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 Unveils National Population Policy 2082, Urges Timely Marriage and Childbearing: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged citizens to marry on time and prioritize childbearing, warning that without balanced population growth, human existence could be at risk. He made the remarks while unveiling the National Population Policy 2082 during an event organized by the Ministry of Health and Population to mark World Population Day. Highlighting the need for population growth to align with national development, PM Oli stressed that individuals must treat their reproductive responsibilities as a duty to the Earth.

National Assembly MPs Urge Govt Action on Flood Relief, Road Repairs, and Corruption Probe: Members of the National Assembly have drawn the government’s attention to urgent issues caused by monsoon-related disasters and administrative irregularities. During today’s zero-hour session, lawmakers called for immediate reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges, as well as search, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts in flood-affected Rasuwa. Lawmakers Sabitri Malla, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma, Rukmini Koirala, and Ananda Prasad Dhungana urged the government, via the House chair, to respond seriously to the Rasuwa flood tragedy, and demanded relief and resettlement efforts. They also requested necessary support for Madhes Province, which has been declared drought-affected.

Police Summon Secretary for Addressing Gyanendra Shah as ‘His Majesty the King’: Kathmandu District Police Range summoned former King Gyanendra Shah’s secretary Phanindra Prasad Pathak for referring to former King Gyanendra Shah as ‘His Majesty the King’, a royal title no longer recognized under Nepal’s current constitution. SP Apil Raj Bohora said Pathak was called for questioning regarding the legal implications of addressing Gyanendra with such titles, as the constitution does not recognize him as king. Pathak had issued a statement using this full royal address for the ex-king, which police say violates constitutional provisions.

Yogesh Bhattarai Warns Oli–Bidya Camps: End the Power Showdown, Focus on Unity: Amid growing factional tensions within the CPN-UML, party Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has called for an immediate end to confrontational rhetoric centered around the party’s central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur. In a Facebook post on Friday, Bhattarai wrote: “Challenging Chyasal, challenging from Chyasal — let’s please stop this approach. Let’s sit down and discuss among ourselves. Let’s seek solutions through cooperation. This is the true essence of People’s Multiparty Democracy. The nation, the people, and UML — these are the foundations on which we all must stand together.”

Foreign Minister Rana Returns After Attending FAO Conference in Rome: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has returned to Nepal after participating in the 44th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference held in Rome, Italy. The conference took place from June 28 to July 4. During the event, Minister Deuba addressed the main session of the FAO conference as well as several high-level ministerial meetings and side events. In her speech, she highlighted that Nepal has enshrined the right to food as a fundamental right in its constitution and has supported its implementation through various legislative measures.

Nepali Congress Nawalparasi Expels Devendra Raj Kandel for Five Years: Nawalparasi district committee of the Nepali Congress has expelled central committee member Devendra Raj Kandel from the party for a period of five years. The district’s disciplinary committee officially dispatched the expulsion letter via post on Thursday, citing disciplinary violations. Interestingly, the disciplinary action against Kandel had already been decided by the committee on the eve of the local elections in 2079 (May 2022). However, the decision had been held back due to the approaching federal and provincial elections.

Kathmandu Metropolitan to Present Rs 25.11 billion Budget on Sunday: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is set to present its budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 on Sunday, July 13, 2025, following a prolonged internal dispute between Mayor Balendra Shah and other elected representatives. The decision was made during an executive meeting held on Friday, where it was agreed that Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol will present the budget at the municipal assembly. The move marks a significant step toward resolving the months-long budget stalemate triggered by conflict over administrative authority.

Bamdev Gautam’s Party and Unified Socialist Agree to Unite: The ‘Communist Party of Nepal Unity National Campaign’ led by Bamdev Gautam and the CPN (Unified Socialist) headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal have agreed to merge. The decision was announced through a joint statement issued by both leaders on Friday. According to the statement, the unity was reached after recognizing similarities in political ideology, principles, programs, strategies, and direction between the two parties. The leaders emphasized the need to unify the communist movement in Nepal. A formal unification announcement will be made on Shrawan 2 (July 18).

Police Intervene in Protest by Nepal Students Union Kathmandu; Six Students Arrested: The Nepal Students Union (NSU) Kathmandu District Committee held a protest demonstration at Baluwatar, demanding an end to double admissions during school enrollment, transparent and fair distribution of scholarships, competitive teacher recruitment, the immediate enactment of a student-friendly Education Act, and merit-based appointments at universities. During the protest, police intervened and arrested six students involved in the demonstration. Among those detained were NSU Kathmandu District President Anshul KC, Deputy Secretary Dorje Tamang, Baneshwor Campus President Prem Shrestha, Kirtipur Campus President Rohit Shrestha, as well as Rohan Deshar and Satish Yadav.

Twelve Communist Parties Protest Israeli Atrocities in Gaza and Attacks on Iran: A coalition of twelve communist parties—including the CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN Unified Socialist Party—held a protest rally against the ongoing massacres of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip by Israel and the recent attacks on Iran. The demonstration, organized under the slogan “Stop Imperialist Wars, Establish World Peace,” began at Shanti Batika (Ratna Park) and proceeded through Jamal, Ghantaghar, Bagbazar, and Putalisadak, culminating in a large assembly at Exhibition Road.

