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.

PM Karki Directs Subordinates to Cater Service as Per Gen Z Aspiration

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed the subordinates to carry out responsibilities as per Gen Z aspiration and demands. PM Karki made such direction during the first quarterly review meeting of the programmes run under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday. It was also the ministry-level development problems resolution committee together with review meeting. In the meeting, the PM encouraged the government officials to work with high morale so that project goals would be realized on time. The officials are further directed to timely update the damages of property at PM’s office during Gen Z protest. Unified details on loss could be prepared containing the information of other public offices as well, she added.

India and Nepal Sign Transit Protocol Amendment to Boost Rail Tade Connectivity

India and Nepal signed a key amendment to their Treaty of Transit, enabling smoother and broader rail-based trade between the two countries. The agreement was formalized during a bilateral meeting between Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Anil Kumar Sinha in New Delhi. Both sides exchanged a Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit, a move aimed at enhancing cross-border freight movement and regional connectivity.

Nepal Assumes Leadership of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

Nepal has officially taken the leadership of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), effective Thursday, following a Board of Trustees meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Er. Dinesh Bhatta, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), accepted the chairmanship from Rajendra Singh, head of India’s National Disaster Management Authority. Er. Bhatta will chair the ADPC for the 2025–2026 term, with Pakistan serving as co-chair. He emphasized strengthening the center’s governance and institutional development to advance disaster and climate risk reduction for achieving Sustainable Development Goals across the Asia-Pacific region.

Rabi Lamichhane’s Cooperative Fraud Case Listed at Tulsipur High Court

The cooperative fraud and organized crime case against Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and former Gorkha Media operator Chhabilal Joshi has been listed for a hearing today at the Tulsipur High Court, Butwal Bench. The case is scheduled in Bench No. 1 with Justices Basudev Acharya and Om Prasad Aryal, following an order last Thursday to summon the original case file from the Rupandehi District Court. Lamichhane and Joshi are seeking to be released on bail by depositing the disputed amount, a request previously denied by the District Court.

Inquiry Commission Bans Ex-IGP Khapung from Foreign Travel

The Gauri Bahadur Karki Inquiry Commission, investigating the September 8 and 9 incidents, immediately barred former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Kuber Khapung from foreign travel upon his retirement on Thursday. The Commission, through a press release by spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma, also mandated that Khapung cannot leave the Kathmandu Valley without the Commission’s approval. This measure was taken to ensure his presence for the ongoing investigation and inquiry related to the events that occurred during his tenure as IGP.

Madhes Province Lawmakers Stage Sit-In Against Yadav’s Appointment

Lawmakers from a seven-party alliance in Madhesh Province continued their protest and sit-in outside Madhes Bhawan on Thursday against the new provincial government formation. The unrest began after Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari appointed CPN (UML) parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister under Article 168(3). The protest turned violent on Tuesday evening, resulting in 17 injuries from police baton charges. Meanwhile, Province Chief Bhandari herself was dismissed by President Ram Chandra Paudel upon the recommendation of the federal government.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Demolishes Ex-Minister Khadka’s Structures on Scout Land

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), with its police force and bulldozers, demolished structures on the Nepal Scout National Headquarters land in Lainchaur that were being used by former Energy Minister Deepak Khadka. The action was taken after the Congress leader failed to clear the long-overdue rent despite a seven-day public notice issued by Scout on November 6. Scout had warned that all structures and goods on the leased land would be confiscated, and if the rent remained unpaid, assets belonging to Khadka would be seized to recover the dues.

Election Commission Allows Voter Registration Using National ID Details

The Election Commission began allowing voter registration based on National ID details starting Thursday. This move facilitates voters who possess a National ID number but are unable to physically visit the Election Office. Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari confirmed the technical preparation was completed overnight on Wednesday. The deadline for voter list registration is November 16, and the new process is expected to accelerate registration, especially after a discussion with Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Wednesday.

Home Minister States 448 Police Posts Damaged During Gen Z Protests are Now Operational

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal informed the Federalism Strengthening and National Concern Committee on Thursday that 448 of the 465 police posts damaged during the Gen Z protests are now operational. He stated that within two months of the new government taking office, the general peace and security situation has been stabilized. Regarding the ongoing investigation into the incidents of September 9, he confirmed that 429 people have been arrested and 168 cases have been registered for various offenses.

