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.

Politics Can Jail Anyone, Anytime, Says PM Oli: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has emphasized that in politics, it is impossible to predict who will be jailed and when, noting that prejudices and revenge often drive such arrests. Speaking at the ‘BP Koirala National Award 2081’ ceremony on Sunday at Baluwatar, Oli recalled the turbulent times following the royal massacre when then-King Gyanendra assumed power. Although political parties were not officially banned during that period, restrictions were imposed, and many leaders were arrested and jailed. Oli pointed out that instead of formal government bodies, personal whims often dictated the filing of cases against politicians.

Lawmakers Draw Govt’s Attention to Drought, Abuse of Workers Abroad in NA Session: In Sunday’s meeting of the National Assembly, lawmakers raised various concerns—ranging from the worsening drought in the Tarai to the need for ministers to disclose their assets—urging the government to take prompt action. During zero hour, lawmaker Sabitri Malla pointed out that water sources in the Tarai are drying up even during the monsoon, and merely declaring eight districts as drought-affected is not enough. Padam Bahadur Pariyar drew the government’s attention to the plight of Sangita Thapa, a Nepali woman working in Kuwait, who has alleged mental and physical abuse by her employer in Facebook posts.

Parliamentary Probe Committee to Question Oli, Dahal, and Deuba on Cooling-Off Period: The parliamentary special investigation committee has decided to consult three key political leaders—Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba—regarding the controversial issue of the “cooling-off period.” The committee has prepared two specific questions to be asked during the meetings: first, what is their personal opinion on the cooling-off period; and second, what suggestions they would offer to the committee. The committee plans to record their responses and include them in its final report, which will guide future decisions on the matter.

CIAA Chief Rai Faces Corruption Complaint Over Three Major Scandals: A formal complaint has been filed at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against its own Chief Commissioner, Prem Kumar Rai. The complaint, registered under number C-003498, was submitted by Yuvraj Paudel (Saphal) of Sindhuli on Sunday. Rai is accused of involvement in three high-profile corruption cases: the wide-body aircraft procurement scam, Nepal Oil Corporation’s (NOC) land purchase irregularities, and the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal. The complaint demands a thorough investigation and prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Krishna Sitaula Backs Majority Rule in Constitutional Council, Says Govt Will Continue: Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Situala has said that although the current coalition government between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML has not delivered as expected, it will continue. He also expressed support for allowing majority-based decisions in the Constitutional Council to ensure smoother governance. Speaking at a press interaction with journalists in Kathmandu on Sunday, Situala acknowledged public disappointment with the government’s performance. “The government has not worked as intended,” he said, “but it will continue. There is no alternative arrangement possible at the moment.”

Shiva Bastola Appointed Acting Chair of Nagarik Unmukti Party: Ranjita Shrestha, Chair of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), has designated Senior Vice-Chair Shiva Bastola as the party’s acting chair. The decision follows the alleged involvement of party chair Shrestha in a land-related bribery investigation. She has stated that she assigned the role of acting chair to Bastola due to her health condition. “In view of my health condition, which has made it difficult for me to be physically present in the party’s daily operations and key decision-making processes, this decision has been taken to ensure that party functioning remains uninterrupted,” she wrote in the letter appointing the acting chair.

MOFA Confirms Nepalis Safe Amid Deadly Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok to closely monitor the ongoing clashes between security forces of Thailand and Cambodia along their border and to check on the safety of Nepali nationals in the area. Martial law has been imposed in eight border districts of Thailand amid the conflict. The clashes, which have continued since Wednesday, have resulted in at least 33 deaths, according to international media reports. So far, there have been no reports of Nepalis residing in the conflict zone experiencing any difficulties. Approximately 80,000 Nepalese live in Thailand, while around 3,000 reside in Cambodia.

Yogesh Bhattarai Accuses Prachanda of Double Standard on Cooling-Off Provision : CPN-UML Secretary and Member of Parliament Yogesh Bhattarai has taken sharp aim at Maoist Centre Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, questioning his stance on the controversial “cooling-off period” provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill. In a Facebook post addressed directly to Prachanda, Bhattarai accused the former Prime Minister of displaying double standards and attempting to shift blame onto others, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Bhattarai argued that as a senior member of the committee, Prachanda himself should be held morally accountable for any inconsistencies.

Amresh Singh Signs Support for Rabi Lamichhane at RSP Headquarters: Independent MP Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh has expressed support for Rabi Lamichhane, president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, who is currently imprisoned in Bhairahawa jail in connection with a cooperative fraud case. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to keep Lamichhane in custody citing evidence that does not suggest innocence, MP Singh has signed in favor of Lamichhane. At a gathering at Ghantighar in Bansthali, Singh accused major political parties of governing Nepal for 30 years while only increasing the country’s debt.

