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 Office Executes Massive Secretarial Overhaul to Downsize Ministries

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers executed a major administrative shake-up, shifting responsibilities for 23 high-ranking government secretaries following a structural consolidation of federal executive agencies. The administrative reshuffle aligns with the freshly approved Government Allocation of Business Rules 2026, which effectively downsized the total number of federal ministries from 22 down to 18. To minimize bureaucratic overheads, the administration abolished twin-secretary staffing pools inside core portfolios, including Finance, Energy, and Health, while moving six senior officials into an extra-departmental reserve pool to coordinate specialized operations across Tribhuvan International Airport and information technology divisions.

HoR Meeting Adjourned Until June 9

The meeting of the House of Representatives has been postponed until June 9. The parliamentary session, which was initially adjourned for 15 minutes earlier on Monday, could not resume due to special circumstances. As a result, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal rescheduled the meeting for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The decision was announced after it became clear that the House would be unable to reconvene within the previously scheduled adjournment period.

Speaker Holds Cross-Party Talks to Break Parliamentary Deadlock

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal convened a meeting of chief whips from parties represented in the House of Representatives on Monday in an effort to resolve the ongoing parliamentary impasse. The discussion focused on finalizing the House agenda following the dissolution of the previous Business Advisory Committee under the new parliamentary rules. However, opposition parties maintained their demand that Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) clarify and withdraw his remarks on the Nepal-India border issue, keeping the political deadlock unresolved ahead of the House session.

Senior-Most Justice Sapana Pradhan Returns After 20-Day Leave

The senior-most justice of the Supreme Court, Sapana Pradhan Malla, has returned to work after a 20-day leave following her dissatisfaction over the recent chief justice appointment. Malla, who was first in the seniority roll, was bypassed alongside second-ranked Justice Kumar Regmi and third-ranked Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal when the Constitutional Council recommended fourth-ranked Manoj Kumar Sharma for the top judicial post. Expressing her discontent, Malla skipped Sharma’s official welcoming ceremony and approved her own leave in her capacity as the then-acting Chief Justice just before Sharma assumed office on May 19. Returning to court on Monday, she has resumed hearing cases, with 7 cases assigned to her single bench and 166 cases scheduled for her joint bench alongside Justice Meghraj Pokharel.

Finance Minister Defends Bold Tariff Adjustments

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle defended the government’s comprehensive tax restructuring roadmap, stating that protecting domestic industrial production warrants facing international criticism over unconventional tariff modifications. Speaking at a post-budget review forum organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), he clarified that replacing standard excise duties with customized domestic production protection fees ensures that additional tariffs apply exclusively to foreign imported commodities. He noted that the ministry scaled up the national income tax exemption threshold to help boost consumer demand while noting that the Rs 1.580 trillion revenue collection target remains achievable through rigid anti-eviction measures.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal Scheduled to Visit China

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal is scheduled to depart for an official visit to China on June 14, according to his secretariat. During the visit, on June 15 and 16, Minister Khanal is set to hold meetings with Wang Yi and Liu Haixing. The discussions are expected to focus on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest between Nepal and China. Minister Khanal is scheduled to return to Nepal on July 1 after completing his visit.

Minister Chaudhary Calls for Cooperation to Combat Microplastic Pollution

The Minister for Agriculture, Forests, and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, called for robust regional environmental cooperation among South Asian nations to counter transboundary climate threats, melting glacial ice sheets, and microplastic contamination. Addressing a regional ecological training seminar organized under the South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP) on Monday, she warned that microplastics have infiltrated regional river systems and human bloodstreams. The minister confirmed that Nepal enforces strict bans on plastic bags under 40 microns and is planning comprehensive bans on single-use plastics to align municipal waste management with constitutional mandates for clean and healthy environments.

