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.

PM Oli Chairs TU Annual General Assembly Meeting: Tribhuvan University’s Annual General Assembly has approved its 63rd Graduation List, including 89,191 students who have passed various faculties and levels. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and Chancellor KP Sharma Oli at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, passed the list presented by Registrar Professor Dr. Kedar Prasad Rijal. The assembly also reviewed the budget and programs for fiscal year 2025/26. Chancellor Oli urged the university to establish itself as a competitive and capable institution suitable for the 21st century. Pro Chancellor and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Panta emphasized the university’s critical role in fulfilling the national vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,” urging alignment with this goal.

Shekhar Faction Says Disciplinary Action Violated Party Statute: After the Nepali Congress Central Disciplinary Committee took action against several party leaders, Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala called a meeting of his faction at his contact office on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Vice President Dhanraj Gurung, Joint General Secretary Jeewan Pariyar, senior leaders Arjun Narsingh KC and Bal Bahadur KC, Disciplinary Committee member Sanjay Gautam, along with other central members currently in Kathmandu. The participants in the meeting concluded that none of the leaders who were subjected to disciplinary action should be treated unfairly and pledged to fight for justice. They criticized the disciplinary action as being one-sided and against the party’s own constitution and procedures.

Rasuwa’s Devastating Flood Caused by Supraglacial Outburst, says DHM: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has reached a preliminary conclusion that Tuesday’s devastating flood from the Lhende Stream in Rasuwa was caused by a supraglacial lake outburst in China. According to satellite data, the flood was likely triggered by the bursting of a supraglacial lake (a lake formed on top of a glacier), located about 36 kilometers north from the Nepal-China border at Rasuwagadhi (latitude 28.4043, longitude 85.6469), at an altitude of around 5,150 meters. Before the incident, the lake covered approximately 0.74 square kilometers. After the flood, its area was found to have decreased to around 0.60 square kilometers.

Kathmandu Metropolitan to Hold Executive Meeting on Friday: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is scheduled to hold important meetings on Friday, including a session of the executive committee and the Resource and Budget Ceiling Determination Committee for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26. According to KMC Assistant Spokesperson Dhurva Kumar Kafle, Mayor Balen Shah has called both meetings. The meeting of the Resource and Budget Ceiling Determination Committee will take place at 11 AM. All concerned members have already been notified through official correspondence. Later in the day, the executive meeting of the metropolis will be held at 4 PM. Kafle confirmed that all executive members are expected to attend the meeting on time.

Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal Threatens Party Cadres to Abandon Mindset of Opposing Leadership: CPN-UML Standing Committee member Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has instructed party members to abandon the belief that one must oppose leadership to be considered a leader. Addressing a gathering of office bearers from party-affiliated organizations, Dhakal warned that those who defy institutional decisions are under party watch. “Give up the notion that defying party policy and rules makes someone a leader,” he said, adding, “Some organization leaders seem to believe institutional decisions can be ignored. This tendency is being closely monitored by the party.”

Former Judges Forum Slams SC Verdict Approving 52 Disputed Constitutional Appointments: The Former Judges Forum, Nepal, has expressed serious concerns over the Supreme Court’s recent verdict validating the appointment of 52 constitutional officials made during then-and-now Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government in 2020 and 2021. The Forum alleges that these appointments were unconstitutional, enabled by executive ordinances that unlawfully amended the Constitutional Council’s quorum requirements. The appointments followed two controversial ordinances issued in 2020, which lowered the quorum needed for the Constitutional Council to function. The Forum argues that such amendments, enacted through executive authority rather than parliamentary legislation, violate the spirit and letter of Nepal’s Constitution.

Rastriya Swatantra Party Announces Application Call for Rupandehi-3 By-election Candidate: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has announced a call for applications to field a candidate for the Rupandehi Constituency No. 3 by-election. The party’s secretariat meeting approved the candidate selection procedure and sent it to the central committee members for feedback, spokesperson Manish Jha informed. According to him, applications received from interested individuals will be evaluated, and the candidate selection process will proceed according to the approved procedure. Additionally, the meeting decided to assign Deputy General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya the responsibility of leading all activities related to the by-election.

Bhotekoshi Flood: 485 People Rescued via Footpath, Road Remains Blocked: More than 400 people displaced by the flood in Bhotekoshi, Rasuwa, have been rescued and relocated to safer areas on foot. The devastating flood that struck around midnight on Asar July 8 has completely blocked the road from Dhunche–Timure to the Nepal-China border point. According to the Armed Police Force, 485 stranded individuals have so far been rescued and sent toward their destinations by constructing temporary foot trails. Additionally, two container trucks and one electric vehicle stuck in the Rasuwagadhi customs yard have also been moved to safety.

