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.

Supreme Court Issues Interim Order Against NRB

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to halt the immediate enforcement of the rule requiring banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to sell off acquired non-banking assets exceeding the legal limit within three years. The ruling was issued by a five-member Constitutional Bench, including Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and Justices Kumar Regmi and Hari Prasad Phuyal, on November 26. The interim order was issued in response to a writ petition filed by the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions, Nepal (CBFIN). The provision for the mandatory three-year disposal deadline was introduced through the Investment Facilitation (Amendment) Act, 2024, which also required government approval for sales after the deadline. CBFIN argued that this rule contradicts the constitutional right to property. Currently, BFIs have acquired non-banking assets worth approximately Rs 50 billion.

Policeman Arrested for Infant Murder

Nepal Police’s Assistant Sub-Inspector Puskar Karki has been arrested on the charge of murdering his four-month-old son. Karki was apprehended in Nagdhunga after fleeing his residence in Sinamangal, Kathmandu, where he allegedly strangled the infant. Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson and superintendent of police for the Kathmandu District Police Range, confirmed the arrest and stated that further investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the murder. Karki was detained while attempting to escape the Kathmandu Valley.

CIAA Files Corruption Case Against 55 Officials Over Pokhara Airport Scam

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has determined there was massive financial irregularity in the construction of the Pokhara International Airport (PIA). The commission filed a corruption case on Sunday at the Special Court against 55 individuals, including former ministers, former secretaries, and former joint secretaries, as well as the Chinese construction company CAMC Engineering. CIAA Spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel stated that Rs 8.367 billion was embezzled during the project. Although the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) initially approved a cost of USD 145 million in September 22, 2010, the cost was improperly inflated to USD 166.41 million, bypassing public procurement laws. The CIAA is seeking to recover the entire embezzled amount.

Poor Coordination Hinders Efforts to Curb Rising Kathmandu Valley Air Pollution

As air quality in the Kathmandu Valley worsens with the onset of winter, experts stress that a lack of coordination is delaying results from mitigation efforts. While the Road Division, Kathmandu, has begun filling dust-generating potholes on major roads, other essential agencies like KMC have yet to repair their stretches. Sarita Rai, Chief of KMC’s Environment Department, confirmed they have prevented open waste burning. Environmentalist Bhusan Tuladhar criticized these patchwork measures, emphasizing that shared responsibility and uniformity across all stakeholder agencies are crucial. On Sunday morning, PM2.5 levels in areas like Jadibuti reached 199 micrograms per cubic meter, which is many times higher than the WHO annual guideline of five micrograms per cubic meter. Experts warn that air quality is set to decline further as the cold weather and the agricultural stubble-burning season in the Terai begin, making coordinated action by all local governments vital.

114 Parties to Participate in Upcoming Federal Election; 107 Symbols Approved

A total of 114 political parties will be allowed to participate in the upcoming House of Representatives election. The Election Commission (EC) approved applications from 117 parties, with 13 being rejected, resulting in 107 election symbols to be used. EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai confirmed that 102 parties will compete individually, while five groups comprising 12 parties will share a single election symbol. The EC has also finalized the order of election symbols on the ballot paper, with CPN-UML securing the first spot, followed by Nepali Congress, Nepali Communist Party, and Rastriya Swatantra Party in the fourth position. Meanwhile, 33 parties registered their applications for the proportional representation system on Sunday.

536 People Injured in Gen-Z Movement Receive ID Cards

The Ministry of Home Affairs has reported that 536 individuals injured during the Gen Z protest on September 8 and 9 have received identity cards. The government had established a system to issue ID cards after classifying the injured. The Ministry has requested that those who have not yet collected their ID cards should do so. Furthermore, anyone who was injured but missed being included in the initial list is encouraged to present the necessary details at their respective District Administration Office to receive their ID card.

