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.

President Paudel Offers Prayers at Bouddhanath on Buddha Jayanti: President Ram Chandra Paudel and First Lady Sabita Paudel offered prayers at Guru Lhakhang Monastery in Boudhanath on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Jayanti. On this occasion, President Paudel circumambulated the Bouddha Mahachaitya and observed the precious relics (Astudhatu) of Lord Buddha. Since early morning, devotees thronged the Bouddha area to observe the relics of Buddha. Rare relics of Kashyap Buddha and Swayambhu Mahachaitya, along with precious Astudhatu, were put on display at Bouddhanath. Shree Bouddhanath and Melamchi Ghyang Guthi made arrangements for the public to observe these sacred relics.

Prime Minister Oli Participates in the 2569th Buddha Jayanti Program: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli participated in the program organized on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Jayanti. Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya welcomed him. Buddha Jayanti is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Baisakh Shukla. Along with Prime Minister Oli, Chairman of the Lumbini Development Fund and Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, federal government ministers, Lumbini Province’s Chief, Chief Minister, members of the Provincial Council of Ministers, and heads and representatives of diplomatic missions were present. Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to return to Kathmandu today.

Prime Minister Oli Says Nepal Suggested India and Pakistan to Avoid Conflict: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stated that India and Pakistan were on the brink of conflict, but Nepal advised them to avoid escalation. While addressing the Buddha Jayanti ceremony in Lumbini today, Prime Minister Oli revealed this matter. He said, “Just a few days ago, there was nearly a scuffle between India and Pakistan in our neighborhood. But the scuffle did not escalate. Thanks to their restraint, we said from the beginning, let it not expand. We wished that this conflict situation would not turn into a war. We even communicated with them, and they assured us that it would not turn into a war.” Oli mentioned that accusations and counter-accusations are still ongoing between India and Pakistan, and he reiterated the significance of Buddha’s message of peace for all times and places.

UML Province MP Seen with PM KP Sharma Oli Despite Being on Nepal Police’s Wanted List: A Member of the Provincial Assembly from the CPN-UML, who is on the Nepal Police’s wanted list, was seen alongside Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at a program. Lumbini Province MP Bishnu Panthee participated as a guest with the Prime Minister at the Buddha Jayanti event held in Lumbini. Panthee was elected from Kapilvastu Constituency No. 1 (A). The police had already taken permission from the court 10 months ago to arrest him and had instructed the District Police Office of Rupandehi to take him into custody. However, despite the arrest warrant, Panthee, who is from the Prime Minister’s party, is moving around freely.
Panthee, also associated with Gautam Buddha Hydropower Company, has complaints filed against him along with Devaraj Khanal.

Government Repeatedly Urges Social Media Platforms for Registration, Yet They Ignore: The government has repeatedly written letters to regulate and enlist social media platforms, but they have ignored it. According to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, only four social media platforms have been registered so far. More than 40 social media platforms are operational in Nepal. Viber, WeChat, TikTok, and Nimbuzz are registered as per Nepali law, but Meta-owned Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have not been registered. Likewise, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, LinkedIn, WeChat, YouTube, Telegram, Truth, Greater, Reddit, Line, and others are operating in Nepal but have not complied with the registration as required by Nepal’s law.

Prachanda Slams Government as Corrupt and Middleman-Driven: Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ labeled the current government as one dominated by brokers, middlemen, and corruption. Speaking at the YCL Nepal Karnali Province Conference held in Birendranagar on Monday, Prachanda criticized the government’s failure to tackle corruption effectively. He remarked, “I had said, ‘If Prachanda’s files are in the palace, open them.’ But they did not have the courage to do so because there was nothing against me. We have always talked about good governance, justice, and equality.” Prachanda further added that his commitment to fighting corruption to establish the foundations of socialism did not sit well with those in power, leading to his exclusion from the government.

CIAA Chief Rai Favors Action in High-profile Corruption Cases, Three Commissioners Oppose: As the Supreme Court nears the final phase of hearings on the constitutional appointment dispute, its impact is being felt within the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Nepal’s primary anti-corruption agency. CIAA officials are divided over whether to proceed with corruption cases involving powerful politicians, government officials, and business figures. Despite comprehensive investigations and prepared reports, CIAA Chief Prem Kumar Rai is pushing to file cases without delay. He is supported by only one commissioner, while the remaining three stand against him. The majority of commissioners argue that filing high-profile corruption cases while their own appointments are under judicial review could unnecessarily escalate tensions.

Major Parties Agree to Keep Trade Unions in Civil Service, RSP and RPP Oppose: Major political parties have agreed to maintain trade unions in civil service. However, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have differing views on this. In a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives, RPP MP Buddhi Man Tamang said that bureaucracy appeared stronger than politicians. Tamang questioned, “Earlier, there was almost an agreement not to have trade unions, but now on what basis are they being kept? Our bureaucracy is so strong that nothing we say happens, but everything they say does.” He further pointed out that while Congress and UML previously opposed trade unions in civil service, their stance has changed recently.

