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.

‘Nepal News’ Relaunches Under New Ownership

Nepal’s first online news portal, Nepal News, has officially resumed its journey under new ownership. Announcing the relaunch, Executive Chairman Pramod Raj Sedhain said the move comes at a time when the media industry is facing financial hardships and growing uncertainty, making the revival both bold and risky. Sedhain explained that the decision to relaunch Nepal News was driven by Nepal’s current socio-political and media context. He pointed out that the country is deeply affected by partisanship, polarized politics, corruption, rapid technological change, and a predatory economy.

Vietnamese Vice President Arrives in Nepal on Official Visit

Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, arrived in Nepal on Saturday for a three-day official visit at the cordial invitation of Nepal’s Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav. Upon her arrival at the VIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport, Vice President Xuan was welcomed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey. She will remain in Nepal until August 25. Vice President Xuan is also scheduled to pay separate courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Foreign Minister Rana Holds Courtesy Meeting with Vietnam’s Vice President

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba held a courtesy meeting with Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Vice President Xuan arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday for a three-day official visit to Nepal at the friendly invitation of Nepalese Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav. During the meeting, discussions focused on various dimensions of Nepal–Vietnam relations, bilateral interests, and mutual concerns, according to her secretariat. Minister Rana also congratulated Vietnam on its rapid recent economic development and noted that other countries could learn from Vietnam’s economic growth model.

Nepal Sends Diplomatic Notes to India and China Over Border Trade Agreement

Expressing dissatisfaction with the agreement reached between India and China last Tuesday, Nepal has sent separate diplomatic notes to both countries. According to sources from the Prime Minister’s Office, the government dispatched the notes on Thursday. Earlier, Nepal had sent four diplomatic notes to India regarding border disputes and two on other matters. The latest move comes after Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to India, agreed with Indian authorities to open trade from the Nepali territory of Lipulekh. Expressing its objection to this agreement, the Nepalese government issued the diplomatic notes.

Mother and Sister of Hostage Bipin Joshi Meet PM Oli

Padma Joshi, mother of Bipin Joshi, and his sister Pushpa met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Saturday. They recently returned from Israel and held the meeting to discuss efforts for Bipin’s safe release. During their visit, both had coordinated with the Nepalese embassy to meet the President of Israel and the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament to advocate for Bipin’s release. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Oli posted on Facebook that the government would leave no effort undone in facilitating Vipin Joshi’s safe return.

Discontented RPP Leaders Meet Former Chairpersons, Call for Fair Congress

Dissatisfied leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have drawn the attention of three former chairpersons. They held discussions with founding chair Lokendra Bahadur Chand and former chairs Pashupati Shamsher Rana and Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani. The leaders emphasized the urgent need to set a date for the party’s general convention and to ensure it is conducted in a fair and credible environment. They demanded that all actions by the current leadership that violate party statutes and affect the convention—including expulsions—be revoked.

Janata Samajwadi Party Declares Protest Against Land Bill

The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal has announced a protest against the Land Bill, stating that the legislation is not in the interest of the country or its people. In a statement released on Saturday, JSP declared that it will mobilize from August 25 to 31 against the Land Bill. The statement, issued by General Secretary Lal Babu Raut, mentions that under the campaign “Save Land and Forests, Protect Madhesh from Desertification,” the party will actively resist and oppose the Land Bill.

Maoist Center Vice Chair Sapkota Accuses Government of Authoritarian Tendencies

Vice Chair of the CPN (Maoist Center) Agni Sapkota has accused the government of moving toward authoritarianism. He also alleged that the two major ruling parties are attempting to tighten their grip over all state mechanisms. “This government is leaning toward authoritarian and dictatorial tendencies,” Sapkota said. “The two ruling parties, especially the CPN-UML and its chair, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, are advancing with the intention of bringing all national institutions under their control.”

Students Protest Against India-China Trade Agreement via Lipulekh

A joint student organization staged a protest on Saturday in front of the Indian Embassy in Lainchaur, Kathmandu, against the India-China agreement to conduct cross-border trade through Nepali territory at Lipulekh. Students participating in the demonstration carried banners and placards reading “Go Back India–China” and raised slogans against the agreement. The protesters demanded an immediate halt to what they called India’s and China’s “intrusive conspiracy” through Lipulekh. The organizing student groups stated that any action undermining Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would not be tolerated.

Narayangadh–Muglin Road Reopens After Landslide Clearance

The Narayangadh–Muglin road section, which had been obstructed near Tuin Khola due to a dry landslide, has been reopened. According to the Chitwan District Police Office, the road was blocked from around 6:45 AM this morning and brought back into operation after clearance work by 8:00 AM. The Road Division Office, Bharatpur, confirmed that the landslide debris was cleared, allowing two-way traffic to resume along the vital highway section.

Minister Neupane Says Not All Government Posts Can Be Open

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhagwati Neupane has said that it is not possible to keep all government positions open for recruitment. Speaking at the Legislation Management Committee of the National Assembly on Friday, she clarified her earlier remarks after media reports suggested otherwise. She explained that if all positions were kept open, civil servants would focus more on preparing for the Public Service Commission exams rather than performing their official duties.

Stock Market Falls 31 Points This Week Amid Low Volatility

This week, the stock market, which stood at 2,788 points, fell by 31 points to 2,757. Market volatility remained low throughout the week. For the last four days, fluctuations were limited to single digits. On Sunday, the market dropped by 27.14 points. It rose by 9.16 points on Monday and 6.51 on Tuesday, before falling 9.70 on Wednesday and 9.22 on Thursday. Due to low volatility, trading volume also declined this week.

