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.
CJ Raut Inspects Military Special Court: Chief Justice, Prakash Man Singh Raut, conducted an official inspection visit to the Military Special Court today as part of the Supreme Court’s ongoing judicial oversight mission. During the visit at the Army Headquarters at Bhadrakali, Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel welcomed the inspection team led by Chief Justice Raut. The delegation was briefed on the operations and activities of the Military Special Court located within the premises.
Four Forces Align Against UML, Claims General Secretary Pokharel: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has claimed that four different forces—royalists, Maoists, populist socialists, and foreign powers—are working in coordination to weaken the UML, primarily through cyber attacks and political propaganda. Speaking at the sixth meeting of the UML Kathmandu District Committee in Tokha on Thursday, Pokharel alleged that the groups are launching coordinated online campaigns to discredit the party. “They align only when UML is weak. That is their common agenda,” he said. Pokharel stated that royalist forces are targeting UML because they see the party as the chief barrier to the restoration of monarchy.
NA Members Draw Government’s Attention to Current Issues: Members of the National Assembly raised several pressing concerns during today’s meeting, urging the government to take immediate action on various contemporary issues. During zero-hour, lawmaker Krishna Bahadur Rokaya demanded that those responsible for trafficking Nepali youths to Uttarakhand, India, under the lure of attractive jobs and holding them hostage be identified and brought to justice. Ghanashyam Rijal pointed out that 201 local units are still without Chief Administrative Officers and called on the government to appoint them promptly to ensure effective governance.
7 Complaints Filed Against 3 Proposed Supreme Court Judges: A total of seven complaints have been filed against three individuals proposed for appointment as Supreme Court judges. According to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, five of the complaints are person-specific, while two are related to the hearing process itself. Committee Chair Ishwari Devi Neupane informed about the complaints but did not disclose the names of the individuals or the nature of the allegations. The complainants have been invited to appear before the committee’s meeting on Friday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Rana to Attend 44th Session of FAO Conference: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba is leaving tomorrow to participate in the 44th Session of the FAO Conference being held in Rome, Italy from 28 June to 4 July 2025. Minister Rana is scheduled to address the main session and other high-level events at the FAO Conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release today. The Foreign Affairs Minister is leading a Nepali delegation comprising Bharat Kumar Regmi, Ambassador of Nepal to Austria/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the FAO, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, to the Conference.
Supreme Court Summons Both Sides in Mukul Dhakal’s Writ Case: The Supreme Court has summoned both sides for a hearing on July 1 regarding a writ filed by Dr. Mukul Dhakal. A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi issued a show cause order to discuss an interim decision. Dhakal filed the writ demanding he be retained as the General Secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and that the Election Commission’s records showing him in the role remain unchanged. Though the Commission isn’t named as a respondent, Dhakal has listed the RSP, its central committee, jailed party chief Rabi Lamichhane, newly appointed General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, and spokesperson Manish Jha.
Three Nepali Nationals Evacuated from Iran to Delhi Alongside Indians Today: Three Nepali nationals were among those evacuated from Iran under India’s ongoing evacuation mission, ‘Operation Sindhu.’ According to a post by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the three Nepalis were flown to New Delhi from Mashhad on a special flight that landed at 12:01 AM on June 26. Alongside the Nepali citizens, 272 Indian nationals were also evacuated on the same flight. This operation is part of India’s broader effort to bring home its citizens from Iran amid the ongoing regional tensions.
Above-Average Rainfall Forecast Across Nepal This Monsoon: Nepal is likely to receive above-average rainfall across the country this monsoon season, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Director Kamal Raj Joshi shared this information during a meeting of the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee held Thursday at Singha Durbar. According to Joshi, there is a 55 to 65 percent probability of above-average rainfall in Gandaki Province, the northeastern part of Lumbini Province, and the western part of Karnali Province. For the rest of the country, the probability stands between 45 and 55 percent.
MP Sumana Shrestha Calls for Regulation of Private Schools Under New Standards: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Sumana Shrestha has argued that private schools should be required to operate in accordance with new regulatory standards. Speaking at a meeting of the Education, Science, and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives on Thursday, she raised fundamental questions about the for-profit nature of private education in Nepal. “There is a real question: should we allow private schools or not? And what should we do about those already in operation?” Shrestha said.
