KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Special Court orders Poudel’s release on general date
The Special Court has ordered the release of former deputy prime minister and CPN-UML vice-chair Bishnu Poudel on a general date. A division bench comprising judges Narayan Prasad Poudel, Dilli Ratna Shrestha and Bidur Koirala issued the order to release Poudel, who was facing a money laundering charge. In its order, the court said the available evidence did not establish Poudel’s involvement in capital gains obtained through financial transactions involving another defendant, Dipak Bhatta. The court also noted that there was no evidence or allegation indicating Poudel’s facilitation in the purchase of shares of Shreeram Tobacco Industry. Bhatta had recorded his statements before both the investigating officer and the court.
Govt to facilitate exports of Nepali-made footwear: PM Shah
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah has pledged government support to promote the export of domestically produced footwear and strengthen Nepal’s footwear industry. During a meeting with office-bearers and members of the Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal (FMAN) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Friday, Prime Minister Shah said the government would take necessary measures to encourage import substitution, boost exports, and create employment opportunities in the sector. He said skill-based training related to footwear production would be conducted in coordination with all three tiers of government, while the private sector would be encouraged to expand the production, promotion, and marketing of Nepali footwear.
Monsoon system to intensify from Saturday night: DHM
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said the monsoon system is expected to become more active from Saturday night, increasing the likelihood of moderate to heavy rainfall across much of the country. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the ongoing influence of the monsoon is likely to bring widespread rainfall to most parts of Nepal. Meteorologist Binu Maharjan said moderate to heavy rainfall was recorded over the past 24 hours in many areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. She said moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue until Saturday in many hilly areas, as well as in some parts of the Himalayan and Tarai regions.
Health Minister discusses strengthening burn treatment services in Nepal
Minister for Health and Food Hygiene Nisha Mehta held discussions with health experts on improving burn treatment services in Nepal through healthcare worker capacity building, implementation of integrated treatment standards, and strengthening the treatment system from local to federal levels. During a courtesy meeting on Thursday, doctors from the Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre, Kirtipur, including Dr Kiran Nakarmi and Dr Shankarman Rai, along with burn awareness campaigner Ujjwal Thapa, discussed the current status, challenges and priorities for improving burn care in Nepal.
NEPSE surges 79.74 points on first trading day of new fiscal year
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index posted a strong gain on the first trading day of the new fiscal year, rising by 79.74 points to close at 2,677.54. According to the Nepal Stock Exchange, the Sensitive Index, which tracks the performance of blue-chip companies, increased by 11.51 points to 468.38. Likewise, the Float Index climbed 5.45 points to 184.03, while the Sensitive Float Index advanced 4.13 points to 158.56. A total of 13.89 million shares of various listed companies were traded through transactions worth Rs 4.58 billion during the day’s trading.
Gold price drops by Rs 3,100 per tola, silver also declines
The price of gold fell by Rs 3,100 per tola on Friday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. The federation has fixed the price of fine gold at Rs 282,100 per tola, down from Rs 285,200 per tola on Thursday. Silver prices also declined by Rs 125 per tola. After trading at Rs 4,325 per tola on Thursday, silver was priced at Rs 4,200 per tola. Meanwhile, a 0.5 percent skill promotion fee on gold and silver jewellery has come into effect from Friday. The fee will be added to the final selling price of jewellery by retailers. At the same time, the 2 percent luxury tax previously imposed on gold jewellery has been removed.
Govt to discontinue services of retired pensioner contract employees
The government has decided to discontinue the services of contract-based employees who have already received retirement benefits, gratuity, or are receiving pensions from government services. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration issued a seven-point circular to all government bodies on Friday, directing them not to extend contracts of such employees from today. The ministry has instructed government offices to maintain a pool of currently employed contract staff under existing contract agreements until further arrangements are made. The ministry will maintain and update an integrated record of employees kept in the pool.
