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.

‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ Kicks Off Focusing on Climate Change, the Himalayas, and the Future of Humanity: The international conference titled ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’, centered around the theme “Climate Change, the Himalayas, and the Future of Humanity,” has officially begun. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the event during a special ceremony held on Friday. The conference is attended by more than 350 distinguished national and international participants. Foreign Minister and Chair of the Dialogue Management Committee, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, welcomed the special guests at the event. The inaugural session featured addresses from various prominent figures, and the conference is scheduled to run until Sunday.

PM Oli Calls Climate Change the Biggest Challenge of Our Time: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that climate change is the biggest challenge of the current era. Speaking at the inaugural session of the “Sagarmatha Sambaad” held in Kathmandu on Friday, Prime Minister Oli expressed concern that despite Nepal’s minimal contribution to climate change, it is facing the brunt of its impact. He highlighted that climate change is severely affecting the Earth, its people, and prosperity. Oli mentioned that no society is fully protected from the consequences of climate change.

SC Orders Rabindra Mishra’s Release: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Vice Chair Rabindra Mishra, who had been in police custody for 50 days. Mishra’s wife had filed a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court demanding his immediate release. A joint bench of Justices Kumar Chudal and Til Prasad Shrestha issued the order on Friday. Mishra was released in the presence of legal representatives.

World Bank VP Raiser Pays Courtesy Call on PM Oli: World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar today.bDuring the meeting, discussions were held on the ongoing cooperation in Nepal’s economic and social development, the significance of the ongoing Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu, and related matters.

Foreign Minister Rana Highlights Melting Glaciers Due to Climate Change: Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba emphasized that the Himalayas are facing extraordinary stress due to climate change. Speaking at the opening session of the “Sagarmatha Dialogue” in Kathmandu on Friday, she remarked, “Our glaciers, which are silent symbols of a healthy planet, are melting at an alarming rate. Structures that took millennia to form are now disappearing before our eyes.” Deuba also noted that the climate crisis is shaking the very foundations of mountain communities’ existence. She added, “Nepal, a mountainous country highly prone to natural disasters, is in a severe dilemma. In recent years, we have faced extreme weather events that have had devastating impacts on people’s lives.”

Prachanda Says No Left Unity Before 2084 Polls: CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Prachanda has ruled out the possibility of Left Unity in the near future. Prachanda, who reached Dadeldhura to launch the party’s Mid-Hill Highway Campaign starting from Friday stated that he had communicated this to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as well. “We always wanted Left Unity; we proposed it, and it even happened, but it broke apart,” he said. “We tried again, but it led to deep betrayal—not just to our party, but to the people of Nepal. So, enough is enough.” He further added that there is no possibility of Left Unity, even until the 2084 elections, hinting at a long-term separation in political strategies.

Govt Practicing Politics of Suppression, Claims RPP Chair Lingden: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden has accused the government of engaging in a politics of suppression. Speaking during the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Friday, Lingden alleged that the government is attempting to stifle opposition voices by violating the Constitution. He expressed concern over the detention of Rabindra Mishra and other political prisoners, claiming that they were held in custody in a disrespectful manner solely because of their differing views.

Maoist Center’s Leader Sharma Holds Discussion with NC President Deuba: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma held discussions on contemporary political issues. Sharma visited Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha on Friday to meet Deuba. “There was a discussion with former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba regarding the current political situation of the country,” Sharma wrote on Facebook. Earlier today, CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Prachanda had a telephone conversation with Nepali Congress President Deuba. Shortly after, Sharma went to meet Deuba.

Civil Service Bill Passed by Parliamentary Committee: The Civil Service Bill has been approved by the Parliamentary Committee. On Friday, the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill. According to the bill, a “cooling period” of two years has been agreed upon. The bill also outlines the placement of Additional Secretaries, who will be ranked above Joint Secretaries and below Secretaries. The report specifies that Additional Secretaries will be classified under the 13th level, Secretaries under the 14th, and the Chief Secretary under the 15th level. All three positions are categorized under “Gazetted Special Positions.”

Nepal Ready to Deploy Up to 10,000 Peacekeepers at UN’s Request, Says Minister Rai: Nepal has expressed its readiness to deploy up to 10,000 peacekeepers in the coming days at the request of the United Nations. Defense Minister Manbir Rai made this announcement while addressing the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 held in Berlin, Germany, on May 13–14. Currently, Nepal has over 6,000 peacekeepers stationed across 11 different UN peace missions, making it the largest troop-contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations. Nepal has been participating in UN peacekeeping missions since 1958. During the conference, Minister Rai also expressed Nepal’s aspiration to secure opportunities for high-level leadership roles within UN peacekeeping missions.

