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.

PM Oli Says He Raised Lipulekh Land Issue with China Over Indo-China Trade Deal

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that he clearly discussed with China the trade agreement that India and China were attempting to pursue using Nepal’s Lipulekh territory. He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of his party’s Statute Convention, which began on Friday. “This time, during formal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, I clearly stated that the agreement between India and China, which proposes trade exchanges using our land at Lipulekh, is unacceptable. This has been recorded—there is audio, video, notes, and minutes of the discussion,” Prime Minister Oli said.

Discussion on Bidya Devi Bhandari’s Membership Renewal Not Relevant: Oli

CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has said that some unnecessary matters have surfaced, but they are unrelated to the ongoing Statute Convention. Referring indirectly to the issue of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s membership renewal, Oli stated that such matters will be resolved by the party’s Central Committee and Secretariat. In a veiled manner, he asked delegates attending the Statute Convention not to discuss the matter concerning former President Bhandari. Speaking in Godavari, Lalitpur, where the convention is being held, Oli argued that issues related to the former president are not matters for current discussion.

Nepal Bans Social Media Platforms— but Prime Minister Oli’s Team Keep Posting

The government on Thursday announced a decision to shut down all unregistered social media platforms in Nepal. However, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Secretariat and the ruling UML’s cyber networks have continued to actively use these very platforms. Information dissemination is ongoing through the Secretariat’s official Facebook page and their operating Balkot page as well as its WhatsApp groups. Just hours ago, the Facebook page named “PM Secretariat & Balkot” posted photos and updates related to the ongoing second statute convention of the UML party.

Prachanda Criticizes Government’s Decision to Ban Social Media

Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda,” chairman of the CPN-Maoist Centre, has criticized the government’s decision to block social media, alleging that it is aimed at suppressing criticism. On Facebook, reportedly blocked by the government, former Prime Minister Prachanda wrote, “The current government has continuously sought to suppress criticism against it through social media, protect its own interests, and control freedom of expression. In this context, the government has taken a decision to block social media, blatantly violating the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Chinese PLA Arrives In Kathmandu For Joint Military Exercise

A contingent of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has landed in Kathmandu to participate in a joint military exercise with the Nepal Army. The team of 37 Chinese soldiers arrived on Friday via Himalayan Airlines flight from Lhasa. The fifth edition of the Nepal–China joint exercise, named “Sagarmatha Friendship,” begins Saturday and will continue for ten days. The drills will focus on counter-terrorism operations, combat training, and disaster management. Last year, the fourth edition of the exercise took place in Chongqing, near Chengdu in China’s Sichuan Province. The series began in 2017, with the first round held in Kathmandu, followed by Chengdu in 2018 and Nepal in 2019. The program was suspended for several years during the Covid-19 pandemic before resuming in China last year.

Citizens to Receive Treatment for Major Diseases from October 18

From October 18, citizens enrolled in health insurance will be able to receive treatment for eight major diseases, as well as integrated facilities for disadvantaged citizens. The Ministry of Health is set to implement this arrangement from October following its decision to integrate social health security programs. To operationalize the integrated facilities, the ministry recently approved the “Disadvantaged Citizens’ Medicine Treatment Program Operational Guidelines 2025 (First Amendment).”

Writ Filed Against Government’s Decision to Block Social Media

A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the government’s decision to block various social media platforms. Senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi filed the petition on Friday. Speaking to media, Tripathi said, “I have submitted the writ petition, which is currently under the registration process.” According to the petitioner, the government’s decision has violated the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Tripathi specifically noted that the government’s move to block social media platforms not registered in Nepal is the subject of the petition.

NC to Change Candidate Selection Process for Rupandehi-3 By-Election

For the upcoming by-election in Rupandehi-3 on November 3, the Nepali Congress will not seek recommendations from its lower-level party units to select a candidate. Previously, the party had followed a system in which open recommendations were requested from the lower tier and the higher committee would then select a candidate based on those suggestions. This time, the party plans to change that approach. General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwprakash Sharma are preparing to select a candidate without requesting recommendations from the lower levels.

Rapid Response Team Deployed to Address Health Crisis at Jhumka Prison

BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) has deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to address a health crisis at Jhumka Prison in Sunsari. The move comes after hundreds of inmates reported fever, body aches, nasal congestion, and breathing difficulties. Preliminary investigations suggest a possible viral infection. According to the institute, on the evening of September 3, they were informed about the outbreak. Immediately, under the leadership of the hospital director, a nine-member RRT was formed comprising doctors, nurses, and laboratory technicians from Medicine, Emergency Medicine/General Practice, Anesthesiology, and other departments.

‘Rimai’ Releases as Solo Friday Release After ‘Chitthi’ Postponement

The film ‘Rimai’ hit theaters from today (Friday) as part of the Friday release schedule. Initially, two Nepali films, ‘Rimai’ and ‘Chitthi,’ were set to release together. However, after ‘Chitthi’ postponed its release at the last moment, ‘Rimai’ secured a solo release opportunity. ‘Chitthi’s production house, Era Production Pvt. Ltd., announced the postponement on Thursday through a statement, alleging that cinema halls had discriminated against the film by allocating fewer shows.

