KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
NC to mark BP Memorial Day with Green Run, Climate Dialogue
The Nepali Congress (NC) has announced various programmes to be held on July 22 to mark the 44th memorial day of BP Koirala. The party will commemorate Koirala’s remarkable contribution to the country’s democratic movement by organizing various events, including a ‘Green Run’ and a ‘Dialogue on Climate Change’. A meeting of the party’s Central Policy, Research and Training Academy, held on Saturday under the chairmanship of party Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma decided to organise the programmes. The five-kilometre Green Run, to be held under the theme of ‘Raise Awareness on Climate Change, Let’s Gear Up’ will begin from the Lalitpur-based UN Park.
Gagan Thapa pays tribute to Devendra Raj Pandey, calls him a defender of democracy
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has paid tribute to veteran civil society leader Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, describing his death as a great loss to the nation and to Nepal’s democratic movement. In a social media post on Saturday, Thapa said Pandey dedicated his life to defending civil liberties, equality, human rights and democratic values with courage and conviction. “The nation has lost a distinguished intellectual, a moral leader and a vigilant guardian of democracy,” Thapa wrote. He said Pandey played a vital coordinating role during key moments of Nepal’s democratic movements, raising a strong voice against authoritarianism while inspiring younger generations.
Kathmandu administration issues travel alert for people entering and leaving valley
The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has issued a travel alert urging people entering and leaving the Kathmandu Valley to exercise caution amid forecasts of heavy monsoon rainfall. In the advisory, the administration urged travelers to check weather forecasts and road conditions before starting their journey due to the risk of floods, landslides, and road blockages. It also advised travelers to remain especially cautious while traveling at night. In the event of road closures, the administration urged people to stay only at safe locations and resume their journey only after receiving confirmation from the police that the route has reopened.
Government initiates effort to resolve 15-year land dispute in Chitwan
Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel has said the government has begun efforts to resolve the nearly 15-year land dispute between Rampur Agriculture Campus and the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) in Chitwan. During a visit to both institutions on Friday, the minister inspected academic, research and administrative activities, as well as infrastructure and laboratory facilities. She also held discussions with officials, faculty members, staff and other stakeholders. Participants in the discussions said the long-standing land dispute between Rampur Agriculture Campus and AFU has hindered academic development, infrastructure expansion and the implementation of long-term plans.
Stakeholders urge government not to pass 3% education equity fee onto parents
Stakeholders have urged the government to reconsider the three percent education equity fee introduced from the current fiscal year, arguing that it places an additional financial burden on parents. Speaking at an interaction program titled ‘Education Dialogue: The Three Percent Equity Fee, Policy Challenges and Responsibilities of the Private Sector’, organized by Khabar Education in Kathmandu on Friday, participants stressed that the government should clearly explain the purpose of the fee and how the collected funds will be utilized. Former Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada said it is unrealistic to assume that all parents whose children attend private schools are financially well-off. He argued that the government should first identify priority areas for investment in community schools and formulate a clear plan before imposing such a fee.
Six major highways blocked by floods and landslides
Continuous rainfall has triggered floods and landslides across several parts of the country, blocking six major highways and disrupting vehicular movement. According to Nepal Police, the Khurkot–Nepalthok–Katunjebesi Road, Kanti Lokpath, Mechi Highway, Saljhandi–Dhorpatan Road, Araniko Highway, and the Kaligandaki Corridor have been obstructed by landslides. Police said the Araniko Highway has been completely blocked after a landslide struck the Jiro Kilo area of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4 in Sindhupalchok district. Similarly, traffic along the Kaligandaki Corridor has come to a halt following a landslide at Belbagar in Jaimini Municipality-8 of Baglung.
Doctors protest at Maitighar against alleged labor exploitation
Doctors serving as interns, medical officers, and resident physicians staged a protest at Maitighar Mandala on Saturday, alleging severe labor exploitation in hospitals and demanding immediate reforms to their working conditions. The demonstration was organized by the Struggle Committee Against Labor Exploitation of Young and Trainee Doctors. Protesters called for the duty hours of trainee doctors, including interns and resident physicians, to be regulated in accordance with Nepal’s Labour Act, 2017. They demanded that working hours be capped at a maximum of 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week, with at least one mandatory day off each week.
Nagdhunga Tunnel Run and Walk held to promote Nepal’s first road tunnel
A promotional “Nagdhunga Tunnel Run and Walk” programme was held today to raise public awareness about the Nagdhunga Tunnel and its benefits. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Roads and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal, with participation from members of the public. Saujanya Nepal, director of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project Office, said the programme aimed to familiarise people with the tunnel, its operation and its significance in improving the country’s transport infrastructure. The main tunnel of the Nagdhunga–Naubise Tunnel Project stretches 2,688 metres. Under the original contract, construction was scheduled for completion by April 26, 2023, but delays by the contractor and local obstructions affected the project’s timeline.
RSP lawmaker questions judiciary after Bishnu Paudel granted regular bail
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Yagya Mani Neupane has questioned the role of the judiciary after the Special Court ordered the release of CPN-UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel on regular bail in a money laundering case. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Neupane said recent developments had made it clear that restructuring the judiciary had become inevitable. He argued that good governance and the fight against corruption would not be possible without fundamental reforms to the judicial system. Neupane also expressed concern that public confidence in the justice system was weakening, saying ordinary citizens were increasingly being deprived of the assurance of justice.
Iranian strike damages Kuwait desalination plant, raising concerns over Gulf water security
An Iranian strike on Friday damaged a power and seawater desalination plant in Kuwait, disrupting one of the country’s key sources of drinking water and highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure across the Gulf. Kuwaiti authorities said the attack damaged several power generation units and triggered a fire at the facility. The blaze has since been brought under control, and emergency response measures have been activated to ensure the continuity of essential services. The incident has renewed concerns about water security in the arid Middle East, where many countries depend heavily on desalination plants for freshwater supplies. Around 90 percent of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, compared with about 86 percent in Oman and roughly 70 percent in Saudi Arabia.
Timure dry port project remains stalled a year after Lhende flood
A year after the devastating flood in the Lhende Khola disrupted operations at the Timure customs point for six months, trade through the Nepal-China border has largely returned to normal. However, construction of the Chinese-funded dry port at Timure remains at a standstill. The dry port project, backed by an investment of Rs 2.16 billion from the Chinese government, was around 80 percent complete when the flood damaged warehouses, embankments and parking areas. The administrative building escaped major damage, but construction has not resumed since the disaster. Although the customs office operates nearby, the dry port project falls under the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee (NITDB).
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