KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
SC issues show-cause order in habeas corpus petition related to UML Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel
The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause order in a habeas corpus petition filed seeking the release of CPN-UML Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel, effectively allowing authorities to continue investigating him in custody for the time being. A single bench of Justice Shrikanta Paudel issued the order on Thursday after hearing the petition. The petition was filed by Paudel’s wife, arguing that there was no sufficient legal basis for his arrest and requesting that he be allowed to face legal proceedings while remaining outside detention. Paudel was arrested on Monday from Shubha Hotel in Surkhet by police acting on a letter from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation. He was then transported to Kathmandu for further legal proceedings.
National Assembly meeting postponed without convening
The National Assembly meeting scheduled for Thursday has been postponed without convening. The meeting had been slated to begin at 1:15 pm, but was deferred through an official notice issued by the Federal Parliament Secretariat. According to the notice signed by Federal Parliament Secretary-General Padma Prasad Pandey, the meeting could not be held due to special circumstances. The National Assembly Chair has now scheduled the next meeting for Friday at 1:15 pm. The National Assembly had last met on June 19. The session scheduled for Thursday was expected to take place after a six-day gap but was postponed before proceedings could begin.
Traffic resumes on Beni-Jomsom road after 12-hour disruption caused by fatal rockfall
Traffic service along the Beni-Jomsom road, which connects Mustang with the national highway network through northern Myagdi, resumed on Thursday morning after being disrupted for nearly 12 hours due to a fatal rockfall incident. The road had been blocked after rocks fell onto an electric vehicle at Mahabhir in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 of Myagdi on Wednesday night, killing the driver and obstructing traffic. The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Sohil Miya of Birgunj Metropolitan City. He was driving an electric vehicle from the Korala border point in Mustang toward Pokhara when the accident occurred.
State of emergency declared after twin earthquakes strike Venezuela
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas, within seconds of each other, causing widespread damage and the collapse of several multi-storey buildings. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the emergency measures after the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, was followed moments later by a stronger 7.5 tremor. Rescue teams have been deployed across affected areas and are searching through the rubble for survivors. Authorities have also closed the country’s main international airport after it suffered significant structural damage during the earthquakes.
FIFA suspends ANFA until further notice
Football’s governing body FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The FIFA Council Bureau decided on Wednesday to suspend ANFA until further notice in accordance with Article 14 of the FIFA Statutes. With this decision, ANFA has lost all membership rights granted under Article 14 of the FIFA Statutes. FIFA stated that during the suspension period, ANFA’s representative teams and affiliated club teams will not be allowed to participate in international competitions.
Swarnim Wagle secures highest votes in RSP central committee election
Dr. Swarnim Wagle emerged as the top vote-getter in the election for central committee membership of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). According to the final results, Wagle received 2,656 votes, the highest among all candidates contesting for central committee positions. During the election process, he received notable support from delegates within Nepal as well as representatives from the party’s overseas committees.
Tashi Sherpa, Sita Badi and Binita elected to RSP central committee from Karnali
Three women leaders from Karnali Province have been elected to the central committee of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Tashi Sherpa, Sita Badi and Binita Kathayat secured victories for central committee membership representing the Karnali region. Among those elected, Sita Badi is currently serving as Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens. Alongside her responsibilities in government, she is now set to play an active role in the party’s central leadership. Former lawmaker Binita Kathayat also succeeded in retaining her position as a central committee member.
Gold price drops by Rs 5,200 per tola
Gold prices in the Nepali market fell sharply by Rs 5,200 per tola on Thursday, continuing a downward trend seen over the past several weeks. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has been fixed at Rs 278,300 per tola for the day. The precious metal was traded at Rs 283,500 per tola on Wednesday, marking a significant one-day decline. Over the past seven days alone, the price has dropped by Rs 18,900 per tola.
BP Highway reconstruction reaches 30% progress as authorities prepare for monsoon risks
Reconstruction and strengthening works on the BP Highway, a key road link connecting Kathmandu with eastern Nepal, have reached around 30 percent physical progress as authorities race to improve the flood-damaged corridor before the monsoon intensifies. The highway suffered severe damage in October 2024 after floods in the Roshi River washed away nearly 30.5 kilometers of road. Since last year, the government has been working to reinforce the damaged section between Bhakundebesi in Namobuddha Municipality and Nepalthok in Sindhuli. According to engineer Shankar Khanal of the Bhaktapur Road Division Office, reconstruction on the Kavre side covers 27.3 kilometers and has been divided into three contract packages.
Health Ministry says over 10,000 anti-rabies vaccine vials in stock
The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has stated that nearly 10,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine are currently available in stock across the country. According to ministry spokesperson Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, a total of 10,011 vials of anti-rabies vaccine are presently stored at central, provincial and district-level hospitals. Dr. Adhikari said that 2,500 vials of anti-rabies vaccine have already been received through support from the World Health Organization (WHO), while an additional 4,500 vials are expected to arrive within the next few days.