Harka Sampang’s ‘Shram Sanskriti Party’ Holds First Formal Assembly in Kathmandu

The Shram Sanskriti Party, led by Dharan Sub-Metropolitan Mayor Harka Sampang, held its first formal assembly in Kathmandu after registering the party with the Election Commission. The event, named ‘Organization Expansion and Party Entry Program,’. Party Chairman Harka Sampang inaugurated the program by lighting a traditional lamp. The assembly saw a large turnout of leaders and workers, many carrying the party’s election symbol: soil held in the palms of two hands. Participants were seen carrying the national flag of Nepal and placards featuring the party’s new election symbol.

CPN (UML) 11th General Convention to Begin on December 13 in Bhaktapur

The CPN (UML)’s 11th General Convention will be inaugurated on Saturday, December 13, at the Sallahghari open field in Bhaktapur, which has a capacity for about 200,000 participants. The closed session, however, will be held in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. A total of 2,400 delegates, comprising both elected and ex-officio members, will participate. The delegates were selected based on the ratio of organized members in 77 districts and seven special districts. The delegate selection process ensured that for every 1,200 party members in a constituency, four representatives are elected, including at least one woman and one youth under 40 years old. A force of 10,000 volunteers from 24 party mass organizations and various committees will be mobilized for the convention.

NCP of Nepal to Hold Unity Assembly on December 20

The Nepali Communist Party has decided to hold a Unity Message Assembly on December 20. The decision was made during a provincial office meeting held at the central office in Paris Danda. The assembly will be jointly organized by the Bagmati, Liaison Coordination, and Special provinces in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. This meeting was initially scheduled for December 3 but had been postponed.

CPN (UML) Resolves Delegate Selection Disputes in Okhaldhunga and Dhankuta

The CPN (UML) has resolved the disputes over the selection of delegates for its 11th General Convention in Okhaldhunga and Dhankuta districts through political consensus. In Okhaldhunga, where 12 delegates were initially elected from the Pokharel faction, it was agreed to include four delegates from the KP Sharma Oli faction, including former district chairman Mohan Kumar Shrestha and district deputy secretary Asmita Thapa. This overturns a decision to rerun the election. In Dhankuta, the dispute was resolved when the Rajendra Rai faction agreed to recall two of its elected representatives, Shantiram Gautam and Arjun Chharahang, and replace them with Niren Tamang and Manoj Rai from the aggrieved Indramani Parajuli faction.

Woman Arrested in Morang for Allegedly Poisoning In-laws, Killing One

Police have arrested 32-year-old Sunita Karki for allegedly poisoning her elderly aunt and uncle-in-law, leading to the death of 77-year-old Indra Maya Rai and seriously sickening 70-year-old Bhakta Bahadur Rai in Belbari Municipality-2, Singhdevi settlement, Morang. Bhakta Bahadur Rai was found unconscious in a nearby stream on Saturday, and Indra Maya Rai was found unconscious at home. Indra Maya Rai died during treatment at Nobel Medical College in Biratnagar. Preliminary investigation revealed that the food was poisoned, a suspicion reinforced by the discovery of three dead chickens in a nearby coop. Karki confessed to mixing poison in the food and burning the container. Police have filed a homicide case and are conducting further investigation, suspecting a family dispute as the motive.

Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu Road Section to Close for Five Hours Daily

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has decided to partially close the Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu road section to accelerate construction due to a lack of expected progress. From December 10 to December 16, the road will be closed for five hours daily, from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The road closure will affect the Nagdhunga-Piplamod section in Kathmandu and the Pokharebhari area in Dhading, which is narrow and requires widening and immediate blacktopping. During the closure, traffic will be stopped at checkpoints, and essential service vehicles like ambulances and security forces will be facilitated by traffic police. Small and medium vehicles are advised to use alternate routes, such as the Sitapaila-Bhimdhunga or Samakhusi-Tokha-Chhahare roads.

Lumbini Province Has 12,732 Stray Cattle; Bill to Be Introduced

A survey report by the Lumbini Province Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives shows that there are approximately 12,732 stray cattle in the province, with about 4,000 still unmanaged. The province currently has 39 cow shelters with a total capacity of 11,677, but only 8,995 cattle are housed. The report, prepared by a committee led by Agriculture Minister Dinesh Panthi, was submitted to Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya. The Chief Minister has directed that a bill for the management of stray animals be presented in the winter session of the Provincial Assembly. The report also highlights that the problem is most severe in the Terai districts and that a lack of legal clarity on government investment in privately run cow shelters is a major challenge.