5 New Ministers Sworn In After Lumbini Cabinet Reshuffle

Five newly appointed ministers of the Lumbini Provincial Government took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday following a cabinet reshuffle by Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya. Administered by Province Chief Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, the new cabinet includes four ministers from the CPN (UML) and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party. The ministers have been assigned portfolios covering agriculture, energy, health, physical infrastructure, and internal affairs, filling vacancies created by recent resignations.

Nepal Airlines Ground Staff Arrested for Executing Illegal Counter Setting

The Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested two contract ground handling employees working for Nepal Airlines Corporation for orchestrating a human smuggling ring through fake boarding passes at Tribhuvan International Airport. Police authorities identified the detained airline staff as Prabin Lamichhane and Sumitra Chand, who were intercepted following an emergency security request from the Department of Immigration. Initial forensic investigations and airport CCTV footage revealed that the suspects bypassed standard security screening by issuing an Indian national two separate boarding passes for India and Dubai, allowing the passenger to fly to Dubai without the mandatory No Objection Certificate.

IGP Karki Reports 263 Police Posts Need Rebuilding

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki stated that 263 permanent police posts across the country are currently in critical disrepair and require urgent reconstruction. Speaking before a meeting of the parliamentary Federalism Strengthening and National Concerns Committee on Monday, the police chief explained that severe budget constraints have left law enforcement units operating out of deteriorating, unsafe structures along sensitive border zones. IGP Karki urged the Ministry of Federal Affairs to coordinate directly with municipal governments to rebuild these permanent stations, while noting that a lack of funding makes it difficult to upgrade basic living facilities and logistics at temporary police posts.

NSC Refuses to Lift Travel Ban on ANFA Officials

The National Sports Council (NSC) has rejected a request to remove international travel restrictions on 24 ANFA officials and staff, including President Pankaj Bikram Nembang. The delegation sought relief through letters from FIFA and the AFC, but the NSC upheld the ban. The restrictions, imposed through the Department of Immigration, cover six office bearers, 14 central committee members, and four senior staff, with Rabindra Chand the only committee member exempted. The move affects both rival factions within ANFA and could prevent top officials from attending the upcoming FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico, despite the lifting of ANFA’s institutional suspension.

UN Resident Coordinator Calls on Health Minister Mehta

The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Nepal, Lila Pieters, paid a formal courtesy call on the Minister for Health and Food Hygiene, Nisha Mehta, at the minister’s office today. During the meeting, both dignitaries reviewed and discussed the long-standing developmental and technical assistance extended to Nepal by the United Nations and its specialized agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA. The bilateral dialogue focused heavily on mutual cooperation regarding the government of Nepal’s 100-point governance reform priorities, the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the expansion of Universal Health Coverage. Furthermore, Minister Mehta and the Resident Coordinator deliberated on critical contemporary public health challenges, including climate change adaptation, food safety regulations, national health insurance implementation, and the integration of digital health systems such as telemedicine across the country.

Nepal Heritage Day Celebrated in British Columbia for First Time

Nepal Heritage Day was celebrated in Surrey, British Columbia, marking the first observance since its official recognition by the Government of British Columbia. The event, organized by the Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia with support from Nepali community organizations, was attended by British Columbia Premier David Eby, ministers, members of the Legislative Assembly, local government representatives, and community leaders. Nepal’s ambassador to Canada Bharat Raj Paudyal addressed the event, describing the recognition as a significant milestone for the Nepali diaspora and Nepal-Canada relations. During the visit, the ambassador held separate meetings with British Columbia Premier David Eby, Legislative Assembly Speaker Raj Chouhan, Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, and Pacific Regional Trade Director Cameron Jelinski. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade, tourism, investment, technology transfer, and people-to-people exchanges between Nepal and Canada.

All-Party Meeting Fails to End Parliamentary Stalemate

An all-party meeting called by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane ended without a breakthrough on Monday, prolonging the deadlock in the Federal Parliament. Opposition parties rejected a proposal to address concerns through briefings by Lamichhane and Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, insisting that Prime Minister Balendra Shah personally clarify his remarks on the Nepal-India border issue. Despite discussions, no consensus was reached, and opposition lawmakers vowed to continue obstructing parliamentary proceedings.

