KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
RSP Chief Lamichhane calls for 35-year vision, says party can no longer blame old parties
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has urged party leaders and cadres to take greater responsibility to ensure that the actions of those leading the party and government do not undermine democracy or bring disrepute to the party. Addressing the closing session of the first series of the ‘Policy, Organisation and Leadership’ programme organised by the RSP in Kathmandu on Saturday and Sunday, Lamichhane said the party could no longer escape responsibility by merely blaming the shortcomings of traditional political parties. He stressed that even if the party cannot accomplish something significant, it should at least avoid doing anything wrong.
Rabi Lamichhane’s China visit postponed
The planned visit to China by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has been postponed for the time being. Lamichhane was scheduled to visit China from August 23 to 30, but the trip has now been put on hold. Although a new date has not been fixed, sources said Lamichhane may visit China in mid-September. He was scheduled to travel to Beijing with a five-member delegation before proceeding with his wife, Nekita Paudel, to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. According to sources, the visit has been postponed partly because there was no confirmed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and amid the changing political situation in Nepal.
Nainsingh Mahar proposes three options to Deuba to prevent split in Nepali Congress
Nepali Congress youth leader Nainsingh Mahar has presented three proposals to former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve the growing internal dispute within the party. During a meeting with Deuba on Sunday morning, Mahar stressed the need to resolve the dispute through immediate dialogue and consensus. Mahar met Deuba after the former party president returned to Nepal following a prolonged medical treatment. He said the party could not move forward while remaining embroiled in internal conflict and urged the senior leadership to take the initiative to resolve the situation. “I have proposed that the party should be united and move forward. I made three proposals to unite the party, and he also said they were right,” Mahar said.
RSP Secretariat picks raise questions as Toshima, Ranjhu and Sagar are left out
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has assigned responsibilities to various office-bearers, Secretariat members and central committee members following its Central Committee meeting held on Friday. The meeting also assigned responsibilities to leaders heading different sister organisations of the party. RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane has included several leaders who either withdrew their candidacies or were defeated in the party’s first General Convention, held in Chitwan from June 21 to 26, in the Secretariat. However, prominent leader Toshima Karki has not been included in the Secretariat. Former general secretary candidate Ganesh Karki and Sagar Dhakal have also been left out. Dhakal had previously served as a Secretariat member.
Missing 2-year-old girl found dead in bushes in Saptari
Two-year-old Khushi Khatun, the daughter of Mohammad Irfan of Shambhunath Municipality-3, Traffic Chowk, Saptari district, has been found dead. According to the family, Khushi had been missing since this morning. After learning that she was missing, family members immediately informed the police and began searching for her. During a search conducted jointly by police and family members, Khushi was found dead in a bush behind her home. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. The cause and circumstances of her death have not yet been established, police said. Further details are awaited.
Prime Minister Shah leaves Mustang for Kathmandu
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has left Mustang for Kathmandu after a private visit to the district with his family. Shah arrived in Mustang on Saturday and offered prayers at the Muktinath Temple that evening. According to Inspector Santosh Basyal, information officer at the District Police Office, the prime minister left for Kathmandu via the Jomsom-Beni route. During his private trip, Shah traveled toward Jomsom on Saturday, stopping at Rupse Waterfall in Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 of Myagdi. The waterfall is a popular attraction for travelers heading to and from Mustang, with visitors frequently stopping to take photographs and videos.
Home Minister Gurung to hear public concerns tomorrow
Home Minister Sudan Gurung is set to interact directly with citizens as part of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) ongoing “Citizens, Policy and Leadership” programme. According to the RSP, Gurung will visit the party’s central office on Monday to listen to citizens’ grievances, concerns, suggestions and expectations. The programme will be held in two phases. During the first phase, members of the public will have the opportunity to directly raise their concerns, share problems and offer suggestions with the home minister.
Nepal and India to strengthen border security
Security officials from four districts of Nepal and India have agreed to expand joint patrols along the border and strengthen the regular exchange of information to improve border security and curb cross-border crimes. The agreement was reached during a Nepal-India security coordination meeting held in Jaleshwor, the headquarters of Mahottari district, on Saturday. According to Mahottari Assistant Chief District Officer Sanjay Kumar Pokharel, the meeting discussed measures to prevent and control cross-border crimes, including arms and drug trafficking and human trafficking. Participants also reviewed the security and maintenance of border posts.