Over 2,000 Police Personnel Penalized in a Single Fiscal Year: More than 2,000 police personnel were subjected to disciplinary action in fiscal year 2024/25, according to Nepal Police spokesperson and DIG Binod Ghimire. A total of 2,073 personnel faced action, with the highest number from the lowest rank—924 constables. Similarly, 420 assistant constables, 345 head constables, and 173 assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) were penalized. The action also extended to 69 sergeants, 60 senior head constables, and 39 office assistants. Among higher-ranking officials, 30 inspectors, 9 senior ASIs, 3 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), and 1 senior superintendent of police (SSP) were also disciplined.

Reconstruction of Nepal-China Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi Begins: Reconstruction work on the Friendship Bridge (Miteri Pul) at the Nepal-China northern border crossing of Rasuwagadhi has officially commenced. The bridge, measuring 10 meters wide and 100 meters long, was severely damaged by unprecedented floods in the Lende Khola on July 8. Chief District Officer (CDO) Arjun Paudel informed that the Chinese government started reconstruction efforts on Sunday. Earlier, on Saturday, a high-level Nepali delegation led by CDO Paudel conducted an on-site inspection of the Friendship Bridge area.

Diktel Mayor Starts Satyagraha in Kathmandu Demanding Bamboo-Based Economic Policy: Mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality in Khotang, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, has begun a satyagraha (non-violent protest) at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu starting Sunday morning (July 27), putting forth a set of seven demands. His primary demand is for the government to recognize bamboo, which he says is being wasted, as a tool for economic prosperity. He is calling for a national policy to promote income generation through the use of bamboo and bamboo-based raw materials. Mayor Bhattarai traveled from Khotang to Kathmandu on July 20, bringing with him traditional bamboo mats, straw-made mats, and woolen rugs, to emphasize the potential of local products.

NEPSE Falls After 8-Day Rally, Index Drops by 18.44 Points: Nepal’s stock market declined on Sunday after eight straight sessions of gains. The NEPSE index fell by 18.44 points to close at 2,964. Although it crossed 3,012 by mid-session, selling pressure pulled it down. The 3,000-point mark again acted as resistance. Trading volume surged to Rs 26.57 billion—highest since August 18 last year—up from Rs 18.49 billion on Thursday. Hydropower led with Rs 11.62 billion in turnover, making up 43% of total trades. Development banks, microfinance, and manufacturing also crossed Rs 2 billion each.

Nepal Records Historic Export High in Fiscal Year 2024/25: During the last fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal set a historic record in exports; however, the export of many key value-added products has decreased. In that fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth NPR 277 billion, the highest ever. Yet, the share of Nepali raw materials, agriculture, skill-based, and craft products in this export is low, which suggests Nepal may not gain significant benefits from this.

Total Deposits in Banks Reach NPR 7.245 Trillion, Exceeding Nepal’s Economy Size: As of last week, total deposits collected by banks and financial institutions stood at NPR 7.245 trillion. This amount exceeds the size of Nepal’s economy. The total deposits represent approximately 114 percent of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is known that banks and financial institutions are financial intermediaries. By collecting scattered savings and lending to those in need, banks and financial institutions perform the role of financial intermediaries.

Nepal Rastra Bank to Withdraw NPR 50 Billion Deposits from Market: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) plans to withdraw NPR 50 billion from the market. The central bank is set to auction a deposit instrument of 28 days maturity on Sunday for this amount. The deposit instrument will mature on August 24. Interest rates will be determined through auction, NRB stated. Banks and financial institutions can bid for any amount starting from NPR 100 million or in multiples of NPR 500 million.

Energy Minister Urges Assigning Nepal Electricity Federation for Managing Electricity Users: Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Deepak Khadka urged that electricity consumers who cannot properly manage institutions should be entrusted to the Nepal Electricity Federation. The minister made this appeal at the 21st foundation day event of the Community Electricity Consumers Federation. He recalled that the Nepal government has already made such requests and the Authority had issued an official statement to that effect.

Mongolian Heart to Embark on First-Ever New Zealand Tour in 2025: Popular Nepali band ‘Mongolian Heart’ is set to tour New Zealand for the first time as part of its special 2025 musical tour. Formed in 1992, the band will perform live concerts in three major cities—Christchurch, Auckland, and Tauranga—bringing their signature sound to fans abroad. Guitarist and band manager Bobby Lama said the group is making grand preparations to make the tour a memorable experience for audiences.

Shooting of ‘Captain Saab’ Kicks Off in Kavre: Director Dipendra K. Khanal has begun shooting for the film ‘Captain Saab’, a biopic based on the life of Captain Rameshwar Thapa. The filming started on Saturday in Dhungkharka, Bethanchowk of Kavrepalanchok. The official announcement (muhurat) of the film was held earlier on Asar 26 at Gaurighat. Cinematographer Krishna Bahadur Thapa is behind the camera for this project. Besides Kathmandu, the film will also be shot in Chitwan, Kavre, and Birgunj. Captain Rameshwar Thapa, the subject of the film, is a pilot, entrepreneur, and media personality.

