Nepal News Evening Briefing | Sunday, July 6, 2025 

July 6, 2025
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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 Inaugurates Bailey Bridge, Humla Connected To National Road Network: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has announced that the Karnali Corridor will be developed as a major trade route connecting China and India. He emphasized that the corridor is not just for the people of Karnali and Humla but also serves as a vital commercial link between Nepal’s two neighbors. He committed to upgrading the road to a two-lane highway and proceeding with blacktopping the stretch without delay.

Former President Bhandari, Mayor Shah Meet, Discuss KMC Budget And Political Issues: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who is currently vying for the chairmanship of the CPN-UML, recently invited Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) to her residence for a meeting. The details of their discussion have not been officially disclosed, but sources close to the matter suggest the meeting primarily centered on the persistent delays in approving the Metropolitan City’s budget. Mayor Balen is known to have an uneasy relationship with the CPN-UML and its Chairperson and Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli.

Son-In-Law Kills Four Family Members in Bhojpur, Injures Himself: Four members of the same family have been brutally murdered in Dhodlekhani, Ramprasad Rai Rural Municipality-2 of Bhojpur district. Rajendra Rai, a resident of Helauncha in Bhojpur Municipality-2 and the son-in-law of the deceased family, murdered his father-in-law, mother-in-law, wife, and brother-in-law before injuring himself with a knife. According to the District Police Office, Bhojpur, Rai killed his 68-year-old father-in-law Bel Bahadur Giri, 45-year-old mother-in-law Manju Giri, 15-year-old wife Manisha Giri, and 9-year-old brother-in-law Sayan Giri. Police suspect a domestic dispute may have triggered the incident.

Congress Leader Saud Says Party Not Ready for 2084 Elections: Nepali Congress leader NP Saud has said that the party is not prepared for the upcoming elections scheduled for 2084 BS. Speaking at the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting in Sanepa on Sunday, Saud expressed serious concern over the overall state of the party. Saud criticized the party’s inability to take a sensitive and proactive role in the current political climate, warning that the organizational structure of the Nepali Congress is weakening. “There is a growing trend of attacks on political parties. But this is not just about political organizations—there’s an attempt to assault the Constitution itself. In such a situation, the Nepali Congress must raise its voice clearly,” Saud said.

TIA Service Improvement Plan Being Implemented, Says Tourism Minister Pandey: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has said that Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) service improvement plan is being implemented to increase the efficiency of the airport. In a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee under the House of Representatives held at Singha Durbar today, Minister Pandey said since the airport has inter-stakeholder agencies such as immigration, customs, security agencies, airlines, etc., a committee has been formed under the leadership of the TIA general manager to make a reform action plan. The ministry will bring the report with the committee’s action plan soon and make further efforts for service improvement.

Shashank Koirala Calls for Constitutional Amendment to Replace Secularism with Religious Freedom: Former Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala has called for advancing the agenda of constitutional amendment, proposing major changes including the replacement of secularism with the principle of religious freedom. Speaking at the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting at the party’s headquarters in Sanepa, Lalitpur, on Sunday, Koirala referenced the seven-point agreement between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML signed on Asar 17, 2081 (July 1, 2024), and urged the government to begin its constitutional reform with this revision. “This government was formed with the aim of amending the constitution. Let the first amendment be this—remove secularism and establish religious freedom,” Koirala said.

Committee Gives Government 5 Days to Forge Consensus on School Education Bill: The Education, Science, and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives has given the government five days to forge consensus on the School Education Bill. Education Minister Raghuji Panta, attending today’s committee meeting, requested more time to pass the bill. However, lawmakers demanded that the bill be passed today itself. Committee Chairperson Ammar Bahadur Thapa eventually granted a five-day deadline to reach an agreement. “Come back with consensus within five days. I also need a day to call the meeting,” Chairperson Thapa said.

