KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Election expenses to be made transparent via banking system: Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari opined that election expenses will remain transparent via the banking system. During a meeting with bankers at the commission today, he noted that measures have been put in place to prevent cash transactions during elections. He also revealed that the commission has established a dedicated directory for the purpose. The commission has made it mandatory for political parties and candidates to arrange separate bank accounts to manage their election spending in a transparent manner.
District court stalls govt move to withdraw Lamichhane charges
The immediate withdrawal of two serious cases filed against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane appears unlikely. A single bench of Judge Nitij Rai at the Kaski District Court on Monday ordered that the two cases against Lamichhane cannot be withdrawn until a final verdict is issued by the Supreme Court on a related writ petition currently under consideration. Acting on the directive of the interim government led by Sushila Karki, Attorney General Sabita Bhandari had initiated the process to withdraw two serious charges against Lamichhane—organized crime and money laundering.
Foreign Minister leaves for Dhaka to attend Bangladesh government oath-taking
Bala Nanda Sharma is leaving for Dhaka, Bangladesh, today to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected government in Bangladesh. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit underscores Nepal’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation with Bangladesh. Minister Sharma will be accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry and is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on February 19.
EC receives 66 complaints of code of conduct violation
The Election Commission (EC) has reported receiving 66 complaints related to violations of the election code of conduct so far. The Central Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has sought clarifications from the concerned political parties, organisations, media outlets and individuals, with 32 responses already received. According to EC Legal Officer Mohan Raj Joshi, clarifications were demanded from political parties, election candidates, government and non-government organisations, as well as media houses and journalists. In the case of registered media outlets and journalists, the EC sought responses through the Press Council Nepal.
RSP promises online voting despite global cybersecurity concerns
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has pledged to introduce online voting rights for Nepalis living abroad, a system adopted by only a handful of countries worldwide. Through its citizen contract unveiled on Sunday, the party announced plans to arrange online voting facilities for the Nepali diaspora. The proposal comes at a time when even many developed nations have refrained from implementing online voting due to cybersecurity risks. Despite these concerns, RSP has presented the system as a way to institutionalize voting rights for citizens residing overseas.
Election police deployed on streets ahead of polls
Election police personnel have been mobilized for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. Security personnel have been deployed in various parts of the country to strengthen law and order and ensure a safe environment for voting. The deployment aims to maintain peace and security during the election period and prevent any untoward incidents.
Candidates accused of blurring federal roles with populist promises in post-Gen Z election
Youths from the Gen-Z generation had called a peaceful protest on September 8, expressing frustration over what they described as the failure of political leadership to run the state in a good governance-oriented manner. The crackdown that followed on September 9 escalated into a more rebellious-style protest, ultimately leading to the fall of the government led by KP Sharma Oli. However, in the elections triggered in the aftermath of the Gen-Z movement, candidates from almost all political parties are again seeking votes by projecting anti-establishment hopes and sweeping development promises.
Gagan Thapa unveils five-year plan to attract IT investment, make Nepal a digital hub
Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has unveiled a plan aimed at attracting investment in Nepal’s IT sector and transforming the country into a digital hub within five years. In a video message shared on social media, Thapa said Nepal has the potential to expand its global reach in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector if clear strategies and stable policies are implemented.
Ballot printing for House of Representatives polls in final stage
The printing of ballot papers for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 has reached its final stage. According to Janak Education Materials Centre Limited, the remaining 500,000 ballot papers will be printed by the end of the day. Executive Managing Director Yadunath Paudel said that printing for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category is nearing completion. Of the total 20.3 million ballot papers required under the direct system, only 500,000 remain to be printed, which will be completed today.
Renu Dahal objects to misleading pre-election survey reports in Chitwan-3
House of Representatives candidate Renu Dahal from Chitwan-3 has raised objections over news reports published in the name of election surveys, calling them misleading and inaccurate. Through a Facebook post, Dahal said she is currently busy with a door-to-door campaign and is encouraged by the love, trust, and support she has received from the public. She highlighted her nine years of experience serving in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, asserting that her commitment and integrity have earned her public backing.
Rabi Lamichhane promises strong government and squatters’ solution after polls
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has assured voters that a strong government will be formed after the upcoming elections and citizens’ problems will be addressed. Speaking at a discussion with locals in Kalika Municipality-3 on Monday, Lamichhane said that the political environment across the country is favorable for RSP. “I have nothing except integrity, and I won’t let it falter,” Lamichhane said. “The squatter issue will be resolved permanently.”
Oli urges supporters to vote and mobilize family for UML victory
CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has urged supporters to not only cast their own votes but also ensure that their family and close associates vote for the party, emphasizing that this is crucial for a decisive nationwide victory. Speaking at a meeting with cooperative workers in Jhapa on Saturday night, Oli stressed the role of grassroots mobilization in strengthening UML’s electoral prospects.
Questions over Kathmandu tenure follow Balendra Shah in Jhapa-5 campaign
Senior Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah, who resigned as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to contest against KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, is facing questions from voters regarding his previous tenure in Kathmandu. During a Monday door-to-door campaign in Jhapa-5, a primary school teacher questioned Shah about issues such as waste management and squatter settlements in the capital. Shah explained that foreign influence had affected his ability to fully manage Kathmandu’s waste and squatter problems.
Harka Sampang’s Shram Sanskriti Party eyes threshold as influence grows in Koshi
Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City’s former mayor Harka Sampang has expanded his political footprint in Koshi Province after registering the Shram Sanskriti Party and advancing Harkabad (Harkaism) as its guiding principle. The party has fielded candidates in 109 out of 165 constituencies across the country for the House of Representatives election, with labor culture as its central agenda. It argues that only a balanced development of nature, culture and technology can ensure human progress, stressing mandatory labor and volunteerism as key pillars of national transformation.
Muglin–Malekhu road: Blacktopping work accelerates
The blacktopping work on the Nagdhunga–Malekhu section of the Prithvi Highway is progressing at an accelerated pace. So far, 11 kilometers of road have been blacktopped, 8 km last year and an additional 3 km this year. Efforts are ongoing in several sections to complete the blacktopping work swiftly. The project was initially contracted for completion in three years, but delays led to a six-month extension. The Muglin–Nagdhunga stretch under the Prithvi Highway has been divided into three phases, with the current work falling under the third phase.
Gold and silver prices fall sharply
The price of gold and silver in Nepali markets declined on Monday, reversing the rise seen on Sunday. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Federation, the price of gold fell by Rs. 3,000 per tola on Monday after rising by Rs. 2,300 per tola on Sunday. Today, gold is trading at Rs. 302,800 per tola, the federation said. On Sunday, the price of gold was Rs. 305,800 per tola.
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