KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Thousands flock to Pashupatinath on first Monday of Shrawan
On the first Monday of the holy month of Shrawan, all four gates of the Pashupatinath Temple were opened to devotees from as early as 3 am, as thousands gathered to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.
The Cultural Heritage Division of the Pashupati Area Development Trust estimates that around 500,000 devotees are likely to visit the main temple for worship throughout the day. Special arrangements have been made to accommodate the expected crowds.
Mondays in the month of Shrawan hold special significance in Vedic Sanatan Hindu tradition, as devotees, particularly women, observe fasts and offer ritual worship to Lord Shiva. It is believed that praying at Shiva temples on these days fulfills one’s wishes and brings lasting good fortune.
Nepali Congress divided over Land Bill
The Nepali Congress has begun internal deliberations over the Land-Related (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which is currently under theoretical discussion in the ongoing session of the House of Representatives.
A meeting was held on Monday at the party’s parliamentary office in Singha Durbar between General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire to discuss the contentious bill.
During the meeting, Minister Lekhak reportedly briefed that CPN-UML, which is leading the current government, intends to pass the bill through a full House vote. However, General Secretary Thapa expressed disagreement, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
Former Minister Gupta summoned by CIAA over bribery scandal
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has summoned former Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta for a voice test in connection with a bribery case involving Rs 7.8 million.
Gupta was forced to resign following the release of an audio recording allegedly capturing him negotiating a bribe for halting the transfer of the chief of the Pokhara Land Revenue Office and for appointing an individual as chairperson of the Land Commission in Kaski. His resignation came at the instruction of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The CIAA launched a probe after receiving a formal complaint accompanied by the audio recording. According to a CIAA official, Gupta has been asked to appear on Tuesday for a forensic voice analysis.
Bangladesh fighter jet crash kills 19, injures 164; national day of mourning declared
At least 19 people were killed and 164 others injured after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school building in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon.
The F-7 fighter aircraft crashed into the premises of Milestone School and College in Uttara at 1:18 PM local time during a training flight, according to Bangladeshi media reports. The impact sparked a fire and caused panic among students and staff, many of whom were injured while trying to flee.
Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi news outlet, reported that most of the injured were students.
UML pushes to scrap ‘cooling-off period’ provision without consulting coalition partner Nepali Congress
The ruling coalition faces internal discord after the CPN-UML attempted to remove the ‘cooling-off period’ provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill without prior consultation with its partner, the Nepali Congress.
The UML-led government had initially joined hands with the Nepali Congress in Asar 17, 2081 BS, forming a coalition based on a seven-point agreement with commitments to good governance and anti-corruption. However, their unity now appears strained after the UML’s move in the National Assembly to revise a key provision.
The provision in question, inserted by the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives, bars retired civil servants from holding constitutional or government positions for two years after retirement. This rule was unanimously endorsed by the committee.
Senior NC leaders seek party initiative in constitutional amendment process
Former office bearers of the Nepali Congress have reached a consensus that the party should initiate discussions on amending the Constitution in a way that strengthens Nepal’s federal democratic republic.
The conclusion emerged during a meeting held on Monday at the Chaksibari residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, who currently represents the party in government.
“Work on constitutional amendment has not progressed. Now it must move forward,” former NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula told reporters after the meeting. “To that end, the Nepali Congress should conduct nationwide debates and discussions aimed at consolidating the federal democratic republican system.”
Oli calls for unified UML as party reports 28% membership growth
The UML has added over 139,000 new members to its ranks through an ongoing membership drive, marking a 28 percent increase in total party membership.
The update was presented during the party’s Central Committee meeting that began Monday in Kathmandu.
According to UML’s Chief of Publicity Rajendra Gautam, the membership campaign has helped strengthen and energize the party nationwide.
PM Oli warns UML leaders against aligning with former President Bhandari
UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has issued a stern warning to party leaders expressing support for former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, signaling an increasingly hardline stance as the party’s Central Committee meeting kicked off in Chyasal, Lalitpur.
In his address on Monday, Oli cautioned that those siding with the former President would face strict disciplinary action. According to a Central Committee member present at the meeting, Oli indirectly accused some party leaders of acting as Bhandari’s “spokespersons” and vowed to take punitive steps if the trend continued.
“I met former President Bhandari yesterday and offered my suggestions. She has not yet responded,” Oli was quoted as saying. He revealed that Bhandari had declined his invitation to meet at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, opting instead to visit the party office in Chyasal.
Bhim Rawal mocks Oli’s lifetime leadership ambitions
Former Vice-Chair of CPN-UML, Dr. Bhim Rawal, has taken a jab at party Chair KP Sharma Oli over a proposal to remove the 70-year age limit for party leadership positions, a move that would allow Oli to continue leading the party indefinitely.
The sarcastic remarks came after Oli floated the proposal during the ongoing central committee meeting in Chyasal. In response, Rawal took to social media, questioning Oli’s motives and mocking the rationale behind the proposal.
