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.
Prime Minister Oli Calls for Talks with Striking Teachers: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called on protesting teachers to come to the negotiating table. Assuring that the government would fulfill all possible demands, he urged the teachers to end their strike and return to their schools. Speaking at an event in Kathmandu today, PM Oli said, “Please come to the table immediately to resolve the issue, reach an agreement, and return. This is my request.”
PM Oli emphasized that the government is not “negative” toward the demands raised by the teachers. “There is no question of the government being negative about their demands. We will fulfill all possible requests,” he said. Since April 2, teachers and employees from government schools, led by the Teacher Federation, have been protesting in Kathmandu, demanding the implementation of the School Education Act, among other issues.
Four Die in Tractor Accident in Kalikot: A tractor accident in Palanta, Kalikot has resulted in the deaths of four individuals. The vehicle was transporting food grains from Thirpu in Palanta-9 when it plunged off a cliff near Larfa village in Palanta-2. The incident occurred around 11 p.m., according to local authorities.
The victims have been identified as Amma Shahi (32) of Palanta-5, Sadu Budha (38) of Palanta-4, Rabindra BK (23), and the driver, Chandra Prakash Rokaya, from Khatyad Rural Municipality-5 in Mugu district. Kalikot police say an investigation is underway, and further information is being collected.
Four Die After Jeep Catches Fire on Way to Pathibhara Temple: A tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when a Bolero jeep heading to the Pathibhara temple caught fire after reportedly coming into contact with a live electric wire. The accident took place near Gundre and Tersai along the Kaflepati road stretch of Phungling Municipality-10 at around 4:50 a.m. According to police and local sources, the jeep, which had left from Phungling Bazaar carrying pilgrims from Lalitpur, was engulfed in flames after a fallen electrical wire struck the vehicle.
Journalist Basanta Limbu reported that the fire resulted in the deaths of four individuals on the spot, while two others were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. The victims include 45-year-old driver Durga Bhattarai from Furumbu, Phungling-10; 16-year-old Adhya Acharya; her maternal grandfather, 70-year-old Binod Poudel of Bhadrapur-15, Jhapa; and her 69-year-old grandmother, Sarita Poudel. All were part of the same family traveling for religious purposes.
Three Children Go Missing in Danav River, Search Operation Underway: Three children have gone missing while swimming in the Danav River at Ardauli, located in Lumbini Cultural Municipality-2 of Rupandehi district. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailendra Thapa, who also serves as the joint spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF), a search operation was launched on Monday afternoon after the children were reported missing.
A team of security personnel trained in disaster response was immediately deployed from the APF Nepal Border Outpost in Bayarghat. The missing children have been identified as Umesh Yadav (13), Raj Yadav (14), and Munu Harijan (12), all residents of the same locality. Authorities said the trio disappeared around 12:30 PM while swimming in the river. An APF team led by an Armed Police Inspector is currently carrying out search efforts at the site. Further updates are awaited as the rescue operation continues.
Habeas Corpus Hearing Deferred in Lamichhane Case: The Supreme Court has been unable to proceed with the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. The petition—filed by his wife Nikita Poudel on Sunday—claims that Lamichhane is being unlawfully detained. A preliminary hearing had been scheduled for today (Monday) under the single bench of Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal.
However, the case could not be heard as Justice Phuyal recused himself, having previously presided over another case involving Lamichhane—his passport misuse case—raising concerns over potential conflict of interest. Lamichhane was initially released on Rs 10 million bail by the Rupandehi District Court in the cooperative fraud case. However, the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court overturned that ruling on Chaitra 22, 2081 B.S. (April 4, 2025), ordering that he be sent to custody for pre-trial detention.
Foreign Minister Rana Chairs ESCAP 81st Session: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the Asia-Pacific region today confronts a number of critical policy challenges. She said this in her Acceptance Speech as the Chair of the 81st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand, today.
