KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know today.

Earthquake Strikes Western Nepal

An earthquake hit western Nepal on Wednesday night. According to the National Seismological Center, the tremor with a magnitude of 4.6 struck at 8:26 PM, with its epicenter along the border of Rukum Purba and Baglung districts. Following the sudden jolt, locals rushed out of their homes.

Attempted Attack on ‘Hami Nepal’ Coordinator Sudhan Gurung

An attempt has been made to attack Sudhan Gurung, coordinator of the organization ‘Hami Nepal’. The attack occurred while Gurung was leaving his office. Initially followed by a group on a motorcycle, the group then allegedly tried to assault him using two red cars. It is claimed that Gurung was pursued from Ranibari to New Baneshwar Chowk during the attack attempt. Following the attempt of physical assault on him, the government has increased his security. Gurung has confirmed that he is currently in a safe location.

Ministers Survey Fire Damage at Supreme Court, Order Quick Recovery

Energy, Physical Infrastructure, and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising and Home and Law Minister Om Prakash Aryal visited the Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon to inspect damage caused by fire during the Gen Z protest. Minister Ghising stated that the fire had caused significant destruction to the Supreme Court premises. He informed that authorities would proceed after conducting a detailed damage assessment.

Nepali Congress Leaders Explore Options to Remove Deuba

Even after the Gen Z uprising and the dissolution of Parliament, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has refused to step down, prompting party members favoring leadership change to discuss alternative strategies. Seeing little likelihood of leadership leaving voluntarily, party insiders are preparing different approaches. One strategy is to prevent Deuba from presiding over any meeting until he grants the position of “acting president.” Another is to boycott any meetings called by Deuba after he returns from the hospital. A third approach under discussion is to unite all change supporters and force Deuba to resign.

Bagmati Province Assembly Speaker Pathak Resigns

Speaker of the Bagmati Provincial Assembly, Bhuwan Pathak, has resigned from his post. Speaking to Nepal News today (Wednesday), Pathak confirmed that he had resigned from his position. He said he stepped down as Speaker in the aftermath of the situation created by the Gen Z movement. “The Bagmati Provincial Assembly has turned to ashes. I resigned wondering how the Assembly could be conducted,” he said. Pathak had become a lawmaker under proportional representation system from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in the 2022 election.

Trio of Ministers Inspect Fire-Damaged Federal Parliament Building

Ministers Rameshore Khanal, Kulman Ghising, and Om Prakash Aryal inspected the federal parliament building that was severely damaged by fire during the Gen Z protests on September 9. The fire had caused extensive destruction to the parliamentary premises. During the inspection, the three ministers assessed the extent of the damage and discussed potential measures for restoration. Minister Khanal serves as Finance Minister, while Minister Aryal holds the portfolios of Home Affairs and Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs. Minister Ghising is responsible for Urban Development, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, as well as Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

Constitution Day to be Celebrated Nationwide

Constitution Day and National Day 2025 are being celebrated nationwide this year, as in the past, with various programs. The government has called on citizens to observe the day when the country’s fundamental law, the Constitution, which safeguards Nepal’s political achievements, was promulgated. According to Home Ministry Joint Secretary Rishiram Tiwari, the main event will be held on the morning of September 19 at theArmy Pavillion, Tundikhel, under the chief patronage of President Ramchandra Paudel. Prime Minister Sushila Karki is scheduled to address the ceremony.

‘Loot Report’ App Launched to Document Incidents During Gen Z Movement

A new app called ‘Loot Report’ has been launched to report and document incidents of looting, arson, and vandalism that occurred during the Gen Z movement. Users can anonymously upload videos of these events on loot-report.lovable.app. The app was introduced following incidents on September 8 and 9. By the time news was prepared, 1,916 videos had already been uploaded. The platform is described as a “Community Power Reporting System,” aimed at helping identify and track suspicious activities.

Janamat Party Leaders Demand Resignation of Raut Brothers

Calls have emerged within the Janamat Party for the resignation of party chairman CK Raut and Organizational Department Chief, Dr. Jaykanta Raut, CK Raut’s elder brother. Six senior party leaders, including Senior Vice-Chairman Abdul Khan and Spokesperson Dr. Sharad Singh Yadav, have demanded their resignation. They cited the influence of the recent Gen Z uprising and emphasized that a leadership change is essential to safeguard the overall interests of the party, restore political credibility, and regain public trust.

