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.

UML 11th National Congress: Election Schedule Made Public

The CPN (UML) has announced the election schedule to elect the new leadership from the party’s 11th National Congress. The Chairman of UML Central Election Commission, Dr Bijaya Subba, released the election schedule this evening. As released, the namelist of voters will be made public at 7:00 this evening, while the complaints over the voters’ namelist could be filed until 9:00 am on Monday. The final namelist will be published at 10:15 am on Monday and the candidates will be given the nomination form from 9:00 am to 12:00 in the afternoon on Monday.

President Asks Govt. to Solely Focus on Election

President Ramchandra Paudel has suggested that the government should entirely focus on holding the forthcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, 2026. Receiving the annual report of the National Security Council of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS at the Office of the President on Sunday, the President asked the government to discharge its responsibility without impacting the upcoming polls, President’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel said.

TI Suspends Attorney General Sabita Bhandari Baral’s Membership

Transparency International (TI) Nepal has suspended Attorney General Sabita Bhandari Baral from her general membership in the organization. The decision was made by the TI Executive Committee after she took a public office and subsequently became involved in certain controversies. A member of the committee stated that as an organization focused on monitoring and advocating against corruption globally, TI felt the need to address the public questions raised about its official and its values. Baral, who is also a senior advocate, had previously served on the TI Nepal executive committee multiple times.

National Housing Company Office Shut Down After Attack on Chief Thapa

The National Housing Company Planning Office in Bardaghat, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta Paschim), has been completely shut down since Sunday by employees demanding security guarantees. The staff are protesting the failure of the police administration to arrest individuals who allegedly smeared black soot on Office Chief Mahendra Thapa on December 7 and accused him of corruption related to the sale of company land. While Thapa denies the allegations, claiming the land issue was resolved by a Supreme Court order, employees insist they will not resume work until the perpetrators are apprehended and their security is ensured, causing essential public services to halt.

Political Parties Opt Out of Proportional Representation: 14 Parties to Skip PR Vote

Fourteen political parties that registered for the direct election system will not be participating in the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives election. The Election Commission announced that out of 143 registered parties, 29 will not contest either the direct or the PR system. After the registration process, 93 parties were approved to contest the PR system, with 12 parties receiving single election symbols across five groups and 88 parties competing individually. Notable parties not participating in the PR system include the Bibeksheel Sajha Party. Parties have until December 28 and 29 to submit their closed lists of candidates for the PR system.

CPN (UML) Amends Statute, Increases Central Committee to 301, Removes Senior Vice-Chairman Post

The CPN (UML)’s final Central Committee meeting on Sunday decided to amend its statute, removing the position of senior vice-chairman. The party also voted to increase the size of its Central Committee from 251 members to 301 members. This revision, announced by Publicity Department Head Rajendra Gautam, also proposes increasing the number of office bearers to 19 in total, structured as one chairman, five vice-chairmen, one general secretary, three deputy general secretaries, and nine secretaries. The proposal, which also sets the Politburo size at 99 members, will be presented to the upcoming closed session of the Convention.

Karnali Government Halts New Staff Recruitment Despite 28% Vacancy Rate

The Karnali Provincial Government has stopped the process of new staff recruitment despite facing a 28% employee shortage. The Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ Office has not sent the required demand forms to the Provincial Public Service Commission, effectively halting the selection process for all levels (Ninth, Seventh, Fifth, and Fourth). This decision, made in the March 2025 Cabinet meeting, aims to manage existing staff and reduce the financial burden until a new Organization and Management (O&M) survey is approved. The delay is compounded by local levels failing to provide the necessary details for the O&M survey, severely impacting service delivery, especially in health programs, as many contract staff are being dismissed.

Education Sector Tops Corruption Complaints with 174 Cases at CIAA Kanchanpur

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Office, Kanchanpur, registered 444 new complaints in the current fiscal year up to the last week of November, bringing the total case load (including previous years’ backlog) to 906. The highest number of complaints, 174, relate to the education sector, involving issues like corruption in school lunch programs, teacher transfers, building construction, and material procurement. Complaints related to local units accounted for 50% of the total, with 103 specifically against local bodies for policy corruption and construction irregularities. Kailali district recorded the highest number of new complaints with 220 cases. The office is struggling to manage the workload due to a shortage of investigation officers.

Nagdhunga-Malekhu Highway to Close Daily for 5 Hours for Maintenance

The Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu road section will be closed for five hours daily from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM until Tuesday to facilitate urgent road maintenance, blacktopping, and rock-cutting work. Traffic will be restricted on the Nagdhunga-Piplamod and Pokhare Bhir sections of the highway. The closure was initially halted for two days (December 12 and 13) following a request from the CPN (UML) Youth Federation regarding the ongoing CPN (UML) National Convention, but work resumed today. The restriction is necessary due to the narrow sections requiring heavy equipment deployment and the need to widen the road at Pokhare Bhir. Essential services like ambulances and security vehicles will be facilitated by traffic police.

