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.

PM Oli Attends UN’s Fourth Financing For Development Conference In Spain: The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) organized by the United Nations kicked off today at the FIBES Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. World leaders including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli are attending the conference alongside heads of state, government officials, and global delegates. The opening session featured addresses by King Felipe VI of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Accompanying PM Oli at the inaugural event were Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kumar Raj Kharel

Continuous Rainfall Floods Several Areas in Dhangadhi: Heavy rainfall since last night has caused flooding in several parts of Dhangadhi, submerging roads, shops, and residential areas across the city and its vicinity. Areas including Bishalnagar, Milan Chowk, Shivanagar, Hasanpur, Campus Road, Malika Tole, Krishnanagar, Purano Bhansar, and the southern settlement of Katan village have been severely affected, with floodwaters entering shops and homes. Residents reported that overflowing drains and poor sewage management have made it difficult for people to walk through the streets.

PM Oli Holds Bilateral Talks With Estonian President Karis in Spain: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has held a bilateral meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis. The meeting took place in Sevilla, Spain, on the sidelines of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development organized by the United Nations. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, including bilateral ties and various multilateral concerns.

Former President Bhandari to Return Govt Benefits After Rejoining Active Politics with UML: After returning to active politics with the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) after 10 years, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari is preparing to return the government privileges she received as a former head of state. Following concerns over holding political office while enjoying former president benefits, the government will send an official letter to the Home Ministry to reclaim these services, effective from 1st Shrawan (mid-July). Though initially expected to announce the decision publicly, Bhandari chose a low-profile approach, opting to inform the Home Ministry through an official letter instead of staging a public event.

Nagarjun Mayor Mohan Basnet Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison: Nagarjun Mayor Mohan Bahadur Basnet has been sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison for corruption by the Special Court bench chaired by Tek Narayan Kunwar and member Ram Bahadur Thapa. He was also fined NPR 23.06 million. In a related money laundering case, he received 3 years in jail and was fined NPR 262.55 million. His illegally acquired property is set to be confiscated.

Foreign Minister Rana Urges Global Climate Solidarity for Vulnerable Nations at FAO Session: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has called for stronger global cooperation to help vulnerable countries confront the escalating impacts of climate change. Speaking at the Ministerial Special Session of the 44th Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) meeting in Rome, Dr Rana addressed the session titled “Four Betters for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).” She underscored the disproportionate burden climate change places on countries like Nepal, particularly affecting agriculture and livelihoods.

Teachers’ Federation Warns of Fresh Protests Over Delayed Education Bill: The Nepal Teachers’ Federation has warned it will launch fresh protests if the government fails to pass the long-pending School Education Bill without further delay. In a statement issued Monday, Federation President Laxmi Kishor Subedi and General Secretary Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar stressed that the April 30 agreement with the government must be respected. They urged the government to table and pass what they called a “progressive” bill that incorporates past agreements with teachers and stakeholders.

RSP Lawmaker Sumana Shrestha Urges Not to Politicize School Education Bill Hold-Up: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Sumana Shrestha has urged stakeholders not to politicize the hold on the School Education Bill. Speaking during a meeting of the Education, Science, and Technology Committee, MP Shrestha accused some actors of trying to shift the blame onto the committee for the delay in tabling the bill in Parliament. On Monday, a discussion between the Nepal Teachers’ Federation and the Ministry of Education regarding teacher recruitment quotas ended without conclusion. There had been plans to finalize an agreement with the Federation, pass the bill through the committee, and then present it to the House of Representatives.

Speaker Ghimire Calls on Parties to Uphold Parliament’s Dignity: Speaker Devaraj Ghimire has urged the political parties in parliament to establish party consensus through dialogue and cooperation, uphold the dignity of the parliament, and move forward united to address public expectations. On the occasion of Parliament Day, he issued a congratulatory message on Monday, expressing gratitude for the contributions of the independent press, civil society, and aware citizens toward making the parliament more effective, responsible, and accountable to the people.

Parliamentary Hearing Concludes for SC Judge Nominee Thapa, JC Nominee Nepal: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee conducted hearings on Monday for Supreme Court judge nominee Shanti Singh Thapa and proposed Judicial Council member Mahesh Kumar Nepal. The session, held at Singha Durbar, followed Sunday’s hearings of SC judge nominees Meghraj Pokharel and Shree Kanta Paudel. Although all candidates have now faced hearings, the committee has yet to decide on whether to endorse their appointments. Committee Chair Ishwari Devi Neupane stated that discussions on the nominees are still ongoing and a final decision will be made in the next meeting, citing members’ busy schedules.

