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.

European Union Delegation Meets Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli: A delegation of the European Union (EU) paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar. The delegation included the EU Ambassador to Nepal, Véronique Lorenzo, along with ambassadors from various countries based in Kathmandu and non-residential ambassadors from New Delhi, India. This marks the first time that such a large number of EU ambassadors have visited Nepal simultaneously for the SagarmathaSambaad, held in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18.

Balen Shah Slams PM Oli, Labels Him “Leader of the Corrupt”: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) has accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of being the “leader of corrupts.” Shah explained that he did not attend the main ceremony committee meeting for Republic Day because the Prime Minister and others were trying to protect corrupt individuals. On Monday, Shah wrote on Facebook: “In a country where the Mayor of the capital city says he will stop corruption, and all political parties unite to protect the corrupt, should I attend the program led by the leader of such corruption? Sorry, KP Oli, I don’t support your corrupt system.”

Prime Minister Oli Claims UML Will Secure Majority in the 2027 Elections: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has claimed that the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), UML, aims to secure an absolute majority in the 2084 BS (2027 AD) elections and asserted that this goal will definitely be achieved. Speaking at the seventh general convention of the Nepal Oppressed Ethnic Liberation Society, Oli acknowledged that achieving a single majority is challenging but insisted that it is possible for the UML. “We have taken up the mission of 2084. Our objective is to secure an absolute majority. This is not impossible; it is absolutely achievable,” said Oli, who is also the Chairman of UML. He further added, “There is a system in place that prevents any party from achieving a majority.

Rabi Lamichhane’s Habeas Corpus Petition Postponed Again: The habeas corpus petition of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has once again been postponed. On Sunday, the bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel had ordered the Supreme Court administration to schedule the hearing before a bench that could review the case. Following the order, the case was scheduled before the bench of Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut and Justice Nityananda Pandey, ensuring it would not fall under those who could not review it. However, the case still ended up being postponed.

Tinkune Violence Not to be Linked with Religion, Claims Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stated that the incident in Tinkune, which took place on March 28, was violent. Answering a question raised by MP Prem Suwal during the House of Representatives session on Monday, Lekhak said, “The arson and violence in the Tinkune incident were criminal acts, and I urge not to associate it with religion; violence cannot be linked to faith.” He also confirmed that an investigation into the Tinkune incident is ongoing. Expressing his personal faith in Hinduism, Lekhak added, “But that does not mean that other religions are bad.” He further emphasized that crimes should not be committed under the guise of religion.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Thapa Acknowledges Discontent Within the Party: General Secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, has remarked that there is a sense of unease, complaints, dissatisfaction, and restlessness within the party. He made these comments while addressing a program organized to launch the book “Sandaju,” based on the life story of BP Koirala. Thapa, however, also highlighted that amidst these challenges, there is an opportunity. “There is currently a kind of unease, complaints, dissatisfaction, and visible restlessness within the Nepali Congress party. But I also see an opportunity in this,” Thapa stated.

Former President Bhandari to Embark on a Week-Long Visit to China: Former President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, is set to embark on a week-long visit to China. According to her personal secretariat, Bhandari will be visiting China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government. The visit is scheduled to begin on Jestha 10 (May 24, 2025). “It has been confirmed that she will be leaving for China on Jestha 10,” Bhandari’s secretariat said. “The number of delegation members and specific programs are still being finalized.” It has been reported that some leaders from the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) will also accompany her on the visit.

PM Oli Directs Removal of Kathmandu Mayor Shah from Republic Day Main Ceremony Committee: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the removal of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah from the Republic Day Main Ceremony Committee after his absence from the committee meeting. The main committee meeting took place on Monday afternoon at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. Mayor Shah was absent from the meeting. Last year as well, Shah did not attend the ceremony organized for Republic Day. His absence in today’s meeting also drew the attention of Prime Minister Oli. “He did not specifically mention the name, but the Prime Minister expressed concern over the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City being absent,” a meeting source said.

Foreign Minister Rana Holds Courtesy Meeting with EU Ambassadors: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba held a courtesy meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassadors based in Kathmandu as well as non-resident Ambassadors and Heads of Missions from New Delhi on Monday. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on various aspects of Nepal-EU relations, mutual interests, and shared concerns. During the meeting, Minister Dr. Rana expressed gratitude for the economic and social support extended by the EU and its member states to Nepal over the years. She also thanked the European Union member nations for their participation in the recently concluded Sagarmatha Sambaad, organized by the Government of Nepal.

