KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Border points sealed for 72 hours ahead of House of Representatives election
Border points connected to the neighboring country have been sealed, targeting the upcoming House of Representatives member election. The decision was taken to prevent possible cross-border infiltration during the election period. According to the Morang District Administration Office, the border has been sealed for 72 hours, from 12:00 midnight on March 3 until 12:00 midnight on March 5. Following the closure, import and export activities have come to a halt, and movement across the border has also been restricted, said Assistant Chief District Officer Saroj Koirala of Morang.
13 charged over arson and vandalism at government offices during Gen-Z protest
The Kathmandu District Government Attorney’s Office has filed a case against 13 individuals accused of setting fire to government offices, including the Supreme Court of Nepal, during the Gen-Z protest on September 9. The case was registered at the Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday on charges of criminal mischief and robbery-related offenses, according to Information Officer Deepak Adhikari. Those charged with setting fire to the Supreme Court include Sunil Shrestha, Jyoti Thapa, Binod Kumar Thapa Magar, Kumar Parajuli and Raju Pariyar. The charge sheet states that the arson at the court building caused damage worth Rs 1.23 billion.
US Closes Embassies in Several Arab Countries Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
The United States has shut down several of its diplomatic missions across the Middle East and Gulf, and ordered non-essential staff and their families to leave some countries, amid ongoing regional military tensions. The US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was closed on Tuesday, with all routine and emergency appointments canceled until further notice. In a post on X, the embassy urged US citizens in Saudi Arabia to stay at home and avoid the diplomatic compound, citing an attack on the building. Authorities in Saudi Arabia confirmed that two drones struck the embassy in Riyadh, causing a small fire and minor material damage, but no injuries were reported.
HoR election: 95 political parties sought clarification for code violation
The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarifications from 95 election candidates and political parties on violation of code of conduct which is in effect for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. As many as 454 complaints were received so far at EC. Among those from which the clarifications were sought, 62 furnished the responses. Six of them have been asked justification again, according to Sita Pun Shreesh, assistant spokesperson at Ec.
Supreme Court to remain open during election holiday, hear habeas corpus petitions
The Supreme Court of Nepal will remain open during the three-day election holidays announced by the government beginning March 4. The apex court will also stay open on March 8, a public holiday observed on the occasion of International Women’s Day. According to the Supreme Court administration, limited services will be provided during the public holidays to ensure continuity in hearings related to writs of habeas corpus.
National ID card or passport also valid for voting: EC
The Election Commission of Nepal (EC) has stated that voters must carry their voter ID card or Nepali citizenship certificate to the polling centre in order to cast their ballot in the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5. The Commission clarified that, in addition to the voter ID card and citizenship certificate, a national identity card, passport, land ownership certificate, or driving licence will also be accepted as valid identification for voting. According to the EC, only those voters whose names appear in the final voter list published by the Commission and who have reached 18 years of age by March 4 will be eligible to vote.
RSP candidate Kishori Sah’s candidacy annulled in Dhanusha-1
The candidacy of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Kishori Sah in Dhanusha Constituency-1 has been annulled. The Election Commission scrapped Sah’s nomination after it was found that he was listed on the blacklist of a bank or financial institution. Dhanusha-1 has a total of 42 candidates in the fray, including Ram Chandra Mandal of UML, Rampal Sah of Nepali Congress, and Matrika Prasad Yadav of Nepali Communist Party.
Yeti Airlines to suspend flights on election day
Yeti Airlines has suspended all its scheduled flights on March 5, the day of the House of Representatives election. The airline issued a notice stating that no flights will operate on the election day. However, Election Commission Nepal has decided to allow domestic flights to continue during the election period, leaving it up to airlines to operate services if they wish. According to Yeti Airlines, regular flight operations will resume from March 6.
Man arrested with firearms in Bhaktapur, weapons seized
A team from the Armed Police Force’s Intelligence Bureau apprehended a man with weapons from Ganesh Basti in Suryabinayak Municipality-8. According to DSP Prakash Jabegu of the Bhaktapur District Police Office, 31-year-old Ayan Sedhain, originally from Palungtar Municipality-9, Gorkha and currently residing in Bhumdol, Suryabinayak, was taken into custody. Authorities recovered a self-loaded INSAS rifle along with four bullets. Additional items seized from Sedhain included one rubber bullet, one shotgun round, a khukuri, and a machete, all confiscated by plainclothes police deployed in the area.
Indigenous federation objects to remarks by RSP candidate Sobita Gautam
The Chitwan District Coordination Secretariat of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities has expressed serious concern over remarks made by Sobita Gautam, a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and candidate from Chitwan Constituency-3. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the federation said Gautam made controversial comments during an election gathering targeting indigenous communities of Chitwan, particularly the Gurung and Tharu communities, describing them as groups that could be “bought with money” and “likely to be sold.”
Jhapa-5 witnesses early violations of election silence, police tighten security
Authorities in Jhapa-5 have reported early violations of the election silence period ahead of the House of Representatives polls. In response, local police have increased vigilance, stepping up checks and closely monitoring suspicious activities to ensure strict compliance with the election code of conduct. Security personnel are maintaining heightened surveillance across the constituency, aiming to prevent any political campaigning or voter influence during the 48-hour silence period that began at midnight Monday.
Gold price rises, silver declines in local market
The price of gold increased while silver declined in the local market on Tuesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has been fixed at Rs 328,600 per tola today. Meanwhile, the price of silver has been set at Rs 5,815 per tola.
Two vehicles torched in Kathmandu after election silence period begins
Two vehicles were set on fire at separate locations in Kathmandu early Tuesday morning after the election silence period for the House of Representatives by-election came into effect. According to Nepal Police, the arson incidents occurred around 3 am in Sukedhara and Naikap. Police said leaflets linked to Durga Prasai, coordinator of the campaign “Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizen Protection Mega Campaign,” were found inside the torched vehicles.
Crowds seen at Kathmandu bus parks as voters head home for by-election
Bus parks across Kathmandu have witnessed a surge in passengers since early morning as voters travel to their home districts to participate in the upcoming by-election. With the House of Representatives by-election scheduled for Falgun 21 drawing closer, many people currently residing in the capital have begun leaving the city to cast their votes in their respective constituencies. Major bus terminals, including Gongabu Bus Park and Kalanki Bus Park, have seen heavy crowds of passengers boarding vehicles bound for different districts.
Attempt made to hack Facebook page of RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane
An attempt has been made to hack the official Facebook page of Rabi Lamichhane, the chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). According to Lamichhane’s secretariat, the page has been temporarily locked by Facebook after repeated attempts were made to gain unauthorized access. In a notice issued on Tuesday, the secretariat stated that multiple attempts to breach the page began early in the morning.
Fuel supply to continue during elections: NOC
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has urged the public not to stockpile petroleum products unnecessarily, assuring that fuel imports and distribution will remain regular during the upcoming elections. Executive Director Chandika Prasad Bhatta said the Corporation has been importing petroleum products on a regular basis through pipelines and that adequate supplies will continue throughout the election period. Bhatta emphasized that unnecessary hoarding could increase the risk of accidents, particularly fire hazards. He assured consumers that there is no need to panic-buy fuel, as supplies are sufficient.
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