KATHMANDU: Stay informed with Nepal News’ daily evening briefing, covering the most significant developments from Nepal and around the world. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we bring you a concise summary of the day’s top stories.

Special Court Orders Release Of Former Minister Mohan Basnet On Rs 2.5 Million Bail: The Special Court has ordered the release of Nepali Congress leader Mohan Basnet on a bail of Rs 2.5 million in connection with the high-profile Teramox procurement corruption case involving over Rs 3.21 billion. A joint bench comprising Justices Tej Narayan Singh Raya, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Bidur Koirala issued the release order after recording Basnet’s statement earlier today. The decision comes nearly two months after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed the case.

House Passes Federal Civil Service Bill : The House of Representatives has passed the much-anticipated Federal Civil Service Bill, 2080, marking a significant step toward implementing federal bureaucracy reforms in Nepal. Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Rajkumar Gupta, had tabled the bill for discussion during Sunday’s parliamentary session, accompanied by the report of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee. Following extensive deliberations among lawmakers, the bill was endorsed by a majority vote in the House. The legislation aims to restructure Nepal’s civil service in line with the federal governance system envisioned by the Constitution.

RSP, RPP Walk Out of House Over Visit Visa Scam: The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged visit visa scam has once again disrupted proceedings in Nepal’s House of Representatives. On Sunday, lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) obstructed the meeting by gathering in front of the well of the House, while the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) boycotted the session and walked out in protest. As soon as Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced the start of the meeting, RSP lawmakers stood up and moved towards the well, chanting slogans and disrupting business. Meanwhile, RPP lawmakers left the chamber altogether, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the visa scam issue.

RSP, Nepali Congress Lawmakers Clash in House Over Visit Visa Scandal Probe: A heated exchange erupted in Nepal’s House of Representatives on Sunday between RSP MP D.P. Aryal and Congress MP Ramhari Khatiwada. As soon as the session began, RSP and RPP lawmakers stood in protest, demanding an investigation into the misuse of visit visas. Speaker Devraj Ghimire gave Aryal the floor, who expressed outrage over a statement made by Khatiwada in a previous session. Aryal challenged Khatiwada to present evidence proving someone had left the country using a visit visa via his company, Sumire Tours and Travels, and never returned. In response, Congress MP Khatiwada said he had not named any specific lawmaker and compared Aryal’s reaction to someone “revealing their own guilt when a thief’s leg is mentioned.”

Home Minister Lekhak Proposes Defining Junior Police Ranks as ‘Basic Level’: During Sunday’s meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee in the House of Representatives, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak emphasized that the ranks within Nepal Police—from office assistants to constables—should be officially categorized as the “basic level.” Speaking during the discussion on proposed amendments to the bill aimed at revising and unifying Nepal Police laws, Minister Lekhak suggested that a new terminology be introduced, formally referring to this range of ranks as the “basic level” in the organizational structure.

Parliamentary Hearing Held for Two Proposed Supreme Court Justices: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee conducted a hearing on Sunday for two proposed justices of the Supreme Court. In a meeting held at Singha Durbar, the committee carried out the parliamentary hearings for Meghraj Pokharel and Shreekanta Paudel, who have been recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court. Committee Chairperson Ishwari Devi Neupane informed that the parliamentary hearing for proposed Supreme Court justice Shanti Singh Thapa and recommended Judicial Council member Mahesh Kumar Nepal will be held on Monday.

Disaster Management Council Decides to Strengthen Early Warning Measures: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has decided to adopt necessary precautions, including making post-weather forecast early warning systems more effective, in light of increasing disaster risks. The decision was made during a council meeting held on Sunday at the Ministry of Urban Development under the chairmanship of Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh. The meeting focused on the potential risks following the ongoing rainfall across many parts of the country in recent days.

AJP Chair Prabhu Sah Tears Copy of Civil Service Bill in Parliament: Chairperson of the Aam Janata Party (AJP), Prabhu Sah, tore a copy of the Civil Service Bill during a parliamentary session, accusing it of discriminating against ordinary citizens. Expressing outrage from the rostrum, Sah claimed he could not remain a silent witness to the bill’s passage, stating that the proposed legislation fails to treat all citizens equally. “Does this mean the poor can no longer appear in public service exams?” he questioned emotionally. “Soon no one will be left to even clean the toilets,” he added in protest.

Three Killed, Including Father and Son, in Sunsari Motorcycle Crash: Three people, including a father and his young son, died in a motorcycle accident on the Chatara–Kanchi Chowk Road section of Ramdhuni Municipality-7 in Sunsari district, while two others sustained serious injuries. The accident occurred last night when a motorcycle (Ko 33 Pa 9605) heading from Chatara–Kanchi Chowk towards Kalabanjar collided head-on with another motorcycle (Province 1–02–056 Pa 5864) coming from the opposite direction. The deceased have been identified as 34-year-old Inarchan Chaudhary, his 9-year-old son Pranish, and the other motorcycle rider, 51-year-old Bindu Yadav.