8,180 APF personnel on standby for monsoon disaster response
The Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal has placed 8,180 personnel on 24-hour standby across the country as part of its monsoon disaster preparedness measures. Issuing its Mobilization, Preparedness and Response Plan for Disaster Management, the APF said it has strengthened its readiness to respond to potential disasters during the monsoon season. According to the APF, a total of 21,699 personnel nationwide have already received disaster management refresher training in line with the Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan-2083 and are on alert for emergency deployment. The force plans to provide refresher training to all APF personnel by mid-Ashar.
Ashika Tamang reflects on convention experience, says ordinary people suffer most
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Ashika Tamang has shared her reflections on the party’s ongoing general convention, concluding that ordinary citizens often bear the greatest burden regardless of the situation. In a social media post, Tamang wrote that her experience at the convention led her to believe that “it is always the common people who end up suffering, no matter which side they are on.” Referring to the internal election process, she said the convention felt similar to a public election. “I felt the election would be similar to what happened on March 5, and the Election Commission itself would oversee it. But I was unaware the party would have its own commission,” she wrote, adding that there was no need to subject the matter to excessive media scrutiny.
Holding center residents warn return to previous settlements if relocation not resolved
Landless, squatters and informal settlers currently staying in a holding center have warned that they will be forced to return to their previous settlements if the government attempts to evict them without ensuring permanent rehabilitation. Issuing a joint concern letter on Thursday, residents at the holding center at the National Drinking Water and Training Center in Nagarjun expressed strong objections to the government’s move. They said it has already been two months since they were relocated to the holding center following eviction, but no permanent solution has been provided.
RSP faces criticism over absence of NOTA option in internal election
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has long advocated for the inclusion of a ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option in the constitution, is facing criticism after the provision was not implemented in its own internal election. During the ongoing five-day first general convention in Chitwan, the voting process for 99 central committee members reportedly proceeded without a NOTA option in the electronic voting system. The system, developed by Ram-Laxman Khanal of Nuwakot, has come under scrutiny after the absence of the feature that the party leadership itself, including party chair Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balen Shah, had previously supported as part of electoral reform discussions.
Grenade blast during army training in Kailali kills one soldier, injures another
A grenade explosion during a military training exercise in Kailali on Thursday claimed the life of a Nepal Army personnel and injured another officer. The incident occurred during a live-fire training session in the Jalpa Community Forest area of Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yogendra Timilsina of the District Police Office, Kailali, the deceased has been identified as Himal Bikram Bista. Bista died during treatment at Lalmatiya-based Lal Ratna Hospital in Lamki at around 12 noon on Thursday. He had sustained severe injuries from grenade shrapnel to his right palm and multiple parts of his body.
RSP central committee election concludes, results expected within two hours
The election for the central committee members under the first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been completed, with vote counting now underway. According to party officials, the results are expected to be announced within approximately two hours. Voting was conducted through an electronic system developed by Ram–Laxman voting machine. Once the results are announced, the process for selecting office-bearers will begin. Party leaders said that efforts will be made to reach consensus in selecting office-bearers, and if agreement is achieved, an election may not be necessary.
Education Minister defends NEB’s result process
Minister for Education Sasmit Pokharel has defended the process of publishing results by the National Examination Board, stating that there was no undue haste in releasing the results. Taking to social media, Minister Pokharel clarified that the results were published on time only after streamlining administrative procedures and adding necessary human resources. He said that delays were avoided by simplifying lengthy bureaucratic processes, ensuring timely publication of results without compromising the system.
RSP convention voting mired in controversy as complaints of irregularities surface
The first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) underway in Chitwan has been overshadowed by growing controversy surrounding the ongoing internal elections, with allegations of irregularities emerging even before the official announcement of results. Out of a total of 4,311 convention representatives, only 2,959 cast their votes in the election for central committee members, while 1,352 delegates reportedly did not participate in the voting process. The convention, held in Bharatpur, has been described by participants as poorly managed, with confusion persisting even over the final list of representatives prior to the election.
Class 12 result dispute sparks student protest in Kathmandu
Students have staged a protest in Kathmandu expressing dissatisfaction over the recently published Class 12 examination results, alleging errors in evaluation and lack of effective mechanisms for re-totaling and re-evaluation. The demonstration was held on Thursday at Maitighar Mandala, where students demanded accountability over what they described as flaws in the result publication and assessment process. The protest was led by students, including Ranjit Karki, Sahil Rijal, Diwas Shrestha, Smriti Khatiwada, Anshu Pant and Saheb Sah, among others.
Bird flu spreads to 11 districts; authorities assure properly cooked chicken remains safe
Bird flu (avian influenza) has spread to 11 districts across Nepal, prompting authorities to cull more than 569,000 chickens and destroy hundreds of thousands of eggs in an effort to contain the outbreak. According to the Department of Livestock Services, bird flu infections have been confirmed in Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Bara, Mahottari, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kavrepalanchok. As part of containment measures, authorities have so far destroyed 569,858 chickens, 989,313 eggs and 195,485 kilograms of poultry feed.
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