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.

Bidya Bhandari Rejects Party Membership Scrapping, Emphasizes Commitment to UML Ideals: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) amid controversy over the non-renewal of her party membership. Addressing a press conference on Friday following statements from the party and decisions by the central committee, Bhandari clarified that she has been a party member for 45 years, including eight years during her presidency.  She emphasized that there is no valid reason to suspend her membership.

No-Confidence Motion Registered Against Bagmati CM Bahadur Singh Lama: The Nepali Congress parliamentary party in Bagmati Province has registered a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama, aiming to remove him from both the post of CM and party’s parliamentary leader. The motion, signed by 21 out of 24 Congress provincial lawmakers—including four incumbent ministers—was formally submitted to the party’s parliamentary secretariat on Friday. The motion comes amid deepening internal conflict within the party, particularly over the fiscal year 2025/26 budget introduced by the Lama-led government.

Four Ministers Resign from Bagmati Province Government: Four ministers from the Nepali Congress have resigned from the Bagmati Province government, signaling deepening internal rifts within the ruling party’s provincial leadership. The ministers who resigned are Suraj Chandra Lamichhane (Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, also the government spokesperson), Bimal Thakuri (Minister for Culture and Tourism), Madhu Kumar Shrestha (Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation), and Min Krishna Maharjan (Minister for Youth and Sports). The ministers reportedly sent their resignation letters to Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama via WhatsApp.

PM Oli Inspects Drought-Hit Areas in Madhes, Inaugurates Bridge in Mahottari: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today inspected the drought-affected areas of the Tarai-Madhes region. During his visit, PM Oli also inaugurated the newly constructed Bighi River bridge in Ward No. 8 of Matihani Municipality in Mahottari district. Earlier, the Cabinet meeting of the Government of Nepal held on July 23 had declared the entire Madhes Province a disaster crisis zone for a period of three months. The decision was made after insufficient rainfall during the monsoon season severely disrupted paddy plantation, leading to widespread concern among farmers.

 Visit Visa Scandal Sparks Heated Exchange Between RSP and Nepali Congress: The ongoing controversy over visit visas continued to stir tensions in House of Representatives on Friday, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) demanding a high-level probe, while the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) defended past practices. RSP lawmaker Binita Kathayat accused major parties of trying to scrap the “cooling-off” period to appoint their loyalists to constitutional bodies, and criticized the government for forming a “token” committee to investigate the visit visa scandal. In response, NC Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire indirectly targeted RSP President Rabi Lamichhane.

Special Court Urges Govt to Place Nepal Airlines Under High Surveillance: The Special Court has drawn the government’s attention to place Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) under strict monitoring, following its verdict in the wide-body aircraft procurement corruption case. The court directed the government to ensure NAC is equipped with adequate resources and staffed with honest and capable personnel to avoid future mismanagement. The bench comprising Chairperson Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Tej Narayan Singh Raya and Ritendra Thapa concluded that certain individuals caused significant harm to NAC, undermining the reputation of Nepal’s national flag carrier.

NC Leaders Term UML’s Civil Service Bill Amendment Proposal ‘Objectionable’: Amid rising internal rifts and policy disputes, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting of party office-bearers at his Budhanilkantha residence on Friday. Ministers from the coalition government were also present. The meeting reviewed party leadership, ministerial performance, and growing dissatisfaction within the party—particularly over the Land Reform Bill and a proposal to scrap the ‘cooling period’ in the Civil Service Bill. The amendment, pushed by five CPN-UML lawmakers in the National Assembly after the bill had passed the lower house, has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders.

Five Nepalis Released from Iranian Jail Brought Back Home by Government: The government has brought back five Nepali citizens who were recently released from prison in Iran. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the five Nepalis were brought to Kathmandu on Thursday after an Iranian court ordered their release. They were repatriated with the assistance of Nepal’s Honorary Consul in Tehran and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the ministry stated. However, the ministry has not disclosed the identities of the released individuals. Earlier, during the conflict between Israel and Iran, a total of nine Nepalis were rescued and repatriated in three separate phases, the ministry added.

Resham Chaudhary Urges Ranjita to Clarify Bribery Allegations in Party Meeting: Nagarik Unmukti Party patron Resham Chaudhary has asked party chairperson Ranjita Chaudhary to attend the central committee meeting and respond to allegations linking her to a land grab case in Kaski.  The CIAA is reportedly investigating her ties to a broker group. In a video message, Resham said Ranjita cannot avoid responsibility and must give a clear explanation to the party.  He criticized her for calling the meeting “illegitimate” and reminded her of her duty as chairperson to treat all members like family.