Govt to Form Narcotics Control Department Next Fiscal Year: The government has announced plans to establish a dedicated Department of Narcotics Control under the Ministry of Home Affairs in the upcoming fiscal year to curb drug abuse and trafficking. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak made the announcement on Thursday while speaking at a program in Kathmandu organized to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. He stated that the government has given top priority to controlling narcotics and will form a separate department under the Home Ministry for this purpose in the next fiscal year.
Nepal-Maldives Agreement on Medical Education for Maldivian Students Nears Final Stage: An agreement to allow Maldivian medical students to study in Nepal has reached its final stage. During a meeting between Nepal’s Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Poudel, and Maldives’ State Minister for Health, Ahmed Gassim, held at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok, both sides exchanged updates on the positive progress from Nepal regarding the draft proposal submitted by the Maldives. In the meeting, Minister Poudel informed the Maldivian minister that the draft is in its final phase and internal preparations are underway to sign the agreement soon.
SEE Results Likely Within a Week, Says NEB: The results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE) are expected to be made public within a week, according to the Examination Controller’s Office under the National Examination Board (NEB), Sanothimi. Dr. Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, Controller of the Grade 10 Examination, said that final preparations are underway to release the results and that the process is moving ahead at a rapid pace. “We’ve set a target to publish the results by July first week. Staff members are working double shifts to meet the deadline,” he said.
Election Commission Begins Preparations for By-Elections, Urges Voter Registration: The Election Commission has begun preparations to conduct elections for vacant positions in the House of Representatives, Provincial Assemblies, and 18 seats in the National Assembly that will be vacant on Falgun 20, 2028 BS (March 4, 2026). Elections will also be held to fill vacant posts at the local level. As part of the preparation, the Commission has called on eligible individuals who have yet to register to ensure their names are included in the voter list.
Narayangadh–Muglin Road Reopens After Removal of Fallen Rocks: The Narayangadh–Muglin road section has reopened after rocks that had fallen onto the road were cleared. The Road Division Office in Bharatpur had closed the road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday to remove the fallen rocks safely. According to the office’s notice, there is a risk of landslides near the Tuin Khola Bridge on the Muglin–Narayangadh route. Rocks could fall at any time from above, posing a danger of accidents. To reduce this risk, the division office used a long boom excavator to clear and remove the rocks from the road.
NEPSE Index Drops by 4.45 Points Amid Increased Trading Volume: On Thursday, the NEPSE index fell by 4.45 points, closing at 2595.74. Trading volume, however, increased slightly. On Wednesday, the turnover was NPR 5.94 billion, while on Thursday it rose to NPR 7.78 billion. This is an increase of NPR 1.84 billion compared to the previous day. A total of 196.5 million shares from 306 listed companies were traded on Thursday. Among these, 93 companies saw their share prices rise, while 155 companies experienced a decline. Green Development Bank recorded the highest price increase of 9.18 percent on the day.
Energy Minister Khadka Addresses SCO Energy Ministers’ Meeting in China: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, addressed the fifth energy ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. Speaking at the event held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, Minister Khadka emphasized the need for an innovative regional framework to promote investment and energy trade, considering the population, resources, and potential of SCO member countries. He called for strengthened cooperation and effective partnerships.
Government Backtracks on Withdrawal of Water Resources Bill: The government has reversed its decision to withdraw the Water Resources Bill. Although the Cabinet had decided on June 16 to withdraw the bill, the decision was never formally announced. After pressure from Nepali Congress leaders and parliamentary committee officials — who said the Prime Minister’s understanding of the issue was flawed — the bill will no longer be withdrawn.
IPPAN Calls Off Protest After Govt Scraps ‘Take-and-Pay’ PPA provision: The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has withdrawn its protest following the government’s decision to scrap the ‘Take-and-Pay’ Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) provision through the national budget for fiscal year 2025/26. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced the removal of the ‘Take-and-Pay’ provision in the House of Representatives on June 24. Following this, IPPAN formally announced the suspension of its protest during a press conference held on Thursday.
Foreign Workers Remit Rs 8.46 billion Out of Nepal: Nepal is not only a remittance-receiving country; foreign workers in Nepal also send a significant amount abroad. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, foreign workers in Nepal have remitted Rs 8.46 billion to their home countries between mid-July and mid-May of the current fiscal year. While this amount is small compared to remittances sent by Nepalis abroad, it is substantial considering it comes from jobs generated within Nepal for foreigners.