By-Election in Rupandehi-3 Scheduled for November 3: The Election Commission has announced a by-election in Rupandehi Constituency-3 for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives. The vote will be held on Kartik 17, 2082 (November 3, 2025), which falls on a Monday. The decision was made at a meeting of the Election Commission on Monday, following the death of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Deepak Bohora, who was elected from Rupandehi-3 in the 2022 general elections. Bohora passed away on Chaitra 19 (April 1), leading to the vacancy.

Decisions of Recent Cabinet Meeting Unveiled: The Cabinet meeting held on Asar 13 (June 27) made 15 decisions, according to Minister for Communication and Information Technology and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung. The Cabinet has decided to appoint former secretary Raghuram Bista as the chairperson of the Public Procurement Review Committee. Former secretaries Rohit Kumar Bisural and Thaneshwar Gautam have been appointed as members of the committee. The government has appointed Ramsharan Pudasaini as the Executive Director of the Nepal Administrative Staff College, a position that had remained vacant.

Education Minister Panta Meets NC President Deuba Over School Bill: While the central committee meeting of the Nepali Congress is underway, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Raghuji Panta reached the party’s central office in Sanepa on Monday. Minister Panta visited Sanepa during the meeting to hold discussions with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba regarding the controversial School Education Bill. Currently, President Deuba and Minister Panta are holding talks on the bill. Nepali Congress Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire is also participating in the discussion. The School Education Bill remains stuck in the parliamentary committee.

Karnali Highway Reopens After Landslide Disruption: The Karnali Highway has reopened after being blocked for several hours due to a landslide triggered by light rainfall near Jite. The landslide had obstructed the Jite–Manma section of the highway, cutting off road access to and from Kalikot district headquarters Manma, as well as Jumla and Mugu districts en route to Surkhet. Travelers were left stranded throughout the morning. According to Milan Khadka of Khandachakra-1, landslides have been occurring frequently with the onset of rain. Besides Jite, areas like Hulma also saw landslides. Locals say poorly planned road widening projects and auxiliary road constructions by local governments have made the soil unstable, increasing landslide risks.

Cybercrime Charges Filed Against Dil Bhusan Pathak: Journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak has been charged at the Kathmandu District Court under the Electronic Transactions Act, Section 47, for allegedly publishing defamatory content online. The Kathmandu District Government Attorney’s Office filed the case on Monday based on a complaint submitted to the Cyber Bureau under a pseudonym. The complaint accuses Pathak of character assassination by sharing a photo with the caption linking Jayveer Deuba, son of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, to financial investments in Hilton Hotel. The post also named Shahi Agrawal and Deepak Bhatta as investors.

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Mugu : On Monday morning, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake centered around Kotdanda in Mugu district was recorded. According to the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center, the quake occurred at 8:39 AM local time. So far, there have been no reports of human casualties or physical damage. Local residents reported feeling light tremors.

Workshop Begins for Dayahang Rai and Prakash Saput’s Upcoming Film ‘Mirmire’ : The workshop of the movie starring Dayahang Rai and Prakash Saput has begun. Director Yam Sherpa informed that a workshop has been started with the main actors of the movie from Sunday. “We have started the workshop so that the shooting will be smooth. We will be smooth between the story and our characters and actors,” said Director Sherpa, “This will further help us to complete the shooting of our movie quickly.” The film ‘Mirmire’, which is currently being worked on at the Kantipur Film Academy, will begin shooting from this Friday. Most of the film will be shot in Kavre. Prakash and Dayahang are collaborating for the first time through this film.

Actor Jeevan Luitel Confirmed for Lead Role in Upcoming Play ‘Shirishko Phool’: Actor Jeevan Luitel has been confirmed to act in the second play ‘Shirishko Phool’ being produced by Kantipur Film Academy. A few days ago, the theater released the poster of ‘Shirishko Phool’ and shared information about the upcoming series. Luitel is returning to the stage after 10 years. The play, based on the famous novel by writer Parijat, is set to begin performances from the 1st of Shrawan (mid-July). Luitel will portray the main character, Suyogveer, while the academy has not yet disclosed details about the role of another character, ‘Sakambari.’

Model Anjana Pun to Make Film Acting Debut in ‘Yani Maya’: Model Anjana Pun is set to make her film acting debut. Active in modeling for over a decade, Anjana will play the lead actress in the movie ‘Yani Maya.’ This film is the first project produced under actor Paul Shah’s banner, ‘Paul Shah Films.’ Anjana has won titles such as ‘Miss Magar Hong Kong 2014’ and ‘Miss Hong Kong Nepal 2023.’ In the 2024 ‘Miss Nepal’ competition, she received the awards for ‘Miss Real Popular Choice’ and ‘Miss Delightful Happy Intelligence.’