Graft Case Filed Against Former NITC Executive Director Sunil Paudel: A new corruption case involving nearly NPR 160 million has been filed against former Executive Director of the National Information Technology Center (NITC), Sunil Paudel, along with five others. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) lodged the case at the Special Court on Friday. Alongside Paudel, the accused include former Director Safal Shrestha, Assistant Director Ramesh Pokhrel, Computer Engineer Ramsharan Gayak, Accounts The accused are charged with supplying substandard processors for storage systems and making payments totaling NPR158.8 million, causing significant financial loss to the government.

Baburam Bhattarai Proposes Framework to Revive Maoist Movement: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Chairperson of Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), has put forward a framework for the reorganization of the Maoist movement. In a lengthy message shared on social media Friday, Dr. Bhattarai—also a prominent leader of the Maoist movement—countered the narrative that the movement weakened solely due to the division among its leaders. He argued that Nepal’s current problems cannot be solved by remaining confined within the ideological and political boundaries of past Maoism.

UNESCO Keeps Lumbini Off World Heritage Danger List—for Now: Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, has been temporarily removed from UNESCO’s potential danger list. The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently underway in Paris, France, decided not to place Lumbini on the endangered list for the time being. The decision was influenced by ongoing conservation-friendly and improvement works in the area. UNESCO has opted to withhold Lumbini from the list for one year. The decision was made during the Paris session chaired by Professor Nikole Nenov of Bulgaria.

Nepal Rastra Bank Unveils Monetary Policy for FY 2025/26: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled its 59th monetary policy for fiscal year 2082/83 on Friday. Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel made the announcement during a public event. Though the central bank was established in 2013 B.S., Nepal began issuing monetary policies from 2023 B.S., with governors officially announcing them since FY 2059/60. On Thursday evening, the proposed policy was tabled at the NRB Board of Directors before today’s release.

NRB Aims to Remove Nepal from FATF Grey List through Stronger AML Measures: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced a policy shift to strengthen the monitoring, investigation, and prosecution of suspicious financial transactions in an effort to remove Nepal from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The new monetary policy for the fiscal year 2025/26, unveiled publicly this week, emphasizes an urgent and coordinated implementation of measures outlined in the FATF-mandated action plan. The monetary policy states that effective coordination among relevant institutions will be ensured to fulfill the action points Nepal has received to exit FATF’s enhanced surveillance list, also known as the grey list.

NEPSE Index Rises by 27.84 Points This Week, Turnover Reaches Rs 40.29 billion: The stock market rose by 27.84 points this week. Over five trading days, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index increased for three days and declined on two, closing at 2,731.80 points. On the last trading day of the previous week, NEPSE stood at 2,703.96 points. The stock market saw a total turnover of Rs 40.29 billion this week, up from Rs 38.80 billion in the previous week.

Home Loan Limits and Loan-to-Value Ratio Raised: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced more flexible policies regarding home loans. Announcing the monetary policy for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26), Governor Biswo Nath Poudel declared that the maximum loan limit for individuals to purchase homes has been raised to NPR 30 million, up from the previous NPR 20 million. Similarly, the loan limit for home and land purchases has been increased. Previously, banks provided loans up to 50 percent of the property valuation; this has now been raised to 70 percent.

NRB Raises Single Loan Limit for Share-Collateral Loans to Rs 250 million: Nepal Rastra Bank, through its new monetary policy for the upcoming fiscal year, has increased the single loan limit for share-collateral loans. Previously capped at Rs 150 million per individual, Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel has raised the limit to Rs 250 million. Now, an individual can avail share-collateral loans up to Rs 250 million

Director Rupesh Tamang Announces New Film ‘Akka Teen’ for 2026 Release: Rupesh Tamang, who directed last year’s acclaimed film ‘Danvi’, has announced the production of a new movie titled ‘Akka Teen’. The film will be written by Suman Gajmer and is scheduled for release in 2026. The theme poster of the film features three characters—two men and one woman—highlighting a central trio dynamic. Actress Pooja Sharma has been confirmed for the lead role, while the production team has yet to reveal details about other main cast members. The film is titled ‘Akka Teen – Chapter 1’, indicating that it will likely be the first part of a series, with a sequel expected as hinted by the filmmakers.

Actors Rircha Sharma and Binod Neupane Join Cast of Upcoming Film ‘Jadau’: Actress Rircha Sharma and actor Binod Neupane have been finalized for the lead roles in the upcoming film ‘Jadau’. Their inclusion has strengthened the film’s cast lineup, which already features Mukun Bhusal and Niti Shah. The film, centered around an intercaste love story, is penned by writer Kaji Limbu. It is a joint production between Silver Screen Entertainment and Sammishran Movies and Entertainment. The co-producers of the film include Ramraja Subedi, Om Chemjong, Shanta Tamang, and Narayan Shastri. The project is generating anticipation for its fresh take on complex social themes within Nepali cinema.

