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Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Nepal News Evening Briefing | Friday, August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025
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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.

Bagmati Province Declared Fully Vaccinated in Presence of PM KP Sharma Oli

On Friday, Bagmati Province was officially declared fully vaccinated in a special event organized by the Province’s Ministry of Health, attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Based on a certificate from the National Full Vaccination Coordination Committee under the federal Ministry of Health and Population, all children aged 16 to 23 months had received complete vaccination by 15 months of age as of August 11, 2024. With full vaccination coverage achieved across 13 districts and 119 local units, the province-wide declaration was made.

Bhattarai Slams Communist Stagnation, Compares to Stalin-Era Purges

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, has sharply criticized the state of Nepal’s communist movement, likening its current trajectory to the ideological stagnation and authoritarian purges of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. In a Facebook post on Friday, Dr. Bhattarai reflected on the irony of a famous quote: “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” He remarked that this applies perfectly to Nepal’s communist movement, which, despite being rooted in historic uprisings, is now heading down a self-destructive path similar to that of the now-defunct Soviet Communist Party.

Jhala Nath Khanal Says UML Split Unjustified, Sets Conditions for Return

Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has said that the justification for breaking away from the CPN-UML to form the Unified Socialist has not been established. In an interview with journalist Jagadish Kharel on Image Television, Khanal admitted that he has come to realize the decision to split from UML was a mistake. “I’m reaching the conclusion that the party split was indeed wrong,” Khanal said. “The revolt within UML has not been justified so far. The failure to justify it means it was wrong.” However, when asked about the possibility of returning to UML, Khanal stated that he has certain conditions.

Bill Returned by President Likely to Be Tabled in House on Monday

The government is preparing to table the bill to amend the “Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers, and Procedures) Act, 2066” — which was recently returned by President Ramchandra Paudel — at the House of Representatives meeting on Monday, August 4. However, an official decision has not yet been made as Speaker Devraj Ghimire is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, attending the World Speakers’ Conference. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, a formal decision regarding the tabling of the bill will be made during the Business Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for August 3 (Sunday), which will finalize Monday’s agenda for the House meeting.

Prachanda Says Talks on Socialist Front Unity Are Positive; Criticizes Government Failure

Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre), has said that discussions on unity among parties in the Socialist Front are progressing positively. This was shared by the party spokesperson Agni Sapkota during the ongoing standing committee meeting. Prachanda emphasized the need to carry the Socialist Front’s agenda not only at the central level but also across provinces and move towards party unity. In the meeting, Prachanda also stated that the government is failing in all respects.

Nepal-China Diplomatic Relation Enters 70 Years

The Nepal-China diplomatic relation has entered into 70 years from today onward. To mark the occasion, the 70th years of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between Nepal and China is being celebrated with several programmes in Kathmandu and Beijing today. The historical relation that had officially begun after the wedding of then Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo with Princes Bhrikuti has been further expanded in the modern era. Diplomatic relations with China was established on the day today in 1 August 1955.

EC Opens Party Registration for Rupandehi-3 By-Election Scheduled for November 3

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a call to all political parties to register for the upcoming by-election in Rupandehi constituency number 3, which is scheduled for November 3. In a notice released today, the Commission informed that political parties can submit their registration applications at its central office in Kathmandu from August 6 to August 12. The EC has already finalized the by-election schedule. Candidate nominations will be accepted on October 7, between 10 AM and 5 PM, at the Office of the Election Officer.

Madhav Nepal Urges Jhala Nath Khanal to Leave Party Over Disagreement

Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist), has suggested that senior party leader Jhala Nath Khanal should take leave from the party for speaking against party policy. On Friday in Biratnagar, during a discussion on Khanal’s remarks that splitting the UML was a mistake, Chairman Nepal recommended that Khanal step aside on moral grounds. He stated that Khanal’s repeated refusal to follow institutional party decisions renders his statements meaningless.

28 Released After Arrest at Gang Leader Chakre Milan’s Birthday Party

Twenty-eight individuals arrested during the birthday party of notorious gang leader Chakre Milan, also known as Milan Gurung, have been released. According to SP Kuldeep Chand, the arrests were made in a joint operation conducted by the Valley Crime Investigation Office and the Kathmandu District Police Office on Thursday night. However, Chakre Milan and 18 others are still in custody and have been remanded for further investigation on charges of disorderly conduct.