Film ‘Ghostel’ Announced Under Ananya Films Banner: The production of the Nepali film ‘Ghostel’ has been officially announced. The announcement was made through the release of a theme poster under the banner of Ananya Films. Producer Saroj Nyaupane is leading the project. The poster features the tagline “When fear meets laughter,” indicating that the film will be a horror-comedy. The movie is slated for public release in 2026.
Comedian Pravat Lama Receives Threats After Mimicking Ex-King Gyanendra: Comedian Pravat Lama has reportedly received threats following his caricature of former King Gyanendra Shah in a recent episode of Comedy Night with Champion. Lama revealed that individuals identifying themselves as royalists sent him threatening messages and phone calls. He shared that one of the threats included the statement: “Former King Gyanendra is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. How dare you mimic him? You better watch out!” The incident has sparked concerns over freedom of expression and artistic liberty in satire.
‘Nepali Creators Fest 2025’ to Be Organized in Canada by Manvi Foundation: The Manvi Foundation is set to organize the Nepali Creators Fest 2025 for the Nepali community residing in Canada. The Foundation stated that the event is designed to provide a platform for international students, new immigrants, youth, and all Nepalis in Canada to showcase their creative talents. The Foundation was launched following the successful completion of one year of Manvi Studios. According to the organizers, interested participants can join the festival free of charge.
Nepal Women’s Football Team Begins Final Preparation in Uzbekistan: The Nepali national women’s football team has begun its final phase of preparation in Uzbekistan for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026. The team arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday and kicked off training from Thursday. With temperatures reaching 30°C, the team is also working to adapt to the heat. This tournament also marks an opportunity for head coach Patrick de Wilde to gain international exposure with the Nepali women’s team.
Sunil Khadka Breaks Guinness World Record with 32 Clap Pull-Ups in a Minute: Nepali calisthenics athlete Sunil Khadka has made history by breaking a Guinness World Record. He performed 32 clap pull-ups in one minute, surpassing the previous record set 10 years ago. The earlier record of 30 clap pull-ups in one minute was held by Blake Augustine of the United States, set on December 19, 2015. Sunil has now officially surpassed that mark. The 25-year-old from Galchi, Dhading, achieved the feat on June 21 during an official attempt held at Vajra Nanita Fitness in Lalitpur.
Lumbini Province Honours 163 Athletes, Coaches and Managers for International Success: The Lumbini Provincial Government has honored athletes, coaches, and managers who achieved success by winning medals and awards in international competitions. A total of 163 individuals—148 athletes and 19 coaches—were felicitated on Wednesday at a special program held in the Rapti Valley (Deukhuri). Member Secretary of the Sports Council, Tiran Gautam, stated that such recognition is aimed at encouraging top performers, as competitions are a vital medium for the development, promotion, and nurturing of athletes in the sports sector.
Israel Kills More Than 90 in Gaza: The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that at least 89 people were killed and almost 400 injured in Israeli attacks across the enclave in the past 24 hours and reports of more deaths continue. At least three Palestinians were killed and several injured in an attack by Israeli settlers on Kafr Malek, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 56,156 people and wounded 132,239, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.
Trump Says U.S. to Hold Talks with Iran Next Week : U.S. President Donald Trump said here on Wednesday that the United States will hold talks with Iran next week. “We’re going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement,” Trump said during a press conference in The Hague following the NATO summit. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is going “very good.” “I think it’s (going) very good. Israel came back yesterday,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague, referring to his Tuesday warning to Israel to halt airstrikes on Iran.
CIA Director Says Iran’s Nuclear Sites ‘Severely Damaged’: The head of the CIA has told US strikes “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear facilities and set them back years, diverging from a leaked intelligence report that angered President Donald Trump by downplaying the raid’s impact. John Ratcliffe, the US spy agency’s director, said key sites had been destroyed, though he stopped short of declaring that Iran’s nuclear programme had been eliminated outright. It comes a day after a leaked preliminary assessment from a Pentagon intelligence agency suggested core components of Iran’s nuclear programme remained intact after the US bombings.
At Least Eight Killed and Hundreds Hurt as Kenya Protesters Battle Police: At least eight people have been killed and 400 injured as thousands took to the streets in a day of protests across Kenya against President William Ruto’s government. Police clashed with protesters in the capital Nairobi and other cities exactly a year on from the wave of deadly anti-government demonstrations that hit the nation in 2024. Many of those demonstrating chanted “Ruto must go” and waved branches as a symbol of peaceful opposition to his rule.