Bangladesh’s Social Welfare Minister Meets PM Oli: Bangladesh’s Social Welfare Minister, Sharmeen Sonia Murshid, met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar. Murshid led the Bangladeshi delegation to the “Sagarmatha Sambaad,” which Nepal hosted for the first time. During the meeting, discussions were held on various dimensions of the mutual and friendly relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Oli was joined by his Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other dignitaries.

Two Women Killed by Car While on Morning Walk in Kapilvastu: Two women on a morning walk in Kapilvastu were killed after being hit by a car. According to the police, 60-year-old Shanta Khatri and 65-year-old Tilakumari Rayamajhi of Buddha Bhumi Municipality-1, Basantapur, were seriously injured in the accident. The car, traveling from Arghakhanchi to Butwal, struck the women at around 5:45 AM on the East-West Highway near the Pattharkot-Gorusinge road section. Inspector Birat Sharma Poudel of the Gorusinge Area Police Office informed that the women succumbed to their injuries while being rushed to the District Hospital in Taulihawa.

Uncle Kills Nephew and Daughter in Chitwan: In a shocking incident in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-25, Chitwan, a man named Lila Giri killed his nephew and daughter with a khukuri (a traditional Nepali blade). The victims, 8-year-old Sajan Giri and 7-year-old Prabha, were on their way to school on a scooter with their uncle. Lila Giri, 42, attacked them with the khukuri near Kisan Chowk. Both children were dressed in their school uniforms, ready for the day. According to family members, Giri often used to take his nephew to school. After attacking his nephew and daughter, Giri attempted to slit his own throat with the same khukuri.

Share Market Decline Continues This Week: The downward trend in the share market did not stop on last trading day of the week. Following four consecutive days of losses, the NEPSE index fell by 8.41 points on Thursday. Compared to the previous day, NEPSE dropped by 0.32% to close at 2,611.85 points. Earlier in the week, the index had declined by 12.04 points on Thursday, 12.53 on Sunday, 14.87 on Tuesday, and 13.96 on Wednesday. On Thursday, 82 companies saw their share prices rise, 164 companies experienced a decline, and one company’s price remained unchanged. A total of 78,493 trades resulted in shares worth NPR 708.33 million being transacted, with 17.42 million shares changing hands.

Supreme Court Rejects Petition Challenging Bishwo Poudel for potential Governor role: A writ petition challenging the qualifications of Dr. Bishwo Poudel as potential Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The petitioners, advocates Bishal Thapa and Prativa Upreti, had filed the petition on Tuesday, but it was not registered. After review, the Supreme Court administration rejected the petition against Poudel. Advocate Anant Raj Luitel informed the media on Friday morning that the petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court administration.

Nepal Insurance Authority to Adopt NRB’s Operational Framework: Nepal Insurance Authority has decided to align its regulatory and investigative functions with the operational framework of Nepal Rastra Bank starting from the new fiscal year. At the Authority’s 57th anniversary, Chairman Sharad Ojha announced a new plan to implement regulatory and research-related tasks in a manner similar to the Nepal Rastra Bank’s existing system. Currently, the Insurance Authority regulates through multiple separate directives, but Ojha stated that these will be repealed and replaced by a single unified directive, similar to Nepal Rastra Bank’s approach which consolidates all its instructions into one comprehensive directive.

Surplus Funds Deposited by Banks in Nepal Rastra Bank Increase Again: Due to a slowdown in loan investments relative to deposits, banks have started to increase surplus funds deposited with Nepal Rastra Bank again. According to Nepal Rastra Bank statistics, the amount currently deposited stands at NPR 3.41 trillion. Nepal Rastra Bank uses various monetary tools to withdraw surplus funds from banks, and when capital is low, it takes measures to increase liquidity in the banking system.

NEA Executive Director Shakya Highlights Power Supply Challenges Due to Transmission Line Limitations: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Hitendra Dev Shakya, stated that despite the increasing power generation, the expansion of transmission line networks has not kept pace, affecting the electricity supply. During a press conference held at NEA’s Syuichatar substation on Friday, Shakya explained that if the transmission line network is not expanded rapidly, even minor incidents like the one that occurred on Thursday night could disrupt power supply (tripping). He further emphasized that if the expansion of the transmission line network is not accelerated, it could lead to severe issues, crises, and accidents.

