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.

HoR Deferred to Thursday Following Disruptions Today

The House of Representatives (HoR) meeting was officially deferred to Thursday morning after consecutive disruptions prevented the tabling of government bills on Wednesday. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal rescheduled the sitting for July 9 at 11:00 AM, invoking Rule 6 of the House of Representatives Regulations, 2023. The session faced two 15-minute adjournments after CPN (UML) lawmaker Rajendra Rai sparked a fierce shouting match with unparliamentary remarks, which were later expunged from official records. Legislative business ultimately stalled because Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam was unavailable to present key bills during the shifted timeframe on behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Cabinet Approves Multiple New Regulations Today

The government has granted approval to operate Geta Hospital in Kailali as the teaching hospital for the Shahid Dashrath Chand University of Health Sciences. Alongside this, the cabinet has approved the ‘Foreign Educational Program Operation and Regulation Rules, 2026’, the ‘Educational Counseling, Language Teaching and Preparation Class Operation and Management Rules, 2026’, and the ‘Prison Rules, 2026’. The meeting also decided to approve the Sixth National Action Plan on Human Rights and the Second Strategic Plan Against Corruption. Additionally, the cabinet meeting has appointed Suraj Shakya to the post of Development Commissioner of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority. Meanwhile, according to Sasmit Pokharel, Minister for Education and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Wednesday’s cabinet meeting also made major administrative changes. The government has appointed Govinda Bahadur Karki to the post of Chief Secretary. Prior to this appointment, Karki was working as a Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

PM Shah Meets Private Sector Heads to Advance Economic Reforms

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) held high-level discussions today, Wednesday, with private sector leaders at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to accelerate economic reforms. The dialogue focused on improving the domestic investment climate, streamlining bureaucratic procedures, generating employment, and boosting private sector morale. Shah reaffirmed that the government treats the business community as a crucial development partner and is prepared to resolve practical industrial hurdles. The consultation involved Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Anjan Shrestha, Confederation of Nepalese Industries Representative Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal.

Constitution Task Force Reaches Final Stage of Report Writing

The constitution amendment task force coordinated by Asim Shah, political advisor to Prime Minister Balendra Shah, entered its final report-writing stage. Despite 83 days of continuous institutional participation, opposition representatives from the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) withdrew collectively on July 6. The exiting factions demanded a governmental commitment to preserve the constitutional preamble and urged an all-party national consensus meeting. Coordinator Shah countered that the withdrawal targets political disruption, confirming the text protects core constitutional values. Backed by inputs from 44,700 citizens and legal experts, the task force plans to submit the final paper within its designated timeframe.

Israeli Ambassador Visits Returnee Farmer’s Agribusiness in Nepal

Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass visited Shalom Agriculture on Wednesday to learn about the agribusiness established by Shree Krishna Adhikari, a Nepali who returned home after receiving agricultural training in Israel. Adhikari is among many Nepalis who traveled to Israel to gain practical agricultural skills before returning to Nepal to put that knowledge into practice. He now runs Shalom Agriculture where he also shares his expertise and assists fellow farmers. During the visit, Ambassador Bass learned about the company’s operations and Adhikari’s efforts to support Nepali farmers by promoting modern agricultural practices and transferring the skills he acquired in Israel.

Nepal Explores Tea and Coffee Export Openings in Austria

Nepal’s Ambassador to Austria, Bharat Kumar Regmi, met with Tina Antonius, managing director of the Austrian Coffee and Tea Association, on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of expanding exports of Nepali tea and coffee to the Austrian market. The meeting comes as Nepal has been seeking to diversify export destinations for its tea following recent disruptions in shipments to India caused by stricter import inspection requirements imposed by Indian authorities. Although exports have since resumed, the episode has renewed efforts to explore new international markets and reduce dependence on a single buyer. During the meeting, Ambassador Regmi and Antonius exchanged views on prospects for increasing exports of Nepali tea and coffee to Austria, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Vienna.

CIAA Investigates Pratik Thapa After Judicial Acquittal

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) launched a distinct inquiry into Pratik Thapa on Wednesday. The suspect, who is the son of former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, was transferred directly to the anti-graft agency by Sundhara Prison administrators following his judicial acquittal by the Kathmandu District Court in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. Although court orders cleared the individual for immediate release from corporate detention, both the anti-graft commission and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation issued mandatory arrest warrants to process underlying financial misconduct files prior to finalizing his release.

Custody of Bishnu Paudel extended by another 5 days

The Special Court has extended the judicial custody of former Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel by an additional five days. Parbati Hitan, the information officer of the Special Court, informed that the remand was extended on Wednesday for further investigation. The extension order was issued by a bench comprising Judges Narayan Prasad Paudel and Bidur Koirala. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) had requested the extension to continue its probe into Paudel. Prior to this, the court had extended his custody for investigation by three days on June 29 for the second time and by 6 days on July 2. Initially, the court had granted a seven-day remand, which was later extended by an additional three days. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has already quashed a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Paudel.

