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.

Corruption Case Filed Against Former PM Madhav Nepal: A corruption case has been filed against former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal in connection with the controversial land deal involving Patanjali Yogpeeth. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed the case at the Special Court against Nepal and several other individuals implicated in the alleged misappropriation of land. Nepal has been implicated along with 93 others. The case against Nepal demands a fine and punishment, with a claim for damages amounting to Rs. 185.85 million.

Former PM Madhav Nepal Suspended as Lawmaker: For the first time in Nepal’s history, a corruption case has been filed against a former Prime Minister—Madhav Kumar Nepal, who currently chairs the CPN (Unified Socialist). The case, filed on Thursday by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), is linked to the controversial Patanjali land swap deal. As a result, Nepal’s position as a Member of Parliament has been automatically suspended. This is also the first time a Cabinet decision has come under legal scrutiny in an anti-corruption lawsuit, marking a significant precedent in Nepal’s political and legal landscape.

Madhav Nepal Calls Corruption Case a Political Conspiracy by PM Oli: Former Prime Minister and Chair of CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has claimed that the corruption case recently filed against him is a politically motivated move orchestrated under the direction of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed the case at the Special Court over alleged irregularities tied to land transactions involving Patanjali Yogpeeth in Kavrepalanchok district. Reacting to the charges, Nepal said, “Oli has been against me from the very beginning. His intention has always been to eliminate me politically.”

Agni Sapkota to Issue Official Statement Only After Full SC Order Release: CPN (Maoist Centre) spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota has stated he will make an official statement regarding the conflict-era murder case filed against him only after the complete text of the Supreme Court’s recent verdict is available. Speaking to reporters on Thursday after the party’s office-bearers meeting at Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar, Sapkota emphasized, “I will share my official position only after the full text of the verdict is released. The public rumors surrounding this matter hold no truth.”

Govt to Ease Citizenship for Children of Nepali Mothers, Says Minister Lekhak: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said the government is working to simplify the citizenship process for children born to Nepali mothers, especially in cases where the father is unknown or absent. Speaking during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Thursday, Minister Lekhak emphasized that the government is moving toward a provision based on self-declaration by the mother. The statement came during deliberations on the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to revise the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2006.

Prachanda Urges Everyone to Raise Their Voice for Climate Justice: Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister, has called on everyone to raise their voice in support of environmental justice on the occasion of World Environment Day. He emphasized the need for cooperation and coordination to develop an eco-friendly lifestyle in Nepal, a country rich in biodiversity and predominantly agricultural. Highlighting the growing problem of plastic pollution, Prachanda urged people to reduce plastic use, prioritize reuse, and actively engage in environmental protection.

Congress and RSP Hold Talks to Resume Parliament Amid Visa Setting Issue: Leaders of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives, and the opposition Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have held discussions on reopening the stalled parliamentary session amid the ongoing obstruction caused by the visit visa setting issue. The talks took place at the Parliament building in New Baneshwor between Nepali Congress Vice-Chairman Purna Bahadur Khadka, leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, chief advisor Shyamkumar Ghimire, and RSP Vice-Chairman Dr. Swanima Wagle along with their chief advisor. Dr. Wagle confirmed the meeting focused on resolving the parliamentary deadlock.

President Paudel Appoints Non-Resident Ambassadors to Peru, Iran, and Maldives: President Ram Chandra Paudel has appointed non-resident ambassadors for three countries: the Republic of Peru, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Republic of Maldives. According to the Office of the President, Nepal’s resident ambassador to Brazil, Nirmal Raj Kafle, has been appointed as the non-resident ambassador to Peru. Similarly, Nepal’s ambassador to Qatar, Ramesh Chandra Paudel, has been appointed as the non-resident ambassador to Iran. Purna Bahadur Nepali, currently serving as Nepal’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, has been appointed as the non-resident ambassador to the Maldives. These appointments are part of Nepal’s diplomatic efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with countries across different regions.