Life Insurance Coverage Reaches 48 Percent

By the end of fiscal year 2024/25, life insurance coverage reached 48 percent. According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, 15,630,999 life insurance policies were issued by the end of last fiscal year. Previous year, the number was 13,881,492, with coverage at 43.27 percent.

NRB to Invest Rs 2776 Million in Bank Term Deposits

Nepal Rastra Bank will invest Rs 2,776.7 million from various funds into bank term deposits. Banks were invited to submit interest rate proposals by midnight of August 24. Of the total investment, Rs 2,221.4 million will go to commercial banks, Rs 416.5 million to national-level development banks, and Rs 138.8 million to national-level finance companies.

Sharp Decline in Housing and Land Transactions

There has been a sharp decline in housing and land transactions. Transactions at land revenue offices across the country in the month of Shrawan (Nepali calendar) reflect this trend. According to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, 127,206 property-related services were processed in Shrawan of the previous year. In the current fiscal year, this number has dropped to 104,218—a decline of nearly 18.07 percent.

Banks and Financial Institutions See Profit Improvement But Problems Persist

Although banks and financial institutions showed profit improvement in the fiscal year 2024/25, underlying problems remain. Non-banking assets and loan write-offs increased during this period, indicating that issues were not resolved. The average non-performing loan ratio for banks and financial institutions reached 4.62 percent last year, up from 3.86 percent in the previous year.

Film Kaji Announced, Shooting to Begin from Syangja

The film “Kaji,” directed by Laxman Rijal, was officially announced on Friday with a camera and script worship ceremony at Dakshinkali Temple. Shooting for the movie will begin this Sunday in Syangja. The film will feature actors Bipin Karki, Keki Adhikari, Garima Sharma, among others. Produced under the banner of R&R Production, the social love story is being made by Ram Prasad Rijal. For the film, an entire village set has been constructed in Syangja.

New Song “Hey Barai” Released from Film Koshe Dhunga

The song “Hey Barai” from the film Koshe Dhunga has been released. The production team has re-recorded Jhalakman Gandharv’s classic song “Hey Barai” and included it in the movie. This poignant track, now sung by Ashish Abiral, depicts the plight of a son who, stranded abroad, is unable to return home. The song pays tribute to the legendary Nepali folk musician Gandharva, with the re-recorded version woven into the film.

Trailer of Nepali Film “Chitthi” Released on YouTube

The trailer of the film “Chitthi” has been released on YouTube. The movie is produced by Kamala Joshi under the banner of Era Production. A mix of comedy, horror, and suspense, the film is set to release from September 5. Written and directed by Madhavraj Kharel, Chitthi features actors Khadga Bahadur Pun “Khabpu,” Sanjeet Bhandari, Gopal Dhakal “Chhande,” Navaraj Thapa, Pravan Bhusal, Muskan Lama, Kanchan Chalise, Mohan Niraula, Shantipriya, and others.

NOC Seeks Clarification From Members in Ad Hoc Committee

The Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) on Friday issued a press statement announcing that it will seek clarification from its members involved in the recently formed ad hoc committee under the same name. The committee members have been given seven days to submit their explanation. NOC also stated that the concerned international bodies will be formally informed about the matter. Meanwhile, the 31st executive committee meeting of the NOC, led by Jeevan Ram Shrestha, has decided to correspond with the government, requesting facilitation in resolving the dispute.

Nepal Women Football Team Gains Confidence with Hard-Fought Victory Over Bhutan

At Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on Friday evening, Nepal registered an important comeback victory, boosting new confidence within the team. In their second match of the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship, Nepal defeated hosts Bhutan 2–1, signaling recovery after their loss in the opening game. Nepal came under pressure in the early phase of the match. In the 42nd minute, Bhutan’s Kuden Sonam scored a brilliant header, sending the stadium into loud celebration. “After the first half, our girls looked a bit withdrawn,” coach Chet Narayan Shrestha said after the match. “But I reminded them—half the game was still left, and more chances would come.”

Balgopal Sahukhala Set to Become Nepal’s First Pro-Licensed Coach

Balgopal Sahukhala is preparing to become Nepal’s first coach with an AFC Pro License. Starting September 2025, he will join a one-year AFC Pro-Diploma course organized by Football Australia. Sahukhala had earned his AFC ‘A’ License in 2023 through the Qatar Football Association. He is recognized in domestic football as a young coach with modern ideas. Over the years, Sahukhala has contributed in various roles in Nepali football. He previously served as assistant coach of Nepal’s U-20 men’s national team and also led the Nepal U-19 women’s national team as head coach.

Israel Kills Over 70 in Gaza as UN Warns of Famine ‘Survival Crisis’

UNICEF said “a real child survival crisis” exists in Gaza as famine was officially declared, warning that it is “already too late” for many children. Four children were among the victims in a series of Israeli strikes on Gaza in the early hours of this morning, following at least 71 people killed by Israel’s bombardment of the Palestinian enclave on Friday. Two more people starved to death in Gaza over the past 24 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

North Korea Accuses South Korean Troops of Firing Warning Shots Near Border

North Korea has accused South Korean forces of firing warning shots at its soldiers who were part of a border reinforcement project, cautioning Seoul that its actions risked raising tensions to “uncontrollable” levels. In a report published on Saturday, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the North ‘s Korean People’s Army Vice Chief of the General Staff Ko Jong Chol as saying that the South should stop its “premeditated and deliberate” provocation, which he described as “inciting military conflict”.

Trump Reviewing 55 Million Foreigners with US Visas

The Trump administration said Thursday it is reviewing more than 55 million people who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation, part of a growing crackdown on foreigners who are permitted to be in the United States. In a written answer to a question from The Associated Press, the State Department said all U.S. visa holders, which can include tourists from many countries, are subject to “continuous vetting,” with an eye toward any indication they could be ineligible for permission to enter or stay in the United States.