Casting for ‘Pari Butol’ Begins, Search for Characters of Diverse Ages and Faces: The casting process for the upcoming Nepali film ‘Pari Butol’, directed by Ganesh Dev Pandey, has begun. The director said that new faces from different age groups and ethnic backgrounds are being sought for the film. A ‘casting call’ poster with detailed information has been released for this, which mentions that actors of different ages and physical characteristics are needed for both men and women. The film requires young men from all communities between the ages of 20 and 25. Similarly, semi-Mongolians (with Mongolian faces) between the ages of 40 and 45 and men from all backgrounds between the ages of 45 and 50 are also sought.

Prachanda Congratulates Athletes for Winning Medals at 15th South Asian Bodybuilding Championship: Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister, congratulated Nepali athletes who won medals at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding Championship held in Thimphu, Bhutan from June 11 to 15. Prachanda specially praised Urmila Shrestha for winning the gold medal in the women’s athletic physique category and expressed happiness over the overall outstanding performance of Team Nepal. He stated, “Sports, especially bodybuilding, has often received little attention from the state. Now the government must prioritize this sector and provide greater support. I am committed to offering all possible assistance from my side.”

Ultra Runner Rasila Tamang Wins Mount Popa Ultra Marathon, Beats Male Competitors: Ultra runner Rasila Tamang claimed the title at the Mount Popa Ultra Marathon held on Sunday. She completed the 50-kilometer trail run in Myanmar, outperforming even the male runners to win the overall championship. Rasila, who was the winner of the 2023 Asia Trail Masters Women’s Championship, finished the race in 6 hours, 18 minutes, and 51 seconds. She received a trophy watch and other gift hampers as prizes. In the men’s category, Pying Ole secured first place with a timing of 7 hours, 38 minutes, and 42 seconds over the same distance.

Bharati and Basnet Win Bagmati Auto-Jimkhana Championship Titles: Ashish Bharati and Barsha Basnet have won the titles at the Bagmati Auto-Jimkhana Championship. Organized by the Bagmati Automobile Association in coordination with Motovars Sports Club and Zion Overland, the Bagmati Auto-Jimkhana Championship and TDS Motor Rally concluded with Rajkumar Karki finishing second and Biplak Shrestha third in the men’s category. In the women’s category, Bipasha Tamang secured second place behind Barsha Basnet. In the TDS Rally, the pair of Prabesh Paudel and Pradeep Paudel clinched the title, while Biplak Shrestha and Rajan Giri came in second, and Puja Pakhrin and Nabin Lama took third place.

Kavresthali Dojang Crowned Team Champion at 5th Tarakeshwar Mayor Taekwondo Tournament: Kavresthali Taekwondo Dojang emerged as the team champion at the 5th Tarakeshwar Mayor-Level Kathmandu District Taekwondo Tournament, securing a total of 17 gold, 9 silver, and 16 bronze medals. Nagarjun Valley School finished in second place with 15 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze medals, while Balbalika School took third place, earning 11 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze medals, according to Bikram Khadgi, President of the Kathmandu District Taekwondo Association.

Hundreds of Families Displaced by Wave of Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza, Witnesses Say: Israel has carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, triggering the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses say. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, while dozens of injured civilians were evacuated to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, according to local reports. The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March. It comes amid increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.

US Senate Begins Debate on Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’: The United States Senate has begun debating President Donald Trump’s 940-page “Big, Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and sweeping cuts to healthcare and food programmes. The all-night session on Sunday came as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the bill would add an estimated $3.3 trillion to the US debt over a decade. It also said that 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law. Republican leaders, who reject the CBO’s estimates, are rushing to meet Trump’s deadline of July 4, the country’s Independence Day.

China Partially Lifts Ban on Japanese Seafood Imports: China has lifted a ban on seafood imports from most regions of Japan, which was imposed two years ago due to concerns over the release of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Beijing said it will “conditionally resume” the imports from Japan with the exception of 10 of the country’s 47 prefectures, including Tokyo and Fukushima. Samples collected over long-term monitoring of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima had “not shown abnormalities”, China’s General Administration of Customs wrote on 29 June.

Severe Heatwave Hits Southern Europe Pushing Temperatures Above 40°C: bMajor heatwaves across southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40°C (104°F) in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires. Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe’s southern region. Severe heat was recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal before the weekend, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions.