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The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu celebrated Victory Day 2025 by organizing a special program at its premises on Tuesday.

The event that began at 10 am with the hoisting of the national flag and the playing of the national anthem was followed by a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War. Special prayers were offered for the martyrs of the Liberation War and those who lost their lives during the July–August mass uprising in 2024. Messages from the President, the Chief Adviser, and the Adviser for Foreign Affairs highlighting the significance of the day were also read.

The program was further enriched by the performance of the students of Kathmandu art school and by a musical performance from Saraswati Khatri of Nepal’s Sur Sudha Music Group, who sang a selection of Bangla and Nepali songs.

During the event, SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar emphasized the importance of Victory Day and called on the audience to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War. He highlighted the need to work collectively to seize the opportunities created by the July–August mass uprising to build a discrimination-free and inclusive Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md. Shafiqur Rahman delivered the closing remarks, paying tribute to the martyrs and wounded freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War and honoring the martyrs of the July uprising. 

He said the July uprising added a new dimension to the nation’s journey, advancing the unfinished goals of the Liberation War and paving the way for a fair, just, corruption-free, and inclusive “Bangladesh 2.0,” as envisioned by the freedom fighters.

The program was attended by Bangladeshi officials serving at the SAARC Secretariat, expatriates in regional organizations in Nepal, officials from Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Nepal Office, members of the Bangladeshi community, and distinguished Nepali personalities and business leaders. Adding to the festive atmosphere, players and officials of the visiting Bangladeshi women’s football club, Nasrin Sports Academy, also participated in the celebrations.

The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) on Monday bid farewell to its Vice President Ravi Rayavaram at a program held in the NICCI Secretariat.

Rayavaram, Managing Director of Surya Nepal—an ITC subsidiary—has been serving as NICCI vice president since last year. Following his promotion and transfer to Kolkata, he was replaced by Gaurav Tayal.

Speaking at the event, Rayavaram said, “ I felt like in my home,” during his tenure with NICCI.

NICCI President Sunil KC, while handing over a token of love and a letter of appreciation, said Rayavaram’s contribution to NICCI and to Nepal’s economy through his leadership of Surya Nepal had been significant. “We will cherish his memories,” KC said.

NICCI Executive Committee Member Sashi Kant Agrawal wished Rayavaram success in his new role and expressed hope of welcoming him back to Nepal in a bigger capacity in the future.

Indian Business Forum (IBF) Co-chair under NICCI, Saibal Ghosh, thanked Rayavaram for his active role in NICCI and his contribution to bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

NICCI Vice President Kunal Kayal and other executive members, including National Insurance Chief Executive Officer Navneet Gupta and Uttam Lama, also acknowledged Rayavaram’s dedication and service.

The newly appointed Managing Director of Surya Nepal, Gaurav Tayal, thanked Rayavaram and NICCI for their support.

Fifa has introduced a small number of "more affordable" $60 (£45) tickets for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament, BBC reported. 

World football's governing body says the new ticket price will be available to a certain number of "loyal fans" of the countries that have qualified for the World Cup.

A Fifa official close to discussions said: "We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do" - adding the decision was unanimous, according to BBC. 

A California doctor who sold ketamine to Friends star Matthew Perry has been sentenced to eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release, making him the second person to be sentenced in the actor's death, BBC reported. 

Dr Mark Chavez is among five people - including another doctor and a dealer known as the Ketamine Queen - who have pleaded guilty to drug-related charges stemming from sitcom star's 2023 death at his Los Angeles home.

The San Diego-based physician admitted to obtaining ketamine from his clinic and a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription and sold it to Dr Salvador Plasencia, who supplied the dissociative anaesthetic to Perry, according to BBC. 

The European Commission has watered down its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, BBC reported. 

Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be "zero emission", but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.

Under the European Commission's new plan, 90% of new cars sold from 2035 would have to be zero-emission, rather than 100%, according to BBC. 

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy, BBC reported. 

The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and many show clear traces of toes and claws. 

It is thought the dinosaurs were prosauropods - herbivores with long necks, small heads and sharp claws, according to BBC. 

The government has decided to accept a soft loan of Rs 14.38 billion to be provided by the Asian Development Bank for the public finance management and fiscal transfer.

The Cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to hand over the building and 115 bighas of land under the joint registration of Pavan Kumar Sharda and Murali Lal Murarka to Ramkumar Sharad Uma Prasad Murarka Provincial Hospital at Lahan Municipality of Siraha district. The gain tax on it would be excised.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel informed that a delegation would be formed under the coordination of joint secretary at Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to attend a meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Agriculture Taskforce to be held in Kathmandu from December 27 to 29.

The Cabinet also made a decision on promotion and installment of some security officials.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and party leader Shekhar Koirala held a meeting on Tuesday. 

During the meeting held at Deuba residence, they discussed the issues related to the party's upcoming 15th general convention, said Koirala's personal secretary, Dinesh Chandra Thapaliya. 

On the occasion, Koirala said the forms without any number sent by the Active Membership Distribution Committee at districts have created problems in the party. He also drew Deuba's attention to send new forms. 

Similarly, leader Koirala also urged President Deuba to lift the punishment of leaders facing within the party and deploy them for upcoming general convention and election. 

NC leader and former Minister Dr Minendra Rijal had also accompanied Koirala in the meeting.