One killed, another injured in three-vehicle collision in Chitwan
One person died and another was injured after a motorcycle collided with a truck and a car in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-1, Anpatari, on Sunday morning. According to Chandra Bhushan Yadav, information officer at the District Police Office, 21-year-old Sandesh Bista of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-13 was seriously injured in the accident. He was rushed to Chitwan Medical College, where he died during treatment shortly afterward. Bista was riding the motorcycle toward Ramnagar from Narayangadh when it collided with the truck and car traveling in the opposite direction.
Rain and landslides disrupt traffic on 10 road sections
Several road sections across the country have been obstructed by floods and landslides triggered by rainfall, disrupting transportation services in various areas. According to police, road blockages have affected the movement of vehicles along several major highways and roads. The Mechi Highway in Ilam, BP Highway in Kavre, Kanti Lokpath in Makawanpur, Araniko Highway in Sindhupalchok, Trishuli-Mailung Road in Rasuwa and Mid-Hill Highway in Nuwakot have been blocked due to floods and landslides. Similarly, the Toka-Chhahare road section and Daman-Pakhrin Road in Dhading, the Ghorahi-Thawang road section in Rolpa and the Jajarkot-Dolpa road section in Rukum West have also been obstructed.
Landslide in Tarakeswar leaves 50 houses affected
Around 50 houses have been affected by a landslide in Ashtaman Tole, Jarankhu, Tarkeswar Municipality-6, Kathmandu, following land excavation carried out for house construction. According to locals, four to five houses are at direct high risk, while the landslide has also disrupted movement in the area. Locals said the problem began after a dozer was used to excavate land for house construction. Although excavation and construction work at the site has been ongoing for nearly two years, they complained that the work has progressed very slowly.
Agro products worth over Rs 24 billion imported through eastern border point
Agricultural products worth more than Rs 24 billion were imported into Nepal through the Kakarbhitta border point during the last fiscal year. According to Nanda Kishore Singh, head of the Plant Quarantine Office in Kakarbhitta, agricultural commodities worth Rs 24.2674 billion were imported through the eastern border point in fiscal year 2082/83. The imports included cereals, pulses, fresh vegetables and fruits sourced from India, China, Australia and Bangladesh. Singh said cereals and pulses accounted for the largest share of the imported agricultural products. Nepal imported rice worth Rs 242 million and pulses worth Rs 188 million from India during the period.
Microfinance loan victims return home after agreement
People affected by microfinance loans who had been staging a sit-in at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Lalitpur have returned home following a 14-point agreement with the government. The agreement ended their protest, which had been launched to pressure the government and human rights bodies to address their concerns. The protesters had come to Kathmandu from various districts to seek solutions to problems related to microfinance loans. A total of 323 people from Jhapa, Morang, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Sindhuli, Bara, Parsa and Nawalparasi had arrived in Kathmandu.
Govt urges public to take precautions against Japanese Encephalitis
The government has urged the public to take precautions against Japanese encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne viral disease, amid a rise in infections and deaths. The Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Food Safety has called on people to remain vigilant and take preventive measures as JE cases continue to increase. According to a notice issued by the Division today, 21 people have died from JE across the country so far this year. Jhapa has recorded the highest number of deaths, with six fatalities among 10 confirmed cases. The Division said JE has so far been confirmed in 80 people across 59 local levels in 25 districts.
Two arrested for foreign employment fraud
Police have arrested two people for allegedly defrauding job seekers by promising them lucrative foreign employment opportunities and collecting a total of Rs 1.7 million. According to the Central Police Newsroom, those arrested are 37-year-old Nawin Lama of Mandandeupur Municipality-12, Kavrepalanchowk, and 50-year-old Ramesh Reule of Sharada Municipality-2, Salyan. Police said Lama allegedly defrauded three people of Rs 1.4 million by promising them lucrative jobs in Malaysia. Reule allegedly collected Rs 300,000 from another person after promising them a job in the United States.
Govt plans seasonal electricity tariffs to boost domestic consumption
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said the government is preparing to introduce seasonal electricity tariffs and concessional rates for high-volume consumers to increase domestic consumption of surplus electricity generated during the rainy season. Speaking at a discussion with representatives of the Morang Industry and Trade Association and the Morang Industry Organization in Biratnagar today, Minister Shrestha said the government is working to reform the electricity tariff structure so that increased power generation during the rainy season can be optimally utilized by industries and other sectors. According to the minister’s secretariat, the government is working to make electricity tariffs more reasonable to reduce industrial production costs, increase electricity consumption and utilize surplus power within the country.
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