US Embassy in Kathmandu Holds Memorial for Eight Officials Killed in Helicopter Crash During Earthquake Relief Ten Years Ago: The US Embassy in Kathmandu held a memorial service in remembrance of eight officials who died in a helicopter crash during rescue operations following the earthquake ten years ago. US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, was present at the event, which paid tribute to five American military officers and three Nepalese soldiers. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2072 B.S. (2015) killed nearly 9,000 people. During the rescue operations, an American military helicopter crashed at Sindhure Danda, located at the border of Dolakha and Sindhupalchok.

Mount Everest and Other Peaks Climbing Halted Due to Bad Weather: The climbing season for Mount Everest and various other peaks continues this spring, but adverse weather conditions have affected expeditions on Monday, including on Everest and Kanchenjunga. According to the Department of Tourism, strong winds disrupted climbing activities on Everest. “Climbers could not proceed due to high-speed winds,” said Director Himal Gautam. Many climbers preparing for the ascent are now retreating to safer locations. Those with sufficient oxygen supplies are waiting at Camps II and III for better weather. Pasang Bhote, a representative of the Department’s temporary field office at Everest Base Camp, confirmed that the bad weather has significantly impacted the summit plans.

Kirat Community Celebrates Ubhauli Festival: The Kirat community celebrated the Ubhauli festival on Monday. Kirat followers, including Rai, Limbu, and other ethnic groups, celebrate Ubhauli, also known as Chandi Purnima, by worshipping nature. In Kirat communities, every year on Baisakh Shukla Purnima, before planting crops, they worship nature at village shrines (Bhumesthan) to pray for good harvests.
On Mangsir Shukla Purnima, after harvesting and preparing for winter, people move to the plains, and from today, they begin their journey uphill. After Baisakh Purnima, as the temperature rises, members of this community living in the plains start moving towards the hills, which is why it is called Ubhauli.

Nepal’s External Economy Remains Strong, Claims NRB: Nepal’s external economy remains strong, while internal sectors are gradually improving, according to the latest statistics from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). NRB’s report for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2081/82 (July to March) highlights significant growth in foreign exchange reserves and remittance inflows. Share mortgage loans and import credits have also increased, indicating rising investor confidence. Remittance inflows grew by 10% in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2081/82 (July to March), reaching NPR 1.19 trillion. Similarly, the current account surplus stood at NPR 210.22 billion, compared to NPR 179.83 billion in the same period last year.

Nepal’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Hit Record High for 31 Consecutive Months: Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves have been setting records for 31 consecutive months, reaching over NPR 2.426 trillion as of March. The continuous rise is attributed to increasing remittances, expanding imports and exports, and improvements in sectors like tourism. According to the economic and financial report published by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Sunday, the foreign exchange reserves grew by NPR 385.74 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Compared to the end of the previous fiscal year in mid-July 2081 BS, the reserves have surged by 18.9%. Back then, the total reserves stood at NPR 2.041 trillion. In US dollar terms, the reserves increased from USD 15.27 billion in mid-July to USD 17.63 billion by March, marking a growth of 15.4%, as highlighted by NRB.

Government Collects Rs 153 billion in Infrastructure Tax from Petroleum Imports in a Decade:  The government has collected Rs 153.15 billion in infrastructure development tax from petroleum imports over the last decade. This amount was collected from the fiscal year 2072/73 to the end of Chaitra 2081/82. Infrastructure development tax is collected at the customs point during petroleum imports. According to Nepal Oil Corporation spokesperson Manoj Kumar Thakur, the collected amount is directly deposited into the government’s account. The fund, collected under the titles of infrastructure development and Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project construction, has been an additional burden on consumers. The government began imposing this tax after announcing the Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project—a 1,200 MW initiative in Dhading and Gorkha districts—in the fiscal year 2072/73.

Government to Tighten Import of Low-Quality Electric Vehicles: The government is set to tighten the import of substandard electric vehicles (EVs) after rising complaints from consumers. To address widespread consumer exploitation, the government has concluded that quality standards for EVs must be established and enforced. The number of EV importers has been rising, with many companies importing 40–50 vehicles, selling them, and then shutting down, leaving consumers without after-sales services or spare parts. Currently, EV imports in Nepal do not require adherence to any quality standards, allowing importers to sell low-quality vehicles at high profits.

First Look Posters of ‘Rimai’ Unveiled: The first look posters of the film Rimai, directed by Khil Bahadur Gurung, have been released. The posters were unveiled on Monday, coinciding with the celebration of Buddha Jayanti. Three distinct posters were made public, highlighting the film’s release date as Bhadra 27. The first poster features actors Dayahang Rai and Risma Gurung. The second poster includes actress Gaumaya Gurung alongside them, while the third showcases Dayahang, Risma, Gaumaya, and most of the main cast. The posters reflect the Gurung culture, with the characters depicted according to traditional customs. The visuals are expected to generate excitement among audiences.