Government Appoints Gobinda Bahadur Karki as Chief Secretary

The government has appointed Gobinda Bahadur Karki as the new Chief Secretary. The decision was made at a meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday, appointing Karki, who had been serving as a secretary, to the top bureaucratic post at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Government Spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel confirmed the Cabinet’s decision following the meeting.

Corruption Case Filed Against 8 Civil Service Hospital Employees

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against eight employees of the Civil Service Hospital in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu, including Pharmacy Officer Dipa Dhungana. The total amount involved in the scam is Rs 29,134,547. The accused, comprising pharmacy unit in-charges, assistants, and storekeepers are charged with misappropriating public property. According to the CIAA, instead of returning expired or near-expired medicines to suppliers as required by their contract, the employees mismanaged the stock, causing massive financial losses to the hospital. The anti-graft body has sought jail time, fines, and the recovery of the embezzled amount under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Lumbini Bans Unlicensed Pesticide Sales Under New Law

Lumbini Province has banned the retail sale, storage, and commercial trading of pesticides without a license under the Province Pesticide Management Act, 2024. The law requires pesticide sellers to obtain a license, valid for three years, from the concerned authority. Applicants must have completed Grade 12 or hold a TSLC or JTA qualification in agriculture or animal husbandry. The act also prohibits storing pesticides with food or veterinary medicines, bars the sale of pesticides to pregnant women, children, intoxicated individuals, and people with unstable mental health, and bans advertisements for chemical pesticides except bio-pesticides. It also requires warning signs to be displayed after commercial pesticide spraying. Lumbini Province Assembly member Yam Bahadur Nepali said the law aims to regulate pesticide use across the province.

HoR Demands Accountability, Rajendra and Harka Criticize PM Shah Again

Opposition lawmakers fiercely criticized Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s administration during Wednesday’s House of Representatives session, demanding a special ruling to force the Prime Minister to face parliamentary questioning. CPN (UML) MP Rajendra Kumar Rai accused Shah of ignoring a 1.5-month legislative deadlock, while Nepali Communist Party MP Parshuram Tamang condemned the government’s handling of the landless settlers crisis and territorial sovereignty. Focusing on administrative double standards, Shram Sanskriti Party MP Harka Raj Rai (Sampang) slammed the selective law enforcement that jailed a youth for insulting Shah while high-ranking officials escaped consequences. Additionally, Nepali Congress MP Harina Devi Kami dismissed the government’s plan to paint public buses blue for women’s safety as an ineffective political stunt.

UML’s Aryal Questions RSP’s Commitment to Good Governance in House

The CPN (UML)’s Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Padma Aryal on Wednesday questioned the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s commitment to good governance, alleging that current ministers and lawmakers have been kept outside the scope of asset investigations. Speaking during the House of Representatives meeting on the government’s first 100 days in office, Aryal asked whether the RSP had become “a washing machine,” claiming individuals become “clean” upon joining the party. She also accused the government of abandoning its pledge to make merit-based appointments by appointing party-affiliated individuals, including candidates who had lost elections. Aryal further questioned what she described as the government’s model of good governance, alleging it had awarded extra marks to favor its supporters.

Kathmandu Traffic Police Fines 2,000 Drivers in 24-Hours

In the last 24 hours, 2,076 vehicles were fined for violating traffic rules in the Kathmandu Valley. According to Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, among them, 68 cases were related to drunk driving, 129 were fined for illegally sharing rides, 126 for violating traffic lights and 189 for speeding. Likewise, 139 vehicles were fined for breaching lane discipline, 124 for honking 85 prohibited areas and 85 for parking on pavements in prohibited areas. Similarly, action was taken against 59 unruly drivers and riders for violating one-way traffic rules while 1,157 were booked for violating other traffic rules. The traffic police collected Rs 1.97 million in revenue from them.

Bird Flu Remains a Threat in Kathmandu Valley

Bird flu has been contained in most parts of Nepal, but health authorities say the infection remains active in the Kathmandu Valley and is spreading rapidly in Kavrepalanchok. The Department of Livestock Services has intensified surveillance and containment measures in high-risk areas in coordination with federal and local governments. So far, authorities have culled 754,500 birds, destroyed 1.09 million eggs, and disposed of 243,635 kg of poultry feed, with the Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok accounting for a large share of the losses.