According to the Minister, the challenges include: the rising fiscal vulnerabilities as well as financial limitations; trade fragmentation and protectionist trends that threaten to reverse hard-won development gains; the digital divide—particularly between urban and rural communities; the inadequate social protection systems and the region remaining at the frontlines of climate-induced disasters. Further explaining the challenges, Minister Dr Rana said that the rising fiscal vulnerabilities as well as financial limitations are constraining the ability of governments to deliver essential services and make the necessary long-term investments in human capital and sustainable infrastructure.
Prachanda Expresses Belief in Rastriya Samachar Samiti’s Role in Promoting Federal Democracy: Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister, has expressed his confidence that the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) photo book will play a significant role in promoting and institutionalizing the development of federal democratic republic.
While receiving the “Rastriya Samachar Samiti Photo Book: 16 Years of Republic” at his residence in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Prachanda stated that the book will help the public understand the achievements and development projects that have taken place since the establishment of the republic. He praised the work done by RSS in supporting the republic and suggested that this photo book serves as an important example of their contributions.
Parliamentary Committee Nears Consensus on Civil Service Bill: A parliamentary committee is close to reaching a consensus on the Civil Service Bill. According to Ramhari Khatiwada, the chairperson of the State Affairs and Governance Committee in the House of Representatives, an agreement is imminent. The committee is preparing to pass the bill in its next meeting.
“I will coordinate with the Prime Minister. I’ve also spoken with opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Since he will be out of Kathmandu on the 11th, we’ve decided to hold the meeting on the 10th,” Khatiwada stated. This indicates that the State Affairs and Governance Committee will likely finalize the bill in the presence of PM KP Sharma Oli and the leader of the main opposition, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda.’
Teachers’ Protest Into 20th Day, Commuters Hit Hard by Traffic Hassle: School teachers from across the country have continued their protests centered on Maitighar-New Baneshwor area for the past few days. Although the protest remains peaceful, it has caused disruptions in traffic management, leading to inconveniences for commuters who are facing route diversions, unexpected congestion, and delays in reaching their destinations.
It said the disruption in traffic management during peak hours has largely affected students, employees and business community. Ram Prasad Dahal, 35, of Lokanthali, Bhaktapur said that his daily schedule has been affected by the continued agitations of teachers along one of the busiest area of the Kathmandu Valley. It has significantly lengthened the travel hours to reach the office from the residence, he said. Mina Lama, 28, of Old Baneshwor has the same experiences. She wanted the agitating teachers to not cause inconveniences to daily commuters.
RPP General Secretary Rana Describes Good Treatment in Custody: Dhawal Shamser JBR, the general secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, has stated that he and his colleagues were treated well by the police during their detention. Addressing party workers after his release on bail, Jabara described the facilities in custody as decent.
Initially, the police asked if they wanted to go to the hospital, but JBR clarified that he had no intention of staying there, opting instead to remain in police custody. “I felt fine and had no thoughts of going to the hospital,” he said. However, after a few days, he noticed some issues related to his previous surgery, which led him to seek advice from Mumbai. Following their recommendation to get a follow-up appointment, he decided to leave custody to avoid serious health complications.
UML Leader Bhattarai Challenges Proof of Loss from Airport Signatures: Yogesh Bhattarai, secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), has challenged those accusing him of causing financial loss to the state through his signatures regarding the Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports. He made the challenge on social media, urging anyone with proof to come forward.
“I served as the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation from July 31, 2019, to December 20, 2020. If any decision signed by me during that time caused financial loss to the state, I challenge the media to provide proof and make it public,” Bhattarai posted. He further accused those criticizing him of being part of a larger, orchestrated campaign against him.
RSP Vice-Chair Wagle Calls for Constitutional Retrofit: Swarmin Wagle, the Vice-Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has stated that it is time to make necessary amendments to the constitution. Speaking at an entrepreneur conference in Bhairahawa, Wagley emphasized that constitutional reforms are essential to improve the economy, which he described as being at a critical juncture. Wagle, who is also a Member of the House of Representatives, stressed the need for structural changes, including the introduction of a directly elected executive chief and restrictions on members of parliament serving as ministers.
