News from Nepal- 7 August 2026 –
Nepal — Top Stories
Landslides Shut Major Highways Across Nepal as Monsoon Intensifies
Continuous rainfall and resulting landslides have severely disrupted vehicular movement across major national highway corridors. Heavy mudslides, falling rocks, and flood damage have led to the complete closure of critical transport routes including the Mechi Highway in Ilam, sections of the Arniko Highway in Sindhupalchowk, the Kanti Lokpath in Lalitpur, the Kaligandaki Corridor in Baglung and Palpa, and the Pasang Lhamu road in Rasuwa. Night travel restrictions are in effect along the BP Highway and in Makwanpur due to high flood risks.
One Killed, 19 Injured in Gwarko Bus Crash, Lalitpur
A woman was killed and 19 others injured after a passenger bus crashed into the wall of the Gwarko flyover in Lalitpur on Thursday morning. The bus was heading towards Satdobato from Koteshwor when it lost control. All injured were sent to B&B Hospital in Gwarko for treatment.
Supreme Court Reopens Nepali Congress Leadership Dispute
The Supreme Court granted permission to review a previous order placing Gagan Thapa’s presidency under judicial scrutiny. A three-judge bench accepted petitions from former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka. A fresh panel will now hear the dispute from the beginning.
Karki Retains Koshi Chief Minister Post After KP Oli Intervenes
Hikmat Kumar Karki has retained the post of Koshi Province Chief Minister following direct intervention by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The decision was reached during talks between Oli and Karki, resolving an intra-party standoff within the CPN-UML that had threatened provincial governance stability.
Former PM Deuba to Return to Nepal on August 11 Amid Legal Jeopardy
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to return to Nepal on August 11 via a flight landing in Kathmandu at 9:45 PM. Deuba had left for Singapore for medical treatment in February 2026 before moving to Hong Kong following corruption and money laundering investigations initiated by PM Balendra Shah’s government. Authorities maintain a policy to apprehend him upon arrival.
Minister Announces “Blue Bus” Service for Women’s Safe Mobility
Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities Sita Badi announced plans to operate a dedicated Blue Bus service targeting women to reduce sexual abuse and insecurity in public transport. The initiative also includes installing CCTV cameras in public vehicles, adding SOS buttons in ride-sharing apps, and strengthening technology-based security measures.
NHRC Bypasses Government, Sends 10,000-Page Gen Z Movement Report Directly
In a significant move, Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission has bypassed the government and sent its 10,000-page investigation report on the ‘Gen Z Movement’ directly to the Office of the Injured Gen-Z Nepal. The report documents the crackdown on youth protesters and is expected to inform accountability proceedings.
“Hello Sarkar” to Be Overhauled into Unified Digital Grievance System
The Office of the Prime Minister is preparing to transform Hello Sarkar into a unified Citizen Grievance and Integrated Service Management System. Public complaints surged 321% to 69,724 in fiscal year 2025/26. The new system will feature automated routing, toll-free 1111 call centers, and strict response windows ranging from 24 hours to 15 days.
Climber Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja’s Funeral to Be Held in the UK
Renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who died in a massive avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, will be laid to rest in the UK. Rescue teams retrieved his body alongside fellow climbers Nima Sherpa, Zhong Wang, and Kilu Sherpa. Purja held 18 Guinness World Records, including scaling all 14 eight-thousanders in record time.
Gold Soars Rs 12,200 Per Tola in Two Days, Nears Rs 3 Lakh Mark
The price of gold has surged dramatically in Nepal’s domestic market, rising Rs 12,200 per tola over just two days to approach the Rs 3 lakh threshold. The sharp increase is attributed to global market volatility and rising demand, prompting concern among jewellers and consumers ahead of the festive season.
647 kg of Illegal Marijuana Seized, Two Arrested in Dhankuta
Police in Dhankuta arrested two individuals and confiscated 647 kilograms of illegal marijuana in a major drug bust. The seizure is among the largest recorded in the district this year. Authorities are investigating the supply chain and possible links to cross-border trafficking networks operating in eastern Nepal.