Mustang Sends Over 22,000 Kg of Waste for Recycling

The National Trust for Nature Conservation and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) have transported more than 22,189 kg of non-biodegradable waste from Mustang to a recycling facility in Pokhara over the past year. The waste, collected from three rural municipalities, was packed into 2,581 bags as part of efforts to reduce environmental pollution in the popular tourism destination. ACAP has also expanded waste collection infrastructure by establishing additional collection centers across Mustang.

Sexual and Gender Minorities Seek Equal Citizenship and Voting Rights

Representatives of Nepal’s sexual and gender minority community have urged authorities to remove legal barriers preventing equal access to citizenship and voting rights. Speaking at an advocacy program, participants said discrimination continues despite constitutional guarantees, with many still unable to obtain citizenship reflecting their gender identity. According to organizers, only about 200 of Nepal’s 2,928 identified sexual and gender minorities have received identity documents recognizing their gender status, prompting calls for more inclusive laws and electoral reforms.

Actress Bipana Thapa Honored by Nepal Embassy in New Delhi

Renowned actress Bipana Thapa was honored by the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi during a felicitation and interactive session organized as part of Nepali Movie Month yesterday, July 7. During the event, Chargé d’Affaires Surendra Thapa highlighted the actress’s distinguished career and her significant contribution to Nepali cinema. The embassy felicitated Bipana Thapa in recognition of her remarkable achievements and longstanding service to Nepal’s film industry. Speaking at the event, Bipana Thapa expressed gratitude to the embassy for the honor and reflected on her journey in cinema, her experiences in the film industry, and her interactions with audiences over the years.

Actress Namrata Shrestha Marks 40th Birthday

Actress Namrata Shrestha marked her 40th birthday on June 14 by completing a private 28-day Panchakarma Ayurvedic medical therapy course. The performer disconnected entirely from digital media channels throughout the therapeutic period before announcing her return to active public life via social platform video updates on Wednesday. Industry insiders report that the lead artist signed a formal production contract to orchestrate a high-profile comeback to the domestic cinematic sector, effectively concluding a seven-year professional hiatus from the movie industry since her last theatrical feature appearance.

Telecommunication Companies Launch Deactivation for 3G Networks

Nepal Telecom and Ncell initiated nationwide structural updates to systematically shut down their 3G wireless networks and repurpose frequency spectrums for 4G expansion and future 5G rollouts. Nepal Telecom placed 2,960 out of 3,000 transmission tower nodes into its deactivation pipeline, targeting its remaining 600,000 3G subscribers with text alerts to facilitate free 4G SIM swaps. Concurrently, Ncell deactivated 220 tower units across 13 districts in five provinces on July 6. Ncell targets a complete 3G network shutdown by the first quarter of 2027, shifting its remaining 0.7 percent active users to its 95 percent population-coverage 4G network.

Egypt Demands FIFA Investigation, Referee Ban After Defeat

The Egyptian Football Association has lodged a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the officiating team that handled Egypt’s 3-2 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina. Egypt alleged major refereeing errors, including the disallowed goal by Mostafa Ziko and a denied penalty appeal before Argentina’s winner, and called for the entire refereeing team, including VAR officials, to be removed from the tournament. Head coach Hossam Hassan also accused officials of unfair treatment after the match.

Indian PM Visits Australia for Talks on Defense and Security

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Australia for talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese focused on defense cooperation, critical minerals, and uranium security. The two leaders are expected to discuss securing a reliable uranium supply for India, which plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity. Australia holds an estimated 28 percent of the world’s uranium resources and is also a major source of lithium, a key mineral for electric vehicle batteries. Modi is also scheduled to attend a community rally in Melbourne on Thursday, where more than 20,000 people are expected to participate. India and Australia, along with the United States and Japan, are members of the Quad, with both New Delhi and Canberra seeking closer security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump Declares US-Iran Ceasefire “Over”

US President Donald Trump declared the US-Iran ceasefire “over” after both sides exchanged fresh military strikes, saying he no longer wanted to negotiate with Tehran and that further talks would be “a waste of time.” The escalation came after the US said it struck more than 80 Iranian targets following attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran said it targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte backed the US action, while Iran accused Washington of violating the ceasefire despite a memorandum signed last month to end hostilities.

China’s Nexchip Targets HKD 6.98 Billion in Hong Kong Share Sale

Brief: Chinese semiconductor manufacturer Nexchip Semiconductor plans to raise about HKD 6.98 billion (USD 890 million) through a Hong Kong share offering, pricing the sale at HKD 32.30 per share, the top of its indicated range. The company said more than HKD 3.5 billion from the proceeds will be used for research and development, while about HKD 1.5 billion will be invested in AI-powered systems to integrate research, development, and production. The listing comes as Chinese chipmakers increase spending on advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence amid efforts to strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities and as Hong Kong experiences a strong rebound in new share listings.