KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Oli and Prachanda meet to break deadlock on TJ appointments
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ met on Sunday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar to discuss key issues related to Nepal’s transitional justice process.
The meeting focused on resolving disagreements over appointments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons—two bodies central to the post-conflict peace process. Despite the formation of a recommendation committee led by former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra, the major political parties have yet to reach a consensus on nominees for these commissions.
Monarchist momentum fading, political stability strengthening: UML
The ruling CPN-UML has assessed that ongoing attempts to destabilize the political system are gradually losing strength. During a Secretariat meeting held on Sunday at the party’s central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, UML leaders concluded that the country is broadly progressing toward political and policy stability.
Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali stated that the party believes forces trying to derail stability—including monarchist movements—are weakening. This conclusion follows the slowdown of monarchist demonstrations that had intensified lately but began to lose momentum after a violent protest in Tinkune, Kathmandu.
Grade 12 exams begin today, 511,525 students participating
The Grade 12 examinations began at designated centers across the country from today, according to the National Examination Board (NEB). According to NEB, the exams will be held daily from 8 AM to 11 AM and will continue until May 16.
A total of 1,590 examination centers have been established in Nepal, with an additional center set up in Japan. Kathmandu has the highest number of centers at 162, while Manang and Mustang have the fewest, with one center each.
NEB has urged students to attend the examinations with confidence and positivity. To ensure smooth operations, the Board has deployed center heads, assistant center heads, around 2,000 administrative staff, at least one office assistant per center, and approximately 20,000 security personnel based on the student volume.
Garbuja sworn in as Minister of State for Energy
Kham Bahadur Garbuja, the newly appointed Minister of State for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, took the oath of office and secrecy before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Sunday.
Gagan Thapa rules out alternative to UML partnership
General Secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), Gagan Thapa, has stated that neither he personally nor his party is currently in a position to consider an alternative to the agreement reached with the CPN-UML.
“As of now, both personally and at the party’s institutional level, we are not even at the initial stage of exploring an alternative to the understanding reached with the UML,” Thapa said. “I have said before that we want to remain committed to the political agreement we made and implement it with integrity, which has earned us a certain reputation.”
NA seeks govt clarification on death of Nepali student at KIIT College
National Assembly (NA) Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal has called on the government to respond to concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the death of Prisha Sah, a Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India.
Sah was found hanging in her dormitory room last Thursday. Raising the issue in the National Assembly, Dahal said the House has taken serious note of her death and urged both the Nepali and Indian governments to thoroughly investigate the recurring incidents of similar nature at the same college. “It is deeply saddening that such incidents are happening repeatedly at the same institution,” Dahal said during today’s session.
Nagdhunga–Naubise road section to close at night from May 5
The Nagdhunga–Naubise section of the Tribhuvan Highway will be closed nightly from May 5 to May 14 due to ongoing construction and improvement work on the Nagdhunga–Piplamod road segment.
The Nagdhunga–Mugling Road Project (Eastern Section) has stated that preparations are underway to manage traffic during the closure period. Superintendent of Police Apil Raj Bohara, spokesperson for the District Police Range, Kathmandu, confirmed coordination with the relevant authorities to implement the necessary measures.
According to a public notice issued by the project in coordination with the respective District Administration Office, vehicular movement along this section will be halted from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM each night.
Price of gold on a declining trend
The price of gold in the domestic market stood at Rs 184,100 per tola (11.66 grams) today, the first trading day of the week, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. On Wednesday, gold was priced at Rs 188,100 per tola.
Similarly, the price of silver dropped to Rs 1,910 per tola today, down from Rs 1,965 per tola on Wednesday. The Federation reported that gold is currently trading at USD 3,241 per ounce in the international market.
Maoist Center holds Office Bearers’ meeting
The office bearers of the main opposition party, the CPN-Maoist Center, held a meeting today. The meeting that took place at the residence of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Khumaltar reviewed the campaign focused on the Tarai-Madhes postal route and discuss plans for a similar campaign along the Himalayan and hilly routes.
During a provious central committee meeting, it was decided to launch the ‘Maoist with the People’ awareness campaign from Falgun to Asar, focusing on the postal route, Pushpalal Lokmarg, as well as the Himalayan districts.
Over 51,000 foreign tourists visit Mustang in first four months of 2025
The number of foreign tourists visiting Mustang district has seen a significant rise in recent months. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office in Jomsom, a total of 51,896 foreign tourists visited the district by the end of April 2025.
Rajesh Gupta, Chief of the ACAP Office, said that the figure includes 8,745 visitors from SAARC member countries and 43,151 from other parts of the world. This marks a 36.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 37,974 foreign tourists visited Mustang between January and April.
Staff College course to strengthen leadership in Police: Home Minister
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has emphasized that the course offered at the Staff College will foster strong leadership within the police force, ultimately enhancing the organization’s effectiveness.
Inaugurating the Staff College Course in Kathmandu on Sunday, Minister Lekhak expressed confidence that the institution would play a vital role in developing the leadership skills of Nepal Police officers.
“Today marks an important and historic day for the Nepal Police. Another meaningful step has been taken in the ongoing efforts of the police, who are dedicated to serving the nation,” said Minister Lekhak. “I am hopeful that this course will bring about positive changes.”
Father and daughter killed in Rautahat road accident
A father and daughter died after a speeding car struck their motorcycle in Rautahat on Sunday morning. According to DSP Netramani Giri of the District Police Office, the accident took place at Chandranigahapur Municipality-4 along the East-West Highway.
The victims have been identified as 60-year-old Baliram Sahni of Malahi Tole, Garuda Municipality-3, and his 40-year-old daughter Urmila Devi Sahni. Police said the collision occurred due to overspeeding.
