KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know.

Provincial Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari Removed

President Ram Chandra Paudel has relieved Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, the Chief of Madhes Province, from her post, effective Tuesday. The President’s decision was made upon the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, as per Article 165, Sub-section 1, Clause (b) of the Constitution of Nepal. This action immediately vacates the position of Provincial Chief. This move, rooted in established political and administrative protocol, is significant as it requires the government to swiftly appoint a replacement. While the political implications are currently localized, the focus is now on the central government’s choice for the next appointment to maintain administrative function in Madhes Province.

Surendra Labh Karna Sworn in as Madhes Province Chief

Surendra Labh Karna took the oath of office and secrecy as the new Chief of Madhes Province on Tuesday, November 11, at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath to Karna in a ceremony attended by Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, heads of constitutional bodies, high-ranking officials, and heads of diplomatic missions. The government had recommended Karna’s appointment to the president on Monday, following the dismissal of the previous province chief, Sumitra Subedi Bhandari. Karna’s immediate swearing-in ensures the continuity of the province’s constitutional functions.

Prime Minister Intervenes in Voter Registration Issues

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed concern and instructed the Election Commission to resolve technical and operational issues affecting voter registration for the upcoming general election on March 5, 2026. The deadline for new voters to register is November 16. Complaints include long wait times due to staff shortages, difficulty selecting polling centers on the pre-enrollment form, technical glitches with citizenship number entry, and inconvenience for victims of the Gen Z protests and disabled individuals. PM Karki issued a three-point directive, instructing the Commission to increase work shifts and staff, expedite legal and technical steps to utilize data from the National ID Department, and consider revising the November 16 deadline if necessary.

Legislative Management Committee Passes Annual Report

The Committee for Legislation Management under the National Assembly unanimously approved its annual report for the fiscal year 2081/82. The report was passed during a committee meeting held on Tuesday at Singha Durbar, as confirmed by Chairperson Tulasha Kumari Dahal. The report summarizes the committee’s key decisions and activities throughout the year. Chairperson Dahal also announced the committee’s decision to travel outside the Kathmandu Valley for discussions and monitoring with provincial and local levels, marking the first such visit by a parliamentary committee following the recent Gen Z protests. A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday to finalize the date of the visit to Sudurpashchim Province.

Dan Bahadur Karki Appointed New Nepal Police Chief

The government has appointed Dan Bahadur Karki as the 33rd Inspector General (IGP) of the Nepal Police. The decision was formalized at the Council of Ministers meeting held on Monday, with the appointment set to take effect from November 13. This appointment follows the mandatory retirement of the current IGP, Chandra Kuber Khapung, who steps down on Wednesday due to the 30-year service limit. IGP Karki, who is widely regarded as an honest and professional officer, will command the force for approximately two and a half years, with his tenure scheduled to end in 2028.

Enthusiasm Surges for Voter Registration in Gandaki

Voter registration is currently underway across the nation in preparation for the upcoming election scheduled for March 5, 2026. All 11 districts in Gandaki Province are reporting enthusiastic participation from new voters. A total of 11,662 new voters were added in the province as of Monday, pushing the total number of eligible voters to 1,837,693. Youth participation has been notably high, driven by a desire to elect a government that can build the country. Election offices are witnessing long queues as the deadline for registration approaches on November 16. Officials urge those who registered online to visit the office to complete the essential photo submission process.

Man Murders Wife Hours After Release on Bail

In a tragic domestic incident in Modi Rural Municipality-6, Parbat, a 51-year-old man, Jit Bahadur BK, murdered his 52-year-old wife, Sita, on the same night he was released from jail. BK, who was serving time for spousal rape, had been released on bail on Monday, with his wife paying the amount. Hours after returning home, he allegedly assaulted Sita, who was pronounced dead at the hospital due to head and facial injuries. Locals detained the accused before police arrived and arrested him. The couple’s three sons are working abroad. Police have confirmed that further investigation into this severe case of domestic violence is currently underway.

CPN (UML) Launches Nationwide Rallies for Parliament Restoration

The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), abbreviated CPN (UML), has initiated a nationwide program of public demonstrations across all 753 local units, demanding the restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives. The party conducted rallies and held corner meetings with local cadres and leaders on Tuesday. According to Rajendra Gautam, Chief of the Central Publicity and Publication Department, this movement is crucial for the defense of the constitution and democracy. Following earlier ward-level gatherings, the UML is escalating its protests. The party has planned further major demonstrations at the district level on November 15, culminating in a large public assembly in Kathmandu on November 22.

Transfer of Chief Administrative Officers in 12 Local Bodies

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration transferred the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) of 12 local-level bodies across Nepal following a decision on Monday. The rotation included CAOs for municipalities with Deputy Secretary-level posts, such as Barhabise and Letang. Transfers were also made for municipalities like Bhimeshwor and Malangwa, as well as the District Coordination Officer for Khotang. Furthermore, officers were transferred from rural and urban municipalities with officer-level positions, including Gadhi Rural Municipality (Sunsari), Sukhipur Municipality (Siraha), and Siyari Rural Municipality (Rupandehi), among others. An additional six coordination officers, including those for the District Coordination Committee, Siraha, were also rotated.

Nepathya Band Travels to Japan for Multi-City Concert Tour

The popular folk-rock band ‘Nepathya’ has traveled to Japan for a series of concerts in Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka. The band departed on Monday, marking their first return to the country in two years. The tour is set to begin on Thursday, at the ‘Lives Nagoya’ hall, which will be the band’s first-ever performance in Nagoya. They will then play at the international ‘Tokyo Dome City Hall’ on November 18, followed by the final show at ‘Zepp Osaka Bayside’ on November 24. The band’s leader, Amrit Gurung, noted that Japan holds numerous significant memories for Nepathya.