He further highlighted the need for substantial reforms in the provincial assemblies. “Do we really need 884 lawmakers? How much work can so many MPs do?” Wagle asked, adding, “In the provinces alone, there are 550 members, and in the House of Representatives, 275. Therefore, we have called for the abolition of provincial assemblies and comprehensive reforms.”
Police Arrest One More Person in Kathmandu Vandalism Incident: Kathmandu police have arrested an additional suspect in connection with the vandalism and arson incident that occurred on March 28 inTinkune. The arrested individual is Om Prakash Luitel, 48, from Arjundhara Municipality-5 in Jhapa.
Police claim Luitel was involved in the vandalism and fire-related activities in Three Kune. He has been remanded for four days of investigation by the court, with the previous detainees also facing extended detention.
Anti-Corruption Case Filed Against Assistant Overseer Yadav: An anti-corruption case has been filed against Dinesh Prasad Yadav, an Amin (Assistant Overseer) working in the Bagmati Urban Land Consolidation Project in Gaurighat, for embezzling over Rs 32.90 million.
According to the spokesperson for the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Rajendra Kumar Paudel, the investigation revealed that Yadav’s total legitimate income over the period from September 8, 2006, to June 14, 2024, was Rs24.20 million. However, his total expenditure on items like housing loans, jewelry, land purchases, and vehicle acquisitions exceeded Rs57.10 million, raising suspicions of corruption. The CIAA has initiated a formal investigation into the case.
NEPSE Index Sees Modest Decline: Today, the NEPSE index fell by 7.75 points to settle at 2,698.28. According to the NEPSE, 21.12 million 3,766 shares of 319 different companies were bought and sold 78,678 times, generating a turnover of Rs 8.77 billion 5,720,293, according to NEPSE. In today’s trading, the development bank group increased by 0.43 percent, hotels and tourism by 0.06 percent, hydropower by 0.77 percent, investment by 0.17 percent, production and processing by 0.03 percent and mutual funds by 0.44 percent.
All other sub-indices decreased. Banking 0.85, Finance 1.03, Life Insurance 0.16, Microfinance 0.11, Non-Life Insurance 0.15, Trade 1.52 and other groups decreased by 1 percent.Nepal Microinsurance Company Limited and Crest Microlife Insurance Company Limited saw the highest increase in share prices today by 9.99 percent. The share price of NMB Hybrid Fund-2 was the highest decrease by 7.90 percent.
SC Defers Hearing on Governor Appointment Criteria Again: The Supreme Court on Monday once again failed to conduct a hearing on a writ petition demanding a halt to the implementation of revised criteria for the appointment of Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor. The case, scheduled for hearing before a joint bench of Justices Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Nripadhwaj Niraula, was deferred under the category of “not heard due to time constraints”.
The government had amended the criteria for governor appointment, allowing individuals above the age of 65 to be eligible for the position—an age limit that was previously disqualifying. Challenging this amendment, advocate Bishal Thapa and others filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court. In response, a single bench of Justice Nityananda Pandey had issued a short-term interim order to not implement the revised criteria until further notice.
NPC Advises Budget Cuts in Ailing Projects Amid Funding Shortfall: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has submitted a report to the Ministry of Finance recommending significant cuts in sick and problematic projects due to a possible shortage of financial resources for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83. On Sunday, while submitting a report on policy and programmatic discussions related to the budget formulation for the next fiscal year, the Commission suggested budget cuts for underperforming projects, stating that even mandatory obligation sectors might face resource pressures.
“There is little likelihood of significant improvements in revenue mobilization in the upcoming fiscal year. The inflow of foreign grants has been declining in recent years, and foreign loans are not being mobilized as per commitments,” the report notes. “As a result, overall financial resources have become limited, requiring proper management.”