Monsoon Shows Early Activity Ahead of Expected Withdrawal

Although the monsoon is generally expected to withdraw within the next 15 days, it has begun showing signs of renewed activity. The Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reported that the monsoon’s low-pressure trough remains near its average position, with moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal contributing to its current activation. Meteorologists have noted that it is common for the monsoon to become active around the time it is typically expected to withdraw.

Assessment of Local-Level Damage Begins After Gen-Z Protests

Following the Gen-Z protests on September 8 and 9, the collection of data on damages at the local level has begun. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has instructed all local bodies and district coordination committees to enter details of the losses via a Google link provided by the ministry. Local authorities and committees are required to inform the federal government about the condition of their offices and government properties. Reports should include damages to buildings, machinery, furniture, official documents, and other government assets.

Prisoners Who Fled During Gen Z Protests Gradually Return to Jails

Following the Gen-Z protests on September 8 and 9, prisoners who took advantage of the unrest to escape from various jails have started returning in large numbers. Most of the escapees were recaptured by security personnel, while some returned voluntarily. As of this morning, 223 inmates who fled from different prisons, including the prison in Bhimphedi, Makwanpur, have returned. Subas Paudel, head of Bhimphedi Prison, stated that security forces have recaptured 130 inmates from Bhimphedi, while 36 others voluntarily contacted the prison and returned.

Share Trading to Resume from September 18

Share trading, suspended due to the Gen-Z protests, will resume on September 18. The Securities Board of Nepal had closed the market following the protests. Even after conditions eased, the closure drew criticism. On Tuesday, the Board instructed that secondary market trading should resume as usual.

Share-Pledged Loans Reach Rs 3.83 Billion in First Month of Current FY

In the first month of current fiscal year alone, banks and financial institutions provided Rs 3.83 billion in share-pledged loans. According to publicly available data from Nepal Rastra Bank, such loans totaled Rs 144.53 billion by the end of the first month of current fiscal year. By the end of last month of last fiscal year, they had reached Rs 140.70 billion. Loans exceeding Rs 10 million alone have crossed Rs 118 billion. Loans above Rs 10 million amounted to Rs 118.80 billion in total.

Government Budget Expenditure Hits 9.17% by End of Bhadra

By September 16 of current fiscal year, government budget expenditure was 9.17%. According to the Office of the Auditor General, in the first two months of the fiscal year, 9.67% of recurrent, 1.56% of capital, and 15.89% of financial management budgets were spent. Of the total Rs 1,964.11 billion budget, Rs 180.17 billion was spent by September 16. Of Rs 1,180.98 billion allocated to recurrent expenditure, Rs 114.18 billion had been used.

Estimated Rs 36 Billion Damage from Gen-Z Protests

Preliminary estimates suggest that industries under the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) suffered about Rs 36 billion in damages due to arson and vandalism during the Gen Z protests. Damage assessment is ongoing, and figures are expected to increase. It is estimated that approximately 15,500 direct jobs were affected across the country.

Deposits in Banks Drop Slightly to Rs 7.208 Trillion

Deposits in banks and financial institutions decreased by Rs 55.79 billion (0.8%) to Rs 7,208.09 billion. According to Nepal Rastra Bank data for the first month of fiscal year 2025/26, deposits during the same period last year had decreased by Rs 43.45 billion (0.7%). On an annual basis, deposits in banks and financial institutions increased by 12.5% by the end of first month of current fiscal year.

‘Jaari 2: Song of Chyabrung’ Set for Release on October 23

The film ‘Jaari 2: Song of Chyabrung’ is scheduled to release on October 23, coinciding with Bhaitika, according to the production unit, which also unveiled two posters along with the new release date. Originally, the film was planned for release on September 19, on the occasion of Constitution Day. However, due to the Gen Z movement, the release was postponed to October. Director Upendra Subba stated that promotional activities were hindered by the movement, necessitating the delay.

