KATHMANDU: Stay informed with Nepal News’ daily evening briefing, covering the most significant developments from Nepal and around the world. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we bring you a concise summary of the day’s top stories.

Talks Fail, Nationwide Transport Strike continues Tuesday: Public transport services across Nepal will remain halted on Tuesday after another round of talks between the government and transport operators ended without an agreement. The discussion, held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, failed to resolve the ongoing dispute over new ride-sharing regulations introduced in Gandaki Province. Transport entrepreneurs have been protesting against the guidelines that allow private vehicles with red license plates to operate like commercial ones, arguing that it creates unfair competition and undermines formal public transport services.

Five Non-Resident Ambassadors Present Credentials to President Paudel: President Ramchandra Paudel received the letters of credence from five newly appointed non-resident ambassadors to Nepal at a special ceremony held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, on Monday. The ambassadors who presented their credentials were: Peter Munyiri of Kenya, Yousef Abdelghani of Jordan, Stella Nkomo Wahgn of Zimbabwe, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen of Denmark, and Alberto A. Guani of Uruguay. Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and senior government officials were also present during the formal ceremonies.

PM Oli Convenes Top Leaders’ Meeting to Resolve Parliamentary Deadlock: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called a meeting of top leaders from major political parties to discuss the ongoing obstruction in the House of Representatives. The discussion was held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. Participating in the meeting were Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman Oli, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Also present were Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak—embroiled in the visit visa controversy—Nepali Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka, and Maoist Centre General Secretary Dev Gurung, among others.

PM Oli Condemns Opposition’s Parliament Obstruction, Defends Home Minister: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has criticized opposition parties for demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and obstructing parliament without valid reasons. Speaking at his party’s parliamentary meeting, Oli said the opposition’s demand stemmed merely from anger after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) summoned one employee for questioning—something that, according to him, does not warrant such drastic action. “They want the Home Minister’s resignation without any factual evidence. No statements have been taken, and nothing incriminating has happened,” Oli stated. He emphasized that parliament should not be halted over such baseless demands and described continuous obstruction as reactionary, unconstitutional, and undemocratic.

Nationwide Public Transport Strike Begins, Commuters Stranded: Public transport across Nepal came to a complete halt on Monday after the Central Struggle Committee to Save Public Transport launched an indefinite nationwide strike. The committee is protesting a new Gandaki Province regulation that permits private vehicles to operate as ride-sharing services. Transport operators argue the move violates the Constitution and the Vehicle and Transport Management Act. Despite submitting petitions and a formal seven-point demand letter to federal and provincial authorities, the committee says no action was taken, prompting the strike. As a result, public vehicles remain off the roads and idle in garages, leaving commuters stranded in cities and towns.

Former President Bhandari Returns Home After China Visit: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has returned to Nepal on Monday after completing her visit to China. She arrived back in the country via Tribhuvan International Airport in the morning. She had left for China on May 24, leading a Nepali delegation. Accompanying her were UML Foreign Department Chief Raghuvir Mahaseth, Minister of Industry Damodar Bhandari, and others. Minister Damodar Bhandari described the former president’s China visit as fruitful and full of achievements. During the visit, Former President Bhandari held talks with senior Chinese officials, including Vice President Han Zheng and Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party of China’s Foreign Affairs Department.

China Sees Coalition Govt as a Path to Stability, Says Minister Bhandari: Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Damodar Bhandari has claimed that China welcomed the political coalition between Nepal’s major parties—the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—expressing hope that the alliance would bring much-needed political stability to Nepal. According to him, this message was conveyed during a 10-day official visit to China by a delegation led by former President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Minister Bhandari, who was part of the delegation, said China extended high-level honors to Bhandari, reflecting deep respect and a commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

Nepali Congress Says Breaching the Constitution Extra-Constitutionally is Unacceptable: The Nepali Congress has stated that breaking the constitutional framework through unconstitutional means is inappropriate. Speaking after a meeting of party office bearers and former office bearers held on Monday at party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha, party spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat clarified that Nepal’s constitution was not a gift from anyone but was created by the Nepali people themselves. He emphasized that it is their responsibility to protect the constitution, which was drafted by the people’s representatives.