Nagdhunga–Muglin and Muglin–Narayangadh roads reopen after landslide clearance
Vehicular movement along the Nagdhunga–Muglin and Muglin–Narayangadh road sections has resumed after landslides triggered by continuous rainfall were cleared early Friday morning. According to Nepal Police, the landslides that occurred during the night were removed through coordination between road division offices and security personnel, allowing vehicles to operate in both directions. With the reopening of the two major highways, traffic connecting the Kathmandu Valley with various parts of the country has returned to normal. Meanwhile, a landslide occurred in the Sanga area on the border of Bhaktapur and Kavre, but it did not disrupt vehicular movement, police said.
Oli accuses government of moving towards fascism
CPN-UML Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has accused the government of deviating from democratic values and moving towards fascism. Speaking at an event organised to unveil the updated version of the UML party website and mobile application at the party’s central office in Chyasal on Friday, Oli alleged that the government was suppressing peaceful protests, restricting media outlets and increasing pressure on opposition parties. Oli criticised those involved in arson attacks on the UML party office and leaders’ residences in the name of the Gen-Z movement. He said important documents, including the party’s library materials, were destroyed in the fire and urged supporters to help restore the lost records. He alleged that vehicles had been deliberately placed in front of media houses, business organisations and opposition offices under the government’s direction, calling such actions a sign of growing authoritarianism.
Two arrested with undeclared cash worth Rs 5.59 million
Police have arrested two individuals in possession of undeclared cash worth Rs 5.59 million from Tripurakot Bazaar in Tripurasundari Municipality-1, Dolpa. According to the Nepal Police Headquarters, those arrested are 32-year-old Bishnulal Rokaya and 42-year-old Bhakti Chandra Rokaya, both residents of Chhal in Tripurasundari Municipality-7. Police said the two were travelling on a motorcycle from Dunai to Chhal when they were intercepted by a routine police patrol on Wednesday. The cash was recovered during the inspection, and further investigation is underway.
Disasters claim 160 lives across Nepal in three months
Nepal recorded 3,296 disaster-related incidents across the country in the past three months, resulting in the deaths of 160 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). The authority said that from Baisakh 1 to Asar 32 (mid-April to mid-July), two people went missing and 945 others were injured in various disaster events. A total of 4,375 families were affected during the period. According to NDRRMA, fire incidents were the most frequent, with 897 cases reported. These incidents claimed 17 lives, injured 109 people, and affected 990 families. Meanwhile, 514 snakebite cases were recorded during the three-month period, leading to 38 deaths, injuries to 479 people, and affecting 517 families. The authority also reported 477 incidents of windstorms, which resulted in 13 deaths, injuries to 68 people, and affected 1,356 families.
Devotees throng Pashupatinath and Shiva temples as Shrawan begins
With the beginning of the holy month of Shrawan, devotees have started gathering in large numbers at Pashupatinath Temple and Shiva shrines across the country from early morning. According to Arun Biset, acting chief of the Culture Division at the Pashupati Area Development Trust, a large number of devotees visited Pashupatinath Temple on Shrawan Sankranti despite rainfall. Shrawan is considered the month dedicated to Lord Shiva, and thousands of devotees visit Pashupatinath and other Shiva temples during the month to offer prayers, perform rituals and seek blessings. Women wearing traditional green and red attire are particularly visible at Pashupatinath and other Shiva shrines during Shrawan. The Pashupati Area Development Trust has started preparations to ensure smooth and convenient worship arrangements for devotees visiting the temple throughout the month.
