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.
FRLD Executive Director Diong Calls on PM Oli: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held a courtesy meeting today at his residence, Baluwatar, with Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of The Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), for responding to climate change impacts. During the meeting, PM Oli thanked Diong for participating in the first series of the Sagarmatha Sambaad and emphasized the critical need to protect the Himalayas and the environment to ensure human security. He expressed concern over some wealthy countries trying to backtrack on the Paris Agreement, stressing that protecting Nepal’s pride—the Himalayas—is equally important for Nepal and the world.
Pokhara High Court Orders Retrieval of Documents in Surya Darshan Cooperative Fraud Case: The Pokhara High Court has ordered the retrieval of documents related to the Surya Darshan Cooperative fraud case involving Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane. The order was issued by a joint bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand and Justice Milan Kumar Rai after three consecutive days of hearings. The Kaski District Court had previously released Lamichhane on Rs. 6.5 million bail. The government attorney has appealed to keep him in custody, while Lamichhane has appealed against the bail amount. The High Court is currently reviewing petitions from both sides.
Sagarmatha Sambaad Calls for Establishment of Mountain-Focused Climate Fund: The Sagarmatha Sambaad, which concluded in Kathmandu after three days of discussions, issued a 25-point ‘Sagarmatha Call for Action’ Declaration. The declaration emphasized the need for a Mountain-Focused Climate Fund to address the impacts of climate change on mountainous regions. Global leaders agreed on the necessity of climate finance for vulnerable mountain areas, highlighting the importance of grants and concessional loans for climate resilience. The issues raised during the dialogue will be presented at international platforms, including the UN General Assembly and COP-30 in Brazil.
MP Singh Claims Ruling Parties Trying to Remove Deputy Speaker Rana Magar: Independent MP Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh has alleged that the ruling parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, are attempting to remove Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar by the end of May. Speaking during the House of Representatives’ special session, Singh claimed the move is politically motivated, aimed at replacing her with a Congress MP due to her indigenous background. He criticized Congress for its reluctance to appoint marginalized communities in key positions.
BJP Leader Vijay Jolly Meets Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh to Discuss Nepal-India Relations: Vijay Jolly, a leader from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh at Chakshibari on Sunday. The meeting, described as positive, focused on strengthening Nepal-India relations, according to Singh’s secretariat. Earlier, Vijay Chauthaiwale, the head of the BJP’s foreign affairs department, had also visited Nepal and met with several senior political leaders.
Deuba-aligned NC leaders strategize for upcoming general convention: As the Nepali Congress gears up for its 15th General Convention, six senior leaders considered close to the party’s old guard have continued their organized efforts to influence the party’s future direction. On Sunday, these influential former office bearers held a meeting focused on the upcoming convention. The meeting took place at former Vice President Gopal Man Shrestha’s apartment, located in Sanepa. The leaders present were Shrestha himself, Bimalendra Nidhi, Dr. Shashank Koirala, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat. Shrestha told Nepal News, “There wasn’t anything specific, we just chatted over tea.”
NRB Governor to be Appointed Within a Week: Minister Gurung: Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung announced that the government will appoint the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank within one week. Speaking to the media in Besisahar, Lamjung, on Sunday, Minister Gurung stated that the government will make a decision as soon as the Recommendation Committee submits its proposal. “The Recommendation Committee member, Dr. Bishwo Poudel, resigned and has been replaced by Economist Dr. Poshraj Pandey,” said Minister Gurung. He emphasized, “The government will decide as soon as the proposal is made.”
NHRC Completes Investigation into Tinkune Incident: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced that it has completed its investigation into the Tinkune incident that took place on Chaitra 15 (March 28). While receiving a memorandum from the family of the late journalist Suresh Rajak, NHRC Investigation Officer Manju Khatiwada stated that the incident was considered a serious matter, prompting a fast-track investigation. Khatiwada further informed that the investigation report would be made public within a few days, as the findings are currently being printed.
Court Extends Durga Prasai’s Detention by Four More Days: The court has granted an additional four-day extension for the detention of Durga Prasai and his associates to allow police to continue their investigation. With the latest extension, the total detention period now stands at 56 days. Police officials stated they are working to complete the investigation and submit a final report within this period. According to officials, the Office of the Government Prosecutor is preparing to file a charge sheet in the coming days. The case is expected to name over 100 individuals as defendants, linked to the March 28 Tinkune incident.
Corruption Case Filed Against Former Madhesh Minister Yadav: A corruption case has been filed against former Madhesh Province Minister Vijay Kumar Yadav. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) accused him, along with Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Thapa and former Chief Lilakumari Moktan, of embezzling funds by constructing a pond on Sagarnath Forest Project’s land. The claim demands Rs. 560 million in reparations.
