KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
House passes Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill
The House of Representatives of Nepal on Thursday passed the “Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill, 2082” by a majority vote amid slogan shouting in the chamber. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal presented the bill for decision and announced its approval by majority vote. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle had tabled the proposal seeking passage of the bill and earlier proposed clause-wise discussion in the House.
Ambassadors of four countries, including Iran and Russia, present credentials to President Paudel
Newly appointed ambassadors from four countries, including Iran and Russia, presented their credentials to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday. The credentials were submitted during separate special ceremonies held at Shital Niwas, the President’s Office. The ambassadors included one resident ambassador and three non-resident ambassadors to Nepal. Resident Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexey Vladimirovich Surovtsev, along with non-resident ambassadors Christian Biever of Luxembourg, Dr. Robert Zischg of Austria, and Dr. Mohammad Fathali of Iran, formally presented their letters of credence to President Paudel.
PM will soon address Parliament, says RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane
Rabi Lamichhane has said that Prime Minister Balendra Shah will soon appear in Parliament to respond to the questions raised by lawmakers. Speaking to journalists at the Federal Parliament building in Singha Durbar on Thursday, Lamichhane said the prime minister’s appearance in the House would take place soon and that further details would be made public shortly. Responding to a question about whether the prime minister’s expected appearance had increased pressure on him, Lamichhane said he was under no personal pressure.
PM Balen refuses immediate appearance in Parliament despite Speaker’s request
Prime Minister Balen Shah has reportedly told Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal that he would not immediately attend Parliament despite continued obstruction by opposition parties demanding his presence in the House. According to sources, Speaker Aryal met the Prime Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Thursday after opposition lawmakers continued disrupting parliamentary proceedings. During the meeting, Aryal requested the Prime Minister to appear in Parliament, citing the ongoing demands from opposition parties and the parliamentary practice of holding question-answer sessions with lawmakers during the first week of every month.
House meeting resumes after two hours amid continued opposition protest over PM’s absence
A meeting of the House of Representatives resumed on Thursday nearly two hours after it was initially suspended for 15 minutes amid continued obstruction by opposition parties. Despite the resumption of the meeting, opposition lawmakers continued protesting inside the House, demanding the presence of Prime Minister Balen Shah. Lawmakers were seen chanting slogans and calling for the Prime Minister while surrounding the well of the House. However, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal proceeded with parliamentary business despite the ongoing disruption.
Judicial Council Secretariat removes Justice Malla’s name, photo from senior-most justice section
The Judicial Council Secretariat has removed the name and photograph of senior Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla from the section designated for the senior-most justice. The development comes while Justice Malla is on leave following the appointment of Manoj Kumar Sharma as Chief Justice. Despite being on leave, Justice Malla continues to hold the position of senior-most justice at the Supreme Court.
HoR: Lawmakers draw govt attention to road safety, disaster preparedness
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers raised concerns over road safety, disaster preparedness, agricultural inputs, inflation, and post-earthquake rehabilitation, drawing the government’s attention to urgent policy and implementation gaps. During a special session, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Dr. Toshima Karki highlighted the alarming rate of road fatalities in Nepal, stating that on average eight Nepalis lose their lives daily in road accidents. She noted that 24,095 people have died in road accidents over the past 10 years, calling the situation deeply concerning. MP Karki urged the government to expedite the long-pending Road Safety Bill and stressed the need to make road transport safer. She also demanded the implementation of an integrated trauma care policy in all seven provinces.
Speaker meets PM, discusses smooth functioning of Parliament
Prime Minister Balen Shah and Speaker DP Aryal held discussions on the smooth functioning of Parliament. Speaker Aryal visited the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to meet Prime Minister Shah. Opposition parties have been continuously obstructing parliamentary proceedings, demanding the Prime Minister’s presence in Parliament.
Opposition intensifies pressure on government in Parliament, demands PM’s accountability
Opposition parties in the House of Representatives have intensified pressure on the government over the past few weeks, with repeated demands for greater accountability from Prime Minister Balen Shah. The situation has been particularly driven by the Shram Sanskriti Party, led by Chairperson Hark Raj Rai (Harka Sampang), which has been strongly protesting against the Prime Minister’s working style and demanding his resignation. The party has also staged what is described as the first-ever parliamentary protest involving pamphlets and placards inside the federal parliament. Lawmakers continued the same style of protest on Thursday as well, insisting that the Prime Minister must either come to Parliament and answer questions or step down.