Maoist Centre Decides to Disrupt Parliament Sessions Until Home Minister Resigns: The CPN Maoist Centre has decided to obstruct the proceedings of the House of Representatives until Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigns. The parliamentary meeting on Monday concluded that there was manipulation involved in the visit visa scandal. Meeting agreed that sending controversial officials to immigration and recalling them when the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) attempted a raid are unnatural activities requiring thorough investigation. One leader said, “It is clear that there was manipulation in the visit visa case, and the investigation will reveal who is involved.” The party insists that Minister Lekhak must resign to clear the way before they participate in parliamentary sessions again.

NHRC Expresses Concern Over Transport Strike: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern over the public transport strike enforced by transport operators after the Gandaki Province government granted legal recognition to ride-sharing through a newly introduced regulation. In a press release issued on Monday, the NHRC stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and gathering information from concerned stakeholders regarding the disruption of essential transportation services. The commission highlighted the hardship faced by ordinary citizens due to the strike and emphasized that the right to mobility is a fundamental human right.

Nepal Police Operates Free Bus Service Amid Transport Strike: Nepal Police on Monday introduced two buses to assist passengers amid a disruption in public transportation caused by a transport entrepreneurs’ strike. Following the halt of public transport services due to the protest, Nepal Police deployed two buses on separate routes. Passengers traveling in those buses were able to travel cost-free. The strike began today after transport entrepreneurs launched a protest with a seven-point demand, including the cancellation of the ride-sharing regulations introduced by the Gandaki Province government.

Nepal Police Warns Against Overcharging in Ride-Sharing: Nepal Police has issued a warning to ride-sharing service providers not to overcharge passengers. The warning comes following complaints that some drivers hiked fares on Monday, taking advantage of the shutdown of public transportation. The Nepal Police Headquarters released a public notice, also advising passengers to avoid using offline ride services. On Monday, public transport operators halted services in protest against the Gandaki Province government’s new regulations on ride-sharing. This disruption led to a surge in ride-sharing fares, and the number of drivers operating offline reportedly increased.

Former Sudurpashchim Chief Minister Dirgha Sodari Faces Corruption Case: A special court has filed a corruption case against former Sudurpashchim Province Chief Minister Dirgha Bahadur Sodari. On Monday, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed charges in the special court under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2059, demanding imprisonment and fines. The CIAA has imposed a penalty of NPR 10,838,302.57 against Sodari. The commission alleges that Sodari abused his position in public service between Magh 7, 2074, and Magh 10, 2079 (mid-January 2018 to late January 2023), illegally accumulating a large amount of wealth during this period.

Resham Chaudhary Files Petition to Jail Suspended SC Officer Mahiman Singh Bista: Resham Chaudhary, patron of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), has filed a petition at the Patan High Court demanding that suspended Supreme Court Section Officer Mahiman Singh Bista be remanded into custody. Bista had written a letter on Baisakh 17 (April 30) instructing police to arrest and detain Chaudhary, and to keep him in Dillibazar prison. Following the issuance of that letter, Chaudhary was arrested and detained for about six hours. However, the Supreme Court administration later deemed Bista’s letter “unauthorized,” corrected it, and forwarded the revised version to the prison, leading to Bista’s own arrest.

Kamal Thapa Sarcastically Thanks PM Oli, Home Minister After Arrest and Release:  Kamal Thapa, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and a prominent royalist leader, this morning issued a sarcastic statement on Facebook criticizing the government’s response to yesterday’s royalist protest at Narayanchaur, where he was briefly arrested. In his statement, Thapa said, “Thank you, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, for your barbaric and inhuman behavior.” He added, “We did not enter prohibited areas nor break any laws.” Thapa further emphasized, “Repression and bans cannot kill ideas. Our resolve for liberation from corrupt rulers and systems, and the restoration of a Hindu nation and monarchy, has only grown stronger.”