School Education Bill Report Submitted to Parliamentary Committee: The report on the School Education Bill has been submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Health, and Information Technology. The subcommittee concluded detailed discussions and presented the report today. The committee had earlier extended the subcommittee’s deadline twice—first for 35 days starting Chaitra 8 and then an additional 10 days from Baisakh 22. In total, the subcommittee deliberated for 45 days. The report aligns with an agreement with the Teachers’ Federation to enact the bill by Asar 15.
IGP Thapa Directs Police Personnel to Uphold Discipline and Respect: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deepak Thapa has instructed police officers to maintain discipline, respect, and civilized behavior in their dealings with the public. Addressing officers at the Nepal Police Club in Bhrikutimandap, Thapa urged them to act as role models and work with a collective spirit. His directives come amid rising complaints of police misconduct and mistreatment of civilians and fellow officers.
Over 7.5 Kilograms of Gold Seized in Rasuwa; Driver Arrested: Authorities in Rasuwa have recovered approximately 7.5 kilograms of gold from Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-2. The gold was found in a vehicle transporting apples from Kerung to Kathmandu, according to Rasuwa Police Chief DSP Khem Bahadur Shahi. The driver, 24-year-old Kishor Bhujel, a local resident of Rasuwa, has been arrested in connection with the case. DSP Shahi stated, “The yellow substance seized weighs more than 7.5 kilograms. Legal procedures are underway.” The police team is currently returning to the district headquarters with the seized gold.
NEPSE Index Declines by 2.79 Points on Sunday: The NEPSE Index declined by 2.79 points on Sunday, marking its sixth straight day of downturn, settling at 2609 points. Despite the drop in the index, the trading volume surged, reaching Rs 8.5 billion, compared to Rs 7.08 billion on the previous trading day. 100 companies saw gains, while 145 declined, and one remained unchanged. The ‘Others’ group recorded the highest growth of 4.19%, driven by significant price hikes in Nepal Reinsurance and Himalayan Reinsurance. The Microfinance and Hotel & Tourism sectors increased by 1.22% and 1.11% respectively. All other sectors saw declines, with the Trade sector experiencing the largest drop of 2.68%.
Social Security Fund Collects Over Rs 79 billion from 2.2 million Contributors: The Social Security Fund has collected billions from contributors. The fund has collected Rs 79.42 billion from 2.13 million contributors. More people going for foreign employment have joined the fund compared to those working within Nepal. According to the statistics made public by the fund, 1.632 million workers who went for foreign employment are affiliated with the fund. Currently, 580,000 workers employed in 20,500 formal sector institutions have joined the Social Security Fund.
Federal Government Violates Budget Transfer Law: Legally, budget transfers are not permitted in the first three months of the fiscal year. The law also prohibits transferring funds from one budget heading to another. However, the federal government has been found violating these laws by transferring budgets from one heading to another from the first quarter itself. The 62nd report of the Auditor General shows that the issue of budget transfers has spread from the federal level to local levels. According to the report, the federal government has transferred NPR 250 billion, provinces have transferred NPR 3 billion, and local governments have transferred NPR 4 billion, all in violation of the law.
NRB to Withdraw Rs 24 billion from the Banking System on Sunday: Due to excess liquidity in the market recently, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has been continuously raising deposit amounts from the banking system. NRB has set the bidding time for 3 PM on Sunday for 21 days. Banks and financial institutions can bid for a minimum of Rs 100 million and in multiples of Rs 50 million, up to the total announced amount. According to NRB, the principal and interest payments are scheduled for Jestha 25 (mid-June).
Nepal Electricity Authority Blames Poorly Planned Grid Development for Frequent Power Cuts: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the frequent power cuts are due to unplanned development of the power grid. In a press release distributed to journalists on Sunday, the NEA mentioned that the issue of tripping has persisted for a long time. The NEA stated that even during the tenure of Kulman Ghising, tripping problems were prevalent during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons due to storms and heavy rainfall.
Nora Fatehi Performs with Nepali Artists at Hyatt Ground in Bouddha: Indian actress and dancer Nora Fatehi performed alongside Nepali artists at the five-star Hyatt Hotel grounds in Bouddha. Joining Nora on stage were Nepali artists Durgesh Thapa, Teriya Phouja Magar, Samarpan Lama, and others, adding vibrancy to the event. At the Hyatt grounds, Nora danced with her team, engaging the audience and getting them to dance along. The event, titled ‘Nora Fatehi Live in Nepal,’ was organized to support the social organization Human Respect Nepal, which works for the education of underprivileged children. Nora captivated the crowd by dancing to various popular Bollywood songs.