Corruption Case Filed Against Former District Education Officer and Eight Others in Khotang: A corruption case has been filed against former District Education Officer Bal Krishna Chapagain and eight others in Khotang. The CIAA alleges that during fiscal years 2070/71 and 2071/72, NPR 2.4 million was granted for constructing a four-room building at Janata Higher Secondary School, but full payment was made before work completion, violating agreement terms. Additionally, NPR 650,000 meant for library management was misused for construction. Those charged include Chapagain (NPR 1 million), Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai (NPR 1.4 million), Bhuwan Prasad Acharya (NPR 1.5 million), Suresh Kumar Shrestha (NPR 280,000), Shivaraj Rai (NPR 2.4 million), and others from school management and contractors.

Government Urged for Disaster Preparedness, Prompt Relief for Lhende Flood Survivors: Legislators have called for prompt rescue and relief assistance for those in need, along with rehabilitation, in the aftermath of the devastating flood from the Lhende Stream in Rasuwa on Tuesday morning. During a meeting of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the National Assembly today, they echoed the urgent need for an effective government response. They urged the implementation of comprehensive disaster response policies that address both emergency needs and long-term recovery, focusing on preparedness and post-disaster rehabilitation. Committee President Maya Prasad Sharma stressed the importance of timely implementation of relief, rescue, rehabilitation, and reconstruction measures in the wake of the disaster.

Trade Unions Protest in Capital Demanding Minimum Wage Increase and Labor Rights: The Joint Trade Union Coordination Center held a protest rally in the capital on Thursday, demanding an increase in the minimum wage, proper implementation of labor laws, ensuring a salary of NPR 30,443, setting wages through tripartite agreements, enforcing labor laws in practice rather than just on paper, and registering all workers under social security schemes.

Stock Market Hits 4-Month High, Daily Turnover Reaches Rs 9.68 billion: The stock market on Thursday reached its highest point in nearly four months. Compared to the previous day, the NEPSE index rose by 25.89 points to settle at 2731. This is the highest point since Falgun 28, when the index had reached 2736. Since then, the index had remained below 2730. Trading volume also saw a rise today. While Wednesday’s turnover stood at Rs 7.45 billion, Thursday’s transaction volume reached Rs 9.68 billion. The share prices of 161 companies increased, while 87 declined. Commercial banks remained the most attractive sector again on Thursday. While NEPSE rose by 0.95 percent overall, the commercial banking subgroup increased by the highest margin of 3.02 percent.

Government Spends Rs 21.73 billion on Final Day Before Account Freeze: The government has spent nearly Rs 22 billion through the budget system by the last day before government accounts freeze on July 9. On this single day alone, the government spent Rs 21.73 billion out of the allocated budget for fiscal year 2024/25. According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, this significant one-day expenditure falls under the Rs 352 billion development budget allocation for the ongoing fiscal year.

250 MW Electricity Production Halted Due to Floods: Due to floods, 250 MW of electricity production from subsidiary companies of the authority and private sector projects has come to a complete halt. There is no clarity on when these projects will resume. Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Hitendra Dev Shakya stated that electricity generation from Rasuwagadhi and Trishuli 3A projects has been suspended indefinitely. “These projects have suffered more damage than others,” he said.

NIFRA Green Bond Listed on NEPSE: Nepal Infrastructure Bank’s (NIFRA) green energy bond has been listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE). On Wednesday, 5 million units of bonds priced at Rs 1,000 each were listed. NEPSE CEO Chudamani Chapagain and NIFRA CEO Krishna Bahadur Adhikari signed the listing agreement. The bonds will begin secondary market trading from Thursday.

22 Broker Firms Fail to Meet Minimum Paid-Up Capital: As the deadline nears, 22 brokerage companies still haven’t met the minimum paid-up capital requirement. The deadline for meeting the Rs 200 million minimum is mid-July. According to Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) data as of July 8, 22 broker companies have yet to meet the required capital. In August 2022, SEBON revised its regulations, dividing broker companies into three categories with different capital thresholds.

Film ‘Captain Saab’ to Be Produced; Directed by Dipendra K Khanal: The film ‘Captain Saab’ is set to be produced. The movie, directed by Dipendra K Khanal, had its auspicious inaugural ceremony (shubha muhurat) on Thursday in Gaurighat, Kathmandu. ‘Captain Saab’ is the biography of Captain Rameshwar Thapa. Apart from being a pilot, Rameshwar is also a businessman and media entrepreneur. During the ceremony, businessman Dr. Upendra Mahato clapped, and Captain Thapa himself initiated the film’s start under the director’s guidance. This is the second presentation of the screenplay production. The film will star actor Khagendra Lamichhane, actress Suraksha Pant, and Sanjog Rasaili in the lead roles.

Premiere of Film ‘Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho’ Held; Nationwide Release from Friday: The premiere of the film ‘Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho,’ dedicated to the Nepali language, literature, art, and patriotism, was held on Wednesday evening at Big Movies in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu. The film is scheduled for nationwide release starting Friday. The premiere was attended by filmmakers, journalists, security personnel, and people from various fields. After watching the film, director Tulsi Ghimire praised the movie’s effort to preserve and promote Nepali language, literature, and art as commendable. Actor Rajaram Paudel said that due to its story filled with Nepali identity, patriotic sentiments, and the effort to highlight the importance of the Nepali language, ‘Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho’ is a film that every Nepali should watch.