Stock Market Rises by 1.60 Points After Budget Announcement: Following the budget announcement, the stock market increased by 1.60 points. After this rise, the NEPSE index settled at 2694 points. Trading volume also grew, with today’s turnover reaching NPR 922 crore compared to NPR 858 crore the previous day. A total of 115 companies saw their share prices rise, while 133 companies experienced declines. Two sectors attracted particular investor interest on this day. The Hotel and Tourism sector rose by 2.39%, and the Investment sector increased by 2.28%. The significant growth in these two sectors is largely attributed to the assurances provided in the budget.

Credit distribution becoming concentrated, says Governor Poudel: Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel has raised concerns over possible credit concentration among limited borrowers. Speaking during Monday’s meeting of the Finance Committee on the Bank and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) amendment bill, he said the bill seeks to clarify who should and should not get loans. He said, “This bill aims to clearly define who can and cannot access loans from banks. Of the 1.94 million borrowers, 0.1% have utilized 3.9% of the total loans.”

NRB withdraws Rs 70 billion from banking system: Nepal Rastra Bank withdrew Rs 70 billion from the banking system in a single day on Monday. With increased liquidity in the market lately, the central bank has been continuously mopping up deposits from the banking system. Earlier, it had withdrawn Rs 80 billion in a single day. The central bank has issued a call for auction for 20 days, in which banks and financial institutions can participate. The auction is scheduled for 3 PM on Monday. Banks and financial institutions can bid a minimum of Rs 100 million and in multiples of Rs 50 million up to the total call amount.

World Bank Approves $257 Million Loan to Improve Nepal’s Electricity and Irrigation Services: The World Bank has approved loan assistance of 257 million US dollars (over 35 billion Nepalese rupees) for two projects aimed at improving Nepal’s electricity and irrigation services. The World Bank’s Executive Board approved the two projects for Nepal on May 29. According to the World Bank, the main objectives of these projects are to enhance electricity distribution services and to improve irrigation services to boost agricultural productivity.

22nd Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) Concludes: The 22nd edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) concluded on Sunday evening. Held under the theme “Fractured Voices, Constructed Narratives”, the festival featured over 65 films from 30 countries. Among the highlights, Sonam Yangzom’s “Butterfly Bhutan” won the ICIMOD Best Mountain Film Award, the festival’s top honor. Indian filmmaker Manohar K. received the KU Emerging Filmmaker Award for his film “Bird of a Different”.Japanese director Kenji Sukomoto’s film “Ashima” won the Best Mountaineering and Exploration Film Award, while Feline Gerhardt’s “Minus 103 Degrees” received a Special Mention in the same category.

Rekha Thapa Makes Her Theatre Debut with Play ‘Mira’ Starting Today: Actress Rekha Thapa is set to make her theatre debut in the play ‘Mira’, which begins its run today, Monday, at Kantipur Theatre in Gaushala, Kathmandu. The play is conceptualized and directed by Sundar Dhital. Originally scheduled to premiere on Thursday, May 30 (Jestha 15), the play was postponed due to protests in the capital organized by the ruling CPN-UML and royalist groups. ‘Mira’ will now be staged every day except Wednesdays at 5:30 PM until Asar 7 (June 21). In addition to Rekha Thapa, the cast includes Bishal Pahadi, Binda Khatiwada, Bishal Devkota, Geeta Bista, Doresh Khatiwada, Unnat Upreti, and Sunil Khadka.