Sudurpashchim Approves Four Hospitals as Teaching Centres for Health University
The Sudurpashchim Provincial Government approved Seti, Lamki Chuha, Tikapur, and Mahakali Provincial Hospitals as teaching hospitals for Shahid Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences. The decision enables the university to run academic medical programmes starting this year, addressing a chronic shortage of medical education facilities in the far-western region.
Cannes-Winning “Elephants in the Fog” Unveils Musical Trailer Ahead of September Release
The makers of Elephants in the Fog, the first Nepali feature film to win the Jury Choice Award at the Cannes Film Festival, unveiled its musical trailer in Kathmandu. The film tells the story of a mother searching for her missing daughter in a village threatened by wild elephants, and is set for nationwide theatrical release on September 4.
Tribhuvan University Formulates New Policies for Improved Service Delivery
Tribhuvan University is formulating policies and programmes to enhance service delivery, convenience, and transparency. Vice Chancellor Prof. Bhola Thapa emphasised prioritising quality improvements in education, administration, and research. The policies will be presented at the upcoming university senate for formal adoption.
“Mystery Beast” That Terrorised Rautahat Villages Turns Out to Be a Hunting Dog
Weeks of fear over a mysterious animal that repeatedly attacked goats and livestock in several Rautahat villages came to an end after forest officials identified the predator as a hunting dog caught in a specially installed trap. Residents had speculated the creature was a wild predator or even a mythical beast, prompting widespread panic.
Nepal Likely to Miss SAFF Championship Due to FIFA Suspension
Nepal faces the prospect of missing the SAFF Championship after FIFA’s suspension of the All Nepal Football Association remains unresolved. The critical September 1 deadline for reinstatement looms large, and captain Kiran Chemjong has expressed emotional concern over the national team’s uncertain future in regional football competitions.
Nepal Records 2.3% Rise in July Tourist Arrivals Despite Monsoon Season
Nepal received 71,775 international visitor arrivals in July 2026, a 2.3% increase compared to the same month last year. The growth is notable given the monsoon season typically deters tourism. The Annapurna region alone welcomed visitors from 169 countries in the last fiscal year, reflecting growing global interest in Nepal’s trekking destinations.
Three Youths Stranded Along Modi River in Kaski Rescued Safely
A joint team of the Armed Police Force, Army, and Nepal Police successfully rescued three youths — Ajit KC (24), Yukesh Gurung (23), and Karan Lama (23) — who were stranded along the Modi River in Kaski for two nights after losing their way returning from a High Camp trek. Rescuers used an excavator to extract them from the difficult terrain.
Arya Nishaant Aims to Showcase Nepal’s Sociable Spirit at Miss International
Nepal’s representative at the Miss International pageant, Arya Nishaant, says she wants the world to see Nepal’s warm and sociable spirit. She is preparing to represent the country on the international stage, emphasising Nepal’s cultural richness and the hospitality of its people as her core message to global audiences.
ERC Study Warns of Wide Economic Impacts from VAT Imposed on Electricity
A new study by the Electricity Regulatory Commission warns that the recently imposed Value Added Tax on electricity could have far-reaching negative economic consequences, raising costs for households, industries, and businesses. The report urges the government to reconsider the policy, which critics say disproportionately burdens lower-income consumers.
Kathmandu DAO Orders Designated Smoking Areas in Hotels and Restaurants
The Kathmandu District Administration Office has directed hotels and restaurants across the district to strictly enforce provisions of the Tobacco Products (Control and Regulation) Act, warning of legal action against establishments that fail to designate separate smoking areas and comply with anti-tobacco regulations.
World Through Nepalese Eyes
International stories as reported by Nepal’s leading English-language media outlets.