NC Lamjung Recommends 24 Aspirants for All Seats to Central Committee

The Nepali Congress District Committee of Lamjung has recommended all 24 aspirants to the central committee for the upcoming House of Representatives and National Assembly elections, despite central instructions limiting the number of recommendations. The committee recommended 11 candidates for the direct election for the House of Representatives, 10 candidates for the proportional representation (PR) system, and three candidates for the National Assembly. For the direct House of Representatives seat, the committee initially recommended Gam Prasad Gurung in the first position but ultimately sent all 11 names after a lack of consensus at the Saturday meeting. The list for the National Assembly was prepared following applications submitted on December 10.

CPN (UML) Gyawali Announces He Will Not Contest Elections

CPN (UML) Vice-Chairman Yubaraj Gyawali has announced he will not contest future elections due to his age. Gyawali, who is now 70 years old, made the statement during the party’s central committee meeting currently underway at Bhrikutimandap. He confirmed that while he will step away from electoral politics, he intends to remain active within the party organization. This announcement comes despite the CPN (UML) having removed the 70-year age limit from its statute during its general assembly last September.

NC Bajura Recommends 13 Aspirants for Upcoming HoR Election

The Nepali Congress District Working Committee of Bajura has forwarded the names of 13 aspirants to the central committee for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21. The committee held a general assembly of its officials and members last Friday and recommended six names for the direct election, five names for the proportional representation (PR) system, and two names for the National Assembly. The six candidates recommended for the direct election are Ram Singh Rawal, Kabiraj Pandit, Janakraj Giri, Jagat Jung Bam, Gurudev KC Suman, and Yogendra Rawal. The decision to recommend all candidates was made due to the high number of aspirants at the district level.

NEA Employee Violates Service Rules by Participating as CPN (UML) Delegate

Kalpana Thapa, a senior employee at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Butwal Kalikanagar Distribution Center, has been confirmed to be participating as an elected delegate (voter) in the CPN (UML)’s 11th general convention. Her involvement violates the NEA Employee Service Conditions Regulations, which strictly prohibit any employee from holding political party membership, participating in political activities, or taking part in elections. The head of the Distribution Center, Hari Pandey, confirmed he had informed the higher authorities after Thapa refused to resign from her job to pursue politics. Thapa was elected as a female delegate from CPN (UML) Constituency No. 2.

Salyan Locals Shut Down Vehicular Movement on Kapurkot-Koila Road

Locals in Salyan have blocked the movement of tippers carrying limestone on the Kapurkot-Koila road section, demanding that the road be fully blacktopped due to years of excessive dust, severe deterioration, and deep potholes. Led by the Milan Bazar Management Committee and Milan Bazar Youth Club, the decision was made on Wednesday and implemented on Thursday after years of agreements, including a seven-point agreement in the fiscal year 2022/23 with Rolpa Cement and Ghorahi Cement Industries, were repeatedly ignored. The locals stress that the current road condition poses severe risks to the health and safety of children, pedestrians, and the environment.

Song ‘Fasayo Lamile’ Removed from Balen Shah’s YouTube Channel

The first song from the upcoming film Jhari Pachhi Ko Indreni, titled Fasayo Lami, was removed from the YouTube channel of Kathmandu Metropolitan Mayor and rapper Balen Shah one month after its release. Despite heavy promotion based on the expectation that Shah’s channel would garner high viewership, the song, which is a folk tune rather than Shah’s usual hip-hop genre, did not meet the producers’ expectations. The song, featuring the voices of Basanta Thapa and Samiksha Adhikari, has since been re-released on the OSR channel. The film is scheduled for release on December 19.

Actress Basundhara Bhusal Encourages Focusing on Positive Aspects of Aging

Veteran actress Basundhara Bhusal emphasized the importance of viewing increasing age not as a decline in life but as a growth in experience. Speaking at the release of the music video for the song Gayo Gayo Umer, Bachaun Ramer, she discussed the challenges of age, health, and children abroad. Bhusal, who is 75 years old, stated that her work makes her feel experienced, not old, and urged people to focus on the positive side of aging. She praised the song’s singer, Laxmi Bhujel Maharjan, who started her singing career in her late 40s with the support of her family, calling her an example that age cannot restrict one’s passions.

Satdobato Police Post Rebuilt by Comedian Kiran KC After Gen Z Protest Damage

The newly reconstructed building of the Satdobato Police Post, which was completely damaged during the Gen Z protests on December 9 and 10, has been handed over to the police. The reconstruction of the 1526.20 square meter area building was spearheaded by comedian Kiran KC with financial and material support from the local community. Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, along with comedians Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya (Maha Jodi), attended the handover ceremony on Sunday. IG Karki and the Maha Jodi thanked KC and the community, emphasizing that citizen cooperation is essential for safety and security.