Fake Currency Convict Yunus Ansari’s Money Laundering Case Deferred After Initial Hearing: The money laundering case against Indian fake currency racketeer Yunus Ansari has been deferred after the initial hearing. On Sunday, Ansari gave his statement before Judge Balram Lamsal at the Kathmandu District Court. Following his statement, the court began deliberations on whether Ansari should be held in custody during the trial. However, the hearing could not be completed and has been postponed to tomorrow. Ansari was previously arrested on May 24, 2019 with fake Indian currency amounting to NPR 77.6 million. He completed his six-year prison sentence and was released from Nakkhu Jail on May 23, 2024.

Opposition Parties Disrupt Madhesh Provincial Assembly, Demand Budget Rewriting: Opposition parties in the Madhesh Provincial Assembly have disrupted the session held after 10 days, demanding a rewriting of the budget. At the start of the meeting, CPN Unified Socialist provincial lawmaker Kanish Patel criticized the budget, alleging that the ruling coalition had introduced an unequal budget favoring intermediary. He warned that the assembly would not function unless the budget is rewritten. Similarly, CPN Maoist Centre’s deputy leader Yuvraj Bhattarai also called the budget biased and controlled by intermediaries, pointing out the concentration of funds in limited areas and the inclusion of small projects worth up to five hundred thousand rupees, demanding a revision of the budget.

Yellow Alert Issued for 25 Districts Amid Rising River Levels: The Flood Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has issued a yellow alert for 25 districts, calling for preparedness and caution due to rising water levels across several river basins. According to the Division’s latest bulletin, key rivers such as the Koshi, Mahakali, Kamala, Bagmati, East Rapti, West Rapti, Babai, and Kankai remain below the danger mark as of this morning. However, levels are gradually increasing, particularly in some western and central basins. Monitoring stations in the Narayani and Karnali river systems have reported increasing flows, raising concerns about possible localized flooding in the coming hours.

KMC CAO Guragain Claims Character Assassination Over Kathmandu Tower Dispute: Chief Administrative Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Saroj Guragain, has said that his character has been unfairly assassinated in connection with the controversy surrounding the Kathmandu Tower at Old Bus Park. Guragain claimed he only endorsed decisions that had already been made before his appointment and denied any wrongdoing. “I have done nothing irregular,” he stated. “What’s happening to me is character assassination.” Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Guragain said he felt compelled to break his silence following a series of false and misleading allegations against him in recent days.

Two Boys Drown While Swimming in Sunsari River: Two young boys tragically drowned while swimming in the Mura River in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City-16, Sunsari district on Saturday afternoon. According to the District Police Office, Sunsari, the deceased have been identified as 9-year-old Yunis Khatri, son of Ramesh Khatri of Itahari-16, and 11-year-old Hem Bahadur Pariyar (also known as Bisu Pariyar), son of Buddhi Pariyar of Itahari-5. The two boys were swimming in a deep pool of the Mura River when they drowned. They were immediately rescued and rushed to Sanvi City Hospital in Itahari, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The bodies of the boys have been sent to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for post-mortem examination, police confirmed.

Parliamentary Committee Directs Government to Ensure Smooth Fertilizer Distribution: The Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Rights Committee of the House of Representatives has directed the government to arrange for the smooth distribution of chemical fertilizers. In a meeting held at Singha Durbar on Sunday, the committee instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure fertilizer availability to farmers without shortage, under the supervision of the respective Chief District Officers and local representatives. The committee also urged local governments to establish fertilizer storage facilities to guarantee easy and accessible supply based on local demand.

NEPSE Index Rises for Sixth Day, Turnover Hits Rs 9.5 billion on Sunday: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) rose by 2.40 points on Sunday, closing at 2,706.36, marking its sixth consecutive day of gains. Despite the uptick, market sentiment was mixed, with 87 stocks gaining and 162 declining. Total turnover stood at Rs 9.5 billion, slightly down from the previous session’s Rs 9.64 billion, with 27.1 million shares traded. Nepal Finance led the gainers, surging 10 percent, followed by Guardian Micro Life Insurance (7.36%), Rapti Hydro (5.70%), Upper Hewakhola Hydropower (5.18%), and Janaki Finance (4.91%). These gains boosted the Finance and Others sectors by 2.49% and 3.06%, respectively, aided by strong performances from Nepal Reinsurance and Himalayan Reinsurance.