Home Ministry Probes Bardiya Citizenship Suicide Tragedy

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a three-member committee to investigate the suicides of a father and daughter in Bardiya, Kanchha Tharu and Anju Tharu, who reportedly took their lives after years of being denied citizenship. The committee is led by Joint-Secretary Suresh Panthi, Chief of the Ministry’s Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division. Under-Secretary Kulsekhar Aryal is also a member. The committee has been tasked to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit its findings within five days. The decision follows Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s directive to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal to seek a factual report, prompted by a news report on the tragedy. The move has given the grieving family in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-4 a glimmer of hope for justice after a month of despair.

Kathmandu University to Graduate 2,209 Students in 31st Convocation

Kathmandu University (KU) announced on Monday that 2,209 students will graduate in the first phase of its 31st Convocation Ceremony on Wednesday. According to Dr. Uddhab Pyakurel, KU Spokesperson, the graduates include 881 from the School of Medical Sciences and 378 from the School of Management. The cohort consists of seven PhD/DM/MCh graduates, 397 master’s degree graduates, and 1,728 bachelor’s degree graduates. Approximately 52.24 percent (1,154) are male, and 47.76 percent (1,055) are female. The graduating class includes 196 foreign students from 17 different countries. The total number of KU alumni will reach 50,040 after this ceremony. The Chancellor’s Gold Medal for the highest GPA at the postgraduate level will go to Maite Menchaca Castellano from Spain.

Study Launched to Determine Snow Leopard Population

A study has been initiated to determine the population of the rare snow leopard in the high-altitude regions of Mustang. The research is a joint effort between BIOCOS Nepal and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Jomsom. Field Biologist Budhi Bahadur Gurung of BioCos Nepal confirmed that 15 camera traps were installed in the high plateaus of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality last week. The study aims to accurately count the snow leopard population, assess the status of their prey species like the blue sheep, evaluate human-snow leopard conflict, and understand the impact of climate change on their habitat. Climate change, which has caused pastures to dry up, is forcing the snow leopards to follow their prey to lower altitudes and human settlements, increasing conflict. The cameras will remain installed for two months, after which the data will be analyzed.

Nepal’s Largest Cave, Siddha Gufa in Tanahun, Remains Underrated

Siddha Cave, the largest cave in Nepal, located in Bimalnagar, Bandipur Rural Municipality-4, Tanahun, remains overlooked despite its significant natural and religious importance. According to Surendra Thapa, Chairman of Bandipur Rural Municipality, the cave is easily accessible with a 30-minute walk from the Prithvi Highway, yet it lacks sufficient publicity to attract tourists. The municipality has allocated a budget to promote the cave, focusing on infrastructure improvements like staircase repair and site beautification. The Siddha Gufa Development Committee stated that the 800-meter-long cave, which features stunning natural formations resembling deities and animals, was first discovered on March 26, 1988, by a five-person group.

Municipality Reopens After 25-Day Padlock Over Contract Staff

The 25-day-long lockout at Phatuwa Bijaypur Municipality in Rautahat ended on Sunday following an agreement to extend the contracts of existing temporary staff until 2026. The municipal office has been shut down since November 12 after the acting municipal chief decided not to renew the terms of approximately 85 contract employees. Accounts Officer Kameshwar Sahani confirmed the agreement, noting that after initial internal funding was rejected as insufficient, a consensus was reached to pay the staff’s salaries and allowances through the revenue distribution mechanism. Following the end of the lockout, Madan Kumar Thapa, an officer of the Education Administration Group, formally assumed the responsibility of the acting Chief Administrative Officer.

NPL Pauses for Maintenance; Qualifier 1 Set for Tomorrow

The Second Edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is observing a rest day today for pitch maintenance after the completion of the league stage matches. The tournament will resume tomorrow with the first qualifier match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, scheduled for 4 PM. The game will feature the Sudurpashchim Royals and the Biratnagar Kings. Sudurpashchim secured the top spot in the points table, winning six out of seven league matches, while Biratnagar finished second with five wins. Interestingly, Sudurpashchim’s only defeat in the league stage came against Biratnagar.