‘Maijharo’ Set to Release on October 23, New Posters Out

The upcoming film ‘Maijharo’ has been officially slated for release on October 23. The production team announced the release date on Thursday while unveiling two new posters showcasing different looks of the film. In the first poster, lead actors Dhiraj Magar, Miruna Magar, and Diya Pun appear. Dhiraj and Miruna are dressed in Rai community attire holding traditional drums, while Diya Pun is seen in a Limbu dhaka sari. The imagery suggests that the film centers on a triangular love story. The second poster shows Dhiraj and Miruna in a romantic pose, sitting on a bench. Dhiraj is holding an axe while Miruna, dressed in kurta-suruwal, gazes at him—visually highlighting their love connection.

Durgesh Thapa Arrives in London for First-Ever UK Musical Tour

Popular Nepali singer Durgesh Thapa has arrived in London for his first-ever international musical tour. Durgesh landed at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday night, where he was warmly welcomed by fans, local organizers, and Lime & Lemon director Sagar Paudel.  According to the official schedule, the tour kicks off on September 6 in Preston, followed by shows on September 8 in Birmingham, September 12 at Scala London King’s Cross, September 13 at Empire Aldershot, September 15 in Scotland, and September 16 in Leicester.

‘Chhakka Panja 3’ Becomes Most-Watched Nepali Film on YouTube

‘Chhakka Panja 3’ has set a record as the most-watched Nepali film on YouTube. Released four years ago on the YouTube channel of Highlights Nepal, the film has been viewed 37 million times as of Friday. Directed by Deepa Shree Niraula, the film stars Deepak Raj Giri, Deepika Prasai, Priyanka Karki, Kedar Prasad Ghimire, Jeetu Nepal, and Nir Shah. In second place is Anmol KC’s film ‘Captain,’ which has garnered 36.3 million views on YouTube.

10 Clubs Raise Concerns Over Rising Controversies in ANFA U-16 Youth League

Ten clubs have drawn the attention of the All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA) regarding increasing unpleasant incidents and disputes during matches in the ANFA U-16 Youth League football competition. Although the tournament was agreed to be conducted as an elite-level program for youth football development, the clubs claim that the conduct of referees and match officials has been contrary to the spirit of the game. They argue that this behavior has negatively affected the prestige and significance of the competition. Clubs participating in the tournament—including Friends, Himalayan Sherpa, Manang Marsyangdi, Satdobato Youth, Jawalakhel Youth, Machhindra, Church Boys, NRT, and Tokha Bhagwati—have stated that they continue to engage in the competition while maintaining a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation.

Nepal National Football Team to Face Bangladesh in Two Home Friendlies

The Nepali national football team is set to play two friendly matches against Bangladesh on home soil. According to coach Matt Ross, these are not just ordinary friendlies. They present a golden opportunity for the home side to test their preparation and capabilities. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, Ross praised the Bangladeshi team’s abilities and said, “Our preparations have been strong. Playing in front of home fans will bring excellent competition, and we are confident of victory.”  Team captain Kiran Chemjong also provided a positive assessment of the squad’s readiness ahead of the friendlies.

Sudurpaschim Royals Sign Australian Power-Hitter Chris Lynn for NPL 2

Sudurpaschim Royals have officially confirmed Australian opener Chris Lynn as their first foreign recruit for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The announcement on Thursday follows a day of speculation fueled by hints from the franchise, which suggested Lynn’s arrival was imminent. Lynn, who has represented Australia in 18 T20 internationals scoring 291 runs, boasts an impressive record across all T20 formats—293 matches with 8,355 runs, including five centuries. A renowned figure in global franchise cricket, Lynn has showcased his power-hitting skills in top leagues.

Rohit Chand Bids Farewell to Indonesian Club Persik Kediri

Nepal national team’s defensive midfielder Rohit Chand has parted ways with Indonesian club Persik Kediri. The club officially confirmed his departure. Having played in Indonesia for a long time, Chand has now concluded his journey with Persik. In an official statement, the club expressed gratitude for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors. At 32, Chand is regarded as one of the most celebrated players in Nepal’s football history.

Third Quake Strikes Afghanistan as Deaths Rise

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s remote south-eastern region on Thursday night, the third quake in six days, as the death toll from the first continued to rise. The shallow quake hit at 20:56 local time (15:36 GMT) and sent people in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces scampering out of shelters in fear. There was no immediate official report of casualties from Thursday night’s earthquake, but medics on the ground told the BBC that 17 wounded people were brought to Kunar Provincial Hospital. Sunday’s quake has killed 1,368 people and wounded 2,180 others.

Israeli Forces Kill 20 People as Attacks Flatten Swaths of Gaza City

The Israeli military launches intensified attacks across Gaza, killing at least 20 people on Friday, including seven children, in attacks on Gaza City alone. Israel’s army claimed it now controls 40 percent of Gaza City and has expanded its assault on residential homes and displacement camps, with the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) describing the current situation as “unthinkable”. Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 30 percent of Palestinians killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza have been children, amounting to 28 children killed every day since October 2023.

Rubio Says US Will ‘Blow Up’ Foreign Crime Groups If Needed

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US will “blow up” foreign crime groups if needed, possibly in collaboration with other countries. “Now they’re gonna help us find these people and blow them up, if that’s what it takes,” Rubio said during a visit to Ecuador. He also announced the US will designate two of Ecuador’s largest criminal gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations. The comments come days after US forces carried out a strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. The White House says it killed 11 drug-traffickers, though it did not release their identities.