Home Minister Lekhak Quietly Meets Shekhar Koirala Over Visa Scandal: As pressure mounts within the Nepali Congress to take disciplinary action over the visit visa controversy, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has held a quiet meeting with senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, a key figure from the party’s rival faction. Despite being embroiled in the visa scandal, Lekhak visited Dr. Koirala on Tuesday morning, around 8 AM, at the faction’s liaison office in Baluwatar. The meeting lasted for about 40 minutes, according to a leader close to Koirala. Dr. Koirala had earlier suggested that Lekhak should resign to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations.

Health Ministry Begins Drafting New Health Services Act to Replace 1997 Law: The Ministry of Health and Population has initiated the process of drafting a new Health Services Act to address long-standing structural problems in Nepal’s healthcare system and to replace outdated legislation. According to Health Minister Pradeep Paudel, the ministry is working to replace the existing Health Services Act, which has been in place since 1997 with a new law better suited to the federal system and current needs of health sector employees. Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki confirmed that a preliminary draft of the new act is currently under preparation.

World Environment Day Being Observed with Several Programs: Today (June 5) or World Environment Day is being celebrated in different countries of the world with the slogan ‘Alleviating plastic pollution: our responsibility’. It is also being marked in different parts of the country by organizing different programs. The United Nations (UN) has called for the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5 every year since 1973. Today, this day is being celebrated in South Korea with a special program, as stated by the United Nations. According to the United Nations, 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced in Earth every year, with only 10 percent of the waste being recycled, and 11 million tons of plastic being discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

COVID-19 Testing Kit Shortage Hits Sudurpaschim Amid Rising Cases at Border: A shortage of COVID-19 testing kits has affected health screenings in Sudurpaschim Province, particularly at key border points with India such as Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki. Despite the detection of COVID-19 infections among returnees from India, authorities are unable to conduct further testing due to the lack of test kits. Hemraj Joshi, the epidemic contact person at the Sudurpaschim Province Health Directorate, confirmed the shortage. “Three individuals returning from India tested positive for COVID-19 at the Gauriphanta checkpoint in Kailali on Wednesday,” said Joshi. “However, we are unable to carry out further tests due to a lack of kits. We have requested additional supplies from the federal and provincial governments.”

NEPSE Drops by 5.99 Points, Daily Turnover Nears Rs 8 billion: On Thursday, the last trading day of the week, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 5.99 points, closing at 2,640. Despite the decline in the index, the daily transaction volume surged. The market saw a total turnover of Rs 7.97 billion, up from Rs 5.16 billion the previous day. Out of all traded companies, the stock prices of 94 rose, 153 declined, and 1 remained unchanged. Most sector indices declined, but the hydropower sector stood out with a 1.13% gain, indicating strong investor interest. The investment group index also inched up by 0.03%.

PM Oli Chairs Investment Board Meeting; Muktinath Cable Car Approved: The 64th meeting of the Investment Board Nepal, chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Baluwatar today, approved several projects including the investment for the Muktinath Cable Car. The board approved investment for constructing an 81.041-kilometer-long cable car with seven stations stretching from Seraphant in Parbat district to Muktinath in Mustang. The project is estimated to cost NPR 5.764 billion and will be developed under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model by Muktinath Darshan Pvt. Ltd.

Govt Tightens Regulations to Curb Black Money in Real Estate Transactions: The government has begun tightening regulations in real estate transactions to prevent the possible use of black money. As a new effort to control black money in property deals, the Department of Land Management and Archives has issued a directive related to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Following this, the department has communicated instructions to all land revenue offices across the country. In February, 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Nepal on its grey list.

Directive on Anti-Money Laundering and Terror Financing to Be Amended: The Department of Land Management and Archives is set to amend its recently issued directive on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities. The amendment comes after concerns were raised by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, prompting revisions to be finalized by Thursday. Earlier this week, the department had issued a directive making bank statements and Know Your Customer (KYC) details mandatory for real estate transactions. However, following high-level discussions held on Wednesday and Thursday, involving secretaries and officials, the directive will now be revised.

