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.

NHRC Raises Concern Over PM Oli’s Remarks: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern over a recent statement made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during a party training event on Sunday. In a press note, the NHRC said that such remarks from the Prime Minister contradict the fundamental values of human rights and expressed its objection. While addressing a party training session, PM Oli had stated that Kathmandu should be under his party’s control from 11 AM to 2 PM on Jestha 15 (May 29). The comment has sparked widespread criticism on social media.

NZ Deputy PM Peters to Visit Nepal on May 28: Winston Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, will arrive in Nepal for an official two-day visit from May 28 to 29. During his visit, Peters will pay courtesy calls on President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. He will also hold bilateral talks with Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, according to the press release issued by the ministry. It is the first ever visit by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand to Nepal.

NC Decides to Shield Home Minister Lekhak Amid Visa Scandal: The ruling party, Nepali Congress, has decided to stand firmly behind Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in the face of mounting pressure for his resignation linked to the visit visa scandal. A meeting of the party’s current and former office bearers held on Monday reached a decision to defend Home Minister Lekhak. Minister Lekhak has come under fire after his name surfaced in connection with the misuse of visit visas. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had conducted a raid at the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport after receiving information that large sums of money were being collected in exchange for facilitating foreign travel through the abuse of visit visas.

Maoist Centre Demands Home Minister Lekhak’s Resignation: The CPN (Maoist Centre) has suggested that Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is embroiled in controversy over the visit visa case, should resign. Maoist Center office-bearers’ meeting on Monday concluded that it would be appropriate for the Home Minister to pave the way by stepping down, as questions have been raised regarding his role. In addition, the meeting also decided to pursue party unification with the Nepal Socialist Party (NSP) and the Newa National Party.

RSP Terms SC Verdict Unjust, Vows Nationwide Campaign: In a press release issued after its recently concluded Central Committee meeting, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Acting Spokesperson Manish Jha stated that the party respects the Supreme Court’s legal authority but considers its latest order on party president Rabi Lamichhane to be incomplete and unjust. Jha criticized the court’s handling of the habeas corpus petition and accused it of shifting the burden of proof onto the defendant in violation of legal norms. He said the ruling disregarded established judicial precedents and undermined public faith in the rule of law.

Gagan Thapa Warns PM Oli Against Incendiary Remarks Over May 29 Mobilization: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has issued a stern warning to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, cautioning him against making inflammatory statements that could provoke unrest. Thapa’s remarks come in response to a controversial directive issued by PM Oli during a training program held on Sunday for ward chairpersons, organized by the CPN (UML) Bagmati Province Committee. In that program, Oli reportedly called on party cadres to bring Kathmandu “under UML’s control” on May 29—a statement that has drawn sharp political reactions.

Egyptian Ambassador Pays Farewell Call on Foreign Minister Rana: The outgoing Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Nepal, Noha Hamdy Ahmed ElGebaly, paid a farewell call on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, today. During the meeting, Ambassador ElGebaly expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the support and cooperation extended to her during her tenure in Nepal. She thanked the Government of Nepal for the cordial relations and assistance that contributed to strengthening bilateral ties between Egypt and Nepal. Foreign Minister Dr. Rana acknowledged the ambassador’s contributions to enhancing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and conveyed best wishes for her future endeavors.

Ganganarayan Shrestha-led NSP Faction Merges into Maoist Centre: Ganganarayan Shrestha, leader of the Nepal Socialist Party (NSP), has officially rejoined the CPN (Maoist Centre) nearly a decade after leaving the party. The reunification was formalized Monday at Kantipur Banquet in Lalitpur, where Shrestha and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ signed the agreement. Shrestha left the Maoists in September 2015 with Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and was previously a Politburo member. Upon his return, he was appointed Secretary. Maoist General Secretary Dev Gurung announced the integration of Shrestha’s NSP faction into the Maoist Centre under a five-point agreement.

41 KMC Executive Members Demand Immediate Meeting with Mayor Balendra Sah: Forty-one executive members of Kathmandu Metropolitan City have demanded Mayor Balendra Sah to immediately call an executive meeting. This demand came after an informal meeting of the 41 executive members on Monday. Out of the 42 members of the executive committee, all except Mayor Sah were present. The executive committee includes representatives from Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Maoist Centre, Unified Socialist, and Rastriya Swatantra Party.

