on Sunday finalized the list and submitted it to the Election Commission Nepal. According to the party, the list includes 17 Khas Arya, 16 Indigenous Janajati, 8 Dalit, 9 Madhesi, 4 Tharu, and 3 Muslim candidates.
Nepali Congress recommends 20 PR lawmakers to Election Commission
The Nepali Congress has recommended 20 leaders as members of the House of Representatives of Nepal under the proportional representation (PR) system and submitted the list to the Election Commission Nepal. A meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee held in Sanepa on Sunday endorsed the list. According to party spokesperson Devaraj Chalise, the names were sent in line with the criteria set by the Election Commission. The list includes 15 women and 5 men, as required by PR provisions.
Congress President Thapa, party leaders meet Prime Minister Karki
A delegation of Nepali Congress leaders, led by party president Gagan Thapa, met with Prime Minister Sushila Karki at Baluwatar on Sunday. The delegation, which included vice-presidents Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal, discussed the party’s role in ensuring the smooth conduct of the recent elections. Prime Minister Karki expressed her gratitude for the Congress’s supportive role in the elections and encouraged party leaders not to be discouraged by electoral defeats, according to her press advisor Rambahadur Rawal.
Nepalis in UAE urged not to spread misinformation on social media
The Nepali Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has urged Nepalis residing there not to spread rumors or post content related to security concerns on social media, citing the evolving situation in the country. In its ‘Advisory-3,’ the embassy requested that the Nepali community refrain from posting, sharing, or broadcasting sensitive information, videos, or images related to the current security situation on digital platforms. The advisory emphasized that such activities could create confusion and misperceptions. The embassy reminded Nepalis that everyone in the UAE must comply with local laws and warned against engaging in any illegal or unauthorized activities. Under UAE law, violations can lead to imprisonment of one to three years and fines ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 dirhams. Additionally, the embassy urged people not to approach, photograph, or publicly share debris resulting from intercepted missiles or drones.
Harka Sampang makes public names of four PR MPs
The Shram Sanskriti Party has publicly announced the names of four proportional representation (PR) MPs. Party Chair Harka Sampang shared the list, which was submitted to the Election Commission, via social media. The party has nominated Purna Prasad Limbu under the indigenous quota, Ambika Devi Sangraula for Khas Arya women, Radhika Ramtel for Dalit women, and Rubi Kumari Thakur for Madhesi women. In addition to these PR seats, the Shram Sanskriti Party has won three seats directly in the House of Representatives.
RPP finalizes four names to become PR MPs
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has finalized the names of four individuals to become proportional representation (PR) MPs. The decision was made at a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee held at its central office in Dhumbarahi on Sunday. According to party spokesperson Mohan Shrestha, the committee has decided to recommend four people from the proportional closed list for membership in the House of Representatives. The finalized names include Bharat Giri (Khas Arya male, Mahottari), Tahir Ali (Muslim male, Rupandehi), Khusbu Oli (Khas Arya female, Jhapa), and Saraswati Lama (Janajati female, Dhading).
Showers sweep western Nepal as low-pressure system advances
Western Nepal woke up to rainfall on Sunday as a low-pressure system triggered showers across the region. The system is now moving eastward, bringing cloudy skies, fog, and scattered rainfall to hilly and mountainous districts. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the rainfall has occurred due to the influence of a western low-pressure system. Information Officer Dinkar Kayastha said it has been raining since morning in districts including Dadeldhura, Doti, Achham, Bajura, Bajhang, Gulmi, Kaski, Tanahun, Palpa, Arghakhanchi and Manang. He added that the rain-bearing system has now reached Chitwan.
SC postpones hearing on Deuba’s petition against Gagan Thapa
The Supreme Court (SC) did not take up the writ petition filed by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba against Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa on Sunday. The petition, challenging Thapa’s recognition by the Election Commission following the party’s special general convention, remains pending as the same bench handled other election-related cases. The hearing had been scheduled before a Supreme Court bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Meghraj Pokharel, but it was not taken up. This bench is also hearing a writ filed by Dhanusha-1 MP Kisori Sah against the Election Commission (EC).