Rosani Residential School Wins Putalibazar’s 8th President’s Running Cup for Third Consecutive Time

Rosani Secondary School won the title of the 8th President’s Running Cup Tournament of Putalibazar Municipality for the third consecutive time. Rosani Secondary School secured the victory by collecting 19 gold, three silver, and four bronze medals. The winning school was awarded a running shield, a trophy, medals, and a certificate along with a cash prize. Himalaya Secondary School of Ward No. 6 came in second with five gold and one silver medal, while Syangja Secondary School finished third with two gold, five silver, and three bronze medals. The competition involved 24 schools and saw 1,280 students compete for 30 gold medals in various sports.

Balangung Municipality Wins 14th District-Level President’s Running Cup with 48 Medals

Baglung Municipality clinched the overall title at the 14th District-Level President’s Running Cup competition held on Saturday. The municipality dominated the event, securing a total of 48 medals, comprising 21 gold, 16 silver, and 11 bronze. Their success was spread across multiple disciplines, including 7 gold in athletics, 11 gold in taekwondo, and 2 gold in karate. Badigad Rural Municipality finished second with 31 total medals (8 gold, 8 silver, 15 bronze), and Dhorpatan Municipality secured third place with 19 total medals (6 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze). Tamankhola Rural Municipality was the only one of the nine participating municipalities that did not take part in the tournament.

Conflict Spreads as Thailand Imposes Curfew in Trat Province Near Cambodian Border

Thailand announced a curfew in its southeastern Trat province on Sunday as fighting intensified and spread to coastal areas bordering Cambodia. The announcement came despite an earlier statement on Friday by US President Donald Trump, who claimed both sides had agreed to “cease all shooting.” Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri of the Thai Defence Ministry confirmed continuous clashes and stated Thailand is open to diplomacy only if Cambodia ceases hostilities first. The conflict, reignited after a skirmish in May, saw Thai forces destroy a key Cambodian supply bridge on Saturday. The curfew covers five districts of Trat, excluding the tourist islands of Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

US Shooting at Brown University Leaves Two Dead, Eight Critically Wounded

Two people died and eight others were critically wounded in a mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Sunday. The shooting occurred at the university’s Barus & Holley engineering building while exams were taking place. Police are searching for the suspect, described as a male dressed in black. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lamented the tragedy, stating officials could not yet confirm if the victims were students. The university instructed students to shelter in place as news of the shooting, which US President Donald Trump called “terrible,” spread. The incident is one of the 389 mass shootings recorded in the US this year.

UK, EU Leaders Discuss Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Aid

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held discussions on Saturday regarding peace proposals for Ukraine led by the US. A key topic was the movement to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to help provide funding for Kyiv. A Downing Street spokesperson stated that both leaders agreed this is a pivotal moment and that Europe will continue to support Ukraine until a “just and lasting peace” is achieved.

US Lifts Sanctions on Belarus Potash in Exchange for Release of 123 Political Prisoners

Belarus has freed 123 prisoners, including prominent opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, after the US agreed to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash, a key export. The releases followed talks between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and US Special Envoy John Coale. Kolesnikova and 113 others were transported to Ukraine and will be moved to Poland and Lithuania. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the exiled opposition leader, confirmed that while this is a major political victory for Lukashenko, sanctions remain a flexible tool to push for more releases, as thousands of others remain imprisoned.

Hollywood Braces for Job Losses Amid Potential Warner Bros Sale to Netflix or Paramount

Hollywood is facing further uncertainty and job losses following the likely sale of Warner Bros to either streaming giant Netflix or Paramount Skydance. Creative workers are describing the potential loss of the historic studio, which created iconic films from Casablanca to Batman, as a “disaster” following the recent production slump. The potential Paramount Skydance acquisition, which includes backing from Middle Eastern funds, is viewed by some as the “lesser of two evils” compared to Netflix, which is blamed for undermining the theatrical experience. The ongoing drama has led to criticism of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, whose massive pay package contrasts with the company’s USD 11 billion loss last year and the impending job cuts.

Fan Riot Erupts at Lionel Messi India Tour Event

An event featuring football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, ended in chaos on Saturday as angry fans ripped up seats and threw items toward the pitch. Thousands of supporters, some having paid up to Rs 12,000 for tickets, were disappointed when Messi was quickly obscured by a large entourage of officials and celebrities during his brief 20-minute walk around the Salt Lake Stadium pitch. When Messi was whisked away early, frustrated fans stormed the pitch. West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologized for the incident, ordered an inquiry, and announced the arrest of the event’s “chief organizer,” citing high ticket prices and poor management.