Committee’s Term Extended by Seven Days to Investigate Tampering in Civil Service Bill: The deadline for the parliamentary special committee formed to investigate errors in the Federal Civil Service Bill report has been extended by seven days. On Friday, Speaker Devaraj Ghimire proposed the extension during the House of Representatives session, and the proposal was unanimously approved. The seven-member committee was originally formed on July 7 to study and probe the irregularities related to the “cooling-off period” mentioned in the bill.

19 Injured in Dailekh Jeep Accident: Nineteen people were injured when a jeep en route from Surkhet to Jumla met with an accident in Dailekh district on Thursday, according to the District Police Office. The vehicle, bearing registration number Karnali Province 02-001 Ja 0046, crashed near Tallo Dungeshwar in Dullu Municipality-1, police said. Dailekh Police Chief Ganesh Bahadur Baral informed that out of the 19 passengers onboard, 12 sustained minor injuries while five were seriously injured and have been referred to Surkhet for further treatment.

NEPSE Surges by 112 Points, Weekly Turnover Nears Rs 100 Billion: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) continued its upward momentum this week, with the benchmark index climbing by a total of 112 points over the five trading days from Shrawan 4 to 8 (July 20–24, 2025). This positive trend followed the unveiling of the new monetary policy by Nepal Rastra Bank for the current fiscal year, which appears to have boosted investor confidence across the board. By the close of trading on Thursday, NEPSE had reached 2,982.64 points, a notable rise from 2,870.63 points the previous week.

NRB Calls Tender to Print Rs 21 Billion Worth of New Banknotes: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued an international tender to print new banknotes worth Rs 21 billion. The central bank aims to print 420 million pieces of Rs 50 denomination notes. According to a notice published by the NRB’s Currency Management Department, the tender invites pre-qualified security printers to participate in the process. The contract includes the design, printing, supply, and delivery of the banknotes under an international competitive bidding system.

Government Plans to Amend Citizen Investment Trust Act: The government is preparing to amend the Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) Act, 2047, in line with the policy provisions announced in the budget for fiscal year 2082/83. According to the Ministry of Finance, the amendment aims to resolve operational challenges faced by the Trust and to implement policy reforms. A draft of the amendment has been prepared and made public for suggestions. The draft includes provisions to expand the scope of investments and increase the capital base of the Trust.

Government Plans to Channel Employees’ Savings into Priority Sectors: The government is preparing a legal framework to allow the use of savings from civil servants and employees of organized institutions for loans in national priority sectors. The Ministry of Finance has drafted bills to amend the Employees Provident Fund Act and the Citizens Investment Trust Act. The proposed provisions will allow investments in projects related to energy, transport, tourism, IT, agriculture, health, and education.

60 Percent of Infrastructure Expansion at TIA Completed in 5 Years: The infrastructure expansion inside Tribhuvan International Airport, started five years ago with the aim of serving 10 million passengers annually, has reached about 60 percent completion. Engineer Dipendra Shrestha, Project Director of the Air Traffic Capacity Enhancement Project under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, stated that the physical progress of three different ongoing projects inside the airport is around 60 percent.

Short Film ‘Nishabda’ Portrays the Struggles of a Childless Couple: A short film titled ‘Nishabda’ has been made focusing on the struggles faced by a childless couple and the psychological pressure imposed by society. The film, produced under the banner of Celebrity Times, is directed by Ramji Gyawali. The cast includes Ojashwi Bikram Bista, Mishel Ghimire, and Dibas Nath. Ramji Gyawali is also the writer and producer of the film.

Band ‘Nepathya’ to Embark on European Concert Tour: Popular Nepali band Nepathya is set to go on a musical tour across Europe next month. The band will perform concerts in the UK, Denmark, Malta, Portugal, and Belgium. The tour will begin with a concert on August 9 at Wembley in London. On Saturday, August 23, the band will perform at the ‘Pulen Hall’ in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.

Saugat Malla Joins Cast of New Film ‘Mitjyu’ Directed by Anil Budha Magar: Actor Saugat Malla has been signed for the lead role in the upcoming film ‘Mitjyu’, to be directed by Anil Budha Magar. The production team confirmed Malla’s involvement in the project. Earlier, Dayahang Rai, Teriya Magar, and Smita Lamichhane had already been cast for the film. With the reunion of Dayahang and Saugat—both popular actors—the production team believes the film will generate increased excitement among audiences. Director Magar mentioned that the process of finalizing other cast members is ongoing.

