KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Opposition parties claim EC’s self-assessment guideline serves UML’s interests, plan joint protest
A meeting of opposition parties called by CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has concluded that the Election Commission’s new guideline on the self-assessment of political parties goes against the spirit of the Constitution and law. The meeting, held at Singha Durbar, excluded the ruling Nepali Congress and main opposition UML. Attendees claimed the guideline was introduced to fulfill the wishes of the UML and vowed to oppose it jointly. Leaders expressed concern that recent actions by the Election Commission were aimed at interfering with party autonomy, introducing unconstitutional practices, and sidelining smaller and alternative parties.
Communication Minister urges media to embrace new online registration process
Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said that the new provision regarding the registration of online media should be accepted and implemented. Speaking to journalists at the Federal Parliament building in New Baneshwar on Wednesday, Minister Gurung stated that since the law has already been passed by Parliament, everyone must now comply with the provision requiring online media to register through District Administration Offices.
Prachanda claims MCC passed with interpretive declaration due to Maoist pressure
CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has claimed that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact with the United States was only endorsed by Parliament with an interpretive declaration because of strong pressure from his party. Without their protests, he said, the agreement would have been passed in its original form. Speaking at the launch of the book “MCC in Nepal” written by Maoist leader Lilamani Pokhrel, Prachanda said the Maoist party had consistently studied, debated, and evaluated the MCC agreement from the very beginning. He recalled that during the unified Nepal Communist Party (NCP) period, the task force formed under his leadership had concluded that the MCC should not be endorsed.
Ruling party lawmakers slam government performance
Dissatisfaction with the performance of the ruling coalition government, led by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, has now reached the Parliament floor, not just from opposition parties but also from lawmakers within the ruling alliance. Despite commanding a near two-thirds majority, the government has come under increasing criticism for its failure to curb corruption and ensure good governance. For the past two months, opposition parties such as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have been protesting inside Parliament, accusing the government of inaction. Now, voices of discontent have started surfacing from within the coalition itself.
Maoist leaders seek to reconcile with Biplav after his move to form separate front
The much-anticipated unification process between the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’-led Communist Party of Nepal remains uncertain. Amid this uncertainty, Maoist Centre’s senior vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ and CPN General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ held an hour-long dialogue on Wednesday. According to sources, the two leaders met in Kathmandu for nearly an hour, discussing the current political climate, the potential for leftist unity, and the status of the ruling coalition.
PM Oli holds bilateral talks with Turkmenistan President
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held bilateral talks with Serdar Berdimuhamedow during the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), hosted by Turkmenistan. During the meeting, PM Oli discussed the bilateral relations between Nepal and Turkmenistan. He said as both countries are landlocked developing nations, they are committed to enhancing cooperation and moving forward together in the days ahead.
Gokul Baskota warns of reactionary forces exploiting govt weaknesses
CPN-UML lawmaker Gokul Baskota has warned that recent weaknesses in the country’s leadership have created space for reactionary forces to undermine the revolutionary values that shaped Nepal’s political transformation. Speaking during Wednesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Baskota expressed concern over what he called a growing public disillusionment with the indicators of revolution, progress, and social change.
Law Minister denies plans to legalize polygamy
Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya has assured that no bill related to polygamy or any legislation that could negatively impact social values and norms will be introduced in the Parliament. During the House of Representatives session on Tuesday, Minister Chaurasiya requested time from Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire to respond to questions raised during the urgent and zero-hour discussions, where he made this commitment. “I want to express my firm commitment that no bill that harms society or adversely affects social values, including polygamy, will be brought before this honorable house,” he said.
RSP tells Ramhari Khatiwada to resign over cooling-off period issue
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has called for the resignation of Ramhari Khatiwada, chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives, accusing him of moral misconduct in connection with the controversial cooling-off period issue. Speaking during the outset of Wednesday’s parliamentary session, RSP lawmaker Manish Jha strongly criticized Khatiwada, stating that he bears responsibility for irregularities surrounding the cooling-off period rule. Jha claimed that the controversy has damaged the credibility of the committee and its leadership. Jha also recalled how the RSP was repeatedly questioned on moral grounds in the past whenever any of its members were embroiled in controversies.