Former President Bhandari and PM Karki visit Gundu to meet UML Chairman Oli
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sushila Karki visited Gundu, Bhaktapur, to meet CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who is mourning the loss of his father. Former President Bhandari arrived at Oli’s residence on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by some aides. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Karki reached Gundu around 1 pm to offer her condolences and spoke with Oli upon arrival. Security arrangements were tightened in the area since her visit. Oli’s father, Mohan Prasad Oli, passed away on Friday at the age of 97 at Korean Hospital in Bhaktapur. Oli is currently managing his father’s affairs in Gundu.
Yogesh Bhattarai calls for end to internal hate speech
CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has called for an immediate end to misinformation and hate speech within the party, claiming that some senior leaders have been spreading slander and false information against him and other leaders. Expressing his views through social media, he urged that the ongoing “misinformation” and “hate speech” within the party be stopped immediately. Bhattarai said that the party’s recent secretariat meeting was chaired by Vice-Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa, as party Chairman KP Sharma Oli is currently observing mourning following the death of his father. He stated that making negative comments at such a time of mourning is inappropriate.
NEPSE at 2,825 points, trading volume exceeds Rs 14 billion
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index rose by 4.45 points on Sunday, closing at 2,824.90 points. On the day, the total trading volume exceeded Rs 14.32 billion, with 39.5 million shares bought and sold. Greenlife Hydropower recorded the highest single-company trading volume of Rs 810 million, followed by Ridi Power Company (Rs 670 million), National Hydropower Company (Rs 620 million), Himal Dolakha Hydro (Rs 550 million), and Radhi Bidyut (Rs 450 million). A total of 124 shares saw price increases, led by Solu Hydro (10%), Salpa Bikas Bank (9.99%), Hotel Forest Inn (9.93%), Greenlife Hydro (9.53%), and Abhiyan Laghubitta (5.31%). Meanwhile, 130 shares saw price declines, and 9 shares remained unchanged. Sector-wise, the hotel and tourism, investment, life insurance, and collective investment indices decreased, while the other indices recorded gains.
Gold and silver prices fall in domestic market
The prices of gold and silver declined in the local market today compared to last Friday. The price of gold dropped by Rs 4,800 per tola, while silver decreased by Rs 225 per tola. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Federation, the price of gold in the domestic market has been fixed at Rs 309,400 per tola today. Similarly, the price of silver has been set at Rs 5,270 per tola. Last Friday, gold was traded at Rs 314,200 per tola, while silver was priced at Rs 5,495 per tola.
Development expenditure at 19 percent in eight months
Development expenditure in the current fiscal year has remained weak, with only about 19 percent of capital spending completed by the end of Falgun (March 14), according to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO). The federal government had allocated a total budget of Rs 1,964.11 billion for the current fiscal year, of which Rs 926.59 billion has been spent by mid-March, accounting for 47.18 percent of the annual budgetary allocation. Under the current expenditure heading, Rs 118.98 billion was allocated, of which 54.37 percent has been spent so far. In contrast, capital expenditure remains significantly low, with only Rs 407.89 billion allocated and 19.24 percent utilized. Under the financial management heading, out of Rs 375.24 billion allocated, Rs 205.95 billion (54.89 percent) has been spent.
Two arrested with undisclosed cash in Kathmandu
Police have arrested two individuals with undisclosed cash worth Rs 1,063,840 near Jay Nepal Hall in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-1. The Central News Room of the Police identified the arrested as 27-year-old Deepak Shrestha and 25-year-old Sunil Shrestha, both residents of Ramechhap Khandadevi Rural Municipality-5, and currently residing in Kapan, Kathmandu. According to police, officers from Police Circle Durbarmarg intercepted the two riding a scooter (Ba Pa 02-52 Pa 6994) heading towards Nagpokhari from Hitipokhari. They were arrested along with the cash, and further investigations are underway.
