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.

President Paudel Promulgates Ordinance to Amend Voter Roll Act, 2017
President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance to amend the Voter Roll Act, 2017. According to the President’s Secretariat, the ordinance was issued under Article 114(1) of the Constitution, based on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The ordinance comes in the context of the election announced for March 5, 2026 following the Gen Z protests, aligning the voter registration framework with the upcoming electoral process.

Nepali Congress Withdraws Support from Madhesh Province Government

Nepali Congress has decided to withdraw its support from the Madhesh Province government. In a parliamentary party meeting held Wednesday at the party’s provincial office, Congress decided to recall its ministers and retract support previously extended to the government. The decision was prompted by recent developments, including the fact that the Janmat Party had taken the opposition benches in yesterday’s session. With Congress now retracting its backing, Chief Minister Singh-led Janmat Party government is left in a minority.

PM Karki Meets President Paudel at Sheetal Niwas

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki visited President Ram Chandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday. According to the President’s Secretariat, the two held discussions during their meeting. The talks focused on contemporary political issues as well as preparations and security arrangements for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Baburam Bhattarai Resigns as Chairman of Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti)

Baburam Bhattarai, chairman of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), has stepped down from his position. He submitted his resignation during a central committee meeting held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The meeting also decided to dissolve the central committee and proceed with a special general convention. Additionally, an organizing committee has been formed for the convention. According to a central committee member present at the meeting, senior vice-chair Durga Sob is expected to be appointed as the coordinator of the organizing committee.

Minister Ghising Discuss Energy Cooperation with Chinese Ambassador

On Wednesday, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising held a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song. The meeting, held at the Ministry in Singha Durbar, saw Ambassador Chen congratulate the newly appointed Minister Ghising. Discussions focused on Nepal–China road and electricity transmission connectivity, progress of road and power projects contracted to Chinese construction firms, cooperation in the energy sector, implementation status of projects funded with Chinese assistance, and potential Chinese investments in Nepal.

Maoist Centre to Dissolve Central Committee

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to dissolve its Central Committee and form a Special Convention Organizing Committee under the coordination of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. At a meeting of the Standing Committee held on Wednesday at the party office in Parisdanda, the committee decided to propose to the Central Committee the dissolution of the existing body based on unity and necessity. Chairman Prachanda will coordinate the newly formed organizing committee.

Deuba Faction Issues Joint Statement Against Special Convention

Leaders close to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba have issued a joint statement, opposing the demand for a special party convention. The statement emphasizes the need for internal unity within the party, particularly in light of recent attacks targeting President Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba. The leaders noted that calls for a special convention at this time, especially driven by the Shekhar–Gagan faction seeking leadership change, are inappropriate.

‘Expose Jhole’ Trend Goes Viral on TikTok

A new trend called ‘Expose Jhole’ (Calling out blind party loyalists) has started circulating on TikTok, targeting those who unquestioningly defend their leaders. Users are posting photos of individuals affiliated with political parties, particularly older leaders, as part of this trend. Earlier, on September 8 and 9, TikTok users had popularized the ‘Nepobaby Trend’. Despite these events, young citizens remain dissatisfied, claiming that many leaders continue to follow old practices without change. As a result, they have started the ‘Expose Jhole’ trend.

Human Rights Groups Call for General Elections to Ensure Political Stability

Ten human rights organizations, including the Accountability Monitoring Committee, have emphasized that general elections are essential to ensure political stability in the aftermath of the Gen Z Movement. On Wednesday, the organizations—Accountability Monitoring Committee, Amnesty International Nepal, Advocacy Forum–Nepal, JURY–Nepal, Digital Rights Nepal, Journalists’ Groups, Equity Society Nepal, Nepal Human Rights Organization, Legal Aid and Consultancy Center (LACC), and Nepal Voters’ Rights Forum—jointly issued a statement outlining ten key recommendations. They highlighted that general elections are the primary means to unite the people and restore hope and confidence

Government Moves to Curb Unnecessary Spending and Foreign Travel

The interim government has introduced a set of strict measures aimed at reducing unproductive expenditures, limiting unnecessary foreign trips, and promoting fiscal discipline across federal, provincial, and local agencies. In a cabinet meeting held on September 21, the government decided to halt non-essential foreign visits and impose limits on official delegations. Delegations led by the Head of State or Head of Government for international conferences are now capped at 10 members, while other government-funded delegations are limited to 3 members.

NEPSE Drops by 27.89 Points; Majority of Shares Decline

On Wednesday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell by 27.89 points. The total turnover for the day reached Rs 4.12 billion with the index closing at 2,654.35 points. Out of the traded companies, 193 saw a decline in their share prices, while 53 companies experienced gains. The share prices of five companies remained unchanged.

Finance Ministry Forms Reconstruction Committee for Gen Z Protest Damages
The Ministry of Finance has formed the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Committee 2025 to rebuild government structures damaged during the Gen Z protests of September 8–9. The committee, chaired by the finance minister, will also establish a dedicated fund to mobilize resources. It includes the finance, home, and urban development ministers, along with the government’s chief secretary as members, and the secretary of the Urban Development Ministry as member-secretary.

NRB Absorbs Rs 40 Billion Liquidity Through Deposit Collection Tool

Nepal Rastra Bank announced on Wednesday that it withdrew Rs 40 billion from the financial system for four days to manage excess liquidity. The central bank had called for online bidding from banks and financial institutions until 3 p.m. today. Despite repeated interventions, the volume of loanable funds in banks continues to rise.