Oli accused of sidelining Yogesh Bhattarai in new UML task division proposal
CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has once again come under criticism within party circles after a new internal task division proposal allegedly sidelines Vice General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai. According to the proposed restructuring presented at a recent Secretariat meeting held in Gundu, Bhattarai has been assigned to the “Policy and Planning Department,” while a more influential departmental leadership role has reportedly been given to another vice general secretary, Lekharaj Bhatt. The proposal is expected to be endorsed in an upcoming meeting on Friday.
UML proposes leadership hierarchy six months after general convention; Badal placed top among vice chairs
The CPN-UML party has proposed an official leadership hierarchy for party office bearers six months after its 11th general convention, with Vice Chair Ram Bahadur Thapa placed as the top-ranked and most influential leader among the party’s vice chairs. Party Chair K. P. Sharma Oli presented the proposal during a Secretariat meeting held in Gundu on Monday. According to the proposed ranking, Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel, who has recently been linked to internal efforts calling for Oli’s retirement, has been placed third in the hierarchy among vice chairs.
Finance Minister consults former finance ministers on budget priorities, economic reforms
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle on Thursday held discussions with eight former finance ministers to seek suggestions for the upcoming national budget, focusing on economic reforms, realistic revenue targets and expenditure cuts. Stating that preparations for the next fiscal year’s budget are in the final stage, Wagle said the government is preparing a budget aimed at improving the living standards of citizens on the foundation of good governance. During the meeting, the finance minister said the upcoming budget would incorporate past experiences and positive policy practices while addressing present economic realities.
‘Digital Platform’ launched to boost citizen participation in lawmaking
A new digital platform has been made public to enhance citizen participation in the lawmaking process in Nepal. The initiative, announced on the occasion of Law Day (May 10), will allow citizens to directly submit suggestions, feedback, and objections on drafts of bills and proposed laws, according to officials. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam said the platform has been introduced to make the legislative process more inclusive by directly involving citizens in lawmaking. She noted that although laws are enacted for citizens, public participation in their formulation has remained limited. She added that the new system aims to strengthen both legal awareness and civic engagement in policymaking.
Harka Sampang demands Prime Minister Balen Shah’s resignation in Parliament
Chairperson of the Shram Sanskriti Party, Harka Sampang, has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Balen Shah. Sampang raised the demand while protesting at the beginning of Thursday’s parliamentary meeting. He said the government had failed to respond to issues raised by his party since May 11, including Nepal’s territory allegedly encroached upon by India, the vacant Home Ministry portfolio, and the management of squatters. Rai also stated that the Prime Minister had not responded to the concerns raised in Parliament despite repeated demands. Earlier, he had submitted a written request seeking the Prime Minister’s resignation for not being present in the House during discussions on the government’s policies and programs.
Speaker Aryal says emergency hour in House to be made more systematic
Speaker of the House of Representatives Dol Prasad Aryal has said that the parliamentary “emergency hour” will be made more systematic through discussions in the Business Advisory Committee. During Thursday’s House meeting, several lawmakers stood from their seats seeking time to speak on contemporary issues even after the emergency hour had concluded and the zero hour session was about to begin. Following the disruption, Speaker Aryal urged the members to remain seated. Lawmakers including Rajendra Kumar Rai and Balawati Sharma continued demanding time to speak during the emergency hour. In response, Speaker Aryal clarified that parliamentary practice allows lawmakers to raise only highly important incidents and issues affecting public life that have emerged between the end of the previous House meeting and the current session.
Home Ministry without minister for a month raises concerns over governance and security coordination
Concerns have been raised over the functioning of the Ministry of Home Affairs after the ministry remained without a dedicated minister for around one month, affecting key areas including public security, administrative coordination, disaster management, and service delivery. The situation emerged after then Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned on April 22, and the ministry has since not received a new political head. The Home Ministry is considered a highly sensitive and central institution as it is directly linked to internal security, governance, and the operation of the state machinery. The prolonged vacancy in its leadership is being viewed as unusual. Under the Government of Nepal (Allocation of Business) Regulations, 2017, the ministry is responsible for 51 major functions, including maintaining law and order, coordinating security agencies, disaster risk reduction and response, immigration and citizenship services, prison management, and local administration.
