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.

Meteorological Department Issues 3-Day Heatwave Bulletins for Western Plains

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issued an extreme weather bulletin warning of severe heatwave conditions across Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces for the next three days. Weather stations recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C across several low-land districts. The department advised residents in Kanchanpur, Kailali, Doti, Bardia, Banke, and Dang to remain indoors during peak afternoon hours to avoid heatstroke and dehydration. Health guidelines recommend wearing light cotton clothing, covering the head when outdoors, and consuming water or fruit juices frequently to counter fatigue, muscle cramps, and dizziness caused by the hot winds.

Diplomatic Tensions Halt Foreign Minister’s Strategic Convention Visit to India

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal’s official diplomatic trip to New Delhi, originally scheduled for June 1, has been indefinitely postponed. Minister Khanal was scheduled to attend the international Big Cat Alliance summit inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Indian diplomatic notifications cited abrupt Ebola virus concerns to defer the convention. The postponement followed a previous cancellation by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri regarding his May 11 trip to Kathmandu, after Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) declined bilateral audience requests. The delays halt planned sideline talks aimed at scheduling bilateral state visits between the neighbors.

UML Leaders Convene 2nd Secretariat Assembly

The ninth CPN (UML) Secretariat meeting commenced at the party chairman’s residence in Gundu on Saturday to resolve internal organizational disputes. The session followed an intense meeting on Friday, where four out of five party vice chairmen reportedly advised Chairman KP Sharma Oli to step down and support a full party reorganization. The follow-up session opened floor discussions for Deputy General Secretaries Yogesh Bhatrai, Raghubir Mahaseth, and Lekhraj Bhatta, alongside nine central secretaries. Party General Secretary Shankar Pokharel confirmed the panel moved to evaluate recent local election trends while preparing a structured central committee work allocation plan.

Internal Disputes Trigger Violent Brawl at RSP District Gathering in Bara

A severe internal political dispute dissolved into a violent physical brawl during an expanded district committee assembly of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kalaiya, Bara District on Saturday. District Police Office SP Narendra Kunwar deployed tactical security details to control aggressive crowds after physical altercations broke out inside the venue. The confrontation erupted when supporters of ousted Bara Chairman Chandan Sarraf, who was expelled from party membership last Wednesday, clashed with attendees. Disgruntled faction leaders accused sitting lawmakers of using physical force to eject founding members from the venue, triggering continuous protest rallies around the district headquarters.

Congress President Gagan Thapa Demands Judicial Probe Into Human Rights Report

Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa urged disgruntled central leaders to unite and resolve internal political disputes during a press conference at the Koirala Residence in Biratnagar on Saturday. Thapa committed to accommodating independent politicians who currently remain outside the party’s primary executive layout. On governance matters, the General Secretary criticized the incumbent administration for bypassing standard legislative reviews through executive ordinances. He demanded the immediate formation of a high-level judicial commission to investigate the September 9, 2025, incident, while ordering the immediate public release of the withheld National Human Rights Commission investigation report to maintain judicial transparency.

Chairman Oli Loses Secretariat Majority Support Amid Resignation Pressure

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli lost majority backing within his 19-member Secretariat after General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai joined dissidents demanding a leadership change. Out of 15 executive office-bearers who voiced positions during the internal party assembly on Saturday, only Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ and Secretary Mahesh Basnet backed the chairman. Oli, who secured a third term at the 11th General Convention in 2025, faces severe pressure to resign. The opposing faction blames his executive management styles for recent electoral losses, forcing a deadlock before follow-up addresses by central leaders.

Over 200 Citizens Obtain Citizenship Certificates Under Mother’s Name

A total of 209 citizens successfully acquired their legal ancestry citizenship certificates under their mother’s name in Mahottari District over the past four months. District Chief Officer Indra Dev Yadav confirmed on Saturday that the specialized distribution drive commenced on January 20. The decentralized administrative processing followed a cabinet decree passed on December 26, 2025, which was officially gazetted on January 5, 2026, to ensure legal integration for individuals whose father’s identity remains unverified. Eligible applicants born in Nepal to a Nepali mother are granted citizenship based on self-declaration protocols.

6 Trainee Soldiers Reclaim Consciousness at APF Hospital

The Nepal APF Hospital in Balambu confirmed on Saturday that all six trainee soldiers who were evacuated from Tikapur have successfully regained full consciousness. The Armed Police Force (APF) personnel collapsed due to extreme heat stress during field drills at the APF Revenue, Customs and Industrial Training Academy on Friday, where eight soldiers initially fainted. A specialized medical team comprising a dozen expert physicians is managing their active clinical recovery. Former Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and APF Inspector General Narayan Datta Paudel visited the medical facility to inspect the health statuses of the healing trainees, identifying them as Bal Bahadur Basnet, Ganesh Rawat, and Mani Bahadur Basnet.