Imports Surge 16.23% in First Two Months of FY 2025/26

Nepal imported goods worth Rs 305.15 billion during the first two months (mid-July to mid-September) of the current fiscal year 2025/26, a 16.23 percent rise compared to the same period last year, when imports totaled Rs 262.54 billion. According to Customs Department data published Tuesday, imports have increased for both essential and domestically producible goods, while festive demand has pushed up imports of clothing and other consumer products.

Government Bans Use of Outsourced Consultants for Routine Policy Work

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has decided that ministries and agencies may no longer hire local or foreign consultants through intermediaries for tasks that can be handled by existing staff. The decision applies to drafting bills, regulations, directives, guidelines, and procedures. Consultancy expenses for research will only be allowed if the work cannot be carried out by current staff and is certified by the responsible accounts officer.

First Look of Film ‘Chirag’ Released Ahead of December 20 Premiere

The first look of the upcoming film ‘Chirag’ has been unveiled, with the production team announcing a release date of December 20. The poster features lead actor Tyagmurti in the role of a transgender character. Tyagmurti not only stars in the film but also wrote and directed it. The tagline reads, “The lamp of hope never extinguishes.” The film also features performances by Sushil Pokharel, Pragya Joshi, Shubhas Gajurel, Damodar Bhandari, Sher Bahadur DC, Sankala Gautam, Naresh Prasad Bhatt, Manoj Acharya, Madhav Khanal, Minakshi Khanal, and child actor Sagar Kharel.

First Look Poster of ‘Man Binako Dhan’ Released, Starring Ashok Darji
The first-look poster of the film ‘Man Binako Dhan,’ directed and produced by Tanka Budhathoki, has been released. The poster features the lead actor Ashok Darji in a school uniform, with the tagline “From Zero to Hero.” ‘Man Binako Dhan’ is scheduled for release on November 7. Alongside Ashok, the film stars Saroj Khanal, Santosh Panta, Rama Thapaliya, Neeta Dhungana, Bhola Sapkota, Buddhi Tamang, Ramesh Bishwakarma, Ravindra Jha, Parbati Adhikari, Utsav Sapkota, AR Budhathoki, Shankar Shrestha, Samragyee Thapa and Bina Raut.

‘Ghazal Unkai Gati Unkai’ Released Featuring Three Generations of Gulam Ali Khan

The Nepali ghazal song ‘Ghazal Unkai Gati Unkai’ has been released, featuring the voices of world-renowned ghazal maestro Gulam Ali Khan, his son Aamir Gulam Ali Khan, and grandson Nazir Aamir Gulam Ali Khan. The song was unveiled along with its music video during a program at Big Movies, Kamalpokhari, on Tuesday evening. The lyrics were penned by Manoj Khadka, music composed by Milan Moktan, and arrangement by Kiran Kharel. The video features international Nepali models Deepak Ghimire and Barsha Kunwar, winner of Mrs. Beauty Queen Nepal 2025.

Actor Kedar Ghimire Clarifies Controversial Video

Actor Kedar Ghimire, popularly known as ‘Magne Budha,’ addressed fans regarding a video in which it appeared he was attacked. In a Facebook live session Wednesday afternoon, he explained that the video was part of pre-planned promotional interviews for his upcoming film ‘Maitighar’ and involved staged interactions on some YouTube channels. He stated, “Many well-wishers have asked about the video. I want to clarify that it was staged as per the plan. The person involved was supposed to scare me a little, but unexpectedly used physical gestures, which were not planned.”

Volleyball Coach Jagdish Bhatta Resigns Amid Player Selection Controversy

Volleyball coach Jagdish Bhatta has announced his decision to step down following recent controversies over player selection. Bhatta stated via social media that he will no longer be involved in any volleyball-related activities, selections, or events outside of the National Sports Council (RSC) programs, and only while holding his official position. Bhatta, currently serving as the chief volleyball coach at RSC, has been involved in volleyball for three decades.

Central Super Girls Start Malaysian Super Women’s Series with Victory

The Central Super Girls, featuring Nepali national team all-rounder Sita Ranamagar, made a winning start in the Malaysian Super Women’s Series. In Wednesday’s opening match, Sita’s captaincy led the team to a 24-run victory over the Western Wanders Women, which included Nepali captain Indu Barma. Chasing a target of 67 runs, Western Wanders were bowled out for just 42 in 12.5 overs, with only Aina Nawaz scoring in double digits.

Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill Over 50, UN Warns of Civilian Terror

Israeli bombardment has killed more than 50 people in Gaza, with the United Nations condemning the attacks, saying the military is “inflicting terror on the Palestinian population of Gaza City and forcing tens of thousands to flee.” The Global Sumud Flotilla reported explosions and communications jamming as drones hovered over the area, following Israel’s pledge to “take the necessary measures” to prevent the flotilla from breaching the sea blockade of Gaza.

Typhoon Ragasa Kills 17, Over 120 Missing in Taiwan

At least 17 people have been killed and more than 120 remain missing in Taiwan after Super Typhoon Ragasa caused a lake to overflow its banks, unleashing floods and landslides. Likewise, Hong Kong authorities raised their highest typhoon warning as the city ground to a halt. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, while schools, offices, and businesses remained shut. Ahead of Ragasa’s landfall, Chinese officials evacuated around 370,000 residents from Guangdong province, bracing for the strongest storm of the year.

Trump Urges Immediate End to Gaza War in UN Address

United States President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday that the war in Gaza “must stop immediately.” Speaking to world leaders in New York, Trump said he has been “deeply engaged” in efforts to secure a ceasefire. Trump reiterated demands for the release of captives held in Gaza, stressing that negotiations must prioritize peace and the safe return of the hostages.