NC General Secretary Sharma Sends Letter to PM Oli From Everest Base Camp: Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma has sent a letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from the Everest Base Camp, raising concerns over climate change, mountain livelihoods, tourism, and governmental responsibilities. According to Sharma’s chief aide Dinesh Thapa Magar, the letter was dispatched on Monday, while Sharma was at the foot of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. In his letter, Sharma emphasized that climate change has become an urgent global crisis, and urged Nepal to play a more vocal and proactive role on the international stage.

Siblings Die in Gas Leak Fire in Rupandehi: A tragic fire caused by a gas leak claimed the lives of a brother and sister in Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality-5, Jayanagar, Rupandehi district. According to Superintendent of Police Niranjan Dutta Bhatta, the incident occurred on Sunday evening while the siblings were cooking at home using a gas stove. A leak in the gas regulator reportedly triggered the fire. The victims—18-year-old Sonam Yadav and her 25-year-old brother Shiva Kumar Yadav—sustained severe burn injuries. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire originated near a shed close to the house due to the gas leakage.

Earthquake of Magnitude 4.3 Hits Jajarkot District: On Monday afternoon, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3 struck Jajarkot district, with its epicenter located in Ramidanda area. According to the National Earthquake Measurement Center, the tremor occurred precisely at 2:24 PM. Residents of Jajarkot and surrounding areas reported feeling the quake, though there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. This recent seismic activity adds to the series of earthquakes felt across Nepal in recent weeks. Earlier, on May 16, a stronger earthquake measuring 5.1 in magnitude struck Khalanga, the headquarters of Baitadi district, causing concern among local populations.

NEPSE Declines by 5.21 Points on Monday: On Monday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index declined by 5.21 points, closing the day at 2,674 points. This marks the second consecutive day the market has ended in the red, despite recent policy measures aimed at encouraging investment. Just a day earlier, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had released its third quarterly review of the monetary policy, reducing the risk weight on all types of share loan (margin lending) from 125% to 100%. This move was widely perceived as stock market-friendly, expected to ease credit flows to the equity market. However, the intended boost in investor sentiment has not materialized.

Nepal Rastra Bank Reduces Risk Weight of Share Mortgage Loans by 25 Percentage Points: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced a 25-percentage-point reduction in the risk weight of share mortgage loans, equivalent to about Rs 100 billion in credit. In the third quarterly review of the monetary policy for the fiscal year 2081/82, released Sunday, NRB declared that the risk weight for share-backed loans will be reduced from 125% to 100%. Currently, share-backed loans up to Rs 5 million carry a 100% risk weight, while those above that threshold carry 125%. Now, all share mortgage loans will carry a uniform 100% risk weight.

IPO Only After Project Completion Frustrates Hydropower Investors: The government’s plan to allow hydropower companies to issue IPOs only after project completion has disheartened private energy developers. They argue that once projects are completed and revenue begins to flow, there is little need to raise public investment. Prakash Dulal, Deputy General Secretary of Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN), said such policies could lead to local unrest and hinder construction progress.

Nepal Rastra Bank Adopts Flexible Policy for Stock Market Under New Leadership: Just five days after appointing Dr. Bishwo Nath Poudel as its new Governor, Nepal Rastra Bank has adopted a more flexible approach toward the stock market. The third quarterly review of the monetary policy for FY 2081/82 includes investor-friendly changes. Despite delays due to the late appointment of the governor, investors welcomed the policy shift. The relaxed provisions particularly benefit large investors who take loans using shares as collateral.

Long Wait for Smart Licenses Nears End for Nepali Drivers: The long-standing ordeal for many Nepali citizens awaiting smart driving licenses is finally coming to an end. For years, service-seekers who had passed the trial but did not receive licenses were forced to carry receipts as temporary proof. The root of the delay was a shortage in printing capacity, with the Department of Transport Management operating with only one machine capable of printing smart licenses. As a result, nearly 2.8 million smart licenses remain pending. The department currently needs to print around 5,000 licenses daily to meet the demand.

Actor Dayahang Rai to Star in Lead Role in Upcoming Film ‘Mirmire’: Actor Dayahang Rai will be seen in the lead role of the upcoming Nepali film Mirmire. The production team has officially signed him for the film’s main character. The movie will be directed by Yam Sherpa. “We chose Dayahang because he fits the character perfectly according to the script,” said director Sherpa. According to Sherpa, the casting of other actors is still underway. However, the film will feature familiar faces from the industry. Presented by Yarsa Films, Mirmire will tell a social story rooted in a rural setting. Earlier, the team had announced the film by releasing a thematic poster.