Government Extends Vehicle Driving License Validity Period to 10 Years

The validity period for vehicle driving licenses has been extended to 10 years. The government has published a bill in the gazette to amend certain Nepal laws. According to the amendment, the validity of driving licenses under the Vehicle and Transportation Management Act, (1992) has been increased from 5 years to 10 years. Clause 54(3) of the Act mentions the validity period of the license. Under the revised regulation, the validity period for license renewal will now also be 10 years. The duration granted upon license renewal has been increased to 10 years as well.

Tree Falls in Sindhuli: Two Killed, Three Children Injured

Two people died and three children were injured when a tree fell in Bastipur, Ward 1 of Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality in Sindhuli district. According to Sindhuli District Police Chief Lal Dhwaj Subedi, the incident occurred around 3:30 PM on Friday when a large sal tree collapsed on a shed where children had taken shelter from the rain. Five children were inside the shed at the time. Due to heavy rainfall and a resulting landslide, the tree was uprooted and fell directly onto the shelter, leading to the fatal accident.

Share Market Drops 2.01% This Week, Falls by 60 Points

This week, the share market declined by 2.01 percent, losing 60 points. The market, which stood at 2,982 points last week, dropped to 2,922 points this week. Despite the recent fall, the market surpassed last year’s highest record this week. On Tuesday, the share market reached 3,002 points. Previously, on August 15 of last year, the market had touched 3,000 points before falling. On August 18, 2021, the market set its all-time high record at 3,198 points. During five trading days this week, the market fell on three days and rose on two days.

NRB Drafts Policy for Electronic Financial Product Testing

Nepal Rastra Bank has prepared a policy framework for institutions intending to launch new products in electronic financial services. The central bank has introduced a regulatory “sandbox” that allows for the testing and approval of new software and applications based on digital financial transactions. The central bank has made the draft of the regulatory sandbox public for discussion and has requested suggestions from stakeholders.

Nepal Faces Higher Loan Rates as World Bank, ADB, and JICA Adjust Terms

Nepal’s improving economic indicators, particularly the rise in per capita national income, have led to an increase in interest rates on foreign loans acquired from bilateral and multilateral development partners. The Ministry of Finance informed that institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as bilateral partners like China, Japan, and India, adjust loan interest rates based on a country’s income level and debt servicing capacity.

Soaring Gold Prices Lead to Sharp Drop in Imports

With the continuous rise in gold prices, imports have significantly declined. As domestic consumption has dropped due to soaring prices, gold imports have decreased, which has also led to a reduction in revenue collected from gold. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has increased by Rs 102,000 per tola over the past five years. In fiscal year 2018/19, the price per tola was Rs 92,400, which has now reached Rs 193,600.

Call for Simplified Insurance Terms in Nepali Language

Stakeholders have called for insurance policy documents to be written in simplified Nepali language to build public trust in insurance. They emphasized the need for clear explanations of all insurance terms at the time of purchase. They also stressed that insurance companies should pay a specified percentage of the damage after receiving reports from surveyors.

First Look Poster of ‘Haribahadurko Jutta’ Unveiled

The first look poster of the film ‘Haribahadurko Jutta’ has been released, featuring Haribansha Acharya in a solo appearance. The poster hints at the character he portrays, reminiscent of the beloved “Haribahadur” persona popular among TV audiences. The film stars Haribansha Acharya alongside Swastima Khadka, Prakash Saput, Priyanka Karki, Harihar Sharma, Divya Dev, Kiran KC, Rajaram Paudel, Dinesh Kafle, and Kamalmani Nepal.