“If the provision to remove the 70-year age limit is to be scrapped, then perhaps time spent in jail should also be deducted,” Rawal wrote sarcastically. “To satisfy KP’s insatiable hunger for power and position, should we also form a party task force to subtract the years he spent in childhood, sleeping without working, or sick in bed before entering politics?”
MoHA deploys new team at TIA immigration amid reform efforts
As part of ongoing immigration reforms, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has deployed 45 newly appointed branch officers to the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), effective from today.
Director General of the Department of Immigration, Govinda Rijal, said that the officers—who recently passed the Public Service Commission exams—were deployed after completing a three-day training. Along with them, Joint Secretary Narahari Ghimire has assumed office as the new Chief of TIA Immigration.
Ghimire, a former spokesperson for the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), officially began his new role today.
Fugitive defendants cannot escape under pressure or influence: Police
The District Police Office, Parsa, arrested 1,511 fugitive defendants in the last fiscal year, more than double their target, said Gautam Mishra, the office chief.
Mishra explained that the arrests were made in coordination with various courts to apprehend fugitives hiding across Nepal and India, who had been convicted but remained at large.
“We had set a target to arrest over 600 fugitive defendants last fiscal year,” he said. “By launching a special campaign, we have achieved that goal and ensured that justice is served, as victims cannot receive true justice if offenders remain free.”
Media barred from entering UML office as Central Committee meeting begins
The Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML began on Monday at the party’s central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, with strict restrictions imposed on media coverage.
The meeting was called to discuss preparations for the party’s upcoming Second Statute Convention, scheduled to be held from September 5 to 7.
While the meeting commenced earlier today at the Tulsilal Memorial Foundation premises, journalists, especially photojournalists, were barred from entering the venue. Even access to areas immediately outside the meeting hall was restricted, and journalists were directed to a designated zone marked by posters pasted on nearby walls.
Policy reforms essential to achieve prosperity: Prachanda
Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Maoist Centre, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, has emphasized the need for policy reforms and a shift in the state’s overall mindset to achieve the goal of economic prosperity.
Speaking at a meeting with the newly elected office bearers of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) at his residence in Khumaltar today, Chairman Dahal highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in national economic development.
He stressed the importance of creating policies and structures that enable the private sector to operate in a conducive environment. “The goal of prosperity cannot be achieved without preparing policies and structures that support the private sector,” Dahal said. “The state must adopt a more facilitative approach.”
Floods, landslides block six highways nationwide
Six major highways across the country have been completely blocked due to floods and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall.
According to the Police Headquarters, the Koshi Highway in Sankhuwasabha, the Mechi Highway in Panchthar, and the Tamor Corridor road section are fully obstructed.
Likewise, the Kaligandaki Corridor in Nawalparasi East, the Shahid Highway in Rolpa, and the Jajarkot-Dolpa-Bheri Corridor road section in Rukum West have also been completely blocked.
Gold continues upward trend
The price of gold rose by Rs 400 on Monday, continuing its recent upward trajectory.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of fine gold has been set at Rs 194,700 per tola.
Meanwhile, the price of silver remained unchanged at Rs 2,285 per tola.
Services of National ID partially disrupted
The Department of National Identity Card and Civil Registration has announced that services related to the national identity card have been partially disrupted.
According to the Department’s Information Officer, Shivaraj Sedhain, the disruption occurred as technical teams are currently engaged in routine maintenance and capacity enhancement of the National Identity Management Information System (MIS).
As a result, several services have been affected since Sunday, including online registration, national ID card distribution, correction of personal information, and the registration and renewal of social security allowance beneficiaries. Other public services that are integrated with the MIS have also been impacted.
New NRB directive aims to streamline dividend payouts and boost financial discipline
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a new directive titled “Guidelines on Dividend Distribution for Licensed Payment Institutions, 2025”, aiming to make dividend distribution more transparent and better regulated.
According to Kiran Pandit, Executive Director at the central bank, the guidelines are intended to ensure that profit-sharing practices among institutions licensed to operate in Nepal’s payment system are conducted with greater clarity and accountability.
The new framework seeks to improve how profits are distributed and reinvested, helping institutions boost their risk-bearing capacity and operational efficiency. NRB believes that this initiative will support the development of a more secure, stable, and capable payment infrastructure across the country.
Construction of Animal Hospital building remains incomplete
The construction of the Animal Hospital building in Damauli, Byas Municipality-3, remains unfinished despite the original deadline having passed.
The construction agreement, signed to complete the building by January 2025, has only seen 75 percent of the work completed so far, according to the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center in Tanahun.
Rabishan Adhikari, the center’s chief, stated that despite several deadline extensions, the project remains incomplete due to contractor negligence.
Rasuwa flood: Insurance claims reach Rs 289.2 million
The initial insurance claims filed in response to the devastating flood in Lhendekhola, Rasuwa, have reached a total of Rs 289.2 million.
According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, seven different insurance companies have received a total of 63 claims related to the flood damage.
Shikhar Insurance Company has received 10 claims amounting to Rs 161.1 million, the highest among all. NECO Insurance has received three claims worth Rs 52 million, while Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance has received seven claims totaling Rs 34.1 million.