HoR: Lawmakers draw govt attention to road safety, disaster preparedness
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers raised concerns over road safety, disaster preparedness, agricultural inputs, inflation, and post-earthquake rehabilitation, drawing the government’s attention to urgent policy and implementation gaps. During a special session, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Dr. Toshima Karki highlighted the alarming rate of road fatalities in Nepal, stating that on average eight Nepalis lose their lives daily in road accidents. She noted that 24,095 people have died in road accidents over the past 10 years, calling the situation deeply concerning. MP Karki urged the government to expedite the long-pending Road Safety Bill and stressed the need to make road transport safer. She also demanded the implementation of an integrated trauma care policy in all seven provinces. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narsingh KC drew the government’s attention to disaster preparedness ahead of the upcoming monsoon season. He emphasized the need for proactive measures rather than reactive responses, urging better coordination among local, provincial, and federal governments for effective early warning system management.
Gold and silver prices increase
The price of gold increased by Rs 1,800 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the latest market rates, gold was traded at Rs 293,800 per tola on Thursday, up from Rs 292,000 on Wednesday. Similarly, the price of silver also witnessed a rise of Rs 90 per tola. Silver was traded at Rs 5,050 per tola on Thursday, compared to Rs 4,960 on Wednesday. The rise in precious metal prices follows continued fluctuations in the international market.
Tokha Municipality removes encroached structures in Dhapasi-Greenland area
Tokha Municipality has removed encroached houses and sheds in the Dhapasi-Greenland area of Ward No. 7. The municipality used bulldozers to demolish structures belonging to individuals who failed to comply with earlier notices to clear the encroached land. Prior to the action, the municipality had issued a 15-day public notice requesting all concerned parties to remove illegal structures built on public land. Chief Administrative Officer Kamal Bhattarai said the demolition drive began Thursday morning, targeting houses, sheds, compound walls, and temporary structures built along roadsides and on government land in the Dhapasi area. Bhattarai said the move was part of the municipality’s campaign to clear encroached public land. The municipality has also urged the public not to encroach on public property and to comply with existing legal provisions.
218 applicants vie for Vice Chancellor posts in eight universities
A total of 218 candidates have applied for the vacant Vice Chancellor positions across eight public universities in Nepal, following a government call for applications after the previous appointments were annulled. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had invited applications for the selection of vice chancellors through an open competitive process, after the government scrapped earlier appointments and initiated a fresh selection procedure. According to the ministry, the highest number of applications has been received for Tribhuvan University, with 50 applicants competing for the post. Likewise, 38 applications each were received for Purbanchal University and Pokhara University. For other institutions, 27 candidates have applied for Rajarshi Janak University, 20 for Madhya Paschim University, and 19 for Far Western University. Similarly, 15 applicants have applied for Bharatpur University and 11 for Lumbini Buddhist University.
Govt calls for applications for top media leadership positions
The government has called for applications to fill senior leadership positions at the Gorkhapatra Corporation, the Press Council Nepal, and the Public Service Broadcasting Nepal. According to the notice, eligible and interested candidates have been asked to submit their applications within office hours starting from June 1, as the appointments will be made through a competitive selection process. The government stated that application forms, eligibility criteria, required documents, and other details are available on the website of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology at www.mocit.gov.np.
Nepali Army intensifies monsoon disaster preparedness
The Nepali Army (NA) has begun implementing an extensive monsoon preparedness and disaster response plan aimed at minimizing damage from floods, landslides, and other monsoon-related disasters across the country. According to the NA, this year’s preparedness strategy has been designed based on lessons learned from previous rescue and relief operations. The plan emphasizes close coordination with federal, provincial, and local governments, security agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities. The army stated that personnel stationed in district-level battalions and regiments have been kept on standby for immediate deployment during emergencies.