‘Janakranti’ Film Announced, Based on Nepal’s Republican Struggle: A new Nepali film titled ‘Janakranti’ is set to depict the historic struggle that led to the establishment of the republic in Nepal. The film’s first poster was unveiled on Saturday by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the first Prime Minister of republican Nepal. During the unveiling, Prachanda expressed hope that the film would help the younger generation understand the socio-political and economic struggles behind the republican movement.

Deepashree Niraula, Rima Bishwokarma Star in New Teej Video: Singer and songwriter David Shankar has released a new Teej song titled ‘Ae Chelibeti Sewa Garne Mauka Deu Ekchoti’ ahead of Teej festival. The song carries a strong social message and is aimed at raising awareness through music. Shankar has lent his voice and written the lyrics, collaborating with Deepak Sharma, who composed the music. The music video features popular actors including Deepashree Niraula, Rima Bishwokarma, Sudhir Shrestha, Kusum Sharma, and Miss Pabi.

Friends Club Defeats APF, Sankata and Church Boys Share Points: Friends Club secured a comfortable 3–1 victory over departmental side APF Football Club in the ANFA U–16 Youth League match held on Sunday at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato. Mandip Dhungel scored twice while Prabhat BC added another goal to seal the win for Friends. APF’s Asim Khadka had opened the scoring, but his early goal turned out to be just a consolation. With the win, Friends now have 19 points from nine matches, while APF remain on 15 points from the same number of games. In another fixture on Sunday, Church Boys United and Sankata Club played to an exciting 2–2 draw.

Nepal Kickboxing Association to Host Referee and Coaching Semina: The Nepal Kickboxing Association will organize a four-day referee and coaching seminar to promote freestyle kickboxing. The seminar will be held under the chief guestship of Bryan W. Beck, President of the World Freestyle Kickboxing Organization (WFKO). It will take place at Fight Club Nepal, Jadibuti, Kathmandu, from August 2 to 5. On the same occasion, there will also be a Black Belt Grading, informed Association General Secretary Binda Nepali.

Fourth Inter-School Swimming Competition Scheduled for August 1: The fourth inter-school swimming competition is scheduled to take place on August 2. Organized by Tusal Multivenue with support from Tarkeshwar Municipality and special assistance from the Nepal Swimming Association, the competition will include participants from various schools across the Kathmandu Valley. According to Laxman KC, Managing Director of Tusal Multivenue, around 150 students—both boys and girls—will take part.

Dissident Officials Demand Halt to Athletics Association Election: Disgruntled officials of the Nepal Athletics Association have demanded that the upcoming election of the ad hoc committee led by Rajib Bikram Shah not be held. On Sunday, General Secretary Dhanbir Chaudhary and other concerned stakeholders held a press conference, calling for a halt to the election process. They argued that the election cannot proceed until the writ petition filed at the Patan High Court is resolved and a fair investigation is completed.

43 Killed in Gaza Despite Israel Announcement of ‘Pauses’ in Fighting: Israel began “tactical pauses” in fighting for “humanitarian purposes” from 10am to 8pm (07:00-17:00 GMT) in al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City, starting on Sunday. Despite the pauses, Israeli forces have killed at least 43 Palestinians in attacks on Gaza since the early hours of Sunday, as six more Palestinians starve to death. They have seized the Freedom Flotilla’s Handala ship, detaining its 21 crew members, as they attempted to break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip.

6 Dead in India’s Haridwar Temple Stampede: At least six people have been killed and dozens injured in a crush after a large crowd gathered at a popular Hindu temple in northern India’s Uttarakhand state. The incident at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar city occurred on Sunday after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd of devotees. “The sight of the wire falling caused immediate panic, and a desperate scramble to escape led to the stampede,” local police official Ritesh Saha told The Times of India newspaper.

Greece Battles Wildfires, Evacuating Residents Near Athens: Greece is battling five major wildfires across the country, with officials evacuating residents in a hard-hit region just 30km (18.6 miles) north of Athens. The smell of burning wood carried as far as central Athens, as Greece requested European Union assistance to fight the spreading blaze. The ongoing emergency comes amid a severe heatwave. Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 44C on Sunday, with the extreme heat expected to persist through most of the weekend.

Thailand and Cambodia Thank Trump for Mediation, But Shelling Continues: Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had called the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, pressing them for an immediate ceasefire following border clashes. At the beginning of a private visit to his Scottish golf courses, the US president wrote on Truth Social that both nations “have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!” Both countries thanked him for his concern and efforts. Cambodia has accepted his request for a ceasefire, while Thailand stressed the need for a dialogue between the two countries. After the US president’s calls, however, shelling continued along the border overnight.