Deepak Rauniyar’s Film ‘Pooja, Sir’ Premieres in 62 Cinemas Across France: ‘Pooja, Sir (Rajaganj)’, directed by Deepak Rauniyar, has been released simultaneously in 62 theaters across France. According to the production company, this marks the first time a Nepali film has been screened in such a large number of theaters in France, a country known as a hub for international cinema. The film stars Asha Magrati, Nikita Chandak, Dayahang Rai, Bijay Baral, Aarti Mandal, Ghanshyam Mishra, Richa Sharma, and Gaumaya Gurung. It is a joint production of Aadi Films, Bansuri Films, and Tannhauser of Norway.

Tribhuvan Army Club Secures Comeback Win in ANFA U-16 Youth League: Tribhuvan Army Club staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Satdobato Youth Club 3–1 in the ANFA U-16 Youth League at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Friday. Satdobato took an early lead through Mukson Rai in the 9th minute, but Army fought back with goals from Neeraj Adhikari, Yujal Bhandari, and Sohit Waiba. With this victory, Army has accumulated 6 points from 8 matches and climbed to 11th place on the table, while Satdobato remains without any points.

Help Nepal Sports Club Returns Home with Bronze from CAVA Champions League: Help Nepal Sports Club has returned home after winning the bronze medal at the CAVA Champions League. On Wednesday, in the third-place playoff held at the Solis Center in Malé, Maldives, Help Nepal defeated Sri Lanka Port Authority by 3–1 sets to secure third place. The team was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport by officials including Jitendra Bahadur Chand, President of the Nepal Volleyball Association. Earlier, in the final group stage match held on Tuesday, Help Nepal had also defeated Sri Lanka Port Authority in straight sets (3–0).

Nepal Plans Cricket Series with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka: Buoyed by recent success, Nepal’s national cricket team is drawing interest from top cricketing nations. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is planning bilateral series with countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka next year, according to CAN Secretary Paras Khadka. Nepal will play a T20I series against West Indies on September 27, 28, and 30 in Sharjah. CAN also aims to host night matches in the upcoming Nepal Premier League if floodlights are ready.

Four Nepali Swimmers to Compete in World Aquatics Championship in Singapore: Four swimmers from Nepal are set to participate in the World Aquatics Championship being held in Singapore. A six-member Nepali team, including the four athletes, will depart for Singapore on Friday night to take part in the competition. Nepal will be represented by two male and two female swimmers, with each athlete competing in two events. In the men’s category, Irvin Shrestha will participate in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events.

Macron Says France Will Recognize Palestinian State in September: France will recognise Palestine as a state, President Emmanuel Macron has said. Macron said in a post on X on Thursday that he will formalise the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote. “I will solemnly announce this at the United Nations General Assembly in September this year,” he added. The move makes France the largest and arguably most influential country in Europe to move to recognize a Palestinian state.

Death Toll Rises to 25 in Philippine Flood: Rescuers in the northern Philippines used boats to pick up residents stranded by flooding Friday as Typhoon Co-May was downgraded to a tropical storm and the death toll from a week of monsoon rains edged higher. Schools remained closed and electricity was down in swathes of the archipelago nation’s largest island as the national disaster agency reported 25 dead and eight missing since last Friday. But those numbers did not account for three construction workers buried in a landslide as they rested Thursday in Cavite province, south of the capital Manila, according to rescuers.

Border Clashes Could Lead to ‘War’ – Acting Thai PM: Thailand and Cambodia continued to exchange heavy artillery and rocket fire on Friday, as their worst cross-border fighting in more than a decade entered a second day. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned the fighting with Cambodia “could develop into war”, but added, “for now it remains limited to clashes.” At least 15 people have been killed in Thailand, 14 of them civilians, according to the country’s Health Ministry, and one person has been reported killed in Cambodia.

UK and India Sign Free Trade Agreement During Modi Visit: The United Kingdom and India have signed a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky, cars and spices and allow more market access for businesses. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the agreement on Thursday as a “landmark moment” for both countries. Starmer hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Chequers country estate, northwest of London, where the UK and Indian trade ministers, Jonathan Reynolds and Piyush Goyal, formally signed the agreement. Starmer and Modi announced in May that they had struck a free trade agreement after three years of stop-start negotiations.