Ratopati Briefing: Top 10 News Headlines for Friday, 20 Chaitra 2082

Kathmandu. Today is Friday, 20 Chaitra 2082. We are here with the Ratopati nightly briefing, presenting 10 news stories covering the day's major events.

1. Badal's statement corrected

The CPN-UML has corrected the statement made by acting chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) in Parliament. The central secretariat meeting held on Friday under Thapa's chairmanship made the correction.

Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta stated that the party's relationship with all state security agencies and the international community remains friendly and as it was before.

UML corrects 'Badal's' controversial statement

6 decisions of UML meeting made public

UML formally congratulates Balen

UML formally congratulates Balen

UML opposes ban on student organizations

2. DP as Speaker

Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal, Vice-Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been elected unopposed as the 10th Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.

He was elected unopposed after being the sole candidate during the nomination registration at the Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar on Friday.

DP Aryal's leap: From a village in Dhading to the Speaker's chair

What are the services and facilities of Speaker Aryal?

Aryal elected unopposed as Speaker

I will uphold the dignity of the legislature: DP Aryal

3. Budget preparation

The government has started the budget drafting process for the upcoming fiscal year 2082-83. The Ministry of Finance has formally initiated the process by forming a budget drafting committee.

Ministry of Finance spokesperson Tankaprasad Pandey states that the committee has been formed to draft the budget statement for the upcoming fiscal year and to determine the principles and priorities of the budget.

Government preparing for a balanced and transformative budget

4. Delay in Chief Justice appointment

Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut retired on Chaitra 18 due to age limits. Senior-most Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla has taken over the responsibility of Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the country's highest court.

The Judicial Council recommended the names of 6 judges to the Constitutional Council on Falgun 21 for the new Chief Justice. The Judicial Council recommended the names of Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Hari Phuyal, Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Dr. Nahakul Subedi, and Til Prasad Shrestha. However, the new appointment is expected to take time.

It will take some more time to appoint the Chief Justice

5. Interim order

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to private schools not to start the admission process for the new academic session before the annual examinations. A single bench of Supreme Court Justice Balkrishna Dhakal issued the order.

Supreme Court's interim order to private schools not to conduct admission programs before annual exams

What response did the Home Minister give to the Supreme Court regarding Oli's arrest?

KP Oli's statement: 'The decision to use force on crowds is made at the district level'

6. New leadership in the Federation

Nikolash Pandey has been elected as the president of the Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal. Pandey received 514 votes, while his competitor AD Lama received 413 votes.

Pandey elected as president of the Federation of Contractors' Association

7. Ministry notice

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has directed the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers (in all seven provinces) to provide details of approved positions.

A notice was issued on Friday stating that to make service delivery more effective and to prepare an integrated human resource projection, a consolidated list of approved positions for all bodies under the province should be prepared and provided to the ministry's email address within three days.

Ministry of Federal Affairs tells all seven provinces: Provide details of approved positions within three days

8. Fuel prices

On Thursday, the Nepal Oil Corporation adjusted the prices of petroleum products. The corporation adjusted the prices based on the price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) according to the increased prices in the international market.

Now, the price of petrol has been set at 202 rupees per liter, diesel and kerosene at 182 rupees, and aviation fuel at 251 rupees. The price of gas has been kept unchanged at 1910 rupees per cylinder.

How many days can Nepal's storage meet the demand for petroleum products?

Truck entrepreneurs object to petroleum price hike, demand fare adjustment

Transport entrepreneurs demand fare adjustment, warn they will set their own fares if the government does not listen

9. Rape allegations against Bale

Artist Sagar Lamsal 'Bale' has been accused of rape. A young woman living in America has accused him of rape. The victim stated that Lamsal, who came to America for a program a year ago, raped her.

Artist Sagar Lamsal accused of rape while traveling to America

Actress Bardeva on Sagar Lamsal case: Crime has no profession or field

Bale fired from film after rape allegations

10. Corruption case

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case in the Special Court against five people, including Hari Prasad Adhikari, the Karnali Province Joint General Secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), for embezzling funds from the Community Forest Users Committee.

Issuing a press release on Thursday, the CIAA stated that they have been accused of embezzling more than 1.2 million rupees from the Malika Community Forest Users Committee located in Chaukune Rural Municipality-5 of West Surkhet.

Corruption case registered against five people including RSP Karnali Province Joint General Secretary