Trailer of ‘Gunyo Cholo: The Dress’ Highlights Gender Identity Struggles

The trailer of the film ‘Gunyo Cholo: The Dress’ was released on Thursday, portraying the emotional struggle of a transgender woman revealing her identity. The trailer centers on the conflict between a son trying to express his gender identity and a father attempting to suppress it. It shows the son’s journey from being forced into a military path to eventually breaking free, having always been drawn to traditionally female attire since childhood. Actor Nazir Husen plays the lead role, alongside other supporting cast members

Second Song ‘Sindurko Rang’ Released from Nepali Film ‘Chitthi’

The second song titled Sindurko Rang from the Nepali film Chitthi, set to release nationwide from September 5, has been unveiled. The song features lyrics by Kamala Joshi, music composed by Saroj Koirala, and vocals by Benisha Paudel. Actors Sanjit Bhandari and Kanchan Chalise appear in the song’s video, which also features singer Benisha Paudel. Produced under the banner of Era Production, the film is directed by Madhav Raj Kharel.

Highly Anticipated Film ‘Jari 2’ to Release Worldwide on Constitution Day

The much-awaited film Jari 2 is set to be released globally from September 19, coinciding with Constitution Day. The producers announced the release date and unveiled the poster on Friday. Directed by Upendra Subba, the second installment is titled Song of Chyabrung. The first film Jari, released in 2023, was a superhit, earning over Rs 170 million at the box office. The producers are now bringing the sequel to audiences.

Palesha Goverdhan Wins Bronze at Asian Para Taekwondo Championship

Nepali para taekwondo athlete Palesha Goverdhan has secured a bronze medal at the 10th Asian Para Taekwondo Championship (G-4) held in Kuching, Malaysia. She earned third place after losing in the semifinal on Friday, ensuring a medal for Nepal. Goverdhan had reached the semifinal after defeating Uzbekistan’s Kamola Jurabova in the quarterfinal with scores of 10–6 in the first round and 13–0 in the second. However, she was beaten by China’s Li Yujie in the semifinal with scores of 0–4 and 0–10, settling for bronze. With this latest win, Palesha has now accumulated a total of five international medals.

Youth and Sports Minister Unveils Annual Report, Announces 2025 Sports Investment Summit

Minister for Youth and Sports Tej Lal Chaudhary on Friday presented a summary of the ministry’s performance over the fiscal year 2024/25, highlighting major policy initiatives and upcoming plans. Speaking at an event held at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Singha Durbar, Minister Chaudhary shared achievements including the release of the National Sports Policy and various youth development programs. He also announced that Nepal will host the ‘Sports Investment Summit 2025,’ aimed at attracting domestic and international investment in the sports sector.

CAN Earns Over Rs 25 Million Profit from First Nepal Premier League

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a profit of approximately Rs 25.3 million from the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). According to a press release issued after CAN’s board meeting on Thursday, the league generated a total income of Rs 276.9 million, while total expenses amounted to Rs 201.5 million. The net profit stood at Rs 75.3 million, out of which 50 percent—roughly Rs 43.7 million—has been distributed among the eight franchise teams.

Trump Sets New Tariffs on Dozens of Countries’ Exports

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reimposing “reciprocal tariffs” ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent on US imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations. Separately, Trump also signed an executive order late on Thursday that increased tariffs on certain Canadian goods, with the White House accusing Ottawa of failing to “cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs” entering the US.

Iran Drives out 1.5 Million Afghans

More than 1.5 million Afghans have left Iran since January, according to the UN Refugee Agency. A spokesperson from the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that more than 918,000 Afghans entered Afghanistan from Iran between 22 June – 22 July. Some had been in Iran for generations. Millions of Afghans have fled to Iran and Pakistan since the 1970s, with major waves during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and more recently in 2021, when the Taliban returned to power.

Russia Oil Imports ‘Point of Irritation’ in India-US Ties, says Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Delhi’s relationship with Moscow remains a “point of irritation” in India-US ties. Rubio’s statement comes a day after US President Donald Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs on Indian goods “plus an unspecified penalty”, for buying Russian oil and weapons. In an interview to Fox News Radio on Thursday, Rubio called India an “ally” and “strategic partner” but added that Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil was hampering its relationship with Washington.

Heavy Flash Flooding Hits New York City, State of Emergency Declared

New Yorkers and millions of others in the Northeast have faced flash floods for the second time in two weeks as severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours slammed the East Coast. Some workers in NY and New Jersey were sent home early Thursday afternoon ahead of the evening commute. The city’s emergency management agency urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, warning that street, basement, and transit flooding were possible. States of emergency were declared in New York and New Jersey as the storms arrived.