Rapti Health Institute Completes 113 Kidney Stone Surgeries

The Department of Urology at the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences successfully executed 113 urological kidney stone surgeries during a single 30-day period ending May 14. Surgical datasets managed by Officiating Director Dr. Suresh Rasaily showed that the medical unit also extended Outpatient Department (OPD) therapeutic consultations to 505 regional patients while providing advanced inpatient care to 61 hospitalized individuals. Led by Chief Urologist Surgeon Dr. Sushil Khania, the hospital unit handles 70 diagnostic consultations daily. To expand clinical care capabilities across western Nepal, the academy initiated structural institutional collaborations with Bir Hospital and the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol Returns After Historic Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize Win

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol returned to Kathmandu on Saturday after attending the Cannes Film Festival in France at the invitation of Cannes Mayor David Lisnard. Dangol celebrated the historic selection of the Nepalese feature ‘Elephant in the Fog’ (Tiniharu), directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, which won the prestigious Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category after receiving a seven-minute standing ovation. Both registered members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Cannes and Kathmandu, agreed to exchange film technology and technical skills. Mayor Lisnard committed to supporting a future international film festival in Kathmandu to boost the local creative economy and tourism sector.

‘Elephants in the Fog’ Secures Historic Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival

The Nepalese feature film ‘Elephants in the Fog‘ (Tiniharu), directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, won the prestigious Jury Prize under the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. This victory marks the first time a Nepalese feature film has earned an official selection and a major prize category at Cannes. Shot across the low-land Terai plains, the co-production features an ensemble cast including Pushpa Thing, Gauri Malla, and Mao Tsetse Gurung. The narrative centers on a transgender woman leading a marginalized community. Shah previously achieved global acclaim during the 75th edition of the festival, where his short film ‘Lori’ clinched a Special Mention distinction.

Romantic Feature Film ‘Behuli’ Concludes 45-Day Principal Photography

Production houses ‘The Divine Music’ and ‘Samman Entertainment’ announced the successful conclusion of principal photography for their upcoming feature film ‘Behuli‘ on Saturday. Directed by Bashan Kandel and produced by composer Arjun Pokharel, the commercial production wrapped up its primary filming calendar over a consecutive 45-day timeline, leaving only two musical dance sequences to be shot. The cinematic cast features Paras Bam Thakuri, Divya Rayamajhi, and Sushant Karki in lead roles. Executive Producer Suman Thing Tamang confirmed the family drama is scheduled for theatrical release on August 28, timed with the festive Janai Purnima public holiday.

Nepal Shuts Out Kyrgyzstan in Straight Sets at CAVA Volleyball Championship

Nepal’s national women’s volleyball team secured its first tournament victory at the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship on Saturday. Playing their second Group ‘A’ match at the Dasharath Rangasala Covered Hall in Tripureshwar, the hosts defeated Kyrgyzstan in straight sets with a 25-18, 25-20, 25-13 scoreline. Middle blocker Sumitra Regmi scored a match-high 19 points to earn the Player of the Match honors. The victory moves Nepal to second place in the group standings with 4 points, bouncing back from their initial 3-2 loss to India. Nepal will face the Maldives on Sunday to secure their semifinal qualifying spot.

National Sports Council Concludes 6-Day Microcycle Design Training Workshop

The Training and Coaching Department of the National Sports Council (NSC) concluded its 6-day specialized Microcycle Design Workshop on Saturday. The technical program provided advanced theoretical and practical athletic management modules to 15 elite national coaches representing nine core sports disciplines, including football, cricket, wrestling, and kabaddi. Training sessions were directed by World Athletics Level-2 Lecturer Sushil Narsingh Rana, alongside yoga instructor Pushkar Raj Pant. NSC Member Secretary Ram Charitra Mehta distributed official completion certificates during a closing ceremony held at the International Sports Complex in Satdobato, supported by Department Director Bishnu Bahadur Singh.

America Disallows On-Shore Green Card Processing for Temporary Residents

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a restrictive immigration regulation on Friday, prohibiting temporary visa holders from altering their status to permanent residency from within the country. Under the updated Department of Homeland Security guidelines, foreign nationals holding temporary academic, cultural, or media visas must return to their home countries to file Green Card applications through local American embassies. The regulatory update comes as part of ongoing immigration enforcement drives led by the US President Donald Trump administration, which previously authorized the cancellation of over 100,000 active visas. Humanitarian aid networks criticized the enforcement for endangering displaced asylum seekers.