109 kg marijuana seized in Mahottari
Police have seized 109 kilograms of marijuana from Ramgopalpur Municipality–8 in Mahottari district. According to Superintendent of Police Heramba Sharma, chief of the District Police Office Mahottari, the marijuana was recovered from an Indian car (DL 1 CO 5869) near Sahasaula Chowk. The contraband had been hidden in 20 bags and was reportedly being transported to India. Police said the vehicle was intercepted at around 11 pm last night by a joint team from the Narcotics Bureau and the Area Police Office, Ramgopalpur, following a confidential tip-off that marijuana was being smuggled to India via the East-West Highway. The driver of the car managed to flee the scene and remains absconding. Police have taken the seized marijuana and the vehicle under control and initiated further legal proceedings, Superintendent of Police Sharma said.
All seven killed in Gorkha road accident were Indian nationals
Authorities have confirmed that all seven people who died in a road accident in Gorkha last night were Indian citizens. The accident occurred when a microbus (Bagmati Province 006 BA 8430) carrying passengers returning from a pilgrimage to Manakamana Temple crashed near Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-3. According to Superintendent of Police Bharat Bahadur BK of the District Police Office, Gorkha, seven of the 14 people traveling in the microbus died on the spot. The deceased include five men and two women, all Indian nationals, police said. Seven other passengers were seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals. Police said the vehicle went out of control and plunged about 200 meters down a roadside slope. Except for the driver and co-driver, all the passengers in the vehicle were Indian citizens. The identities of the deceased have yet to be confirmed.
14 people arrested with drugs from various parts of Nepal
Police have arrested 14 individuals with illegal drugs from various locations across the country, including Kathmandu, Sunsari, Chitwan, Saptari, Bardiya, Kailali, and Parsa. According to the Central News Room of the Police, two people were arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, two from Bharatpur Metropolitan City-3 in Chitwan, two from Badhara of Tirhut Rural Municipality-2 in Saptari, two from Sadakghat of Belauri Municipality-10 in Kanchanpur, and two from Gandak Chowk of Birgunj Metropolitan City-14 in Parsa. Similarly, one person each was arrested from Tarahara of Itahari Sub-metropolitan City-20 in Sunsari, Futah of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-2 in Bardiya, Gaudibazaar of Godavari Municipality-11 in Lalitpur, and Dhangadhigaun in Kailali.
One killed in tractor accident
One person died in a road accident in Harinagar Rural Municipality–1 last night. According to Police Inspector Hemraj Oli of the District Police Office, the deceased has been identified as 25-year-old local resident Deepak Das. The accident occurred when a tractor carrying sugarcane hit a motorcycle (Province 1-02-057 Pa 4899) that was heading from Bhutaha towards Harinagar. Motorcycle riders Deepak Das and Mithun Das were seriously injured in the collision. Deepak Das died during treatment, while the other injured, Mithun Das, is receiving treatment in Biratnagar.
Over Rs 31 lakhs collected in donations at Pathibhara last month
More than Rs 31 lakh was collected in donations at Pathibhara (Mukkumalung) during mid-February to mid-March, contributed by devotees visiting the temple. According to the Pathibhara Area Development Committee, offerings totaled Rs 31 lakh 10 thousand last month. Executive Director Prajin Hangbang stated that committee staff, under the supervision of the Nepal Police, collect donations from pilgrims at the temple. The offerings are securely sealed in bags and transported from the temple premises to the foothills. After being collected for about a week at Fedi, the donations are taken to the committee office in Phungling. There, the money is counted and deposited in the bank daily under police supervision and CCTV monitoring.