Golchha-Prisma Co-Production ‘Paran’ in Post-Production

The film ‘Paran’, a joint production of the prestigious Golchha Group led by Shekhar Golchha and Prisma Group, is currently in post-production. Directed by actor Deepak Prasad Acharya (‘Kaku’), the film features Nir Shah, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Keki Adhikari, Praveen Khatiwada, Buddhi Tamang, Anjana Baraily, Mahesh Tripathi, among others. Initially, the film announced a release date of October 31, but it is currently uncertain.

‘Haribahadurko Jutta’ to Release in 80 US Theaters from Phulpati

The film ‘Haribahadurko Jutta’, set to release from September 29 (Phulpati), will premiere simultaneously in 80 theaters across the United States. Actress Ahana Paudel is handling the film’s US distribution through her company, Chalchitra Entertainment LLC. Paudel confirmed that the film will follow the Nepali calendar date in the US. The release will cover cities and states including Texas, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Georgia, Missouri, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and Utah.

Comedy Reality Show ‘Comedy Night with Champion’ Returns

The comedy reality show ‘Comedy Night with Champion’, directed by Bishal Bhandari and previously halted due to the Gen Z movement, resumed broadcasting from Tuesday. Before the show aired, Director Bhandari shared a post on social media confirming the return. Tuesday’s episode featured guests from the film ‘Abhimanyu’, including Kameshwar Chaurasiya, Gaumaya Gurung, Laxmi Bardewa, Sarita Giri, and producer Binod Paudel. The show also included performances by Bharatmani Paudel, Suman Karki, Suman Koirala, Sajan Shrestha, Prabhat Lama, and others.

AFC Fines ANFA $10,000 Over Futsal Asian Cup Withdrawal

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has imposed a fine of 10,000 US dollars on the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The fine was levied by the AFC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee after ANFA withdrew from the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers. At a meeting held on August 21, the AFC decided to fine ANFA $10,000. The association has been instructed to pay the fine by September 20. Along with the penalty, ANFA has also been barred from participating in the next edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers.

Nepal Sends Preliminary Athlete List for 20th Asian Games

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Nepal has stated that it has not received a response from the National Sports Council (RSC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports regarding the number of athletes for next year’s 20th Asian Games in Japan. Despite this, the NOC has sent the first long list of athletes to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) based on the numbers proposed by the sports federations to ensure Nepalese participation in the Games, according to an official statement. Normally, the state determines the number of athletes and sports for participation.

Ian Bishop to Commentate in Unity Cup Between Nepal and West Indies

Former West Indies cricketer and popular commentator Ian Bishop is set to provide commentary for the Unity Cup between Nepal and West Indies. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced via a video message on Wednesday that Bishop will handle commentary for the T20I series scheduled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 27 to 29. In his message, Bishop expressed excitement about commentating in the series. He said, “I am extremely excited to be part of the broadcasting team. I expect this series to be very thrilling.”

Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Intensifies Ground Invasion

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza Strip since dawn as Israel continues its full-scale ground invasion of Gaza City, the region’s largest urban center, despite mounting international criticism. Among the dead are a child and his mother, who were killed in an airstrike targeting a residential apartment in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. Witnesses report a dramatic escalation in attacks on Gaza City, with continuous explosions destroying dozens of homes.

Trump’s Birthday Call to Modi Amid US-India Trade Talks

US President Donald Trump has called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him happy birthday after weeks of tension over trade tariffs. The phone call on Wednesday, a day before Modi turns 75, is seen as a sign of thawing ties and followed talks between the two sides on reaching a trade agreement, which both sides called “positive”. Trump posted later on X saying Modi was doing a “tremendous job” and thanked him for support on “ending the Russia-Ukraine war”.

Trump Hails ‘Very Good’ Relationship as He Begins UK State Visit

US President Donald Trump is in the UK for his historic second state visit, which will involve a crowded mix of royal pageantry, trade talks and international politics. He will meet King Charles at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, having touched down late on Tuesday and spent the night at the US ambassador’s London residence. The president sent positive signals ahead of his journey to the UK aboard Air Force One, calling the visit an “honor” and describing his “very good” relationship with the UK.