Supreme Court Officer Bista Released on Rs 100,000 Bail: The Kathmandu District Court has ordered the release of Supreme Court Section Officer Mahiman Singh Bista on a bail of Rs 100,000. Bista came under investigation after sending an unauthorized letter to police and prison officials on April 30, 2025, ordering the arrest of Resham Chaudhary, patron of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP). Chaudhary was briefly taken into custody but released the same day when the letter was deemed illegitimate. Following the incident, the police investigated Bista on charges of document forgery and submitted an investigation report.

Landslide Risk Mitigation Begins on Narayanghat–Muglin Road Section: Efforts have begun to identify and mitigate the risk of landslides during the rainy season on the Narayanghat–Muglin road section. Last year, two buses were swept away by a landslide in Simaltal during the monsoon, prompting increased precautionary measures. According to Narayan Lamichhane, Chief Engineer of the Division Road Office Bharatpur, landslide control measures have been implemented in sensitive areas. Small check dams have been constructed in the upper part of Simaltal to prevent mudslides. Additionally, check dams and channel lining work have been done in the upper part of the Maure Khola Bridge.

Koshi Assembly Members Escape Car Crash Unharmed: A vehicle carrying members of the Koshi Provincial Assembly met with an accident in Kanepokhari, Morang. The accident occurred when a car with license plate number Ba. 5 Pa. 3520 hit the BAE 1406 car that was transporting Provincial Assembly members traveling from Jhapa to attend the assembly meeting. The car was carrying Provincial Assembly members Nambarlal Dhimal, Radhakrishna Khanal, Maiya Shrestha, and Bidya Chamling. According to Assembly Member Maiya Shrestha, all passengers are in normal condition and were on their way back home instead of attending the meeting. The vehicle that struck the lawmakers’ car was driven by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khagendra Khadka, who is stationed at the Jhapa District Police Office.

18 Households Relocated After Dry Landslide in Humla: Eighteen households at Tilgau, Ward No. 6 of Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla district have been relocated to a safer area following a dry landslide. Armed Police Force (APF) DSP and Deputy Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa stated that the dry landslide, which occurred from the northern part of Tilgau, damaged the houses of local residents. A rescue team from the APF Border Outpost in Hilsa has been deployed to the area with necessary disaster relief materials and emergency supplies.

Nepal’s Stock Market Rises After Six Days of Decline: Nepal’s stock market, which had been witnessing a continuous decline for six consecutive days, rebounded on Monday. The NEPSE Index increased by 19.30 points compared to the previous trading day, closing at 2,628. Despite the rise in the index, the overall trading volume saw a decline. On the previous day, the total transaction amount was recorded at NPR 8.50 billion, whereas it dropped to NPR 7.35 billion on Monday. The share prices of 185 companies went up, while 60 companies saw a decline, and two remained unchanged. Among the various sectors, the Hotel and Tourism sector was the only one to experience a drop, sliding by 1.24%, while all other sectors showed positive growth. The Development Bank Group registered the highest growth, with an increase of 1.88%.

Government Spends Only 62.24% of Budget in 10 Months: The federal government, which set a target of spending NPR 1,860.30 billion in the current fiscal year 2081/82, has only managed to spend 62.24% in the first ten months (Shrawan–Baisakh). Of this, capital expenditure is just 34%. The government aims to accelerate spending in the next two months (Jestha–Ashar) to achieve around 80% capital expenditure, employing measures like fund transfers and additional disbursements. This recurring trend in recent years raises questions about the government’s allocation efficiency and the quality of projects completed in the fiscal year’s final months.

Public Debt Reduced by NPR 44.86 billion by End of Baisakh: Nepal’s outstanding public debt stood at NPR 2.622 trillion by the end of Baisakh, marking a decrease of NPR 44.86 billion from the previous month. As of Chaitra, the debt had been NPR 2.667 trillion. This reduction is attributed to higher repayments of old loans compared to the collection of new ones. Gopi Krishna Koirala, the head of the Public Debt Management Office, confirmed the debt decline was due to repayments exceeding new debt acquisition.

SEBON Penalizes 11 Brokerage Firms for Failing to Submit Reports: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has penalized 11 brokerage firms for failing to submit anti-money laundering reports on time. As per SEBON regulations, firms are required to submit semi-annual reports within 15 days of the end of the period. SEBON spokesperson Niranjay Ghimire stated that the companies were first issued a written warning. Following a decision by SEBON’s Board of Directors on 25th Baisakh, a letter of penalty was sent to the firms on Sunday. The penalized firms include Bluechip Securities, Property Wizard, StockScarts Securities, Sumeru Securities, Roadshow Securities, Sagarmatha Securities, Infinity Securities, Magnet Securities & Investment Company, Elite Merchant Capital, Reliable Investment & Merchant Capital, and Reliable Venture Capital.