Nepali Film ‘Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho’ Released Nationwide: The Nepali film ‘Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho’ was released across the country starting this Friday, enjoying the rare opportunity of solo screenings nationwide. Directed by Mitra Pradhan, the film centers on the theme of preserving the Nepali language. The film had its premiere on Wednesday, where it received praise for its heartfelt dedication to Nepali language, literature, art, and patriotism. Attendees lauded the movie’s sincere portrayal of cultural pride and national identity. Director Mitra Pradhan expressed that the film carries an emotional message aimed at connecting Nepalis worldwide.

Film ‘Man Binako Dhan’ Set to Release on November 7: The upcoming Nepali film ‘Man Binako Dhan’ is scheduled for release on Kartik 21 (November 7). Producer Bishnu Maya Mainali announced that the release date has been finalized, with distribution rights for Nepal secured by Apple Entertainment, Rich Entertainment, and FD Company. The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Ashok Darji, Saroj Khanal, Santosh Pant, Rama Thapaliya, Nita Dhungana, Bhola Sapkota, Buddi Tamang, Ramesh Bishwakarma, Ravindra Jha, Parbati Adhikari, Utsav Sapkota, AR Budhathoki, Shankar Shrestha, Samragyee Thapa, Bina Raut, Babu Parajuli, Raksha Shrestha, Priyanka Jha, Binay Adhikari, Aryan Nepal, and Vijay Dangol, among others.

ANFA U-16 Youth League: Sushan Thapa Magar Scores 5 as Church Boys Thrash Planning Boys: Defending champions Church Boys United registered a resounding victory in the ANFA U-16 Youth League on Friday, thrashing Planning Boys United 9–0 at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato. The standout performer of the match was Sushan Thapa Magar, who netted an incredible five goals on his own. With this dominant win, Church Boys opened their account on the points table in their third match of the league. This was a much-needed boost after going winless in the first two games. Planning Boys, on the other hand, suffered their second loss of the campaign and remain on three points from three matches.

NPL Probe Committee Coordinator Ranjana Pradhan Resigns, Cites Workload: Ranjana Pradhan, the coordinator of the investigation committee formed to probe the ongoing dispute in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), has resigned from her post. A member of the National Sports Council (NSC), Pradhan submitted her resignation letter to NSC Chairperson and Youth and Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary, requesting it be accepted effective from Thursday. In her resignation letter, Pradhan stated that she would be unable to fulfill the responsibilities due to work-related commitments and time constraints. Her departure raises questions about the momentum and direction of the NPL investigation, which has been mired in controversy in recent months.

CAN to Reward U-16 East Zone Cup Winners with Rs 50,000 Each: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 each for the players and officials of the national team that successfully defended the ACC Men’s U-16 East Zone Cup title. Nepal clinched the championship by defeating Singapore by 2 wickets in a tightly contested final held on Saturday. With this victory, Nepal retained the title they had previously won in 2023, marking back-to-back championships in the tournament. Chasing a modest target of 114 runs set by Singapore, Nepal reached 117 runs in 29 overs, losing 8 wickets in the process.

Terrorists Kill 9 Bus Passengers in Pakistan’s Balochistan After Abduction: Terrorists have abducted and shot dead at least nine bus passengers traveling through Pakistan’s troubled southwestern Balochistan province, government officials said on Friday. Security forces have been battling growing ethnic and separatist violence in the impoverished yet mineral-rich province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. On Thursday night, terrorists boarded two buses on the main highway, checked passengers’ ID cards, and forcibly removed nine individuals at gunpoint. “The terrorists forced the two passenger buses to stop on the highway and took nine people out. They were taken to a nearby area and all were killed,” said local government official Naveed Alam.

Trump Threatens 35% Tariffs on Canadian Goods: US President Donald Trump has said he will impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting on 1 August, even as the two countries were days away from a self-imposed deadline to reach a new trade deal. The announcement came in the form of a letter published on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, along with additional threats of blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government would continue to protect his country’s workers and businesses as they head towards the new deadline.

Lula Threatens 50% Tariff on US Goods in Retaliation for Trump Levy on Brazil: Brazil threatened to hit back against Donald Trump’s plan to introduce 50% tariffs on its exports with its own 50% tariff on US goods, setting the stage for a precipitous trade war. “If he charges us 50%, we’ll charge him 50%,” Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president, told local news outlet Record, a day after Trump threatened to impose steep duties on Brazilian goods and accused the country of conducting a “witch-hunt” against its former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing a trial over his attempt to overturn his 2022 election defeat. Brazil could appeal to the World Trade Organization, propose international investigations and “demand explanations”, Lula suggested.

Israel Pounds Gaza as PM Hopes Truce Deal Within Reach: Negotiators from Israel and the Palestinian militant group have been locked in indirect talks in Qatar since Sunday to try to agree a temporary ceasefire. Netanyahu said a lasting truce could follow, but only if Hamas lays down its arms and is no longer able to govern or operate in the Gaza Strip. On the ground, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported a fresh wave of Israeli strikes, including one that killed five people at a school building sheltering displaced Palestinians. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the agency and other parties.