Hayu family abandoned home over spiritual terror and financial burden
A Hayu family of 16 who mysteriously left their home in the middle of the night on July 24 has refused to return, citing fear that the spirit of the deceased father has possessed their 13-year-old daughter. The incident, which initially sparked widespread concern over their sudden disappearance, has now taken a deeper turn, revealing a complex mix of spiritual belief, family tension, and financial hardship. The family was later found safe in Pokhara, where they had taken refuge. Upon learning their whereabouts, Ward Chairperson of Golanjor Rural Municipality–6, Ravin Kumar Shrestha, traveled to Pokhara to bring them back to their village in Sindhuli. However, the family declined to enter their old home, claiming it is haunted by the restless spirit of the father, who passed away four years ago.
Communication Minister unaware as govt quietly amends Media Law
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, was unaware of a significant legal amendment that shifts the registration and renewal authority of online media outlets from the Department of Information to district administration offices (CDOs). The change came to light after the National Gazette published amendments to 76 different laws on July 30, including the Press and Publication Act, which now requires online media to be registered at CDO offices instead of the central government’s Information Department. Despite the wide-ranging implications for the media sector, Minister Gurung admitted to having no prior knowledge of the amendment or consultation from his own ministry.
Convicted child sex offender arrested while signing petition in support of Rabi Lamichhane
A man convicted of child sexual abuse has been arrested while participating in a signature campaign organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in support of its chair Rabi Lamichhane. The individual, identified as 59-year-old Artharaj Koirala from Barahakshetra Municipality-7 in Sunsari, was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon from Mahendra Chowk in Biratnagar, where the RSP was collecting signatures in Lamichhane’s defense. The party has been organizing a nationwide petition campaign after the Supreme Court ordered Lamichhane to remain in custody in connection with a high-profile cooperative fraud case.
Landslide blocks Jayprithvi Highway
The Jayprithvi Highway, which connects Baitadi and Bajhang districts, has been blocked since this morning following a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall. The landslide occurred at Ramilapur in Sigas Rural Municipality-9, according to Balram Pandey, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Baitadi. Vehicular movement has come to a complete halt, leaving many passengers stranded along the route. The Jayprithvi Highway is frequently obstructed by landslides during the monsoon season.
150 players shortlisted for Nepal Premier League auction
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has finalized a list of 150 players for the upcoming auction of the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the country’s flagship franchise-based T20 tournament. The list was trimmed down from an initial pool of 458 players who had registered their interest. According to CAN, the final selection was based on recommendations from its technical committee and the preferences expressed by the eight participating franchises. The shortlisted players have been divided into three categories. Category ‘A’ features eight top-tier cricketers: Arjun Saud, Dilip Nath, Dev Khanal, Pawan Sarraf, Sharad Bheshwakar, Mohammad Adil Ansari, Surya Tamang, and Suman Gautam.
Sugarcane farmers in Mahottari protest withdrawal of subsidy
Sugarcane farmers in Mahottari district have launched a protest after the government failed to include the long-running subsidy for sugarcane in this year’s national budget. The farmers, who number over 15,000 in the district, are demanding that the subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal, which they had been receiving for years, be continued without interruption. On Tuesday, farmers gathered in front of Everest Sugar Mill in Ramnagar, Gaushala-1, demanding the reinstatement of the subsidy.
12 arrested for stealing transformers
Koshi Province Police Office in Biratnagar has made public 12 individuals involved in a widespread transformer theft racket across eastern Nepal. In a press briefing held on Tuesday, police officials revealed that seven individuals directly involved in stealing transformers and five traders who purchased the stolen items have been arrested. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ishwar Karki, those arrested include young men from Gramthan, Belbari in Morang, and Duhabi in Sunsari. The buyers of the stolen goods are traders based in Biratnagar, Duhabi, and Itahari.
Gold price falls slightly while silver inches up
The price of gold in the Nepali market dropped slightly on Wednesday, declining by Rs 100 per tola compared to the previous trading day. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is being traded at Rs 198,400 per tola today. On Tuesday, the price stood at Rs 198,500. In contrast, the price of silver has increased. Silver is being traded at Rs 2,305 per tola on Wednesday, up from Rs 2,280 on Tuesday.
iPhone 17 series launch date reportedly leaked
It looks like the iPhone 17 series launch date may have just leaked, even though Apple hasn’t made an official announcement yet. According to a report from German website iPhone-Ticker, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup on September 9, 2025. The report claims the tip-off came from internal documents belonging to at least one telecom carrier — a common source of early leaks, since carriers typically receive advance details to prepare for major smartphone releases from Apple, Google, and Samsung. It appears one such carrier may have accidentally let the date slip. Leaks of this nature are becoming increasingly common. Recently, what was believed to be an iPhone 17 Pro Max was spotted in public, with a photo making its way online. The device resembled previously leaked renders, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman even confirmed it appeared to be “legit.”
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