Eighth Tulsilal Smriti National Team Chess Championship Kicks Off

The Eighth Tulsilal Smriti National Team Chess Championship, organized by the Lalitpur Sports Club, has begun in Kumaripati, Lalitpur, with 22 top-tier teams competing on Sunday. On the opening day, the host, Lalitpur Sports Club, defeated the Kathmandu Chess Club, and the Lalitpur Metropolitan City team overcame the Bhaktapur District Chess Association. The defending champions, Thapathali Chess Park, secured a victory over the Sudurpaschim Chess Association. The championship offers a grand prize of Rs 200,000 to the winner, with Rs 100,000 for the runner-up, Rs 60,000 for third place, and Rs 40,000 for fourth place.

Para Taekwondo Player Renu Tamang to Compete in Asian Youth Para Games

Para taekwondo player Renu Tamang is set to compete in the Asian Youth Para Games, which will be held in Dubai, UAE, from Sunday to December 14. Tamang, who is under special training for the National Sports Council’s (NSC) ambitious Mission-2026, will represent Nepal in the K-44 category, under the 47 kg weight group. Her competition is scheduled for Friday. International Level Two Coach Kabiraj Negi Lama will accompany the team as the coach. The Nepali team departed for Dubai on Monday night. Renu previously won a gold medal in the 13th Korean Ambassador International Taekwondo Championship and participated in the 10th Asian Para Taekwondo Championship in Malaysia.

South Korea: Blackmailer of Football Star Son Gets Four-Year Sentence

A South Korean court has sentenced a woman in her 20s to four years in prison after she was found guilty of blackmailing football star Son Heung-min. The woman and her 40-something accomplice extorted USD 200,000 from the former Tottenham Spurs captain by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child. Prosecutors stated that the woman planned the crime “thoroughly” and spent the money on luxury goods, while the judge noted that the criminals abused Son’s celebrity status, causing him “intense mental anguish.” The accomplice was handed a two-year jail term for attempted blackmail. Son, widely regarded as one of Asia’s best footballers, joined the Los Angeles Football Club in August in the most expensive transfer in MLS history.

Thailand Launches Airstrikes on Cambodia After Border Clashes Break Out

Thailand launched airstrikes into Cambodia on Monday after fresh clashes erupted along their disputed border, with both countries accusing the other of violating a ceasefire. A Thai army spokesperson confirmed that at least one Thai soldier was killed and eight were wounded, prompting the use of air power to hit Cambodian military targets. Thailand’s Air Force stated that this was a necessary deterrent due to Cambodia’s mobilization of heavy weaponry. The Cambodian Defense Ministry confirmed the Thai military launched dawn attacks at two locations, following days of provocative actions, but insisted that Cambodian troops had not responded. Three Cambodian civilians have been seriously injured. The renewed fighting risks undoing the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in October.

Trump Flags Concerns Over Netflix’s USD 72 Billion Deal to Buy Warner Bros Discovery Studio

US President Donald Trump flagged potential antitrust concerns over Netflix’s planned USD 72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s movie studio and HBO streaming networks. Speaking in Washington, DC, on Sunday, Trump stated that Netflix already has a “big market share” and the combined size of the firms “could be a problem.” The planned merger, which would create a new media giant, has yet to be approved by competition authorities. The deal, announced on Friday, would see major franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings move to Netflix. Experts suggest the deal may require concessions, but the Writers Guild of America’s East and West branches have called for the merger to be blocked, arguing it would eliminate jobs and worsen conditions for entertainment workers.

Japan Protests After Chinese Fighter Jets Lock Radars Near Okinawa

Japan has filed a protest after Chinese fighter jets locked radars onto Japanese aircraft on Saturday near its southern Okinawa islands. Locking radar is considered a provocative threat, as it can signal a potential attack. Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to the Chinese J-15 fighter jets. Beijing, however, accused Tokyo of “harassing” its forces during a training exercise. No injuries or damage were reported. Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan. The widening diplomatic rift included a confrontation near disputed islands in the East China Sea last week.