‘Comedy Darbar in America’ Announced by Aryan Films Production: ‘Comedy Darbar in America’ is set to take place, as announced by Aryan Films Production Private Limited during a press conference on Saturday. The company officially signed an agreement with Maya Entertainment Studio, the production company behind ‘Comedy Darbar,’ on Saturday morning. For the event, the agreement was signed by Gopal Katuwal, CEO of Aryan Films, and Shraddha Prasai from Maya Entertainment Studio. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Aryan Films CEO Katuwal stated that although his company has long been active in film and music video production, this marks its first step into the international arena, with the goal of reaching as many Nepalis in America as possible.
Film ‘Unko Sweater’ Receives Excellent Business and Critical Response: The film Unko Sweater, which has been screening since Baishakh 26, is receiving outstanding responses both commercially and critically. Written and directed by Naveen Chauhan, the movie has already grossed NPR 57.5 million in its first week at the box office. Currently, Unko Sweater is being simultaneously screened in over 30 cities across the United States. Nepali audiences from New York to California, Texas to Washington, and Ohio to Florida have had the opportunity to watch the film in their nearby cinemas. There is growing enthusiasm for the film within Nepali communities throughout America, as evident from the advance ticket bookings and packed theaters.
Nepal to Face UAE in Crucial ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier Match: Nepal is set to face United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first match of the Super Three stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Thailand on Monday. A victory in this match would secure Nepal’s spot in the Global Qualifiers for the T20 World Cup. However, a loss would mean elimination from the tournament. Meanwhile, host nation Thailand has already secured its place in the Global Qualifiers with one match remaining in the Super Three stage. On Sunday, Thailand defeated UAE by 54 runs, ensuring its qualification with a total of 8 points. Nepal currently stands at 5 points, while UAE has 6 points, with both teams still having two matches left to play.
PM Oli Congratulates Medal Winners of South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended congratulations to the medal-winning athletes of the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship. During a program held today at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, Oli praised the promising young athletes, encouraging them to maintain high morale and work hard to achieve success in global competitions. The tournament, organized by the All Nepal Table Tennis Association, took place in Kathmandu from April 24 to 27. Nepal secured a total of 12 medals, including 1 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze. In the U-19 Boys’ Team Event, Nepal’s team, comprising Pravesh Basnet, Gananjay Dahal, Himal Bista, and Rubin Maharjan, won the gold medal.
Nepal Army’s 26th Brigade Begins ‘Brigade Commander Trophy’ in Kavrepalanchok: The ‘Brigade Commander Trophy,’ organized by the 26th Brigade of the Nepali Army at Bhakundebesi, Kavrepalanchok, commenced on Sunday. In the football match held under the competition, Shree Meher Battalion of Dhulikhel defeated Indradhwaj Battalion of Sindhupalchok with a score of 1–0. Shreejan Baniya from Shree Meher Battalion scored the decisive goal. Inaugurating the trophy, Assistant Rathi Nirjal Bahadur Adhikari, the Brigade Commander of the 26th Brigade, highlighted that the Nepali Army has been promoting the slogan “Sports for Health” and organizing the Chief of Army Staff, Division Commander, and Brigade Commander trophies every year.
Trump Says will Speak to Putin to End Ukraine ‘bloodbath’: US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, a day after the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years. Trump, who has been pressing Russia to agree a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, said he would speak with Putin by phone on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the state TASS news agency the call was “being prepared”. Earlier Saturday, the Kremlin had said that a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be possible only after both sides reach an agreement.
Israel Expands Gaza Offensive with Airstrikes: Israeli forces continue bombarding Gaza, killing at least 101 Palestinians since dawn, including 36 in the so-called “safe zone” of al-Mawasi. The intensified attacks come as Israel mobilises for a new ground assault on Gaza and resumes ceasefire talks with Hamas in Qatar. Arab leaders in Baghdad call for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza and appeal for global action to get humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 53,272 Palestinians and wounded 120,673, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Pope Leo XIV Set for Papal Inauguration as World Leaders Gather at Vatican: Pope Leo XIV will formally become the head of the Catholic Church today in a grand papal inauguration at St. Peter’s Square, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims and a gathering of world leaders and dignitaries to the Vatican. The ceremony will mark the official start of Leo’s papacy. The pope will formally receive the pallium, a woolen stole symbolising his role as shepherd, and the fisherman’s ring, a gold signet engraved with an image of St. Peter. The ring, unique to each pontiff, will be used to seal important documents and will be ceremonially destroyed upon his death. He will also ride the white popemobile for the first time.