Actress Usha Poudel Marries Rahul KC in the US: Actress Usha Poudel, who has been residing in the United States for a long time, tied the knot with Rahul KC on Sunday. Poudel had earlier registered her marriage with KC on Baisakh 15 through a court marriage. Recently, they performed the traditional wedding ceremony as per Nepali customs. The wedding was attended by Nepali artists based in the US. Both Usha and Rahul have been living in America for years. Rahul is a former actor and model in the Nepali film industry. He also managed the popular Nepali film company Kaligandaki Cinemax and has worked in movies like Kisan and Nagarik, along with several music videos. Usha, once a prominent name in Nepali films and television series, is now settled in the United States.

Art Exhibition ‘Petka Kehi Kura’ Showcased at Nepal Art Council: An art exhibition titled Petka Kehi Kura is currently on display at the Nepal Art Council in Babarmahal. Curated by Bunu Dhungana, the exhibition explores the complexities and connections in mother-daughter relationships across generations. The artworks delve into the understanding and miscommunication that arise from generational, cultural, and experiential differences. The exhibition features creations by Nepali artists Asmita Badi, Shraddha Devkota, Irina Giri, Ujjwala Maharjan, Tripti Tamang Pakhrin, Sristi Shrestha, Pratibha Tuladhar, and British artist Rachel Lowe. According to the exhibition’s statement, the participating artists attempt to discover the language necessary to understand mothers—capturing moments of success, failure, and the hope of strengthening the bond between mother and daughter.

Nepal Advances to Semifinals of SAFF U-19 Championship: Nepal secured a spot in the semifinals of the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Championship in India. In the match held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Sunday night, Nepal dominated Sri Lanka with a convincing 5–0 victory, ensuring their place in the final four. Nepal’s goals came from Sujan Dangol, Dhrubendra Kunwar, Subash Bam Thakuri, Bigyan Khadka, and Lakchhu Thapa in a one-sided contest. With this win, India also advanced to the semifinals from Group ‘B.’ Sri Lanka, meanwhile, exited the tournament after suffering two consecutive losses—the first being an 8–0 defeat to India. Nepal and India will face off in the group’s final match on Tuesday, which will determine the group winner.

DAV Wins Jayakumarnath Shah Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament: DAV School clinched the title of the second edition of the Jayakumarnath Shah Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament. The tournament, organized by the Kathmandu District Cricket Association, saw the final match held at the Lower Mulpani Ground on Monday, where DAV defeated Gateway Academy by 7 wickets. Gateway, opting to bat first after winning the toss, was all out for 72 runs in 19.3 overs. For Gateway, Mursid Iqbal scored 15 runs and Sabir Ansari added 11 runs, while other batters failed to reach double digits. In the bowling department, Kamal Shahi from DAV took 4 wickets, while Prasiddha Jaishi claimed 3 wickets and Keshav Agrawal grabbed 2 wickets.

Semifinals Set for Godawari Mayor Cup: The semifinal lineup for the Valley-Wide Inter-Municipality Open Godawari Mayor Cup has been finalized. In the last group-stage match held on Sunday at the under-construction Godawari Multi-Purpose Stadium in Godawari-10, Kirtipur Municipality secured a comfortable 3–0 victory over Konjyosom Rural Municipality. With the win, Kirtipur topped Group ‘D’ with four points from two matches. Tarakeshwar Municipality and Konjyosom were eliminated from the group stage, collecting two and one points, respectively. Earlier, Kirtipur and Konjyosom had drawn their matches with Tarakeshwar—1–1 and 2–2, respectively. In the semifinals, Kirtipur will face defending champions Kathmandu Metropolitan City, while the host Godawari Municipality will compete against Dakshinkali Municipality.

Indian Army Says Talks with Pakistan’s Military Operations Chief Delayed: India and Pakistan have delayed until Monday evening talks between their military operations chiefs to discuss the next steps after a ceasefire, the Indian army said, as New Delhi reopened airports and shares rose in the nuclear-armed rivals. There were no reports of explosions or projectiles overnight, with the Indian army saying Sunday was the first peaceful night in recent days along their border, although some schools remain closed. Saturday’s ceasefire, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, followed four days of intense firing between the two sides and diplomacy and pressure from Washington. Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan both rule part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, but claim it in full.

Millions Vote in Philippines Midterms as Marcos-Duterte Feud Heats Up: About 68 million eligible voters in the Philippines are heading to the polls in mid-terms that will decide the fate of a long-running power struggle between the country’s two biggest political dynasties. The senate races pit candidates backed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr against those supported by Vice-President Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte. If Marcos’ senate picks win more seats, it increases his chances of impeaching Sara Duterte for alleged misuse of state funds – this would bar her from seeking the presidency in 2028. Also on the ballot are candidates for the 317-member Congress, hundreds of governors, mayors and city councilors. Voting runs from 07:00 local time (00:00 BST; 23:00 GMT) to 19:00, with unofficial results expected soon after

China Hosts Latin American Leaders in Move to Deepen Ties: China on Monday welcomed Latin American leaders and officials to Beijing as it seeks to draw the region closer in response to the trade war with the United States. Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald Trump’s recent maelstrom of tariffs. Two-thirds of Latin American countries have joined Beijing’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road (BRI) infrastructure program, and China has surpassed the US as the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Peru and Chile, among others. The forum between China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is due to formally begin on Tuesday.