Indian Power Minister Khattar to Visit Nepal for Arun-3 Project: India’s Minister of Power and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, is set to visit Nepal on Tuesday to inspect the Arun-3 hydropower project. The project is being developed by SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company (SAPDC), a subsidiary of the Indian company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). Minister Khattar will return to India on Wednesday after his visit.
Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, will also join the inspection. SJVN Chairperson Rajkumar Chaudhary and CEO Prashant Sharma will be in attendance.
Mobile Wallet Transactions Cross NPR 300 billion in Nepal: Mobile wallet transactions in Nepal have surpassed NPR 300 billion. According to data published by Nepal Rastra Bank, wallet transactions reached NPR 326.19 billion in the first eight months (Shrawan to Falgun) of the current fiscal year.
This figure has already exceeded the total wallet transactions of the previous fiscal year 2080/81, which stood at NPR 302 billion. In comparison, in 2079/80, wallet transactions totaled only NPR 219 billion. Five years ago, the total annual wallet transaction was merely NPR 76 billion, highlighting the rapid growth of digital payments in Nepal.
Nepathya to Perform in Boston as Part of U.S. Tour: Nepal’s most beloved and iconic folk-rock band Nepathya is set to perform in the United States, with their music set to resonate in Boston. The event, titled “Nepathya Live in Boston,” will take place on Wednesday, June 11. The concert is being organized by DJ Mukunda Entertainment, which has been actively organizing musical events in the U.S. for many years.
According to organizer Mukunda Pokharel, preparations are already underway to make the Boston show a grand success. The concert will be held at Royale Boston, a renowned venue in the city. It is considered one of the most eagerly awaited musical events by the Nepali community in the region. In addition to Boston, Nepathya is scheduled to perform in seven U.S. states during their tour.
Filming Begins for New Nepali Movie ‘Karki Saaila’ with Auspicious Rituals: The upcoming Nepali film ‘Karki Saaila’ has officially begun production with a script worship and auspicious inauguration ceremony held on Monday at Mahadevsthan, Koteshwar. The event featured the main cast, including popular actors Jitu Nepal and Barsha Siwakoti, who gave the film’s inaugural shot.
During the ceremony, Janakdeep Parajuli called the action, while producer Sushil Pokharel clapped the slate. Dambar Bahadur Rai switched on the camera, and producer-actor Ugrasen Dhungana broke a coconut as part of the traditional camera worship ritual. The film is being produced under the banner of Karnabahadur Films Pvt. Ltd., with Rajendra Basnet as the director. The film is presented by Krishna Bhagat Chamling.
Benisha Hamal to Release Two Films on Shrawan 23: Actress Benisha Hamal is all set for a busy year with two of her films releasing on the same day! Her films Mohar and Cetamol, both featuring Benisha in lead roles, will be released on Shrawan 23. In Mohar, Benisha shares screen space with actor Pal Shah, and in Cetamol, she is paired with Saugat Malla. With two big releases on the same day, Benisha will be juggling a lot!
Benisha will have four movies in theaters this year altogether. Her film Kalli is already confirmed for release on 21st Kartik, and there are also rumors about her other film Eklo coming out this year. Benisha has recently finished shooting for both Mohar and Kalli and has even worked on an international film. With so much work in her pipeline, it’s clear that Benisha Hamal is going to be one of the busiest actresses this year.
ANFA Begins Process to Appoint Pro-License Head Coach for Women’s National Football Team: The All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has initiated the process of appointing a head coach with a Pro License for the national women’s football team. This will be the first time that a Pro-License holding coach will be appointed for the women’s team. On Monday, ANFA issued a public notice opening applications for the coaching position. This time, the association has specified that only coaches with a Pro License will be considered for the role.
ANFA has stated that eligible candidates must have prior experience managing a senior women’s national team or a youth national team. Additionally, applicants must have at least two years of coaching experience and a proven track record in football coaching. Similarly, ANFA has also opened applications for the position of Performance Analyst for the women’s team. Applicants for this post are required to have a fitness course certificate, experience in Level One data analysis, and at least one year of relevant professional experience.