‘Abhimanyu: Chapter–1’ to Hit Theaters on September 12: The film Abhimanyu: Chapter–1 is set to release on Bhadra 27 (September 12), the production team announced while unveiling a new poster. The poster features a vivid Terai setting, with a paddy field and banana grove in the backdrop. It shows a young man from the Madhesi community carrying a little girl, dressed in a government school uniform, along with books and notebooks in hand. While the visuals suggest a rural Terai backdrop and a socially grounded narrative, the filmmakers have not disclosed any details about the storyline yet.

New Poster of Film ‘Mohar’ Hints at Dual Role for Paul Shah: A new poster of the upcoming film Mohar, set to release on Shrawan 23 (August 8), has been unveiled. Written and directed by Om Pratik, the poster features actor Paul Shah in two distinct looks—one with long hair embracing actress Benisha Hamal, and another with short hair in the arms of actress Niti Shah. The contrasting appearances have sparked curiosity among fans, raising speculation that Pal Shah might be playing a double role in the film.

Priyanka Karki Stars in New Music Video ‘Sabailai Chhodera’: Actress Priyanka Karki, who has recently been more active in music videos than films, is featured in a newly released video titled Sabailai Chhodera. She stars alongside actor Abhino Binde Maharjan in the video. The song is sung by Sajju Manandhar, with lyrics by Dr. Raju Manandhar and music composed by Jugal Dangol. Directed by Krishnadev Rupakheti, the video has been released under the OSR Digital banner.

Belgian Patrick De Wilde Appointed Head Coach of Nepal National Women’s Football Team: Belgian national Patrick De Wilde has been appointed as the head coach of the Nepal national women’s football team. He becomes the first officially appointed foreign coach for the women’s national team. The All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA)’s coach selection committee finalized his name from a shortlist of two candidates. “He is also well-informed about Nepali football. That’s why we finalized him,” an ANFA official said. UEFA Pro License holder Patrick will debut as head coach of the Nepali side in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, starting with a match against Laos in Uzbekistan.

PM Oli Congratulates Nepali Cricketers on Consecutive Victory: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended heartfelt congratulations to all the players for Nepal’s consecutive victory in the ICC World Cup League-2 One Day Tri-Series. In the game played last night in Scotland, Nepal defeated the Netherlands, securing its second consecutive victory in the ICC World Cup League-2 One Day Triangular Series. Prime Minister Oli boosted the morale of the players by congratulating them through social media. In the second match of the series, Nepal defeated the Netherlands by 5 wickets. Prior to this, in the first match, Nepal had defeated Scotland by 1 wicket.

Siam College to Host First Inter-College Seven-A-Side Futsal Tournament from June 25: The first-ever Siam Inter-College Seven-A-Side Futsal Tournament, sponsored by Hisense Nepal, will kick off from Asar 11 (June 25) under the organization of Syam College. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Siam College Principal Ashok Raj Pandey shared that between 24 to 32 male student teams are expected to participate in the competition. Bachelor-level semester-based colleges will take part in the event. The title sponsor of the tournament is Hisense Nepal, a leading AC brand. Cash prizes have been set for the top three teams — the winners will receive Rs. 90,000, the runners-up Rs. 40,000, and the third-placed team Rs. 20,000.

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel from 12 Countries: US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning travel from certain countries citing national security concerns. The proclamation fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The entry of people from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, will be partially restricted, the official said.

Displacement, Cholera Drive up Humanitarian Needs in Sudan, Says UN: Conflict-related displacement of people and the spread of cholera continue to increase humanitarian needs across Sudan, said a UN spokesman on Wednesday. Nearly 9,700 people in Khartoum state alone were recently displaced due to conflict, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In South Kordofan, more than 9,000 people fled Dibebat town in Al Quoz locality last week due to intense clashes. The situation remains very volatile, he said, quoting the IOM.

US vetoes UNSC Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza: The US vetoes a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the only country to do so. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation extends its closure for a second day, after hundreds of Palestinians were killed and wounded seeking aid at its distribution points. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 54,607 Palestinians and wounded 125,341, according to the Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.