New Song ‘Ram Pyari’ Sung by Yam Baral Released: A new song titled ‘Ram Pyari,’ featuring the vocals of singer Yam Baral, has been released. The song’s lyrics are written by DP Khanal, music composed by Shankar Thapa Smile, and arrangement by Bishwo Adhikari. The song is accompanied by an attractive music video starring Yam Baral and actress Dipa Shree Niraula. Presented by Yummy Entertainment and E Global, the video is directed by Prem Lama. The video aims to showcase themes of love and entertainment. It is edited by Tekendra Shah, produced by Geetanjali Sharma, with cinematography and direction by Prem Lama. Dance direction is by Dipesh SK.

Film ‘Unko Sweater’ Enters Second Week with Rs. 50.75 million Gross Collection: The movie ‘Unko Sweater,’ which was released last Friday, has entered its second week of screening. According to the production company Artmandu Nepal Pvt. Ltd., the film grossed Rs. 50.75 millionin its first week. The official box office collection figures have not yet been publicly disclosed by the government, and discrepancies between producer claims and official reports are often expected. Written and directed by Naveen Chauhan, the film stars Bipin Karki, Miruna Magar, Pariksha Limbu, Alex Paras, Wilson Bikram Rai, Suraj Tamang, Bhawana Khapangi Magar, and Sunil Pokharel.

Film ‘Jaar’ Released Internationally Following Its Nepal and India Premiere: The film ‘Jaar,’ which has been screening in Nepal and India since last week, was released internationally starting Friday. The movie is now showing in countries including the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the Middle East. According to the production company Fairy Tale Pictures, the film had already premiered earlier on Thursday in Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Director Phurba Chiring Lama stated that ‘Jaar’ is currently being screened in local theaters across UAE cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Sharjah. It has also been released in Doha, Qatar, and Manama, Bahrain

Nepal Women’s Cricket Team Enters Super Three of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier: The Nepal Women’s Cricket Team has secured its place in the Super Three of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. Nepal advanced to the next stage after the match between Hong Kong and Bahrain was canceled due to rain on Friday. Although both Nepal and Hong Kong had 5 points each, Nepal moved ahead based on more victories. According to ICC’s playing conditions, if two or more teams have equal points after the double round-robin league, the team with the highest number of wins advances. Nepal accumulated 5 points with 2 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-result from 4 matches.

Nepal Captain Rohit Paudel to Depart for Scotland on Saturday for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2: Nepal’s national cricket team captain, Rohit Kumar Paudel, will be leaving for Scotland on Saturday to participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament. The rest of the Nepal team had already departed for Scotland on Tuesday. Due to his Class 12 examinations, Captain Rohit had not traveled with the team initially. Now that his exams are complete, he will join the squad in Scotland this Saturday, confirmed Chhumbi Lama, spokesperson of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). The Nepal team is set to compete in the League 2 tournament in Scotland starting June 2.

Nepal Heritage Run to Take Place on May 24 Connecting Cultural Sites of Kathmandu and Lalitpur: For the first time in Nepal, the ‘Nepal Heritage Run’ will be held on Saturday, June 7, covering a 25-kilometer route that links UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. This event is being launched in conjunction with the board meeting of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), which is scheduled to be held in Nepal. Organized by Race Nepal, the Heritage Run is expected to inspire and motivate athletes while showcasing Nepal’s rich cultural heritage by connecting significant historic and cultural landmarks across the Kathmandu Valley.

Israel Kills 143 In A Day as Gaza Death Toll Passes 53,000: Medical sources have stated that at least 143 Palestinians have been killed in a wave of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip since dawn on Thursday. Witnesses to an Israeli attack on a medical clinic in the Jabalia refugee camp on Thursday said patients were “torn apart” on the upper floor of the al-Tawbah clinic, and children were among the 13 killed. These attacks fell on the 77th anniversary of Nakba day, which marks the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 during the establishment of the Israeli state. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 53,010

Indians Urge Turkey Boycott Amid Regional Tensions: What began as public calls to boycott travel to Turkey has now escalated into a broader rupture, with India severing links with Turkish businesses and universities. The diplomatic chill stems from Turkey’s recent vocal support for Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan hostilities. On Thursday India barred Turkish firm Celebi from operating at its airports, citing national security concerns – an allegation the company denies. Several Indian universities – including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University- have also suspended academic ties with Turkish institutions.

India, Japan Notify WTO of Possible Retaliation Against U.S. Tariffs: India and Japan have recently notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of potential retaliatory measures in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. The European Union (EU) and Britain had submitted similar notifications to the WTO earlier. WTO documents show that both India and Japan argue that the U.S. tariffs, imposed since March 2018, constitute safeguard measures under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, although they were not officially notified by the United States to the WTO.