Health Minister Pradeep Paudel Hospitalized Due to High Fever: Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has been admitted to Bir Hospital after suffering from a high fever. According to hospital sources, he was admitted on Saturday following continued health issues upon his return from Thailand. “He has had a high fever. It seems the fever that began before his Thailand trip did not subside,” a hospital official said. Minister Paudel is currently receiving treatment under the supervision of Dr. Dilip Sharma, Director of Bir Hospital. Senior department heads from various units of the hospital are also involved in his care.

Nepali Congress Finalizes Agenda for Upcoming Central Committee Meeting: The ruling Nepali Congress has finalized the discussion agenda for its upcoming Central Committee meeting. The decision was made during a meeting of party office bearers and former office bearers held on Sunday at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Lawmakers Raise Various Contemporary Issues in NA Session Today: Members of the National Assembly (NA), the upper house of the Federal Parliament have called for ensuring safe, orderly, and decent foreign employment. They also urged the government to address the growing threat of snakebites and to expedite the construction of physical infrastructure. Speaking during zero hour in today’s NA session, Indira Devi Gautam of the CPN (UML) urged the government to curb fraudulent activities in the name of foreign employment. She raised issues such as lack of treatment and compensation for cases of injuries in the course of foreign employment, and difficulties in repatriating the bodies of workers who die abroad.

NEPSE Rises by 26.53 Points on Sunday: The NEPSE index increased by 26.53 points (1.02 percent) on Sunday, the first trading day of the week. Following this rise, the NEPSE index stood at 2622. Among the listed companies, 185 saw their prices increase, while 63 experienced a decline. A total of NPR 712 million worth of shares were traded. The banking sector led the gains with a 2.00 percent increase. The strong performance of this key sector contributed significantly to the overall rise in the NEPSE index.

Nepal Rastra Bank Withdraws Rs 30 billion in Deposits: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) withdrew Rs 30 billion in excess liquidity through a deposit collection auction on Sunday. This move came in response to surplus liquidity in the banking system. The auction was conducted via the NRB’s online platform at 3 PM, with interest rates determined through competitive bidding. Repayment of principal and interest was done today.

Rice Seed Imports Surge by 31% in a Year: Nepal’s import of rice seeds surged by nearly 31% within a year. According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported rice seeds worth Rs 1.16 billion in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2024/25 (up to mid-June). During the same period last year, the import stood at Rs 886.5 million. Experts attribute this rise to growing farmer preference for hybrid over native varieties, increasing dependency on foreign seeds.

Ride-Sharing to Be Legalized in Upcoming Transport Law: The government is set to bring ride-sharing under legal purview through the upcoming Transport and Vehicle Act. According to Keshav Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the new federal law will allow implementation of ride-sharing based on legal provisions made by provincial governments.

Cement and Steel Prices Reduced: Industries have slashed prices of cement and steel bars. According to the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection, cement prices have dropped by Rs 50 to Rs 100 per sack, while steel prices have decreased by up to Rs 5 per kilogram. Director General Kumar Prasad Dahal said reduced demand and easing of power cuts have lowered production costs.

Nepal Advocates Worker Health Agenda at WHO: Health Minister Pradeep Paudel is advancing Nepal’s proposal on worker health at the WHO. During a UN regional meeting in Bangkok, he discussed the agenda with WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director Dr. Saima Wazed, aiming to build global consensus ahead of the next World Health Assembly.

Teaser of Nepali film ‘Tāraharu’ unveiled; set to release on August 22: The teaser of the Nepali film ‘Taraharu’ has been officially released. Directed by Aashant Sharma, the film portrays the struggles faced by an individual from a lower-middle-class family in pursuit of their dreams. The film features performances by director Sharma himself, along with Menuka Pradhan, Kundan Shakya, Meera Khadka, and Prabhakar Neupane, among others. Presented by Ways Pvt. Ltd., ‘Tāraharu’ is scheduled to hit theaters on Bhadra 6 (August 22). The film is produced by Gopini Sedhain and Krishna Prasad Pangeni Sharma. The teaser was launched via the Budha Subba YouTube channel.

Actress Nita Dhungana Set to Debut as Film Director with ‘Sukha Dukha’: Actress and producer Nita Dhungana (Adhikari) is set to make her directorial debut with the upcoming film Sukha Dukha. Currently in the pre-production phase, the film will be directed by Nita herself, marking her official entry into filmmaking behind the camera. On Saturday, Nita announced the film and released its theme poster, which features her name as the director. The film is scheduled for release during next year’s Dashain festival. Produced under the banner of Nita Films, the cast lineup has not yet been finalized, though the scriptwriting is underway. Previously, Nita had acted in and produced a short film, showcasing her gradual evolution in the Nepali film industry.