Actor Pradeep Khadka and Director Pradeep Shahi Attend Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet: Actor Pradeep Khadka and director Pradeep Shahi participated in the red-carpet event at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Nepali time, they attended the premiere of the French film “La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde” (The Richest Woman in the World) held on Monday morning. The premiere took place at the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes and was directed by Thierry Klifa. On the red carpet, Pradeep Khadka appeared in a black suit, black glasses, and with long hair. Director Shahi presented himself in black pants and a red coat. Some members of their team were also seen on the red carpet.

Nepathya Begins U.S. Tour by Performing Local Tunes to Austin Audience: Nepathya has begun their 2025 U.S. tour by performing local tunes to audiences in Austin, Texas. The concert started at 9 PM on Saturday evening at the venue ‘Emo’s’ in the Texas capital city. At this concert, the band performed their newly released song “Karnali ka Chhaila” for the very first time live. The audience appeared excited and engaged while listening to the new song. Along with this performance, the band announced that the song will now be available for free on YouTube for everyone to listen to and watch. Previously, Nepathya fans had to pay to listen to the song for one week after its release.

Actress Barsha Raut Joins Cast of Film ‘Maharajadhiraj’: Actress Barsha Raut has been signed on to star in the film ‘Maharajadhiraj’, where she will play a lead role. Earlier, Barsha Siwakoti had already been signed for the film. So far, Aryan Sigdel, Ramesh Upreti, and Paul Shah have also been finalized for the cast. The production team has indicated that a few more actors are yet to be signed. The film will be directed and written by Parichhed Sen, who previously directed the film ‘Premgunj’. ‘Maharajadhiraj’ is being produced under the banner of Chhatreshwar Management Pvt. Ltd. The presenter of the film is Biraj Bista, who had earlier produced ‘Bulaki’, a film that won a national award.

Nepal Qualifies for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the First Time:  Nepal has secured a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by five wickets. Nepal will now compete in the Global Qualifier later this year, where a total of 10 teams, including Nepal, will participate. The top four teams from the Global Qualifier will earn their place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in England. The match, held at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Thailand, saw UAE batting first after winning the toss. They scored 114 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allocated 20 overs. Chasing the target of 115 runs, Nepal reached it in 19.3 overs with five wickets remaining.

Qualifying for Asia T20 World Cup is a Historic Moment, Says Captain Indu Verma: Captain Indu Barma of the Nepali women’s cricket team called the team’s qualification for the global qualifiers after crossing the Asia qualifiers for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup a historic moment. Nepal defeated UAE by five wickets on Monday to qualify for the Asia qualifiers for the first time. Speaking after the match, Captain Barma said the achievement was the result of everyone’s hard work. “It was a very nervous kind of game, but in the end, we were able to handle the pressure and secure the win,” she said. “This is a historic moment for our women’s cricket and the result of everyone’s efforts.”

Public Square Named ‘Samba Chowk’ in Honor of Women’s Footballer Sabitra Bhandari: A chowk (public square) in Khudibazar, Marsyangdi Rural Municipality–9, Lamjung, has been named ‘Samba Chowk’ to honor women’s football player Sabitra Bhandari (Samba), who also plays for Nepal APF Club. Along with naming the chowk, a ‘Samba Pillar’ has been constructed there. The pillar was inaugurated on Monday by Arjun Gurung, chairperson of the rural municipality, according to the Armed Police Force. Samba is currently associated with French top division football club Annecy FC and has gained fame both in Nepal and internationally.

Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 103: Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 103 people overnight and into Sunday, hospitals and medics in the battered enclave said, as Israel intensifies its war in the territory that, after more than 19 months, shows no signs of abating. More than 48 people were killed in airstrikes in and around the southern city of Khan Younis, some of which hit houses and tents sheltering displaced people, according to Nasser Hospital. Among the dead were 18 children and 13 women, hospital spokesperson Weam Fares said.

Joe Biden Diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ Prostate Cancer: Former US President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, a statement from his office said on Sunday. Biden, who left office in January, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms. The cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. This means his illness is classified as “high-grade” and the cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK. Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options.

EU and UK Reach Tentative Agreement Ahead of Summit, Say EU Officials: The European Union and Britain reached a tentative agreement on defense and security, fisheries and youth mobility ahead of a EU-UK summit on Monday, paving the way for British firms to participate in large EU defense contracts, EU officials said. Representatives of EU governments in Brussels received a text of a Common Understanding between Britain and the EU and the document is now being approved by all 27 EU governments, the officials said.