"special cable"

#13203954

16 January 2026

Acting Nepali Congress President Purna Bahadur Khadka addresses the meeting held at the Election Commission Office after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203961

16 January 2026

Senior Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala addresses the meeting held at the Election Commission Office after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203966

16 January 2026

Senior Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala (standing) addresses the meeting held at the Election Commission Office after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203983

16 January 2026

Acting Nepali Congress President Purna Bahadur Khadka addresses the meeting held at the Election Commission Office after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203942

16 January 2026

Leaders from the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction within the Nepali Congress attend a meeting with Election Commission officials after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203946

16 January 2026

Leaders from the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction within the Nepali Congress attend a meeting with Election Commission officials after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203951

16 January 2026

Acting Nepali Congress President Purna Bahadur Khadka (left in brown scarf) hands over the document to acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari (right in light orange coat) at the Election Commission Office after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203970

16 January 2026

Acting Nepali Congress President Purna Bahadur Khadka (center) gestures as he walks out of the Election Commission after attending the meeting with officials after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13203977

16 January 2026

Leaders from the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction within the Nepali Congress attend a meeting with Election Commission officials after the commencement of the special general convention of the party called by rival factions led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 16, 2026. The internal rift within the Nepali Congress deepens after a special general convention is organized without the consent of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The convention, held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, elects Gagan Thapa as party president. Following the convention, the Deuba faction accuses Thapa and his allies of organizing an ''illegal'' gathering and subsequently expels Thapa, along with leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor, from the party. Since then, the country's oldest democratic party remains effectively split into two rival factions.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13198307

15 January 2026

Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Matt Damon wearing a Luca Faloni suit, Ben Affleck, Teyana Taylor wearing an Ashi Studio look with jewelry by Spinelli Kilcollin and Repossi, Joe Carnahan, Lina Esco, Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler arrive at the New York Premiere Of Netflix's 'The Rip' held at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on January 13, 2026 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181842

11 January 2026

Nepali Congress cadres attend the opening ceremony of the special convention of the party organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event involves active participation from general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. Acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony, protesting against it. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, takes place against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma maintain that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders backing the convention say over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute has a provision that makes it mandatory for the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of a new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181843

11 January 2026

Cadres of the Nepali Congress attend the opening ceremony of the special convention of the party organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event involves active participation from general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony in protest. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, takes place against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction, led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma assert that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders supporting the convention state that over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute includes a provision that mandates the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181844

11 January 2026

Cadres of the Nepali Congress attend the opening ceremony of the special convention of the party organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event involves active participation from general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony in protest. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, takes place against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction, led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma assert that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders supporting the convention state that over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute includes a provision that mandates the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181845

11 January 2026

Cadres of the Nepali Congress attend the opening ceremony of the special convention of the party organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event involves active participation from general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony in protest. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, takes place against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction, led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma assert that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders supporting the convention state that over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute includes a provision that mandates the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181846

11 January 2026

Cadres of the Nepali Congress attend the opening ceremony of the special convention of the party organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event involves active participation from general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony in protest. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, takes place against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction, led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma assert that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders supporting the convention state that over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute includes a provision that mandates the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13181847

11 January 2026

Binod Chaudhary, Nepal's only billionaire, addresses the opening ceremony of the special convention of the Nepali Congress in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 11, 2026. The two-day event is organized with the active involvement of general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The acting party president and other senior party members abstain from the opening ceremony, protesting against it. The second special general convention, called by Thapa and Sharma, is held against the backdrop of a deepening intra-party dispute. The establishment faction led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba opposes the convention, arguing it could split the party, and instead pushes for the regular general convention scheduled for May. Thapa and Sharma maintain that the convention is demanded by 2,488 elected representatives, more than 54 percent of the total. Leaders backing the convention say over 60 percent of elected delegates participate. The Congress statute has a provision that makes it mandatory for the party leadership to call a special general convention if at least 40 percent of the party's elected general convention representatives demand it. A petition signed by 53 percent of the Nepali Congress general convention representatives is submitted at the party headquarters in mid-October, seeking a special general convention and election of a new leadership.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.