Actor Saugat Malla to Star in Film ‘Jahajaima’: Actor Saugat Malla has been signed by the production team to play a lead role in the upcoming film Jahajaima. Malla stated that the story of this film is different from his previous works, which is why he was drawn to the project. He also expressed his intention to bring fresh and innovative acting to the film. Directed by Krisha Chaulagai, the movie already features actors Kedar Ghimire and Japanese actress Ruzel Ichimiya. Purushottam Pradhan will serve as the Director of Photography (DOP) for the film.

New Song ‘Na Jiun Sake Na Marnai Sake’ Released Featuring Satyaraj Acharya’s Voice: The song Na Jiuna Sake Na Marnai Sake, sung by acclaimed singer Satyaraj Acharya, has been released. The lyrics were penned by songwriter Pratima Gurung, while the music was composed by singer and musician Chiranjivi Bhandari. Sanjiv Baraili handled the music arrangement for the track. The music video features performances by Smarika Dhakal, Suresh Kohli, and Chiranjivi Bhandari, among others. The concept and storyline of the video were also created by lyricist Pratima Gurung.

Nepal Thrashes Laos 9–0 in AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Opener: Nepal began their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a resounding 9–0 win over Laos at Pakhtakor Stadium in Uzbekistan. Captain Sabitra Bhandari, also known as ‘Samba’, delivered a sensational performance, scoring five goals—including Nepal’s final goal in the 88th minute—during her first match as team captain. Anita Basnet, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Anita KC, and Saru Limbu each found the net to complete Nepal’s dominant display and secure all three points in Group F.

Nepal U-16 Crushes Indonesia by Record 370 Runs in ACC East Zone Cup: Nepal’s U-16 cricket team has registered its third consecutive victory in the ongoing ACC Men’s U-16 East Zone Cup 2025 being held in Malaysia. In their third match on Sunday, Nepal thrashed Indonesia by a massive margin of 370 runs. This is Nepal’s largest-ever victory in terms of runs in any one-day international tournament at any level. On Sunday, after losing the toss, Nepal was invited to bat first and scored a record total of 420 runs for the loss of just five wickets in the allotted 50 overs — the highest-ever one-day score by a Nepali youth team. In reply, Indonesia was bowled out for just 50 runs in 24.3 overs, completely succumbing to Nepal’s bowling attack. Only two Indonesian batters reached double figures.

Prashiddha Jaisi Hits Ton Against Indonesia: Nepal’s opener Prashiddha Jaisi scored a brilliant century against Indonesia in the U-16 ACC East Zone Cup Cricket Tournament. Jaisi reached his half-century with the help of eight fours and a six, and then converted it into a century off 70 balls, hitting 15 boundaries and one six to score 132 runs off 114 balls. For Nepal, Parimarjan Yadav also impressed with a quickfire half-century, smashing seven sixes and three fours in just 20 balls. He was dismissed after scoring 71 runs off 28 deliveries. The match, being played in Malaysia on Sunday morning, saw Indonesia win the toss and choose to field first, giving Nepal the opportunity to bat.

At Least 66 Children Dead of Malnutrition in Gaza as Israel Tightens Siege: At least 66 children have died of malnutrition in Gaza over the course of Israel’s war, authorities in the Palestinian enclave said, condemning a tightened Israeli siege that has prevented the entry of milk, nutritional supplements and other food aid. The statement from Gaza’s Government Media Office on Saturday comes as Israeli forces intensified their attacks on the territory, killing at least 60 Palestinians, including 20 people in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. The media office said Israel’s deadly blockade constitutes a “war crime” and reveals its “deliberate use of starvation as a weapon to exterminate civilians”.

Thousands Protest in Bangkok Calling for Thai PM to Resign: Thousands of protestors have gathered in the Thai capital Bangkok, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a phone call she had with the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked. In the call, she addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and said a Thai military commander handling a recent border dispute “just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful”. The call has sparked public anger and lead to a key partner in her ruling coalition to quit. Paetongtarn apologized, but defended the call as a “negotiation technique”.

Iran Could Start Enriching Uranium for Bomb Within Months, UN Nuclear Chief Says: Iran has the capacity to start enriching uranium again – for a possible bomb – in “a matter of months”, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has said. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the US strikes on three Iranian sites last weekend had caused severe but “not total” damage, contradicting Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “totally obliterated”. “Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,” Grossi said on Saturday.

Senate Republicans Vote to Advance Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’: The Republican-controlled Senate of the United States has voted to take President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” into the next phase of discussion, making it more likely to pass in the coming days. The measure, which is Trump’s top legislative goal, passed its first procedural hurdle in a 51 to 49 vote on Saturday, with two Republican senators joining all Democrats in voting against it. The result came after several hours of negotiation as Republican leaders and Vice President JD Vance sought to persuade last-minute holdouts in a series of closed-door negotiations.