CIAA Charges Birgunj Mayor, Six Others in Citizenship Fraud Case

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Birgunj Mayor Rajesh Man Singh and six others, accusing them of fraudulently issuing birth and citizenship documents. Investigators allege officials manipulated records to falsely register another person’s daughter as the mayor’s child. Former ward and administrative officials, along with two Home Ministry probe committee members, are among those charged. The CIAA is seeking fines and imprisonment under anti-corruption laws as the case moves to the Special Court.

Janamat Party Stages Mass Rallies at Maitighar

The Janamat Party mobilized hundreds of political cadres and grassroots supporters to stage a peaceful protest demonstration at Maitighar Mandala on Monday. Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans demanding the immediate implementation of local administrative powers and municipal autonomy guaranteed under the federal constitution. Rally coordinators criticized established political coalitions for systematically centralizing decision-making powers and failing to deliver on campaign promises. The party warned that it will escalate its localized street agitations into broader provincial movements if federal authorities continue to cut municipal budgets and undermine local resource allocation decisions.

Saraswati Khadka Nominated Chief Whip of Nepali Congress

The leader of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party and chief minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, nominated Saraswati Khadka as the party’s new chief whip on Monday. Khadka, who currently serves as the State Minister for Social Development, fills the legislative vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Whip Bikram Singh Dhami. Internal political sources confirm the appointment precedes an upcoming cabinet reshuffle, where Dhami is expected to take over the Ministry of Economic Affairs, while the provincial cabinet formally approved the draft framework for localized municipal management guidelines.

CK Raut Claims Historical Political Blocs Routinely Exploit Madhesh Voters

The National Chairman of the Janamat Party, CK Raut, claimed that mainstream political coalitions routinely use the political weight of the Madhesh Province to form governments while denying the region its constitutional rights. Addressing an institutional protest gathering at Maitighar, he stated that both the Nepali Congress and various communist factions have systematically misled the Madheshi population regarding landless peasant management, full citizenship rights, and provincial autonomy over the past 75 years. The party chairman confirmed that opposition units delivered a formal memorandum to the Prime Minister through local district administration offices to demand immediate policy changes.

MP Shahi Demands Parliamentary Probe Over Budget Info Leaks

The Parliamentary Party Leader of the Rastriya Praja Tantra Party (RPP), Gyan Bahadur Shahi, demanded the formation of an independent parliamentary probe committee to investigate alleged data leaks by the finance minister before the official budget announcement. Speaking to journalists on Monday, the opposition lawmaker claimed that 17 crucial pages of tax rate adjustment schedules disappeared from the ministry’s official documentation. He alleged that highly sensitive tariff revisions were leaked early to private auto importers, allowing 773 commercial electric vehicles to clear initial customs checkpoints at the Korala border station days before the pricing changes took effect.

National Brain Tumor Center Reports 15% Annual

The National Brain Tumor Center (NBTC) at Bir Hospital published its comparative clinical report on World Brain Tumor Day, documenting an alarming 15.4 percent annual increase in brain tumor diagnoses between 2024 and 2025. Institutional medical ledgers confirm that 3,000 patients sought neuro-oncology treatments during the 2025 cycle, with high-grade glioma and meningioma variants making up the vast majority of aggressive tumor strains registered by oncologists. Hospital administration confirmed that Bagmati Province accounted for the highest regional patient density at 36.8 percent, prompting hospital executives to extend its humanitarian policy providing free surgical interventions for all verified brain tumor extractions.

85 People Benefited from Eye Camp in Arughat

A free cataract corrective surgery camp held at Arughat Basic Hospital in Gorkha successfully restored vision in 85 individuals. The initiative was supported by the Arughat Rural Municipality, Himalayan Eye Hospital Pokhara, Gorkha Lions Eye Service Centre, and Eyecare. Over two days, a team of medical professionals, led by ophthalmologist Dr. Krishna Gurung, conducted eye examinations and surgeries for attendees. The rural municipality highlighted the camp’s significance in delivering quality eye care to residents in impoverished and remote areas, emphasizing its role in improving access to essential health services.