Over 37,000 foreign tourists visit Manang in a year
The number of foreign tourists visiting Manang continues to rise, with 37,732 arrivals recorded in fiscal year 2024/25, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Area Office, Manang.
Of the total, 22,477 were male and 15,249 were female, along with six others who did not specify their gender. Among the visitors, 2,554 were from SAARC countries, while 35,178 were from other nations, said ACAP Manang Chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel.
Tourists from 134 countries visited Manang this year, with the highest number—4,358—coming from Israel, followed by 3,616 from France and 2,842 from Germany. Tourist arrivals from 10 countries increased compared to last year, Bhujel added.
Elderly woman dies of COVID-19 in Pokhara
A 70-year-old woman undergoing treatment at Charak Hospital in Pokhara has died from COVID-19 after battling the infection for nearly a month.
The woman was admitted to the hospital with respiratory complications and later tested positive for COVID-19. She passed away on Sunday after her condition worsened, confirmed Khim Bahadur Khadka, Director General of the Gandaki Province Health Directorate.
According to the directorate, the deceased also had underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Her PCR test had been conducted at the Public Health Laboratory, Gandaki.
This marks the first COVID-19-related death in Gandaki Province in nearly two and a half years.
Teen drowns while swimming in Narayani River
A 15-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the Narayani River in Chitwan on Monday afternoon.
According to police, the incident occurred around 3:30 PM near the Ganesh Temple area of Bharatpur Metropolitan City–16. The victim, Maxon Pun Magar of Bharatpur–15, Suryanagar, had gone swimming with five of his friends in a pool formed at the riverbank.
He went missing while swimming, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation by the Narayangadh Ward Police Office and a disaster management team. Magar was found and rushed to Bharatpur Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival, said District Police spokesperson Rabindra Khanal.
Lawmaker asks Foreign Minister to rescue Nepalis Stranded in Kerung
Nepali Congress leader and Rasuwa lawmaker Mohan Acharya has called on Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba to take urgent diplomatic steps for the rescue of Nepali nationals stranded in Kerung following floods at Rasuwagadhi.
During a meeting with the Foreign Minister today, Acharya stressed the need for prompt action, citing growing concerns over the safety and well-being of those stuck across the Nepal-China border. He urged the government to expedite coordination efforts for their safe return.
Acharya said his discussion with the minister also touched upon broader issues triggered by the disaster, including the need to construct a temporary bridge to reconnect the damaged Nepal-China route, rebuild the Friendship Bridge, and enhance bilateral mechanisms for sharing real-time weather forecasts.
Lawmakers push for clarity and autonomy in Media Council Bill
The Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday held discussions with lawmakers who have proposed amendments to the Media Council Bill.
During the meeting at Singha Durbar, the proposing MPs presented and explained their respective amendments, focusing on enhancing the independence and credibility of the Media Council.
Lawmakers highlighted the need for a more rigorous and transparent appointment process for the Council’s leadership. MP Durga Rai proposed that the Chairperson of the Council must have at least 15 years of professional experience, while Council members should possess a minimum of 10 years of relevant background.
NEPSE index rises by 21.76 points, turnover crosses Rs 16.32 billion
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index climbed by 21.76 points on Monday, closing at 2,892.72.
Although the closing figure shows a notable rise, the average 15-minute index increase for the day stood at 0.75 percent.
The day’s total turnover reached an impressive Rs 16.32 billion, with 35.64 million shares traded across 311 listed companies.
Share investor Dipendra Agrawal arrested in fraud case
Share investor Dipendra Agrawal has been arrested on fraud charges. According to police, Agrawal was taken into custody for allegedly defrauding over Rs 64.5 million.
Spokesperson of Maharajgunj Police Circle, Apil Bohora, confirmed the arrest, stating that Agrawal faces charges related to fraud and criminal breach of trust.
“He was arrested in connection with a fraud case involving deception in share transactions and criminal misconduct,” Bohora said.
Govt drops appeal in Siddhababa rape case, blocking survivor’s path to justice
The government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has decided not to pursue the high-profile rape case against controversial spiritual leader Siddhababa in the Supreme Court, effectively closing the legal avenue for the survivor to seek justice at the apex level.
According to sources at the Office of the Attorney General, considered the chief legal advisor to the Prime Minister, a written circular was sent to the District Government Attorney Office in Sunsari, instructing it not to file an appeal against Siddhababa’s acquittal in the higher courts.
The decision was formally made on July 1, and the case file has since been returned to the district office.
Nepali Congress divided over Land Bill
The Nepali Congress has begun internal deliberations over the Land-Related (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which is currently under theoretical discussion in the ongoing session of the House of Representatives.
A meeting was held on Monday at the party’s parliamentary office in Singha Durbar between General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire to discuss the contentious bill.
During the meeting, Minister Lekhak reportedly briefed that CPN-UML, which is leading the current government, intends to pass the bill through a full House vote. However, General Secretary Thapa expressed disagreement, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
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