Speaker Ghimire Emphasizes Potential of Adventure Sports to Promote Sports Tourism: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has stated that adventure sports could play a key role in promoting sports tourism in Nepal. Inaugurating the Madan Bhandari Invitational National Taekwondo Tournament on Monday in Kathmandu, Speaker Ghimire noted that Nepal’s unique geographical landscape holds great potential for adventure sports, which could in turn help develop sports tourism and generate national revenue.
He acknowledged that although the government has made various efforts for the development of the sports sector, much still remains to be done. Stressing that sports strengthen national identity and enhance Nepal’s recognition on the global stage, Ghimire urged all stakeholders to actively contribute to the growth of this sector. The national taekwondo tournament is being organized under the scheduled program of the Madan Bhandari Sports Academy, which aims to host nationwide competitions in 18 different sports disciplines.
Nepal Police and Army Secure Wins at 10th Manimukunda Cup Volleyball Tournament: In the ongoing 10th Manimukunda Cup Indo-Nepal Club Championship 2082 volleyball tournament held in Butwal, both the Nepal Police and Nepal Army teams registered victories. In Sunday night’s first match, Nepal Police Club defeated the Gandaki Province Volleyball Association. Police dominated the first set with a score of 25–11 but failed to win the second and third sets.
Nepal Police lost the second set 25–22 and the third 25–23 to Gandaki. However, they made a strong comeback to win the fourth set 30–28 and the decisive fifth set 15–9, securing victory. In the second match of the evening, Tribhuvan Army Club of the Nepali Army defeated the Armed Police Force (APF) Club to claim their win in the tournament.
Pope Francis Passes Away: Pope Francis, a reformer from Argentina who rattled the Catholic Church’s traditionalists and inspired progressives by reaching out to gay people and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor, has died, the Vatican announced. He was 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the Pope’s death in a statement released by the Vatican during the early hours of Monday.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” the Cardinal said. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized,” he added. Francis’ body will be put on display in an open coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, where pontiffs have been buried for more than 100 years.
Vance in Delhi to Meet Modi Amid Tariff Tensions: US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in the Indian capital, Delhi, where he is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid global trade tensions sparked by Washington’s tariff policies. The talks are likely to focus on fast tracking a much-awaited bilateral trade deal between the two countries. Vance is also expected to go on a sightseeing tour of Agra and Jaipur with his family.
His visit comes as countries across the world rush to negotiate trade deals before US President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends on 9 July. Vance visited the Akshardham temple in Delhi with his family “The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” India’s foreign ministry said ahead of Vance’s visit. The vice-president is accompanied by his children and wife Usha Vance whose parents migrated to the US from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Russia Resumes Air Attacks After Easter Truce, Claims Ukraine: Russia has resumed air attacks on eastern and southern Ukraine, regional Ukrainian officials said Monday, after Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating an Easter truce. “The Russian army has launched drones at the region,” Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Sergiy Lysak said on Telegram. He said a home was damaged and a fire broke out at a food establishment but no injuries had been reported. Vitaliy Kim, governor of Ukraine’s southern Mykolaiv region, said that Russian air attacks had resumed there as well.
“On the morning of April 21, at about 4:57 am, the enemy attacked the city with missiles, the type is being determined. There were no casualties or damage,” he wrote. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday accused Russia of carrying out more than 2,000 violations of the Easter truce, but said there had been no air raid alerts across Ukraine and suggested extending a pause on aerial strikes.
Israel Air Force Eliminates Hezbollah Engineering Head: The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked earlier today in the Houla area in southern Lebanon and eliminated the terrorist who served as the head of engineering for the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the al-Adisa compound.
In addition, IAF fighter jets recently attacked in the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon several launchers and military infrastructure where Hezbollah terrorists were operating. These actions by the terrorist organization Hezbollah constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” said the IDF.
