KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
NC appoints representatives for active membership distribution
The Nepali Congress (NC) has appointed central representatives across 77 districts to oversee the distribution of new active memberships. According to a decision of the Membership Management Central Committee, representatives have been deployed from the central level to facilitate the distribution of active memberships ahead of the party’s 15th General Convention. The appointed district representatives have been tasked with ensuring that the membership distribution process is effective, systematic, and well-organized. In this new active membership distribution process, central representatives have been assigned with the objective of ensuring greater participation of youth under the age of 35.
Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Chuchchepati reopens
The Bhatbhateni Supermarket located in Chuchchepati has resumed operations from today after the completion of its full reconstruction. The supermarket, operated by Bhatbhateni Supermarket, has reopened with modern infrastructure and upgraded facilities, aiming to provide a more organised and convenient shopping environment for customers. With the reopening, a notable number of customers were seen visiting the store, actively purchasing daily essential goods and other household items. The management expects that the rebuilt supermarket will further improve the shopping experience for local consumers by offering enhanced services and a more systematic retail setup.
Nepal Police to receive salaries every 15 days from next fiscal year
Nepal Police personnel will begin receiving their salaries and allowances on a fortnightly basis from the upcoming fiscal year, following a government decision aimed at changing the salary payment system for civil servants. The Police Headquarters on Monday issued a circular to all budget-operating police offices across the country, directing them to implement the new salary payment arrangement. According to the circular signed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Himalaya Kumar Shrestha of the Administration Department, the decision is based on a ministerial-level decision made by the Ministry of Finance on April 17 and a subsequent letter from the Office of the Financial Comptroller General dated May 4.
Govt issues stricter new procedure to resolve landless and informal settlement issues
The government has introduced a new and stricter legal procedure to address the issues of landless Dalits, landless squatters, and unmanaged settlers. The “Procedure Relating to Collection of Records of Landless Dalits, Landless Squatters and Unmanaged Settlers” approved by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration on June 16 has come into effect. The procedure, formulated under Section 61 (A) of the Land Act, aims to make the data collection and verification process more transparent, technology-driven, and tightly regulated than in previous attempts.
384 candidates file nominations for RSP central committee elections
A total of 384 candidates have filed nominations for central committee positions in the first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). According to the preliminary list published by the party’s Central Election Commission, 384 individuals have entered the race for central leadership positions. RSP leader Sarita Gyawali said the claim and objection process has begun following the publication of the preliminary candidate list at the convention venue. Candidates and delegates have been given a specified period to register claims or objections regarding nominations.
House of Representatives meeting postponed until Friday
The meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for Thursday has been postponed. The Federal Parliament Secretariat issued a notice on Wednesday informing lawmakers and the public that the meeting would not take place as scheduled. According to the notice issued by Federal Parliament Secretary-General Padma Prasad Pandey, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal postponed the meeting in accordance with Rule 6(3) of the House of Representatives Regulations, citing special circumstances.
CK Raut criticizes RSP’s province assembly abolition agenda as ‘political dishonesty’
Janamat Party chair CK Raut has strongly criticized the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) proposal to abolish provincial assemblies, describing the agenda endorsed by the party’s first general convention in Chitwan as “extreme political dishonesty.” Raut’s remarks came just three days after he praised RSP senior leader and Prime Minister Balen Shah during the party’s inaugural convention. In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Raut said political parties are free to advocate their own agendas, but argued that RSP’s decision to champion the abolition of provincial assemblies amounted to a betrayal of voters.
Health Ministry says no shortage of rabies vaccine, assures sufficient emergency supply
The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that there is no shortage of rabies vaccine in the country, while acknowledging that stocks are not available in large quantities. Ministry spokesperson Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari said that although the government does not currently hold large reserves of the vaccine, sufficient doses are available in hospitals for emergency treatment. “We do not have a large stock at the moment. However, vaccines are available for emergency use for patients,” he said. “New supplies will arrive soon through the tender process,” he added.