Nepali Film Eklo Makes Historic Appearance at Cannes Film Festival 2025: The Nepali film Eklo has marked a historic presence at this year’s Cannes Film Festival 2025, elevating the international recognition of Nepali cinema to new heights. Directed by Pradeep Shahi, the sci-fi thriller film participated in the prestigious festival held in Cannes, France, by setting up a dedicated stall. This platform provided an opportunity for direct engagement with international distributors, sales agents, and producers. Notably, the stall featured the national flag of Nepal, symbolizing the country’s cultural presence at the global event.

Romantic Song ‘Dil Afnai Thiyo’ Featuring Pratiksha Kafle and Prajwalraj Bhatta Released: A new romantic song titled “Dil Afnai Thiyo”, featuring long-time active actors Pratiksha Kafle and Prajwalraj Bhatta, has been released. The song is available on the Fakthunglung Entertainment YouTube channel and is sung by Narayan Thapa and Nitya Siwa. With lyrics by Shankar Adhikari Ghayal, the music for the song has been composed by Bikash Chaudhary. Govinda Soni has handled the mixing and mastering of the track. Directed by Prakash Dhital, the music video features cinematography by Subin Godar and editing by Rakesh Dahal.

Nepal Women’s National Football Team in Final Training Ahead of Thailand Friendlies: The Nepal women’s national football team is currently in training ahead of their departure for Thailand, where they will play two international friendly matches as preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. The final squad was announced a few days ago, with Nepal scheduled to face Thailand’s national team on May 30 and June 2. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has selected a 23-member squad led by captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba, who also serves as one of the team’s goalkeepers.

Banepa to Host First Mayor’s Cup National Table Tennis Tournament from Jestha 15: The first-ever Mayor’s Cup National Open Table Tennis Tournament is set to take place in Banepa, Kavrepalanchok, from Jestha 15 to 17 (May 29–31). The event is being organized by the Banepa Municipal Table Tennis Association and marks the inaugural edition of the Mayor’s Cup in the city. The competition will feature four categories: Under-18 boys and girls, Open Singles for men and women, Masters Singles for players above 40 years of age, and Masters Singles for those above 55 years. The tournament aims to encourage participation from across the country and promote table tennis at the grassroots and competitive levels. Attractive cash prizes have been announced for the winners in each category.

Yam Prasad Gurung Appointed Head Coach of Nepal U-20 Women’s National Football Team: Yam Prasad Gurung has been appointed as the head coach of Nepal’s U-20 national women’s football team. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) officially appointed him on Sunday. Alongside Gurung, Sandesh Kumar Shrestha and Kiran Kumar Karki have been named assistant coaches, while Min Bahadur Basnet has been assigned the role of goalkeeping coach. Indu Duwaal will serve as the team manager. All members of the coaching and management staff received their appointment letters from ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai on Sunday.

Israeli Strike on Gaza School Kills 25: Palestinian rescuers said an Israeli strike at dawn on Monday killed 25 people at a Gaza City school, as Israel presses ahead with what it has described as a renewed push to destroy Hamas. A separate strike on a home killed 15 members of the same family, including five women and two children, according to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which received the bodies. The strike on the school in northern Gaza also wounded more than 55 people, said Fahmy Awad, head of the ministry’s emergency service. He said a father and his five children were among the dead.

Trump Calls Putin ‘Crazy’ After Massive Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine: US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “crazy” on Sunday after Moscow launched a deadly barrage of drones against Ukraine, even as the warring countries completed a large-scale prisoner exchange. At least 13 people were killed when Russia launched a record number of drones against Ukraine overnight to Sunday. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Venezuela’s Ruling Party Wins by Landslide in Elections Boycotted by Opposition: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s party on Sunday swept the board in parliamentary and regional elections that were largely boycotted by the opposition in protest over his disputed re-election last year. This landslide win will keep the ruling party in control of the attorney general’s office and the top court, whose members are elected by lawmakers. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 23 out of 24 state governor positions and scored 82.68 percent of the votes cast for lists of National Assembly members, the electoral council (CNE) said.