Actress Manisha Koirala Visits RSP Office to Sign Petition for Rabi Lamichhane’s Justice: Actress Manisha Koirala went to Banasthali today to sign the petition campaign demanding justice for Rabi Lamichhane, president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. She signed the petition at the Rastriya Swatantra Party office located in Banasthali. After signing, she briefly reacted by saying that Ravi is being subjected to injustice and mistreatment by the state. After signing, Koirala stated that she raised her voice against injustice and mistreatment by the state. She said, “I am not affiliated with any party. As an ordinary citizen, I have come forward to protest the injustice and mistreatment happening by the state.”

New Film ‘Baqkas’ Announced on Guru Purnima; Directed by Nabin Panta: On the occasion of Guru Purnima, the production of a new film titled ‘Baakas’ was announced on Thursday. The film will be produced under the banner of PK Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Nabin Panta. The screenplay, written by Panta himself, will present the social dimensions of foreign employment. The film is currently in the pre-production stage, with shooting planned both in Nepal and abroad. Director Panta informed that the selection of artists and technical crew is still underway. The film will feature songs by lyricists Shankar Adhikari Ghayal and Narayan Basnet. Filming is set to begin after Tihar festival.

Nepal Drops One Spot to 176th in Latest FIFA Rankings: Nepal’s position in the FIFA World Rankings has dropped by one place. In the latest rankings released by FIFA on Thursday, Nepal is now placed 176th, down from 175th. Recently, the Nepali men’s national football team played two international matches. On June 5, Nepal held Hong Kong to a goalless draw in a friendly match, but later lost 2–1 to Laos in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. In South Asia, India remains the highest-ranked team despite dropping six spots to 133rd. The Maldives follow India at 171st in the region.

PM Oli Warns Against Politicizing Sports Sector: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the sports sector should not be linked with politics. Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘National High-Performance Center and Sports Science Lab’ on Thursday, he made the remark, targeting Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary. Oli expressed concern over political interference in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), stating that the game will not be stopped despite such issues. “A political party may lead the government, but once in office, it must focus on developing the sectors under its responsibility—be it agriculture, industry, or sports. Politics should not be played there,” he stated.

Nepal Placed in Group 2 for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia-East Asia Pacific Qualifier: Nepal has been placed in Group 2 for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier, which is scheduled to take place in Oman in October. In the group stage, Nepal will face Kuwait and Japan. The tournament will feature a total of nine teams divided into three groups. Group 1 consists of UAE, Malaysia, and Qatar, while Group 3 includes host nation Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa. From each group, the top two teams will progress to the Super Six stage. At the end of the Super Six, the top three teams will qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Lumbini Province Honors Two Members of Nepal’s ACC U-16 East Zone Cup Winning Team: The Lumbini Province government recently honored two members of the Nepali team that won the ACC U-16 East Zone Cup held in Malaysia. On Thursday, in a program organized in Rapti Valley (Deukhuri), the U-16 team members Shubham Khanal from Lamahi Municipality-5, Dang, Raunak Srivastava from Krishnanagar, Kapilvastu, and coach Puran Singh Khatri from Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City, Dang, were honored with cash prizes and certificates. The two players, Khanal and Srivastava, received NPR 100,000 each, while coach Khatri was awarded NPR 50,000.

119 Confirmed Dead in U.S. Texas Flooding, Death Toll to Continue Surging: The July 4 devastating flooding in central Texas has claimed at least 119 lives as of Wednesday morning (local time), with the death toll widely expected to further climb, local authorities said. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that at least 161 people remain missing in the hardest-hit county, including five girls and a counselor from an all-girls summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday night that at least 173 people were unaccounted for across the state. He has ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff until sunrise on July 14 to honor the victims.

Israel Kills 55 in Gaza as ‘Difficult’ Truce Talks Continue: Israeli forces intensify air attacks on Gaza, killing at least 55 Palestinians across the enclave since dawn, according to medical sources. Doctors at Gaza’s largest hospitals say the lives of more than 100 premature babies and 350 dialysis patients are at risk because of fuel shortages caused by Israel’s ongoing siege. US President Donald Trump extends timeframe for a truce, saying there is a “very good chance” of a deal in Gaza this week or next, but Hamas says talks in Qatar have been “difficult” because of Israel’s stubbornness. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 57,575 people and wounded 136,879, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Deadly New Russian Drone Attack Hits Kyiv: A massive overnight Russian drone attack hit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, killing at least two people and injuring 13, local officials say. Authorities in Kyiv say drone wreckage hit the roof of a residential building in the central Shevchenkivskyi district and fires burned across the city. Residents’ sleep was interrupted for three hours as drones and missiles converged on Kyiv, air defences went into action and explosions reverberated. Footage on social media, not yet verified by the BBC, showed blasts in the night sky. Ukraine reported the biggest ever Russian aerial attack on Tuesday night, after 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles struck cities around the country in multiple waves.