APF Deploys SSPs to BOPs for Security

The Armed Police Force (APF) has deployed Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) directly to Border Out Posts (BOP) for the first time to enhance security and curb revenue leakage. The APF operates 260 BOPs, 249 along the Nepal-India border and 11 on the Nepal-China border, which were previously commanded by DSPs or Inspectors. In the first phase, four SSPs were assigned key border security roles, including SSP Digvijay Subedi for Koshi Province and SSP Madhav Prasad Paudel for Madhes Province. These high-ranking officers will submit daily and weekly situation reports to the APF headquarters, aiming to strengthen security and control cross-border illegal activities.

NEA Sends Demand Charge Bills to Industries with Cut Power Lines

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has sent new TOD bills to industries whose power lines were cut on October 21 for the current month. The bills show zero power consumption but include millions in demand charges. Industrialists claim this is an “injustice,” as demand charges are typically paid when an industry chooses not to use available power, not when the NEA itself disconnects the line. Industry representatives accuse the NEA, allegedly under the direction of Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, of acting in bad faith to enforce payment of the disputed premium fees for dedicated and trunk lines.

Special Court to Hear Corruption Case Against Ex-Telco MD Poudel

A corruption case against former Nepal Telecom (Nepal Telecommunication Company Limited) Managing Director Sunil Poudel and 17 others is scheduled for a hearing at the Special Court. The charges, filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, allege conspiracy and corruption in the billing system upgrade, claiming Rs 330 million in disputed funds. The charges stem from a 2011 contract with AsiaInfo Linkage Technology for the Convergent Real-Time Billing (CRTB) system. Poudel and the co-accused are accused of arranging an inflated price for the AMC service, totaling USD 20.5 million, despite a lower payment being stipulated in the original contract.

District-Level Committees Reactivated to Handle Usury Complaints

The government has reactivated district-level mechanisms in all 77 District Administration Offices (DAO) to process complaints related to improper lending (usury), following the expiration of the three previously formed commissions. The Ministry of Home Affairs circular directed that each DAO must establish a committee led by the Assistant Chief District Officer, with representation from the District Police and District Government Attorney’s Office. This move aims to continue the work on usury complaints, which became inactive after the tenure of the last commission, led by Baburam Regmi, ended. The Regmi commission’s report noted 35,016 pending complaints out of 41,409 received from 43 districts by June 26.

Bir Hospital Begins Simultaneous Testing for 10 Respiratory Viruses

Bir Hospital has initiated simultaneous testing for 10 different respiratory viruses in its Medical Genetics Laboratory. Dr. Nilam Thakur, head of the medical genetics department, stated that this approach was implemented to reduce costs and quickly identify the causal virus, addressing previous challenges with separate testing. The laboratory has also begun concurrent testing for six brain infection viruses and performs tests for non-pulmonary tuberculosis. Although the lab was established in 2016 to identify and treat genetic diseases, testing is not yet daily due to a lack of sufficient equipment and only three staff members. Currently, the lab tests for 25 genetic disease viruses on an alternate-day basis.

More Than 5,000 Prisoners Still At Large Following September 9 Jailbreak

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal reported on Thursday that 5,013 prisoners remain at large out of the 14,554 who escaped during the September 9 ‘Gen Z’ protests. Speaking at the Federalism Strengthening and National Concern Committee meeting, Minister Aryal confirmed that 9,441 escapees have been re-arrested or returned. The government considers the fugitives and stolen weapons a major security challenge, with Nepal Police conducting a special campaign to locate them and barring them from accessing services at public institutions.

Melamchi Water Diversion Restarts After Local Agreement

The diversion of Melamchi water into the tunnel system resumed on Wednesday, following a late-night agreement signed by the government and local residents on Tuesday. Local residents had blockaded the intake area for a week, demanding the implementation of a 13-month-old agreement related to the 2021 flood damage. Melamchi Water Supply Development Board Spokesperson Engineer Rajendra Prasad Pant confirmed that water was diverted at 3 PM on Wednesday, and customers in Kathmandu were expected to receive water by Wednesday night. The agreement includes blacktopping the 17-kilometer Melamchi–Ambathan–Melamchighyang road section.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Clears 732 Building Map Processes in Q1

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) finalized 732 building map-related processes in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Senior Division Engineer Harish Chandra Lamichhane reported that this included granting 238 permits up to plinth level and issuing 399 construction completion certificates. In the previous fiscal year, KMC completed 3,768 such processes. All approvals, including map approval, construction completion, and ownership transfer, are handled through the online Electronic Building Permit System (EBPS), which was expanded to cover all wards by August 15, 2016.