“The motorcycle (Na 3 Pa 9512), en route from Chandranigahapur to Nijgadh, was hit by a car (Ba 6 Cha 3526) traveling from Hetauda to Chandranigahapur,” DSP Giri told Nepal Khabar.
Rainfall obstructs Narayanghat-Butwal Road and Kanti Lokpath
The Narayanghat–Butwal section of the East-West Highway has been blocked due to continuous rainfall since Saturday night. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhu Nepal, spokesperson for the District Police Office, slippery conditions caused by persistent rain in the Daunne section—currently under expansion—led to halted traffic as vehicles began to skid. Authorities have urged travelers to use alternative routes, as the road has become completely impassable.
The situation worsened with the road already closed for nightly expansion work from 11 PM to 5 AM, causing a significant buildup of vehicles.
KUKL suspends Melamchi water supply in Kathmandu
The Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has announced the suspension of Melamchi water supply in the Kathmandu Valley. In a notice issued today, KUKL stated that water distribution has been halted until further notice due to flooding and increased turbidity in the Melamchi River. The utility has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
As a precautionary measure to protect the Melamchi Drinking Water Project from potential monsoon-related damage, the project is typically shut down at the onset of rainfall and resumes only after weather conditions improve.
Lamichhane waiting for justice with high morale: Hridayesh Tripathi
Madhesh-based leader Hridayesh Tripathi met Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in police custody. Tripathi visited Lamichhane at Bhairahawa Jail on Saturday. Following the meeting, Tripathi shared a social media post stating that Lamichhane is a victim of political revenge.
“Rabi Lamichhane waiting for justice with high morale,” he wrote. “The culprits behind the cooperative scandal are freely roaming outside the scope of investigation under government protection. It appears the government is using Lamichhane’s case to deflect attention from its own wrongdoings. Justice may be delayed, but not denied—awareness will prevail.”
Rain forces one-way traffic on Suryabinayak–Sanga road
Continuous rainfall since last night has disrupted traffic on the Suryabinayak–Jagati section of the Araniko Highway in Bhaktapur, forcing authorities to enforce one-way traffic.
According to Pradeep Khatri, Chief of the Bhaktapur District Traffic Police Range, the road under construction leading from Suryabinayak to Kavrepalanchok via Jagati has been limited to one-way movement due to slippery and hazardous conditions caused by rain.
The delayed expansion of the highway into a six-lane road has worsened conditions on the Bhaktapur–Sanga stretch, prompting the enforcement of one-way traffic on the Araniko Highway for safety.
Construction of Thulokhola Hydropower Project nears completion
The construction of the 21.3-megawatt Thulokhola Hydropower Project in Myagdi district has reached its final stage, with all physical infrastructure and equipment installation completed. According to Project Manager Binod Paudel, testing of the machines installed in the powerhouse has begun.
The project, located in Kuyinemangale of Raghuganga Rural Municipality-8, is being developed by Joint Energy Limited. Paudel confirmed that all major components—including the dam, tunnel, powerhouse, and switchyard—have been completed, and turbine testing has already been conducted.
Koshi Province Investment Summit: MoUs signed for investments worth Rs 152 billion
Agreements worth Rs 152.16 billion were signed during the two-day Investment Summit organized by the Koshi Province government. The Province Investment Summit was held on Thursday.
According to Dr. Saroj Koirala, Chief Executive Director of the Province Investment Authority, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed for 46 different projects. Dr. Koirala signed the MoUs on behalf of the authority, along with participating investors.
The signed agreements include eight projects in agriculture, three in energy, 12 in industry, nine in infrastructure, two in information technology, 10 in tourism, and two in waste management.
Unified Socialist’s Parliamentary Party meeting postponed
The parliamentary party meeting of the Unified Socialist party has been postponed. Chief Whip Metmani Chaudhary said that the meeting was delayed because many MPs, including himself from Dang, are currently in their respective districts. Similarly, other MPs, such as Prakash Jwala, are also from the district, which has contributed to the postponement. The party has not yet issued a notice regarding the rescheduled meeting.
PM Oli asserts no forgiveness for conflict-era rape cases
Representatives from various conflict-affected organizations submitted a letter to Prime Minister KP Oli, urging that the recommendation process for the office bearers of two commissions related to transitional justice be made more credible and transparent.
In a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar today, representatives, including conflict victim Devi Khadka, expressed concerns over the lack of consultation with victims during the recommendation process and the absence of a trustworthy environment.
Japanese Ambassador Maeda Toru calls on PM Oli
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between Japan and Nepal. The two also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and potential areas of collaboration.
With the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations approaching next year, both sides discussed plans to commemorate the occasion in a meaningful way.
Govt committed to quality health services: Health Minister Paudel
Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services across the country.
Speaking at a program at Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj on Sunday, Minister Paudel handed over vaccines provided by the Indian government for the protection of sickle cell and thalassemia patients from infectious diseases. He highlighted recent improvements in service delivery across public hospitals in Nepal and emphasized the need for continued enhancements.
Sagarmatha Sambaad to spotlight mountain climate crisis on global stage
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai, has emphasized that the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad will be instrumental in drawing international attention to the climate challenges faced by mountain communities. The multi-stakeholder dialogue, scheduled from May 16 to 18 in Kathmandu, aims to bring mountain issues to the forefront of global climate discourse.
Speaking at a pre-event organized by the People’s Forum in Lalitpur, Secretary Rai said that the intensifying climate crisis poses a grave threat to human life in mountain regions. He stressed that the concerns of mountain communities have long been sidelined in international negotiations, including the Paris Agreement, and that Sagarmatha Sambaad seeks to bridge this gap.
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