KATHMANDU: Welcome to Nepal News’ Evening Briefing—your go-to update on the day’s most important developments in Nepal and beyond. From politics and the economy to sports, entertainment, and global affairs, we bring you a concise roundup of key events. Here is today’s evening update:

Buddha Air Flight Lands Safely Without Nose Wheel: Buddha Air’s flight 506 (Call Sign 9N-ANH) from Janakpur to Kathmandu landed safely at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 5:06 PM without its nose wheel. Crew members discovered the issue post-landing, and the aircraft was handed over to a technical team. The missing nose wheel was later found at Janakpur Airport. All 62 passengers onboard were safe, confirmed TIA officials.

PM Oli Challenges Former King Gyanendra to Contest Elections: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has dismissed any possibility of Nepal returning to a monarchy, emphasizing that the country will not revert to a system of hereditary rule. Speaking at the inauguration of Nepal’s largest paper industry in Mahottari on Thursday, Oli addressed growing royalist sentiments and challenged former King Gyanendra Shah to participate in the 2027 elections if he seeks political legitimacy.

National Assembly Endorses Five Government Ordinances: The National Assembly (NA) approved five ordinances on Thursday, following the House of Representatives’ endorsement a day earlier. The ordinances include amendments to laws on governance, public service delivery, economic procedures, fiscal responsibility, privatization, business environment, investment promotion, and cooperatives. Despite opposition from some MPs, a majority supported the ordinances. Earlier attempts to reject them were unsuccessful. With this approval, the ordinances will now move forward. The National Assembly is set to convene again tomorrow.

Nepali Man Dies in Ghana While Traveling Illegally to the U.S.: Purna Bahadur Dangi from Dang, Nepal, passed away in Ghana while attempting to reach the U.S. through an illegal route. Former NRNA treasurer Hikmat Thapa confirmed the news, stating that Dangi’s body is at a hospital in Accra for post-mortem. His death coincides with stricter UN immigration policies, with nine undocumented Nepali nationals deported to Nepal on Wednesday.

Patan High Court Rules in Favor of Marwadi Sewa Samiti in Dharmashala Dispute: The Patan High Court has ruled in favor of the Marwadi Sewa Samiti, allowing it to retain management of the Gaushala Dharmashala, overturning Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah’s takeover attempt. The ruling nullifies KMC’s agreement with the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). The court reinstated the 2003 PADT-Marwadi Sewa Samiti agreement, preventing KMC from managing the facility. The Samiti welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for justice.

Opposition Criticizes Government Over Kulman Ghising’s Evaluation: The opposition, including the Maoist Center, strongly criticized the government in Wednesday’s parliamentary session over three key issues, with the alleged attempt to remove NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising taking center stage. Lawmakers condemned the government for giving Ghising a zero mark in his performance evaluation, calling it an unjust move against someone who played a crucial role in Nepal’s energy sector. The issue sparked intense debate during the emergency and zero-hour session.

Mayor Balen Rejects Reinstatement of Chief Administrative Officer: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balen Shah has refused to reinstate Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain, defying a directive from the federal government. In a letter sent Thursday, Shah argued that Guragain’s return would disrupt ongoing projects and create legal issues. This move has heightened tensions between KMC and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which had instructed KMC to facilitate Guragain’s return.

Minister Gurung Defends Government’s Commitment to Democracy: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, asserted that the government strongly upholds democracy. Speaking at the National Assembly, he dismissed claims of rising anarchy. Defending the recent ordinances, he emphasized their aim to curb inefficiency, bad governance, and irregularities. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to federal democracy and parliamentary integrity.

Six Non-Resident Ambassadors Present Credentials to Nepal’s President: Six newly appointed non-resident ambassadors to Nepal submitted their letters of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel at a special ceremony at Shital Niwas. The ambassadors include Alassane Conte (Niger), Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda (Uganda), Harris Harley (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Omar Lisandro (Guatemala), Antonio Enrico Bartoli (Italy), and Aliki Koutsomitopoulou (Greece). The ceremony marked their official diplomatic engagement with Nepal.

Former Crown Prince Paras Shah Discharged from Hospital: After suffering a fourth heart attack, former Crown Prince Paras Shah was admitted to Norvic Hospital on Sunday evening. Following treatment, he was discharged this morning. Doctors have scheduled a follow-up after a week.

NEPSE Falls by 2.70 Points, Turnover Reaches Rs. 10.10 Arab: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) declined by 2.70 points (0.09%) to close at 2,818.43, following a previous loss of 25.16 points. The index fluctuated between 2,834.07 and 2,811.37. Total turnover stood at Rs. 10.10 Arab across 93,895 transactions. Himalayan Reinsurance Limited led turnover with Rs. 1.12 Arab. Guardian Micro Life Insurance and Bhugol Energy gained 10%, while Nabil Debenture 2082 fell 6.84%. The Life Insurance Index saw the highest loss (-0.80%), while Development Banks gained 1.86%.

Finance Ministry Begins Discussions for 2025/26 Budget Formulation: The Ministry of Finance has initiated discussions with various ministries to formulate a disciplined and realistic budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel emphasized avoiding unnecessary transfers and amendments. He stressed prioritizing post-disaster reconstruction and including only implementable projects. Small projects will be phased out, and budget limits will be considered. The discussions included key officials from finance and infrastructure ministries.

