KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Shah leaves for US to attend 81st UN General Assembly
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has left for New York, the United States, to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Leading a four-member delegation, Prime Minister Shah departed for New York on a Qatar Airways flight via Doha. During the General Assembly, he will present Nepal’s views to the international community. Prime Minister Shah is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Ashoj 8. This is also his first official visit to the United States to participate in the UN General Assembly.
Supreme Court upholds presidential pardon granted to Resham Chaudhary
The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the presidential pardon granted to Nagarik Unmukti Party founder Resham Lal Chaudhary. A bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shreekanta Poudel ruled to dismiss the petition challenging President Ram Chandra Paudel’s decision to pardon Chaudhary. Sharada Kadayat, wife of police inspector Keshav Bohara, who was killed in the Tikapur incident in Kailali, had filed the writ petition against the decision to pardon Chaudhary. She filed the petition at the Supreme Court on Jestha 16, 2080. Kadayat had named the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Home Affairs and Resham Chaudhary as defendants. She had sought the annulment of the decision to grant Chaudhary a pardon.
Home and Energy ministers seek briefing on upcoming weather system
Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha have sought information on the upcoming weather system and its potential impact on Nepal. The ministers visited the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Meteorological Forecasting Division in Babarmahal, Kathmandu, on Tuesday to receive a briefing on the possible effects of a low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal. During the meeting, meteorologists informed the ministers that heavy to very heavy rainfall is possible in various parts of the country from Friday through Monday, with potential impacts in several areas.
Oli denies speaking time to dissenting UML leaders, including Yogesh Bhattarai
CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has not allowed leaders seeking to express dissenting views to speak during the party’s ongoing Central Committee meeting, particularly those advocating a change in leadership. At the meeting being held at Rambagh Mahal in Bhanimandal, Lalitpur, Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai sought time on Tuesday to present his views on Oli’s political report but was not immediately allowed to speak. Bhattarai subsequently submitted an eight-point written proposal to Oli. According to a Central Committee member attending the meeting, Bhattarai wanted to read out his proposal during the meeting, but submitted it in writing after Oli told him to wait for his turn to speak.
Bhotekoshi flood update: 1,451 bodies recovered
A total of 1,451 bodies had been recovered as of 2 pm Tuesday following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa. Of the total, 1,449 bodies were recovered from different districts, including 236 in Rasuwa, 203 in Nuwakot, 72 in Dhading, 367 in Chitwan, 79 in Gorkha, 38 in Tanahun, 232 in Nawalparasi East and 222 in Nawalparasi West. Two others died while undergoing treatment in Kathmandu. After collecting DNA samples and completing the necessary procedures for identification, 1,333 bodies have so far been managed and securely buried.
Transport sector protests over driver’s self-immolation, demands judicial probe
Transport federations and workers’ organisations have launched protests demanding an impartial judicial investigation into the death of passenger bus driver Arjun Dong, who died after setting himself on fire in Tripureshwor on Monday morning. Six federations and workers’ organisations have formed a joint struggle committee to establish the facts surrounding the incident, provide appropriate compensation to the victim’s family and ensure occupational safety for transport workers. Expressing serious concern over the incident, in which Dong set himself on fire inside bus No. Ba 5 Kha 4274 in front of the Eye Hospital in Tripureshwor, the organisations have demanded that all facts be made public.
Supreme Court orders authorities to produce analyst Bharat Dahal within 24 hours
The Supreme Court has sought a written response from the government in a habeas corpus petition concerning political analyst Bharatmani Dahal. A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi on Tuesday issued a show-cause order to the defendants, directing them to submit a written response along with the investigation file and the detainee within 24 hours. Denika Dahal had filed the habeas corpus petition against the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, among others, on behalf of analyst Bharatmani Dahal.
Oli stops Yogesh Bhattarai from speaking at ongoing UML Central Committee meeting
Chairman KP Sharma Oli has reportedly denied Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai an opportunity to speak at the ongoing CPN-UML Central Committee meeting at Rambagh Palace in Bhanimandal, Lalitpur. According to a UML Central Committee member attending the meeting, Bhattarai sought to express his views on the political report presented by Chairman Oli on Monday. “However, Chairman Oli did not allow him to speak,” the member said. “After he was not allowed to speak, Deputy General Secretary Bhattarai submitted his views to Chairman Oli in writing.” On the second day of the meeting, Tuesday, Central Committee members are presenting their views on the 88-page political report presented by Oli on Monday.
Finance Minister Wagle to serve as Acting PM during PM Shah’s UNGA visit
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has been given the responsibility of acting Prime Minister in the absence of Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Prime Minister Shah is leaving for New York, USA, at 7 pm today to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Before his departure, Shah recommended to President Ram Chandra Poudel that Finance Minister Wagle be assigned the responsibility of acting Prime Minister during his absence. Based on the recommendation, President Poudel has appointed Wagle as acting Prime Minister.
PM Balen breaks from tradition: No fanfare, no guard of honour as he heads to UNGA
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah will travel to New York on Tuesday to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA), with the government dropping the customary airport farewell in what officials say reflects the gravity of the situation following the Bhotekoshi floods. According to the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat, no formal farewell programme, including the customary military guard of honour, red carpet reception and VIP arrangements, will be held at the airport. The decision was made at Shah’s direction as the country mourns the deaths and devastation caused by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said ministers, senior government officials, security chiefs and foreign diplomats have not been invited to the airport for the farewell. Arrangements have instead been made for the prime minister’s vehicle to proceed directly from the VIP area to the aircraft parking bay.
Share trading resumes on NEPSE
Regular share trading on the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is set to resume today after a technical problem at the data center serving 72 trading members was resolved. According to NEPSE Information Officer Murahari Parajuli, trading will resume after Data Hub Pvt. Ltd., which operates the data center used by the trading members, informed NEPSE that the technical issue had been resolved. NEPSE had suspended regular trading on Monday after the technical problem was detected at the data center. Trading was halted amid concerns that continuing operations could pose a risk to NEPSE’s trading system.
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