Flood lights installed at Tuin River landslide site
Two flood lights have been installed at the landslide-prone area of Tuin Khola along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section to improve visibility at night and prevent accidents caused by falling stones. Harikumar Shrestha, Sub-Engineer of the Road Division Bharatpur, said the lights were installed on Saturday in coordination with the Nepal Electricity Authority. He explained that the installation aims to allow drivers and passengers to clearly see landslides and falling rocks in the area after dark. Commuters have been advised to drive cautiously and avoid overtaking on this section of the road. The need for the lights became evident after an incident on Friday, when stones struck the cabin of a night bus traveling from Kathmandu to Kakbhita. Fortunately, no accident occurred as the driver managed to control the vehicle.
Motorcyclist dies after collision with bus in Sarlahi
A motorcyclist was killed after being hit by a bus on the East-West Highway in Lalbandi Municipality-1, Bagbani in Sarlahi. According to District Police Office spokesperson Saroj Rai, the accident occurred around 7:35 pm on Saturday when a bus traveling from Biratnagar to Kathmandu struck a motorcycle moving in the same direction. The victim, 35-year-old Sunil Mahato of Lalbandi-1 Nawalpur, sustained severe injuries and was immediately taken by ambulance to Malangwa Provincial Hospital. However, he was declared dead at 9:00 pm. The bus and its driver, 34-year-old Ganesh Basnet of Tulsipur Municipality-9, Dang, have been taken into police custody for investigation.
‘Maluwa Pond’ emerging as an attractive tourist destination
Maluwa Pond, located in Chinamkhu of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality-2, Bhojpur, has recently been gaining recognition as an attractive tourist destination. The pond lies along the Mundum Trail, which is listed among the government’s 100 must-visit tourist destinations, and has been drawing increasing numbers of visitors due to its natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of about 2,500 meters above sea level, the pond lies amid expansive grasslands. The surrounding greenery, tranquil environment, and scenic landscape attract tourists who travel along the trail. The pond, which remains filled with water throughout the year, offers a refreshing and picturesque view to visitors. Maluwa Pond has also become a popular resting point for both domestic and foreign tourists trekking along the Mundum Trail. Visitors often stop at the site to rest, take photographs, and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Mustard production declines in Chitwan this year
Mustard production in the district has declined this year. Compared to last year, productivity per hectare has also fallen. According to Nirmal Paudel, an agricultural economist at the Agricultural Development Office, productivity per hectare was 1.31 metric tons last year, but it has dropped to 1.01 metric tons this year. Last year, 18,565 metric tons of mustard were produced in the district, while this year production has decreased to 14,315 metric tons. Mustard is being cultivated on 14,173 hectares in the district. According to Paudel, the main reason for the decline in mustard production is unseasonal rain, which forced farmers to replant mustard crops. Additionally, wilting during flowering has contributed to lower yields.
One killed in road accident in Palpa
One person has died in a road accident on the Siddhartha Highway in Rokadanda, Baganaskali Rural Municipality-2, Palpa. The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Khileshwor Gharti Magar of Mathagadhi Rural Municipality-1. According to Police Inspector Kusal Singh Thakuri of the District Police Office, the accident occurred when a pickup jeep (Lu 1 Cha 3740) traveling from Aryabhanjyang towards Bartung collided head-on with a scooter (Lu 84 Pa 4348) coming from the opposite direction. Magar, who was driving the scooter, sustained serious injuries and later died during treatment at Lumbini Medical College Prabhas.
Bhadrapur collects Rs 2.7 billion in revenue in eight months
The Internal Revenue Office, Bhadrapur, has collected Rs 2.758 billion in revenue during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, achieving 80.43 percent of the target for this period. According to Chief Tax Officer Gopal Bahadur Thapa, the revenue target by the end of Falgun was Rs 3.364 billion. However, only 57.17 percent of the monthly target of Rs 445.83 million for Falgun alone was collected. During the eight-month period, the office collected Rs 1.248 billion from income tax, Rs 973.32 million from value-added tax (VAT), and Rs 367.53 million from excise duty.
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