Simkot in Darkness as Hildum Hydropower Plant Undergoes Repair

Simkot, the district headquarters of Humla, has been without electricity for four days due to a fault at the single source, the Hildum Hydropower Distribution Center. Center Chief Engineer Jitendra Shah stated that the power supply was halted to allow for maintenance work on the powerhouse and other structures. The lack of electricity has impacted all daily activities, including news gathering and transmission, as solar power is unreliable during the winter. Assistant Chief District Officer Rajendra Chand has instructed rapid repair, with the goal of restoring power supply by Saturday.

Baglung Journalists Receive Two-Day Multimedia Training

A two-day multimedia journalism training program for active journalists in Baglung began on Wednesday. The training, organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Baglung Chapter and supported by the Press Registrar Office of Gandaki Province, was inaugurated by Registrar Bimala Bhandari. Stressing the importance of being technologically proficient in the age of AI, Bhandari noted that this mobile journalism training is the first initiated by the Press Registrar Office in the Gandaki Province. Thirty-five journalists from Baglung are participating in the session, led by trainer Bikash Karki.

Nepal Airlines Invites Applications for General Manager Post

The selection committee for the vacant general manager position at Nepal Airlines Corporation issued a public notice on Thursday, inviting applications from eligible candidates within 15 days. This action follows Prime Minister Sushila Karki seeking clarification from Tourism Secretary Hari Prasad Mainali on Monday regarding delays in filling the position, which has been vacant since former Executive Chairman Yubraj Adhikari’s term ended on October 24. The selection committee, formed on October 31, is tasked with recommending a candidate through open competition.

COP30 Officially Invites Claims from Loss and Damage Fund

The United Nations climate change conference, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, formally invited proposals for compensation from the Loss and Damage Fund on the first day of the summit, officially beginning the fund’s operational phase. Joint Secretary Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal of the Ministry of Forests and Environment hailed this as a historic step for highly affected nations like Nepal. Eligible national and international organizations, including NDRRMA, banks, and UN agencies, can now submit proposals with certified research to claim compensation. The current fund size stands at USD 250 million, which experts noted is minimal compared to the scale of climate damage.

NPL Broadcast Rights Dispute: New Tender Issued Days Before Start

The second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is set to begin on November 17, but the domestic broadcast rights remain unsettled. Following a controversy over changing the rights from exclusive to non-exclusive, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) issued a new tender notice on Thursday, two days after the original deadline. The revised tender, valued at over Rs 10 million, now requires bidders to have broadcasted at least one international or domestic competition. International broadcasting rights have been granted to Star Sports, and the tournament will not be live-streamed on YouTube.

Cardiff to Host Euro 2028 Opener; Wembley Gets Final

UEFA confirmed that the Euro 2028 football championship will open at the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff on June 9, 2028. London’s Wembley Stadium will host the semi-finals and the final on July 9. Co-hosted by the UK and Ireland, the tournament will feature 51 matches with 24 teams across nine venues in eight cities, including Dublin, Glasgow, and Birmingham. The format remains a standard knockout after the group stage. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer predicted the event would generate GBP 3.6 billion (EUR 4.83 billion) in economic activity for the region between 2028 and 2031.

Portuguese Embassy Warns Nepalis Against Worker Visa Scams

The Nepali Embassy in Portugal has issued a warning to Nepalis in Nepal and various Middle Eastern countries to be cautious of scams related to worker visas. The embassy stated that the Portuguese government has stopped issuing all types of worker visas, except for highly skilled ones, effective October 23. The embassy has received reports of fraud in the name of arranging work in Portugal and advised against engaging in or being part of such illegal activities. It emphasized that individuals will not be permitted to enter Portugal using such non-existent visas.

US Government Shutdown Ends: Trump Signs Funding Bill After 43-Day Standoff

The US President Donald Trump signed legislation to end the longest government shutdown in US history, just two hours after the House of Representatives passed the funding package. The bill, which passed the House 222–209 and cleared the Senate earlier, extends funding through January 30, 2026, allowing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to return to work by Thursday. The 43-day shutdown disrupted food assistance and air traffic control and is estimated to have added USD 1.8 trillion a year to the USD 38 trillion national debt.

Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn Makes Historic First State Visit to China

King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand arrived in China on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a reigning Thai monarch. The trip, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties established in 1975. While Thailand remains a military ally of the US, relations with China, its biggest trading partner, have steadily grown closer. King and Queen Suthida will attend a state banquet hosted by President Xi and visit landmarks, symbolizing the “deep-rooted friendship” between the two nations.