KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Shah pledges to highlight Nepal’s climate challenges globally
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah has said Nepal will call for greater global cooperation and collaboration to reduce and manage the risks and disasters arising from climate change. In a message of best wishes sent to the Gharpajhong Climate Conference in Mustang, Prime Minister Shah said Nepal would draw the attention of the international community to the need to mitigate and manage the impacts of climate change, which he described as a shared responsibility of the global community. Shah said he would raise at the 81st United Nations General Assembly the challenges Nepal is facing due to climate change, along with the losses it has suffered and possible solutions. He also said he would draw the attention of both the national and international communities to the serious impacts of climate change on Nepal’s mountain, hill and Terai regions.
Home Ministry issues five-point circular to DAOs
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has issued a five-point circular to all District Administration Offices (DAOs), directing them to improve facilitation and ensure effective service delivery. The circular, issued by Ministry Joint Secretary Ananda Kafle, aims to ensure that services are provided to citizens in a transparent, hassle-free, prompt, simple and effective manner. According to the circular, District Administration Offices have been instructed to monitor and take legal action against individuals involved in illegally collecting money from service recipients in the name of providing assistance or facilitating access to government services.
Speaker Aryal and opposition leader Angdembe discuss parliamentary affairs
Speaker DP Aryal and opposition leader Bhismaraj Angdembe held discussions today on current political developments and issues affecting the functioning of Parliament. The meeting focused on ensuring the effective functioning of Parliament and its committees. The two leaders stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for the smooth operation of forthcoming parliamentary sessions. They also exchanged views on coordination among parliamentary stakeholders to facilitate legislative business and address issues of national importance.
Bhotekoshi flood: 607 foreign tourists from 34 countries missing
A total of 607 foreign tourists from 34 countries have gone missing following the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa. Suraj Ghimire, information officer at the Department of Tourism, told RSS that the missing tourists had travelled to Gosainkunda for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and the Janai Purnima festival through various tour companies. Of the 607 missing foreign tourists, 269 are men, 329 are women and nine are of unknown gender. The largest number are from neighbouring India, with 189 Indian nationals reported missing. According to the Department, 33 missing tourists are from Australia, two from Belarus, 30 from Canada, one from Finland, four from France, eight from Germany, one from Hungary, two from Ireland, one from Israel, one from Lithuania, 55 from Malaysia and two from the Netherlands.
Traffic through Krishnabhir new track expected from Sept 17
Construction of a new track at Krishnabhir along the Prithvi Highway, where a landslide had completely blocked the road, has reached its final stage. The track is expected to be ready for regular traffic from September 17. Cutting and road-leveling work up to the retaining wall was completed on Sunday, and a few vehicles were allowed to pass as part of a trial run. Following the successful test, work has been accelerated to prepare the track for regular traffic. Ishwor Nepal, an engineer with the company constructing the new track, said the work has entered its final stage. According to him, graveling, slope-cutting and drainage construction have been underway for the past 11 days.
Gold and silver prices decline today
The prices of gold and silver declined on Tuesday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers. The price of gold fell by Rs 900 per tola to Rs 310,000 today. It was priced at Rs 310,900 per tola on the previous day, according to the federation. Similarly, the price of silver decreased by Rs 20 per tola to Rs 4,600 today, down from Rs 4,620 on the previous day.
PM’s Disaster Relief Fund balance stands at Rs 14.02 billion
The Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund has accumulated a total of Rs 14.02 billion, according to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The office said the amount was recorded as of 9:00 a.m. today. Of the total, Rs 10.40 billion is deposited in local currency accounts at nine different banks. The fund also holds USD 23.70 million in two separate US dollar accounts. Recently, the fund released Rs 1 billion through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to provide relief to victims affected by flooding in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa.
NC calls for high-level parliamentary committee to oversee disaster response
The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has urged Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal to form a high-level parliamentary committee to oversee disaster management efforts. Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhisma Raj Angdembe raised the issue during a meeting with Speaker Aryal at Singha Durbar on Tuesday. He said the formation of such a committee had been discussed at an all-party meeting convened at the initiative of the ruling party president and raised in Parliament three weeks ago, but no action had been taken. Angdembe said the proposed committee would not be intended to oppose the government but would help make its disaster response more responsible and systematic and ensure relief reaches inaccessible areas.
