KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Shah arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has arrived in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Shah, who had departed for the United States to attend the General Assembly, arrived in New York on Wednesday evening, Nepal time. He had left for the United States on Tuesday on a Qatar Airways flight and reached New York via a transit stop at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Shah is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday. He is expected to primarily raise the issue of climate change during his address.
PM Shah reminds everyone to pay heed to weather alert
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged one and all to pay special attention to the weather alerts with preparedness and coordination so that impacts would be minimized. He also reminded the concerned public agencies to maintain coordination for better preparedness. The Prime Minister made such reminder in the wake of weather advisory issued by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for September 25-27. There is possibility of heavy rainfall coupled with storm and lightning, so everyone needs to remain aware and maintain proper caution, the PM added. The weather service has predicted heavy and very heavy rainfall in some places of Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces. Even some places in Koshi, Bagmati, Madhes, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces were likely to have downpour.
President Paudel meets Acting Prime Minister Wagle
President Ram Chandra Paudel and Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle held a meeting at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday morning. According to the President’s personal secretariat, the meeting discussed current issues concerning the country. Wagle assumed the responsibility of Acting Prime Minister after Prime Minister Balendra Shah left for the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Khanal calls for stronger Global South voice in global decision-making
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called on countries of the Global South to move from a “rule-following” role to a “rule-making” role by taking a more active part in global decision-making processes. Addressing the High-Level Ministerial Meeting of Like-Minded Countries and Friends of the Global South in New York on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Khanal said developing countries must strengthen their collective voice in the global governance system. The meeting was hosted by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. “Empowerment means that the Global South should transform from a rule-following to a rule-making role. We should not be limited to implementing agendas prepared by others; we should play an active role in shaping rules, operating institutions and making policies that determine our future,” Khanal said.
US announces additional $31 million in aid for Nepal
The United States has announced an additional $31 million in assistance to Nepal to support ongoing relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the August 26 Bhote Koshi floods. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker announced the assistance during a meeting with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal in New York on Tuesday. According to the US Embassy in Nepal, $10 million of the assistance will be allocated for permanent, specially designed bridges to be supplied by US companies. The bridges are expected to restore critical transportation infrastructure in the flood-affected areas and improve regional connectivity.
Nepali Congress completes conventions in 512 local levels, 241 more scheduled
The Nepali Congress has begun its local-level convention process across the country as part of preparations for its 15th General Convention. According to the party, the convention process, including inaugural and closed sessions, began Wednesday in 512 local levels across 58 districts in accordance with the election schedule for the 15th General Convention, which is scheduled for Ashoj 16 to 19. The party said the convention process in the remaining 241 local levels will be held on Ashoj 8 and 9. Meanwhile, following the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s forecast of heavy rainfall from Ashoj 8 to 12, the Nepali Congress has instructed election officers deployed for the conventions to take weather conditions into consideration.
Yogesh Bhattarai says UML has suffered setback, calls for Oli to step down
CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has submitted a detailed 15-point written proposal and statement at the party’s ongoing Central Committee meeting. Bhattarai registered the written document after party Chair KP Sharma Oli did not allow him to present his views orally at the meeting, which has been underway for three days in Bhanimandal, Lalitpur. The document includes his views on party reorganization and other issues. In the proposal, Bhattarai has called for a detailed review of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods and landslides of Bhadra 10, the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24 last year, the party’s defeat in the Falgun 21 election, leadership transition, organizational reforms and left-wing cooperation.
CIT’s investment will be made transparent, result-oriented: Finance Minister Dr Wagle
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has shared that investment of Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) would be made transparent and result-oriented. Responding to queries raised during the theoretical discussion on ‘Citizen Investment Trust (Third Amendment) Bill, 2083’ in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Dr Wagle stressed that such types of Trust must be mobilized in a secure and result-oriented manner to balance the internal and external resources. He clarified that the government should be serious towards risk management on the issue that to what extent public funds created by depositing people’s savings be made flexible in the situation where national savings could not cover it. Lawmakers—Sushil Khadka, Krishna Hari Budhathoki, Nitima Bhandari Karki, Madhav Bahadur Thapa, Sitaram Sah, Prabha Dhakal, Janak Singh Dhami, Pukar Bam, Amrita BK, Radhika Ramtel, Devraj Pathak, Radhika Ramtel, Balawati Sharma, among others had participated in the theoretical discussion.
Min Bishwakarma says all ready to accept Deuba as senior leader
Nepali Congress leader Min Bishwakarma said he joined the faction recognized as official by the Election Commission and the court to prevent a split in the party. Speaking at an interaction organized by the Reporters Club Nepal in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Bishwakarma said that although the legal dispute over the party’s official status was ongoing, he had chosen to stand with the Congress faction recognized by the Election Commission and the court to keep the party united. He described the incident involving Sher Bahadur Deuba on Bhadra 24 as unfortunate and condemnable, and said everyone was ready to accept Deuba as the party’s senior leader after his return from treatment.
Minister Pun and Chinese Ambassador inspect forensic work in Lalitpur
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming visited the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, and observed the work being carried out by Chinese DNA and forensic identification experts. During the visit, they inspected the ongoing DNA testing of family members of people who died or went missing in the Rasuwa flood and expressed gratitude to the Chinese expert team assisting with the identification process. Minister Pun stressed the importance of making DNA and forensic testing more effective to provide information, comfort, and support to families affected by the disaster.
Search continues for those missing in hydropower plant tunnels: Minister Shrestha
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the search continues for employees of hydropower projects who went missing following floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system on August 26. Addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting today on the loss of lives and property in the energy sector caused by the devastating floods, as well as ongoing response efforts and future plans, Minister Shrestha said the search for the missing continues inside hydropower project tunnels in coordination with the Nepali Army and foreign experts. As many as 900 employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority and other hydropower projects remain unaccounted for following the disaster.
20th Asian Games: Sherpa Wins First Medal for Nepal
Tenzing Sherpa has won Nepal’s first medal at the 20th Asian Games, currently underway in Japan. Sherpa secured a bronze medal in the men’s Kumite over-84 kg category in karate at the Games. In the bronze-medal bout held today at Toyohashi Gymnasium in Japan, Sherpa defeated Laos’ Vathana 9–1 to claim the medal. Earlier, Sherpa was defeated 5–0 by Iran’s Muhammad Nemati in the semifinal. This is Sherpa’s first medal at the 20th Asian Games, where he has competed in different categories.
Santosh Shrestha appointed Chairman of Advertising Board
The government has appointed Santosh Shrestha as the Chairman of the Advertising Board of Nepal. According to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers, Shrestha, a resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City–14, has been appointed to lead the Board. The newly appointed Chairman Shrestha took the oath of office and secrecy before Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina on Wednesday. Following the oath-taking ceremony, Minister Dr. Timilsina directed Chairman Shrestha to work in a result-oriented manner toward the regulation, management, and reform of Nepal’s advertising sector. He emphasized that the Board should effectively fulfill its authority and responsibilities to make the advertising sector more systematic and well-managed.
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