Road Office Orders Eviction of Encroached Highway Zones Within 15 Days

The Road Division Office in Mahendranagar issued a strict 15-day administrative notice directing individuals and commercial institutions to remove illegal structures built across public lands. Municipal engineering surveys reveal that unauthorized encampments, public toilets, market stalls, and passenger lounges occupy approximately 80 percent of the right-of-way boundaries stretching across the 126-kilometer East-West Mahendra Highway segment from Gaddachauki to Chisapani. Section Chief Rajesh Kumar Yadav confirmed that enforcement teams will forcefully demolish structures within 25 meters of either side of the highway centerline under the Public Roads Act 1974 if developers fail to clear the state-owned property voluntarily.

Filming Commences for ‘Tika: Stateless Soul’ in Kaski

Filming for the female-centric movie ‘Tika: Stateless Soul’ commenced Sunday in Pame, Kaski. Out of a 40-day shooting schedule, 30 days will be spent across Gandaki Province locations, including Pokhara, Pame, Sarangkot, and Nirbhane before moving to Kathmandu, with executive producer Tej Bikram KC noting these landscapes will bring the narrative to life. Directed by Shankar Karki and produced by Bhavishya Khadka under Bhavishya Films and Third Eye Arts, the film is slated for release on September 11, coinciding with Teej. It stars Priyanka Karki, Barsha Siwakoti, Mahesh Tripathi, Nirmal Sharma, Prakash Ghimire, Reena Dhakal, Bibika Paudel, and Ayushi Dhakal. It’s based on a story by Shankar Karki and Chandan Jha with screenplay supervision by Biswas Timsina (BT Kanchha).

4th Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival Concludes

The fourth annual edition of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) concluded its two-day convention at the Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur on Sunday. Operating under the central thematic banner of “Beyond Borders: South Asian Literature in a Changing World,” the cross-border cultural assembly drew record-breaking public attendance, bringing together prominent Nepalese and Indian artists, singers, screenwriters, and historians. Festival directors highlighted that the forum successfully leveraged multilingual poetry recitations, film masterclasses, and panels across Hindi, Urdu, and Nepali to strengthen cultural ties and cross-border connectivity between Nepal and India.

Bollywood Actor Rakesh Bedi Visits Pashupatinath

Prominent Bollywood actor Rakesh Bedi arrived in Kathmandu to headline promotional campaigns and interactive audience events for his running theatrical release, Hai Jawani To Ishq Hona Hai. The veteran Indian cinematic artist commenced his promotional itinerary on Monday morning by visiting the Pashupatinath Temple before traveling to the Mandala Theatre for a specialized entertainment assembly hosted by local film industry actors. Distribution agencies confirmed that the cinematic project achieved significant box-office success across Nepalese theaters, ranking as one of the highest-grossing foreign film projects screen-printed nationwide this past year.

Pop Icon Shakira Shares Nepali Children’s Dance Video

Global pop sensation Shakira shared a digital dance video created by Nepalese children on her official Instagram account, sending views skyrocketing past 2.5 million within forty-eight hours. The Latin music icon reposted the choreography loop, which features local digital creators Ayushi Dhakal and JevinJevis Official performing a synchronized dance routine to her promotional football single “Dai Dai,” produced for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. The high-profile digital endorsement drew over 83,000 interactions on the platform, where the global singer routinely showcases international youth groups dancing to her global tracks.