Congress sets nomination fees for general convention: Rs 500 for ward member, Rs 40,000 for central president
The Nepali Congress has fixed nomination registration fees for candidates contesting positions from the ward level to the central level in its upcoming 15th General Convention. According to Schedule 21 of the party’s “15th General Convention Election Directive, 2083,” candidates contesting various posts and membership positions will have to pay between Rs 500 and Rs 40,000 as nomination fees. The highest fee has been set at Rs 40,000 for the post of central president, while the lowest fee of Rs 500 has been fixed for ward members and regional representatives. The prescribed fee must be submitted to the concerned election officer along with the nomination form by the candidate or their authorised representative.
Deuba urges Congress leaders, cadres not to attend convention called by Gagan faction
Former Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged party leaders and cadres not to participate in the general convention being organised by the faction led by party president Gagan Thapa. The Nepali Congress is intensifying preparations for its 15th General Convention in Kathmandu from October 2 to 5 under the leadership of President Gagan Thapa. Amid the dispute within the party, Deuba has called for efforts to resolve the differences. However, he has urged party leaders and cadres to instead join preparations for the 15th General Convention scheduled to be held from December 7 to 9 by the opposition faction. His appeal has further deepened concerns that the Nepali Congress could split into two factions. Issuing an appeal on Tuesday, Deuba accused the group seeking to hold the convention of attempting to proceed unilaterally with an unauthorised special convention in violation of the party’s rules, statute, established procedures, traditions and decisions of the Central Working Committee.
Padma Aryal lashes out at Home Minister, says ‘democratic values have been mocked’
CPN-UML parliamentary deputy leader Padma Kumari Aryal has objected to what she described as anger and verbal abuse directed at victims of the Rasuwa floods when they raised their voices about their concerns. Speaking during a meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Aryal accused government mechanisms and social media accounts operated in the name of the prime minister of directing anger and abusive remarks at affected citizens and critics. She demanded action against those misusing accounts created in the prime minister’s name and called for the immediate closure of unauthorised accounts. Aryal also alleged that helicopters operated at government expense were being used to transport content creators from organisations such as ‘Hami Nepal’ and that greater attention was being given to producing social media reels than to rescue operations.
Share market rises on Swarnim Wagle’s action plan after Balen’s initiatives fail to lift it
Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s series of discussions and meetings aimed at revitalising the economy had failed to make a positive impact on the share market. However, the stock market turned green on Tuesday after Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle unveiled the “Capital Market Strengthening and Revival Action Plan, 2083” on Monday. The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) rose by 48.57 points on Tuesday. With a total turnover of Rs 8.29 billion, the NEPSE index reached 2,633.62 points. Along with the rise in the NEPSE index, market capitalisation also increased by 1.87 percent on Tuesday.
Scooter rider dies in bus-scooter collision
A scooter rider died after a bus and a scooter collided near Gangalal Hospital in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-3 today. According to police, a rented bus (Ba 5 Kha 3671) travelling from Budhanilkantha towards Narayan Gopal Chowk collided with a scooter (Ba 53 Pa 2485) heading in the opposite direction. The scooter rider, 22-year-old Samir Shrestha of Chunikhel, Budhanilkantha Municipality-13, sustained serious injuries in the accident and died during treatment, said Superintendent of Police Naresh Raj Subedi, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office. Ayushma Magar, 21, who was riding pillion on the scooter, was also injured in the accident and is receiving treatment, according to the Traffic Police.
143 people from Sudurpashchim still missing after Bhotekoshi floods
Although 71 people from Sudurpashchim Province who had been missing since the August 26 disaster have made contact with their families, 143 others remain unaccounted for. According to the Emergency Operation Centre in Sudurpashchim, the missing people had been working in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun districts. One person from the province has been confirmed dead in the disaster. Janak Dhami, chief of the Disaster Management Section at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpashchim Province, said the provincial government has been collecting information about people who remain missing as well as those who have re-established contact with their families since the devastating floods. Of the 71 people who have made contact, 11 are women and 60 are men. Among the 143 people still missing, 13 are women and 130 are men, according to Dhami.
HoR MPs seek faster DNA tests and search for Bhotekoshi flood victims
Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) have called on the government to expedite DNA testing for people missing in the Bhotekoshi floods and intensify search and rescue efforts during disasters. Speaking during today’s meeting of the lower house of the Federal Parliament, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Indira Rana Magar urged the government to address urgent issues faced by disaster-affected people, including access to mental health services. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Khushbu Oli said families of people missing in the Bhotekoshi floods had been asking when the DNA test results would be available and urged the government to expedite the process. RSP lawmaker Samiksha Banskota raised concerns over media practices after critically injured Bhotekoshi flood victims were reportedly interviewed while receiving treatment in intensive care units, saying the issue raised serious questions regarding health and media ethics.
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