NRB Withdraw Rs 45 billion Amid Excess Market Liquidity: Amid rising liquidity, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has withdrawn Rs 45 billion from the banking system on Sunday. The central bank is using the deposit collection tool through auction to absorb excess liquidity. Currently, total deposits in the banking sector have exceeded Rs 7 trillion. To manage excessive liquidity and stabilize interest rates in the financial system, NRB has been withdrawing liquidity using instruments such as the deposit collection tool and the Standing Deposit Facility.

NEPSE’s Rise to 3000 Points Crosses One-Year Mark: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index reached the 3,000-mark exactly one year ago, rising from 2,037 points to 3,000.81 within 33 trading days. On June 30, 2024, the index stood at 2,037. By August 15, it had climbed by 963 points to 3,000.81, marking the highest level since 2021. Although the index reached 3,199.03 on August 18, 2078, that record still remains unbroken.

Governor Says Investment Opportunities Abound Amid Ample Deposits: Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Biswo Nath Poudel, has stated that there is currently enough capital for investment and the time is right for utilizing investment opportunities. Addressing the ‘Pre-Monetary Policy Discussion’ organized by the Society of Economic Journalists (SEJON), he said that deposits in banks are high and foreign currency reserves are also sufficient, which allows for sustainable and balanced development through investments. Mentioning that banks currently hold Rs 520 billion in idle funds at NRB, the Governor emphasized that financial policy should now take the lead and identify other investment sectors, similar to how energy has been prioritized in the past.

Agriculture Minister Proposes Separate Institution for Fertilizer Procurement: Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari has said that a separate institution should be established for fertilizer procurement. He stated that linking fertilizer procurement to the Ministry has disrupted other administrative functions. “The process of fertilizer procurement and its distribution system is being blamed on the minister and the ministry,” he said while speaking at the Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Welfare Committee. He added that despite best efforts, fertilizer has not been arriving on time, which has remained a persistent issue.

Filming Begins for ‘Mirmire’ Starring Dayahang Rai and Prakash Saput: Filming for Mirmire has officially started following a week-long workshop with the cast and crew. The shoot began with a camera worship ceremony at Shri Ladkeshwar Basic School in Balthali, Panauti Municipality Ward 11. According to director Yam Sherpa, the shooting schedule spans 35 days and will take place mainly in various locations across Kavre district. The film is presented by Yarsa Films and stars Dayahang Rai, Prakash Saput, and Sirjana Ninglekhu in lead roles, with Mao Tse Gurung, Chhulthim Gurung, and Bhola Raj Sapkota in supporting roles.

Priyanka Karki Dances in Item Song for Upcoming Film ‘Pratibairam’: An item song for the upcoming film Pratibairam, directed by Roshan Das, has been filmed on an elaborate set at the Film Development Company premises in Balaju. The movie is based on a story from the Madhes region. The dance sequence was shot over two days and features actress Priyanka Karki performing under the choreography of Suren Basnet. Director Das said the film aims to challenge the misconception that there are no real issues in Madhes, tackling both social and political themes centered on the region. The movie also includes an emotional subplot about the bond between a brother and sister.

Filmmakers Demand Review of 2081 Film Bill, Cite Threats to Freedom of Expression: Nepali filmmakers have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology calling for a review of the proposed Film Act 2081. The 20-point proposal claims that the draft bill contradicts the spirit of federalism, the principle of power separation, and the freedom of expression. They also accused the ministry’s secretary of undue interference in the bill’s drafting. Filmmakers urged that the bill be sent back for broader discussions within the film community. The bill was recently introduced in the National Assembly by Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung.