Tensions Flare at Nepal-India Border as Indian Personnel Dismantle Flood Barrier in Susta
Indian security personnel crossed into Nepali territory in Nawalparasi West and dismantled a makeshift embankment built by residents to protect their village from flooding. Locals confronted the personnel in a heated standoff before Nepal’s Armed Police Force intervened. The incident reignites a long-running territorial dispute in the Susta area, where no permanent border pillars exist along a 24-kilometre stretch.
Wildfires in France Drive 250,000 from Their Homes, Threaten Bordeaux Wine Region
A raging wildfire in southwest France forced the evacuation of more than 250,000 people as flames crept toward the renowned wine city of Bordeaux. The blaze, which created France’s first recorded pyrocumulonimbus cloud, was eventually contained after a massive firefighting effort, allowing around 198,000 residents to return home. The disaster has reignited debate over European forest management policies in an era of accelerating climate change.
WHO Chief: Ebola Outbreak in Congo Outpacing Response as Aid Workers Strike Over Pay
The world’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths, making it the second-largest in history. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Kinshasa to warn that new cases are doubling in some hotspots. Compounding the crisis, frontline health workers in Ituri province have gone on strike over unpaid wages, worsening access to care in an already conflict-affected region.
Nepal to Face New Zealand ‘A’ in 50-Over Match After Top End T20 Series in Darwin
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that New Zealand ‘A’ will play a 50-over one-day match against Nepal on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in Darwin, Australia, following the Top End T20 Series (August 21–30). Nepal, the first international team confirmed for the Top End T20 Series, will face teams including Tasmania Hurricanes, ACT Comets, and Victoria in a crucial build-up to upcoming ICC qualification events.
Strange, Funny & Weird — Around the World
Because the world never runs out of the bizarre, the baffling, and the brilliantly absurd.
Man Falls Into Portable Toilet Tank Chasing Mountain Dew, Stuck for 8 Hours
In Kansas City, Missouri, a man’s quest to retrieve a bottle of Mountain Dew ended in spectacular fashion when he fell into a portable restroom toilet tank — with the lid closed — and remained stuck for eight hours before being rescued. A sanitation driver flagged down a police officer after hearing the man’s cries. When the door was opened, “his head popped up out of the tank like a game of whack-a-mole,” a company representative said. Firefighters had to cut the man free and blast him with a fire hose. “In the portable restroom business, you kind of expect the unexpected,” the rep added, “but in six years, I never thought I’d find someone alive inside one of our units.”
ER Nurse Hikes 10 Miles Back to Safety With Hiking Pole Impaled Through His Side
In what may be the most stoic hike in recent memory, David Cifaldi, 32, an ER nurse from California, tripped on Granite Mountain in Montana and impaled himself on one of his hiking poles — then calmly hiked the full 10 miles back to safety over six and a half hours. Assessing his own wound, he determined there was no serious blood loss and he could breathe deeply. His friends started making “shish kebab jokes” along the way and nicknamed him “Bob” by the time they reached safety. Doctors successfully removed the pole at the very hospital where Cifaldi works.
Scientists Launch “OnlyMarms” OnlyFans Page to Fund Marmot Research After Federal Grants Cut
Faced with the loss of federal grants for their marmot research programme, scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory have turned to an unusual funding source: an OnlyFans page called “OnlyMarms.” Professor Daniel Blumstein assured the public the page would be “G-rated” and entirely non-sexual, focusing on cute and educational marmot footage. “Sometimes I’m just posting the videos I think will get the most ‘awws,'” said masters student Emily Renkey, who runs the page. Fans can leave tips to support the group’s research into the furry alpine rodents.
Nauru Officially Changes Its Name to “Naoero” — The World’s Third-Smallest Country Gets a Rebrand
The tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru — the world’s third-smallest country — has officially changed its name to “Naoero,” reverting to the indigenous Nauruan spelling of the island’s name. The change, announced in early August, is part of a broader cultural reclamation effort by the island’s government and people. With a population of under 10,000 and an area of just 21 square kilometres, Naoero may be small, but it is apparently determined to be known on its own terms.
