Kathmandu
Sunday, February 15, 2026
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.
West Indies Advance to Super 8 After Dominant Win Over Nepal
The West Indies secured a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Nepal on Sunday to advance to the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup. Chasing a target of 134 runs, West Indies completed the total in just 15.2 overs, losing only one wicket. With the win, the unbeaten West Indies collected six points from three matches in Group C and confirmed their place in the next round. Nepal, meanwhile, exited the tournament without a win. Captain Shai Hope led from the front with an unbeaten 61 off 44 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. Shimron Hetmyer remained not out on 46 off 32 balls. Brandon King scored 22, while Nandan Yadav took Nepal’s only wicket.
The Election Commission has completed printing and packing 19,124,000 ballot papers for 155 constituencies in 67 districts for the March 5 elections. Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC stated that only 1,199,000 ballots for the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas remain to be printed. Currently, the commission is packing 1,000 boxes and printing up to 1.5 million ballots daily. Dispatching has already begun, with the first batches sent to remote districts in Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpashchim provinces.
During its 263rd anniversary on Sunday, the Nepal Army conferred the “Chief of Army Staff Commendation Badge.” General Ashok Raj Sigdel honored 495 serving personnel, eight retired personnel, and 6 officers from other security agencies, including DIG Purushottam Thapa. Additionally, 37 civilians were recognized, including seven journalists. Honorees included Rajesh Bhandari of Ratopati, Mitralal Bhandari of Gorkhapatra, Gajendra Basnet of Sagarmatha TV, Santosh Acharya of Farakdhar, and Bimal Khatiwada of Kantipur.
The Rural Municipal Association of Nepal and the Nepal Municipality Association issued a joint statement on Sunday, protesting a 5% cut in financial equalization grants. While the third installment should have been 25%, the federal government decided to release only 20.43%. Leaders labeled this move unconstitutional and contrary to federalism, especially as many local levels are seeking additional funds to repair infrastructure damaged during incidents on September 8 and 9. They have threatened phased protests if the decision is not reconsidered.
An eight-year-old boy died after being struck by a jeep in Golanjore Rural Municipality-3, Lamasoti, along the Mid-Hill Highway. The vehicle was traveling from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu when it hit the pedestrian. SP Lal Dhwoj Subedi confirmed the boy died during treatment at Golanjore Basic Hospital. Police have detained the 27-year-old driver, Gopal Bhujel, and the vehicle. Following the incident, angry relatives and locals blocked the Khurkot-Ghurmi road section of the highway in protest.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli arrived in Jhapa on Sunday as a candidate for Jhapa-5 in the House of Representatives elections. Security was significantly tightened at Bhadrapur Airport, with the Nepal Army managing the perimeter. Entrance was strictly restricted to passengers holding valid air tickets. Despite the visible increase in personnel, Chief District Officer Shiva Ram Gelal claimed to have no specific information regarding the heightened security measures at the airport.
Residents of Jumla are protesting the new ambulance fare of Rs 25,000 to Nepalgunj, Banke. The District Ambulance Committee, chaired by Chief District Officer Deepak Paudel, set the rates on January 8. Fares are fixed at Rs 600 within Chandannath Municipality, Rs 100 per kilometer on unpaved roads, and Rs 90 on paved roads. Fares to Surkhet are set at Rs 20,000. While acting health chief Kiran Kumar Sharma stated rates are based on fuel and maintenance, locals argue these costs are exploitative for poor citizens.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) released its “Citizen Contract” for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5. The party pledged to increase per capita income to over USD 3,000 and grow the GDP to USD 100 billion. Key promises include creating 1.2 million new jobs in five years, generating 15,000 MW of electricity, and expanding the road network by 30,000 kilometers. The contract explicitly states that if these goals are not met, voters should punish the party in the next election.
Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Chairman of the Nepal Majdur Kisan Party, unveiled the party’s manifesto for the upcoming elections on Sunday. The manifesto advocates for the nationalization of corrupt individuals’ property and seeks legal provisions for the death penalty in major corruption cases. Other key points include canceling citizenship for children of foreigners born in Nepal, developing tunnel ways and cable cars in remote areas, and opposing the government’s practice of taking loans to pay employee salaries. Bijukchhe urged voters to study manifestos carefully before casting ballots.
Health workers in Surnaya Rural Municipality and Sigas Rural Municipality have launched a 1-month campaign to screen for non-communicable diseases. Health chief Ram Singh Mahara reported that teams are visiting 66 settlements across eight wards to test citizens over 30 years old for high blood pressure and diabetes. Initial screenings show that nearly 50% of those tested have health issues. Patients requiring further care are being referred to larger hospitals. The campaign aims to bring undiagnosed patients into the formal treatment system.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) transported 4,391 kg of non-biodegradable waste from Mustang to Pokhara during the first six months of the current fiscal year. Collected from Baragung Muktikshetra, Gharpajhong, and Thasang, the waste was sent to Green Waste Management in four shipments: 544 kg on August 27, 2025; 860 kg on November 4, 2025; 153 kg on November 22, 2025; and 1,351 kg on December 24, 2025. ACAP has also allocated Rs 500,000 each to three local municipalities to improve waste infrastructure, including the purchase of a compressor machine and a tempo.
Actress Rekha Thapa announced her directorial comeback on Sunday, with the film Maya Bhanekai Yasto Hola. Produced under ‘Diya and Amu Films,’ the movie features a star-studded cast including Madan Krishna Shrestha, Sristi Shrestha, Namrata Shrestha, and Niti Shah. This marks Thapa’s return to the director’s chair after eight years, following her previous films Himmatwali and Malika. The film, which explores a potential love triangle, is set to go on the floor in the second week of March with music by Prashant Siwakoti.
The highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, faces a 94% chance of rain. The Sri Lanka Meteorological Department warned of a low-pressure area in the Southeast Bay of Bengal. Since there is no reserve day, a washout would result in both teams sharing one point each. Such a result would mathematically secure Super-8 spots for both India and Pakistan, bringing their totals to five points, while officially eliminating the United States (USA) and the Netherlands from the tournament.
Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands have jointly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering critic Alexei Navalny using poison. The ministers claim epibatidine, a chemical derived from South American poison dart frogs not native to Russia, was found in Navalny’s samples. Navalny died in prison in 2024 after being arrested in 2021. While Russian officials attribute the death to natural causes like hepatitis and heart issues, Navalny’s wife, Yulia, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have condemned the act as a state-sponsored assassination.