Health Minister Mehta holds bilateral talks with Chinese and Indian counterparts in Geneva
Health and Food Safety Minister Nisha Mehta has held separate bilateral meetings with Chinese Health Minister Lei Haichao and Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda in Geneva. According to the Ministry of Health, discussions with the Chinese minister held on Wednesday focused on cooperation in the fields of public health and traditional medicine. In a separate meeting, Minister Mehta also held talks with her Indian counterpart, where both sides discussed strengthening and making the existing bilateral partnership in the health sector more sustainable and effective. The ministry stated that the discussions with the Indian minister centered on enhancing cooperation in healthcare systems and long-term collaboration frameworks. Minister Mehta, leading a three-member delegation, arrived in Geneva on Jestha 3 to participate in the 79th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Pokhara Metropolitan City moves to clear encroached land in bus park and Firke Khola area
The Pokhara Metropolitan City has announced a campaign to clear encroached land at the Pokhara Bus Park area in Prithvi Chowk and along the Firke Khola corridor flowing through the city centre. In a public notice issued on Wednesday, the metropolitan office directed individuals and organizations to remove both permanent and temporary structures built within the Firke Khola riverine area, which stretches from Pokhara-18 (Andherikuna) through several wards and merges with Fewa Lake. The city said its technical team will conduct measurements of all structures in the affected area. It warned that if encroachments are not removed within the stipulated deadline, the municipality will carry out demolition itself and recover the associated costs from the concerned parties.
Jomsom–Kagbeni road upgrade begins
The Beni–Jomsom–Korala Road Project under the Kaligandaki Corridor has begun upgrading the Jomsom–Kagbeni section of the north-south Korola road. The project has started upgrading the nine-kilometer Jomsom–Kagbeni road section at a cost of around Rs 70 million under the annual contract agreement. The upgrade began after the blacktopped Jomsom–Kagbeni road, part of the first section under the Jomsom–Korala segment completed before 2076 BS under the national pride Korala Road Project, suffered partial structural damage due to rain, landslides, and other natural causes. The road collapsed in some places during the month of Shrawan last year, while in other areas, the structure was damaged due to the absence of protective infrastructure such as drains and roadbeds.
Honey production declines in Chitwan by 16.66 percent
Honey production in Chitwan District has declined this year by 16.66 percent compared to the previous year, according to beekeeping officials. The Beekeeping Development Center reported that the district produced 450 metric tons of honey this year, down from 540 metric tons last year. Center chief Sujan Angai said around 17,500 beehives are currently being managed in the district. Officials attributed the decline mainly to unseasonal rainfall, which affected flowering and reduced nectar availability. Angai said the production of key nectar sources such as mustard and chiuri was significantly impacted.
Madhesh Province’s economic growth projected at 1.31 percent
Madhesh Province is expected to record an economic growth rate of only 1.31 percent in the current fiscal year, mainly due to the negative impact of weak agricultural production, according to the National Statistics Office. The estimate was made public by the Statistics Coordination Office in Dhanusha through macroeconomic indicators related to the provincial gross domestic product (GDP). Officials stated that insufficient rainfall adversely affected key agricultural sectors, particularly rice cultivation, fisheries, and forestry, significantly reducing their contribution to the provincial economy.
RSP MP Lima Acharya demands legal guarantee for timely payment to farmers
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Lima Acharya has urged the government to ensure immediate payment for farmers’ agricultural produce, asking how they can manage essential expenses like children’s school fees when payments are delayed. Speaking during the zero hour of the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday, Acharya demanded a legal provision guaranteeing that farmers receive payment for their produce within 15 days. She said farmers engaged in milk, sugarcane, rice, and other agricultural production across the country are still awaiting long-overdue payments. Citing an example, she said farmers in Makwanpur alone are owed over Rs 1.4 billion in milk payments. She added that this is not an isolated issue but reflects a nationwide problem affecting producers of milk, sugarcane, rice, and other commodities.
Sixth edition of Annapurna Marathon set for June 3
The sixth edition of the Annapurna Marathon is set to take place on June 3, featuring a challenging high-altitude route that transforms a normally three-day trek into a race completed in just over four hours. The marathon, organized by the Annapurna Century Tourism Committee, will begin at the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 metres and conclude at Ghandruk, covering a full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres through the heart of the Annapurna region. According to committee chair and marathon coordinator Lalit Gurung, the event was initiated to promote the heritage and global significance of the Annapurna region, home to Annapurna I, the first 8,000-metre peak ever successfully climbed in 1950 by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.
Around 5,000 pilgrims expected at Gosainkunda fair
Thousands of devotees are expected to visit Gosainkunda during the annual Ganga Dashahara fair, which has begun at the sacred Himalayan lake revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims from across Nepal and abroad have started arriving at the holy site to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and take ritual baths in the lake, which is believed to purify sins and grant spiritual salvation. According to local hotelier Subba Lama, more than 300 pilgrims have already reached the area, while around 5,000 visitors are expected during this year’s festival.
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