Nepal Defeats Hong Kong, Secures Asian Games Qualifier Title

Nepal clinched the Asian Games Qualifier title with a 19-run DLS victory over Hong Kong on Monday in Singapore. Chasing 189, Nepal raced to 114/2 in 11.3 overs before rain halted play, with the result decided under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Opener Kushal Bhurtel starred with a blistering 65 off 40 balls, while Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 35. Earlier, Hong Kong posted 188/7, led by Anshuman Rath’s 80. For Nepal, Sher Malla claimed four wickets, while Karan KC took two.

ANFA Launches School Football Program in Humla

With support from the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), a school-level football development program has begun in Humla under FIFA’s Football for Schools initiative. Four schools were selected through a nationwide application process. Two schools have already received 25 footballs each, while another is set to receive equipment. A fourth school was excluded due to low enrollment. District coordinator Dhiraj Rokaya said participating schools must ensure regular training sessions, with Balmandir Secondary School already selecting 40 students for the program.

Everest Climbers Association Demands Structural Safety Laws

The Everest Climbers Association issued an urgent appeal to the federal government on Monday, demanding the immediate implementation of structural security measures to combat rising unsafety across Nepal’s Himalayan climbing grids. Mountain guides stated that rising negligence from corporate trekking agencies and slow emergency extraction responses directly damage international tourism ahead of the planned Nepal Tourism Year 2028. The association called for a high-level investigative commission to investigate the disappearance of a 57-year-old high-altitude cook who went missing for six days after allegedly being pressured by employers to climb from Camp II to Camp IV, while demanding rigid safety regulations to prevent future high-altitude tragedies.

Police Dominates Mayor’s Cup Swimming Championship

The Nepal Police Club claimed the overall team championship trophy at the Kathmandu Mayor’s Cup Swimming Championship after securing 1,036 aggregate points during the two-day aquatic tournament. The competitive swim meet, hosted at the Satdobato Swimming Complex, concluded with Nisarga Batika School securing the first runner-up spot with 778 points and the Nepal APF Club finishing second runner-up with 576 points. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol presented a cash prize of Rs 50,000 alongside victory medals to the police squad, while Devanshi Joshi secured the outstanding female athlete title after racking up an individual score of 9,002 points.

Measles Death Toll Climbs to 628 in Bangladesh, 8 Children Die in Last 24 Hours

Health authorities reported eight more child deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms in the past 24 hours, pushing the country’s total death toll to 628, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). One of the latest deaths was confirmed as measles-related, while seven remain suspected. Officials also recorded 1,092 new suspected cases in the same 24-hour period, taking total suspected infections to 80,104. Confirmed cases rose by 93 to 9,779. Since mid-March, more than 65,000 suspected patients have been hospitalized, with over 61,000 recovering, DGHS data shows. Authorities have launched emergency vaccination campaigns with support from UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi, targeting millions of children under five nationwide. Health officials say the situation is expected to improve as vaccination coverage expands, though new infections and deaths continue to be reported.

US Suspect Israeli Wiretapping During Peace Negotiations

United States intelligence agencies expressed deep concerns over reports indicating that Israeli intelligence operatives conducted covert wiretapping operations targeting American peace negotiators. Classified leaks published by the New York Times reveal that surveillance units monitored high-level communications involving chief US negotiator Steve Witkoff and senior defense policy official Elbridge A. Colby during sensitive geopolitical discussions with Iranian diplomats. The back-channel negotiations, which yielded a bilateral ceasefire agreement back in April, were designed to draft a lasting peace treaty, raising concerns that Israeli operatives bypassed intelligence-sharing boundaries to gather inside details on President Trump’s regional diplomatic strategies.

Death Toll From Philippines Earthquake Climbs to 32

At least 32 people have been killed and more than 100 injured after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the Philippines, triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific region. The quake caused building collapses, landslides and widespread disruption, with nearly 24 people reported missing and around 10,000 residents evacuated. The worst-hit areas included Sarangani, where 17 deaths were reported, and General Santos, where 10 people were killed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a nationwide disaster response and suspended classes in affected areas. More than 130 aftershocks followed the quake, while tsunami waves were recorded in the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and other Pacific locations.