A Rare Sight at Nepathya’s Pittsburgh Concert: A Bhutanese Flag and a Message of Forgiveness: Saturday night (US local time) at Pittsburgh’s Roxian Theatre, the legendary Nepali band Nepathya took the stage to a full house. As expected, the crowd waved the familiar red flag with the moon and sun—a staple at any Nepathya concert. But this time, another symbol caught everyone’s attention: the flag of Bhutan, fluttering alongside Nepal’s. It wasn’t random. The audience included a significant number of Bhutanese Nepali refugees, now resettled in the U.S., many of whom had come to see a band that sang in the language of their roots. Mid-performance, lead singer Amrit Gurung paused and addressed the hall with a message that cut deep: “We must never erase our past—but we must also learn to forgive. Our shared language binds us across continents. Let us move forward with respect, not resentment.”

Arika Gurung Wins Historic Bronze for Nepal at Karate Premier League: Nepal’s karate star Arika Gurung has made history by winning a bronze medal at the World Karate Premier League—Nepal’s first-ever medal in the prestigious tournament. Competing in the women’s above 68 kg weight category in Rabat, Morocco, Arika defeated France’s 20th-ranked athlete, Clemence Pye, with a convincing 6–2 score to claim the bronze. Ranked 50th globally, Erika’s victory over a top-seeded opponent in one of the world’s toughest karate competitions marks a major milestone for Nepal. The World Karate Federation allows only the top 32 athletes in each category to participate in the Premier League.

Nepal National Men’s Football Team Coach Matt Ross Announces 23-Member Squad for Hong Kong and Laos Matches: Head Coach Matt Ross has named a 23-player squad for Nepal’s upcoming international matches against Hong Kong and Laos. Nepal will play a friendly against Hong Kong on June 5. The match against Laos, scheduled for June 10, will be a qualifier for the AFC Asian Cup. Kirang Chemjong has been appointed team captain. The goalkeepers include Bishal Sunar and Deep Karki. Other squad members are Ashishek Limbu, Ananta Tamang, Anjan Bista, Eric Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Bimal Pande, Jilep Singh Karki, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Kushal Deuba, Laken Limbu, and Manikumar Lama. Additionally, Manish Dangi, Rohit Chand, Rohan Karki, Sanish Shrestha, Sirjanraj Gautam, Suman Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Subash Thakuri Bam, and Yogesh Gurung complete the squad.

Bipin Sharma Shines in U-16 National Cricket Tournament Opening Match in Surkhet: Bipin Sharma, captain of the Karnali team, delivered an impressive performance in the first match of the U-16 National Cricket Tournament, which began today in Birendra Nagar, Surkhet. While bowling against Madhesh Province, Sharma bowled five consecutive maiden overs and took one wicket. He is the first bowler in the one-day domestic tournament to bowl five maiden overs consecutively while taking a wicket. The star bowler had emerged from NPL.

COVID-19 Cases in India Rise: India’s active Covid-19 cases have risen to 3,961, with Kerala reporting the highest with over 1,400 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 506 cases. According to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) data released on Sunday, June 1, 360 new infections were recorded in 24 hours. Two Covid-19-related deaths were also reported during the same period — one each in Kerala and Karnataka. In Karnataka, a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with pulmonary TB, squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa, and incidentally tested positive for COVID-19, passed away.

Conservative Historian Wins Polish Presidential Vote: With all votes counted, right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki has been elected Poland’s new president, the state electoral commission (PKW) said. PKW said Nawrocki won 50.9% percent of the votes – ahead of Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski on 49.1% percent. It’s a sensational turnaround from the result of the first exit poll – published immediately after voting ended at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Sunday – that showed Trzaskowski winning on 50.3% to Nawrocki’s 49.7%. Trzaskowski had claimed victory after the first exit poll, while Nawrocki cautioned that the results were too close to call.

Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Strike of War, Targets 40 Russian Warplanes: Ukraine says it has carried out its biggest long-range drone attack since the war began, targeting four Russian military airbases and aiming at 40 warplanes. Dubbed the “Spider’s Web” operation, the bold strike was led by Ukraine’s SBU security agency and personally announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Zelensky, the strike damaged around 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers. The covert operation had been in preparation for 18 months. Sources from the SBU revealed that the drones were smuggled into Russian territory concealed in wooden mobile cabins mounted on trucks.