RSP political document omits Maoist insurgency from historical narrative
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has excluded the Maoist armed insurgency from its official political document, drawing attention at the party’s first general convention. Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, while presenting the political report on Tuesday, outlined various key political transformations in Nepal’s history but made no reference to the decade-long Maoist insurgency. The document pays respect to the 1950–51 revolution, the 1990 people’s movement, and the 2006–07 people’s movement II, describing them as historic milestones that shaped Nepal’s political transformation.
Top RSP leaders opt out of central race as internal talks intensify
The first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has seen several prominent leaders opting out of contesting key central committee positions, while internal discussions continue over nominations and senior roles. Party insiders say General Secretary Bhupdev Shah, Physical Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, and close aide of party chair Rabi Lamichhane, Pramod Neupane, did not file candidacies for central committee posts. They are expected to be accommodated through nomination quotas following consensus at the top leadership level. According to the party secretariat, Chair Lamichhane is preparing to nominate these leaders to senior positions after their absence from the electoral race for central roles.
Foreign Ministry releases 49-point report detailing diplomatic engagements and consular services
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has published a 49-point report outlining its major activities over the past month, highlighting Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal’s official visits to India and China, diplomatic engagements, and consular services provided to Nepali citizens. According to the ministry, Foreign Minister Khanal paid an official visit to India from June 5 to 7 at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. During the visit, the two sides held bilateral discussions on development cooperation, trade, energy, and people-to-people relations. The report also noted that Khanal undertook a four-day official visit to China from June 14 to 17 at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties and advancing areas of mutual cooperation.
PM Balen returns to Kathmandu from Chitwan
Prime Minister (PM) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ has returned to Kathmandu with his team on Wednesday morning, leaving the first general convention of the party in Chitwan midway. While preparations were underway for voting for the central member posts of the RSP, PM Balen’s team left Chitwan for Kathmandu on a Buddha Air flight at around 11 am. He had arrived with his wife and daughter last Sunday (July 21) to inaugurate the general convention in Bharatpur, Chitwan, and proposed re-electing Rabi Lamichhane as RSP Chair on Tuesday. As no one else filed a candidacy for the post of president, Lamichhane was elected unopposed on Tuesday.
Gold price drops by Rs 3,600 per tola; silver also declines
The price of gold fell sharply by Rs 3,600 per tola in the Nepali market on Wednesday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. The federation has fixed the price of fine gold at Rs 283,500 per tola for the day. On Tuesday, gold was traded at Rs 287,100 per tola, marking a significant decline in a single day. Silver prices also recorded a decline on Wednesday.
UML condemns arrest of Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel, demands immediate release
The CPN-UML has strongly condemned the arrest of party Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel, describing it as politically motivated, retaliatory and unlawful. A ninth meeting of the party Secretariat held on Tuesday evening concluded that the arrest was driven by political prejudice and demanded Paudel’s unconditional and immediate release. The meeting also called on party members and supporters across the country to launch political resistance and exposure campaigns against what it described as an authoritarian, vindictive and discriminatory use of state mechanisms.
Over 400 candidates contest for RSP Central Committee posts at first general convention
More than 400 candidates have entered the race for 99 Central Committee positions of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as the party moves forward with leadership elections during its first national general convention. According to Bhuvan KC, Chief of the party’s Central Election Commission, nomination registration continued until late Tuesday night, with the final tally of candidates being verified before the publication of the first candidate list. “We are finalizing the exact number, but more than 400 nominations have been received. The list will be published at 9:00 am today,” KC said.
Three members from PM Shah’s secretariat contest for RSP central committee
Three members from the secretariat of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader and Prime Minister Balendra Shah have filed candidacies for positions in the party’s central committee. According to Prime Minister’s Office press coordinator Surendra Bajagain, Shah’s chief political advisor Asim Shah, policy, administration and good governance advisor Sudip Dhakal, and youth leader and the Prime Minister’s personal deputy secretary Prakriti Dhakal have filed nominations for central committee membership. Political advisor Shah has filed his candidacy under the open Muslim inclusion category. He is regarded as one of the key figures behind efforts to create political cooperation and integration between Balendra Shah and the RSP.
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