National Music Awards Set for Asar 28 with Star-Studded Lineup: The National Music Awards will take place on Asar 28 (July 12), organized by Radio Kantipur. The event will feature awards in 14 categories along with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a live concert. The concert lineup includes popular singers such as Kumar Sagar, Durgesh Thapa, Sushant Ghimire, Swapna Suman, Asmita Adhikari, Wangden Sherpa, Elina Chauhan, and Pashupati Sharma. Comedians Sundar Khanal and Sujita Shrestha will also perform. The show will be held at Godavari Sunrise Convention Center, which has a seating capacity of 3,000.

Nepal Becomes Runner-Up in 9th South Asian Karate Championship: Nepal has secured the team runner-up position in the 9th South Asian Karate Championship held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Nepal earned a total of 21 gold, 9 silver, and 20 bronze medals, finishing second in the overall standings. India was crowned the team champion, bagging 23 gold, 24 silver, and 12 bronze medals. Among Nepal’s top performers was Erika Gurung, nicknamed “Himalayan Warrior” in the women’s above 68kg category, Pushpak Lama in the 50kg, and Sabina Shrestha in the under-55kg category. All three won individual gold medals and also led Nepal to gold in the women’s team kumite event, bringing home double golds.

Seat Installation Begins at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur: Installation of seats has begun at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, as part of a broader effort to upgrade the stadium to international standards and facilitate night matches. The renovation work started in Falgun (mid-February) this year. In the first phase, the project includes constructing a parapet that can accommodate 10,000 spectators, along with the installation of eight floodlights. According to Sunil Shah, an engineer from BG Construction, which is handling the project, seats in five different colors—yellow, white, grey, green, blue, and orange—will be installed on the parapet.

Nepal Women’s Football Team Misses Out on AFC Women’s Asian Cup Again: The Nepal women’s national football team has once again fallen short in their dream to qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, missing out for the fourth time. In the decisive match of Group F qualification, Nepal was defeated by Uzbekistan 4–2 in a penalty shootout on Saturday. The match had ended in a 3–3 draw in regulation time, leading to a tiebreaker. Nepal’s captain Sabitra Bhandari hit the post with her spot-kick, while Anjana Rana Magar’s shot was saved by the Uzbek goalkeeper. With this victory, Uzbekistan has secured a spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, leaving Nepal once again disappointed despite a valiant effort.

Texas Flash Floods Kill At Least 50, Rescue Operations Underway: Torrential rains which resulted in sudden flash floods in parts of central Texas has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, as reported by CNN. In the backdrop to the disaster, Secretary Kristi Noem of Homeland Security assured of speedy action to rescue people. Governor of Texas signed a proclamation declaring Sunday as the Day of Prayer in Texas in response to the floods. According to CNN, in Kerr County, more than 20 girls are missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp located along a river that rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours. Throughout Kerr County, hundreds of people have been rescued or evacuated so far, many by helicopter, authorities said. Some areas saw a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours overnight into Friday.

Musk Announces Formation of ‘America Party’: Tech billionaire Elon Musk said Saturday he has officially formed the “America Party,” a third political faction to rival Democrats and Republicans. “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it. When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk wrote in a post on the social platform X, which he owns, after putting out a poll questioning X users if they wanted a third political party. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he added. A page for the party went live shortly after his post, in which they lauded themselves as a group “built on common sense not consultants.”

Israeli Army Continues Bombing Gaza Amid Reports of Ceasefire Talks: Israeli forces bomb a house in Gaza City, killing at least 12 people, a day after killing at least 78 Palestinians in attacks across the besieged Strip. At least 27 people have been killed in Gaza today by Israeli attacks across the enclave. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Israel will send negotiators to Qatar for ceasefire talks, but that changes to the deal requested by Hamas are “unacceptable”. The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli forces have killed at least 743 Palestinians in attacks at sites run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since late May.