Nepal calls for mainstreaming right to development across global financing and development cooperation
Nepal has called for integrating the right to development into global financing, trade, debt relief and development cooperation, stressing that sustainable development should be recognised as a fundamental human right rather than merely a policy goal. Addressing the event “Right to Development at 40: Catalysing Global Partnerships for Inclusive and Sustainable Development” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa, said the international community must turn global commitments into concrete action. Ambassador Thapa highlighted that only 18 percent of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets are currently on track, with just four years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
Indian Power Secretary visits construction site of Arun-III hydel project
Secretary of India’s Ministry of Power Pankaj Agarwal visited Sankhuwasabha district on Thursday to inspect the ongoing construction works of the 900 MW Arun-III hydropower project. The project is being developed by India’s SJVN Arun-III Power Development Company. During the inspection, Agarwal and his team observed construction progress at the powerhouse site in Pukhuwa of Chichila Rural Municipality and the dam site at Phyaksinda of Makalu Rural Municipality. The delegation reviewed the progress and implementation status of major components, including civil and electro-mechanical works, the dam, intake system and other infrastructure. Agarwal expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction and urged the concerned authorities to ensure timely completion of the project while prioritising quality, safety protocols and environmental sustainability.
Rasuwagadhi customs yard yet to fully recover one year after devastating flood
A year after a devastating flood from the Lhende Khola ravaged the Rasuwagadhi customs yard, one of Nepal’s key trade gateways with China, the facility has yet to be fully restored despite the resumption of cross-border trade. Although import and export activities have resumed, the customs yard, the under-construction Integrated Check Post (ICP), and nearby infrastructure still bear visible signs of the destruction caused by the flood. The Rasuwa Customs Office had established the new customs yard a few years ago to manage rising imports from China. The facility was designed to accommodate hundreds of cargo containers and a large number of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly for customs clearance of EVs, ready-made garments, electronics and fruits.
Govt supplies 561,494 metric tonnes of chemical fertilizer in FY 2025/26
The government supplied 561,493.85 metric tonnes of chemical fertilizer by July 8 of the fiscal year 2025/26, achieving around 94 percent of its annual target of supplying 600,000 metric tonnes. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the government had allocated Rs 28.82 billion for fertilizer procurement in the last fiscal year. The ministry said the tender process for procuring 491,300 metric tonnes of chemical fertilizer had been completed by July 8. Of the total fertilizer supplied through two companies, 327,579.80 metric tonnes was urea, 203,426.30 metric tonnes was diammonium phosphate (DAP), and 30,487.75 metric tonnes was potash.
Dr Govinda KC warns of hunger strike if demands are not addressed by July 21
Senior orthopaedic surgeon and medical education reform campaigner Dr Govinda KC has warned that he will resume an indefinite hunger strike if the government fails to address his three key demands by July 21. Issuing a press statement on Friday, Dr KC said he would revive his previously suspended satyagraha and launch stronger protest programmes if the government does not respond within the deadline. Dr KC had earlier announced that he would begin a hunger strike if the government failed to appoint a vice-chairperson to the Medical Education Commission by July 9. He suspended the protest after the government appointed a vice-chairperson on July 8.
893 Scrub Typhus cases reported in Chitwan over the past year
A total of 893 people were diagnosed with scrub typhus in Chitwan during the last fiscal year, according to the Public Health Office. The infections were confirmed after 11,419 suspected patients who visited various hospitals across the district underwent testing. Ram KC, Vector Control Inspector at the Public Health Office, Chitwan, said 621 of the infected patients were residents of Chitwan district. Among them, 246 cases were reported in Ratnanagar Municipality, 117 in Khairahani Municipality, and 90 in Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Similarly, 82 cases were recorded in Rapti Municipality, 69 in Kalika Municipality, seven in Madi Municipality, and 10 in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.
Former PM Deuba did not break his arm, says Secretariat
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Secretariat has dismissed as false reports claiming that he fell and broke his arm. Issuing a statement on Friday, the Secretariat described the reports circulating on social media and in some media outlets as “baseless, unverified and misleading.” “Our serious attention has been drawn to unconfirmed, baseless and misleading reports claiming that the respected former prime minister broke his arm after falling,” the statement said. The Secretariat clarified that the reports are entirely false. “We would like to make it clear that the news is completely false and baseless,” it stated. It also urged the public not to spread rumors without official confirmation.
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