Government Forms Committee for Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Appointment: The government has decided to form a recommendation committee to appoint a new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. The decision was made in a Cabinet meeting at Baluwatar. With Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari’s tenure ending on Chaitra 24, he will be on forced leave from Chaitra 5 to 15. Meanwhile, multiple contenders are lobbying for the position, presenting economic policy briefings to key stakeholders.

Trailer of Crime Thriller Film ‘11:55 – Do Not Trust Anyone’ Released: The trailer of the crime thriller film ‘11:55 – Do Not Trust Anyone’ was officially released on Thursday in Kathmandu. The trailer hints at a suspenseful family drama, designed to captivate audiences.Set to release on Chaitra 8, the film stars Mahesh Tripathi, Srishti Shrestha, Karishma Shrestha, MS Agraj, and debutant Sagar Khanal. Produced under Vichitra Films and Good Job Arts, it is distributed by Kuber Cine Distribution.

Actress Gauri Malla Bereaved: Actress Gauri Malla’s mother, Hemkumari, passed away at 88 while undergoing treatment at Gangalal Hospital on Thursday. Her final rites are being performed at Pashupati Aryaghat, with many film artists paying tribute.

Lalitpur Clinches Bagmati Selection Title, Remains Unbeaten in PM Cup: Lalitpur clinched the Bagmati selection title of the PM Cup National Men’s Cricket Tournament, remaining undefeated. In the final at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Lalitpur defeated Makwanpur by 65 runs. Chasing 193, Makwanpur was all out for 127 in 39.5 overs. Nandan Yadav took 4 wickets for Lalitpur, while Adil Khan top-scored with 55 runs. Yadav was named Player of the Tournament, with Bipin Acharya as Best Bowler and Shaurav Shakya as Best Batter.

Rising Star Enters Final of Kohalpur Gold Cup: Rising Star Football Club, Nawalparasi, secured a spot in the final of the Chief Minister Kohalpur Gold Cup by defeating Kankrebihar FC, Surkhet, 5-4 in a penalty shootout. Fakunle Abayomi Bolasiyun scored for Rising Star in the 19th minute, while Dhansingh BK equalized in the 78th. The final, against hosts Racing Sahara, is set for Falgun 24, with the winner receiving NPR 8 lakh and the runner-up NPR 4 lakh.

Nepal Police Club Defeats APF to Enter Birat Gold Cup Semifinals: Nepal Police Club advanced to the semifinals of the 9th Rumpum Birat Gold Cup after defeating defending champions APF FC 2-0 in the quarterfinals on Thursday at Shaheed Stadium, Biratnagar. Arun Gaha and Manish Sedhai scored for Police Club. Gaha netted a header in the 66th minute from Ujwal Rai’s cross, while Sedhai secured the win with a late goal. APF missed several scoring chances, including Buddhi Man Rai’s one-on-one opportunity in the 15th minute. Police Club’s Manish Sedhai was named Player of the Match, winning NPR 11,000. The third quarterfinal will see Three Star take on Machhindra FC on Friday.

Bagmati Announces Team for PM Cup, Prithu Baskota to Lead: Bagmati Province has announced its 15-member team for the Prime Minister Cup Men’s One Day National Cricket Tournament, with Prithu Baskota as captain. The final team was selected based on performances in the provincial qualifiers. The tournament begins on Sunday across three venues in Lumbini Province. Bagmati will face APF Club in the opening match at Siddhartha Cricket Ground, Bhairahawa. The competition features 10 teams, including seven provinces and three departmental sides.

PM Modi Emphasizes Global Partnerships to Boost India’s Cooperative Sector: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of India’s cooperative sector, stressing the need for global partnerships and promoting organic products. He proposed integrating UPI with RuPay and KCC cards to streamline financial transactions and advocated for cooperative farming using digital public infrastructure (Agristack). Modi also suggested introducing cooperative courses in educational institutions and focusing on exports. Home Minister Amit Shah and senior officials attended the meeting.

France Shares Intelligence with Ukraine as U.S. Pulls Back: French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed France is sharing intelligence with Ukraine after the U.S. suspended its intelligence-sharing. The move coincides with an EU summit in Brussels discussing defense spending and support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Europe’s independence in decision-making. Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe suggested the U.S. pause may be temporary, as Ukraine remains open to peace talks with Russia.

EU Summit to Strengthen Defense, Support Ukraine Amid Uncertainty in US Ties: In response to US-Russia talks, an extraordinary EU summit aims to bolster short-term support for Ukraine and secure Europe’s long-term defense autonomy. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security are at stake. A proposed €800 billion defense plan raises key questions about security guarantees, Europe’s US alliance, additional funding, and the potential confiscation of frozen assets.

U.S. Indicts 12 Chinese Nationals in Global Hacking Operation: The U.S. Justice Department indicted 12 Chinese nationals for a hacking campaign targeting dissidents, news organizations, and government agencies. The suspects, linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of State Security, allegedly stole information and aided in locating critics of the Chinese government. The FBI offered a $10 million reward for information. China denied the allegations, calling them baseless. The hackers targeted foreign ministries, religious groups, and media outlets.