Rautahat Municipal Office Reopens After 15-Day Padlock

The 15-day padlock at Katahariya Municipality in Rautahat, staged by contract and daily wage employees demanding payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, has finally ended. The municipal office reopened on Monday evening, under the condition that if Mayor Ajay Prakash Jaiswal fails to address the salary issue promptly, the nine ward chairpersons and executive members will lock the office again. The executive members have agreed not to sign any proposals in the immediate future meeting called by the mayor. The essential services of the municipality, including citizenship recommendations, social services, and revenue collection, which were halted for two weeks due to the strike, have now resumed.

Over 8,000 Students Pass MBBS Entrance Exam

More than 8,000 candidates have successfully passed the Integrated Entrance Examination for the MBBS program in medical education. The Medical Education Commission (MEC) announced on Monday that a total of 8,772 candidates have cleared the examination for the undergraduate level for the academic session 2082/083. The entrance exam, which had originally been scheduled for September, was conducted in November, after being postponed due to the Gen Z protests and related issues. These successful candidates will now proceed to compete for admission to the available MBBS seats across various medical colleges in Nepal.

Digital Health Profiles Created for 22,000 School Students

An organization named ‘Hamro Health’ has created digital health profiles for over 22,000 students across more than 45 schools in the Kathmandu Valley. The organization has digitized over 58,000 health record points, addressing the challenges of managing paper-based student health records. This technology-based system securely records all health activities conducted in schools, including primary care given by school nurses, government-run vaccination, deworming, and micronutrient distribution programs, as well as private health check-ups. Hamro Health founder Dr. Prashant Bhattarai stated that the system is building a robust student health database that will enable data-driven decisions for students, parents, schools, and municipalities, supporting initiatives like the “One School, One Nurse” policy.

TIA Winter Schedule Shows Low International Traffic at Bhairahawa

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has released its winter flight schedule, showing 30 airlines operating a weekly total of 492 flights (arrivals and departures). However, Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa remains largely dormant. Despite being built as an international alternative to TIA, GBIA has only three weekly international flights: one Nepal Airlines flight from Malaysia that transits through Bhairahawa to Kathmandu on Mondays, and two Thai Air Asia flights from Thailand on Mondays and Wednesdays. This low international traffic suggests government efforts to establish GBIA as a major hub and an alternative to TIA are currently failing, leaving the international airport primarily limited to domestic operations.

Nepal Discusses Graduation to Developing Nation Status

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has initiated high-level consultations regarding Nepal’s transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a Developing Nation. The discussions, which review progress, remaining preparatory tasks, and future strategies, aim to ensure a successful graduation by the target date of 2026. The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal, included key stakeholders such as former finance ministers and private sector leaders. However, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, formally requested the government to seek an extension of at least three years. This extension is proposed to mitigate potential severe negative impacts on the private sector, production, and employment, especially considering the current volatile economic environment.

Hong Kong Consulate to Hold Passport Service in Macau

The Consulate General of Nepal, Hong Kong, which also oversees the Special Administrative Region of Macau, is set to operate a mobile passport service in Macau on Saturday, February 8, 2025. This service, a continuation of efforts to ease access for Nepalis residing there, will be held at the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Macau office. The mobile service will conduct both direct registration for new applications and the distribution of previously issued passports. The Consulate has approved 54 prior email applications for direct registration. Additionally, passports for applicants who registered directly in December 2024 will be distributed on the same day, requiring applicants to bring their old passports. The service will run from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Second Phase of Bihar Assembly Election Underway

The second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 began on Tuesday, covering 122 of the state’s 243 assembly seats. The first phase of voting, which occurred on November 6, set a record with a 64.66% voter turnout across 121 seats. In addition to the Bihar polls, by-elections are also being held today across eight assembly seats in six states and one Union Territory. Voting is underway in states and regions including Badgam and Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatshila in Jharkhand, Jubilee Hills in Telangana, Tarn Taran in Punjab, Dampa in Mizoram, and Nuapada in Odisha.

Fatal Car Blast Near Delhi’s Red Fort Kills At Least 13

At least 13 people were killed and 20 injured after a slow-moving vehicle exploded near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital, New Delhi, on Monday. The blast, the city’s first since 2011, occurred around 6:52 PM local time near a busy trading hub. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking from Bhutan, vowed to bring the conspirators to justice. Delhi Police have registered a case under the anti-terrorism law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosives Act. The Red Fort station remains closed as forensic experts scour the sealed site, which is currently undergoing a swift, thorough investigation.

Spain Releases Lamine Yamal After Unauthorized Medical Procedure

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has released Barcelona star Lamine Yamal from the national squad after he underwent an unauthorized medical procedure. The federation was surprised to learn on Monday that the 18-year-old had an invasive radiofrequency procedure for a pubic discomfort issue without notifying the national team’s medical staff. Yamal, who missed the previous qualifiers due to a groin problem, requires a recovery time of seven to 10 days. Prioritizing his health and safety, the RFEF decided to release him, ruling him out of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey on November 18.

Suicide Attack in Islamabad Kills 12 Near Government Offices

A deadly suicide attack in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, killed 12 people and wounded around 27 on Monday. The attacker detonated explosives near a police vehicle in an area that houses several government offices. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the incident but noted there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed “terrorist proxies backed by India” for the attack, while officials attribute a recent resurgence in violence to armed groups allegedly sheltered in Afghanistan. The attack occurred as security forces battled militants near the Afghan border, highlighting ongoing cross-border instability.