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.

SC Orders Criminal Investigation Against Agni Sapkota in Murder Case: The Supreme Court has issued a long-awaited order in the case filed against former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) Vice-Chair Agni Prasad Sapkota. This landmark ruling nullifies the July 27, 2012 Cabinet decision—made under then-Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai—to not pursue legal proceedings in the case, thereby paving the way for a formal criminal investigation and potential prosecution. A five-member Constitutional Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut and Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Manoj Kumar Sharma, and Kumar Chudal delivered the verdict, finally ending a 14-year legal impasse surrounding the high-profile wartime case.

President Paudel, PM Oli Urge End to Caste Discrimination: On the occasion of the National Day for the Elimination of Caste Discrimination and Untouchability, President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called for the complete abolition of caste-based injustice in Nepal. President Paudel described caste discrimination as a crime against social, moral, and human dignity. He emphasized the need for an inclusive and just society where all individuals are treated equally, regardless of caste. Prime Minister Oli, in his message on social media, stressed the importance of fostering empathy and equality. “Mothers do not give birth to castes, they give birth to humans,” he said, urging society to judge people by their actions and character, not by caste or birth.

HoR Meeting Postponed Again, Scheduled for 1 PM Tomorrow: The House of Representatives meeting scheduled for Wednesday was postponed again without convening, with the Speaker’s Secretariat announcing the session will now be held at 1 PM on Thursday. Tuesday’s session was also adjourned without sitting amid ongoing disputes. The deadlock continues as opposition parties demand the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over his alleged involvement in the visit visa scandal and insist on forming a high-level judicial or parliamentary committee to investigate the matter. These demands remain the opposition’s bottom line for resuming parliamentary proceedings.

Judicial Council Meets to Probe Judges in Aftab Alam Acquittal: An emergency meeting of Judicial Council has concluded after discussing concerns over the controversial acquittal of former minister and Nepali Congress leader Mohammad Aftab Alam and three others in a gruesome murder case linked to the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. According to sources, the Council met Wednesday morning to review complaints filed against High Court judges Dr. Khushi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan, who recently overturned a lower court ruling that had sentenced Alam and his co-accused to life imprisonment. While the meeting did not reach a final conclusion, the Council has reportedly decided to continue deliberations on the matter.

Home Minister Lekhak Says He Will Respond to Visit Visa Scandal in Parliament: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said he will respond to questions related to the visit visa scandal at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Parliament. During Wednesday’s meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, lawmakers raised concerns about the alleged misuse of visit visas and the involvement of immigration officials. In response, Minister Lekhak requested to be allowed to speak in the full House, stating that many lawmakers have questions about the issue and it would be more appropriate to address them collectively in Parliament rather than in the committee.

Government Announces 14 Decisions from Recent Cabinet Meetings: The government has publicly released 14 decisions made in recent cabinet meetings. On Wednesday, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, held a press conference to announce these decisions taken during the cabinet meetings held on Jestha 15 (May 29) and 19 (June 2).

Formation of Inclusive Constitution is Historic Achievement, Says Maoist Centre Chair Dahal: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that ensuring participation, empowerment, representation, and inclusion in all state bodies according to the proportional inclusive principle, as mentioned in the constitution, is a historical achievement. He said so in a congratulatory message today on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the declaration of Nepal as a caste discrimination-free nation.

Maoist Center Demands Probe Committee on Visit Visa Scandal: Chief Whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey, has demanded the formation of an investigation committee regarding the visit visa scandal. Speaking at the meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Wednesday, Pandey called for a formal probe into the matter. Opposition parties, including the main opposition, have been obstructing Parliament, accusing Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak of involvement in the scandal and demanding his resignation.

Teacher Leaders Urge Congress President Deuba to Enact Law as per Agreement: Teacher leaders met with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday, urging him to take initiative in enacting the law according to the prior agreement. The Nepal Teachers’ Association team requested Deuba to issue the law in line with the consensus reached earlier. Laxmikishor Subedi, President of the Teachers’ Federation, also joined the delegation during the meeting.

Meeting of Royalist Forces Adjourned Amidst Protests by Activists: The meeting of the ‘United People’s Movement Committee,’ which has been campaigning for the restoration of the monarchy and Hindu state, was adjourned without setting any protest programs after activists began shouting and causing disruptions. The disturbance started when Kamal Thapa, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal, was speaking. Activists shouted questioning the whereabouts of RPP chairman Rajendra Lingden, who was attending a parliamentary session at that time.

Education Ministry Urges Action Against TU Office Vandalism: The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has called on the Home Ministry to take action against those involved in vandalizing the Vice Chancellor’s Office at Tribhuvan University. In a statement, the ministry expressed serious concern over the incident, which included vandalism and the padlocking of offices of other university officials. Education Minister Raghuji Panta has requested that the Home Ministry identify and prosecute those responsible. “Anyone involved in such indisciplined and unlawful acts must be identified through a serious investigation and brought under legal action,” the statement said.

Two Killed as Truck and Electric Vehicle Collide in Rautahat: Two people lost their lives in a fatal road accident in Chandranigahapur, Rautahat, on Wednesday after a head-on collision between a cargo truck and an electric vehicle (EV). The incident occurred in Ward No. 1 of Chandrapur Municipality.  The electric vehicle was heading towards Chandranigahapur from Barahathwa, Sarlahi, when it collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction. The deceased have been identified as 30-year-old Dhirendra Thakur and 36-year-old Bhagiya Devi, both residents of Khairwa in Ramnagar-1, Sarlahi.

NEPSE Index Falls by 11.97 Points Amid Declining Market Activity: On Wednesday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index dropped by 11.97 points, closing at 2,646. This decline was accompanied by a fall in trading volume, which decreased to NPR 516 crore from NPR 667 crore the previous day. Among the companies, 66 saw their share prices rise, 181 declined, and one remained unchanged. Most sector indices fell, with finance leading the losses, down 0.90%. Other sectors that declined include banking (-0.59%), development banks (-0.71%), hotels and tourism (-0.47%), hydropower (-0.39%), investment (-0.08%), life insurance (-0.48%), microfinance (-0.82%), and non-life insurance (-0.68%).

Exporters Submit Seven-Point Plan to PM Oli for Export Promotion and Economic Growth: A delegation of Nepali exporters, led by newly elected President of the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal, Govinda Bahadur Ghimire, met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday and submitted a seven-point proposal aimed at boosting exports, generating employment, and building national capital. During the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the exporters urged the government to implement export-friendly strategies announced in the recent national budget. They also drew attention to issues that remain unaddressed and called for concrete policy measures to support export-led growth and reduce dependence on imports.

Govt Commits to Effective Implementation of Infrastructure Budget, Says Finance Minister Poudel: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said the government is committed to the effective implementation of the budget allocated for infrastructure development projects. Speaking at an interaction program on “Budget Implementation in Infrastructure,” organized by the Nepal Infrastructure Journalists Society, Minister Poudel emphasized upholding the credibility of the budget and strictly adhering to financial discipline. Admitting that capital expenditure in the past had not met expectations, Minister Poudel expressed firm determination to improve it in the current fiscal year.

IPPAN Urges Government to Scrap Take-and-Pay PPA Provision: The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), has urged the government to remove the take-and-pay provision in hydropower PPAs outlined in the budget. IPPAN submitted a memorandum to Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, warning that such a policy could collapse the entire sector. Minister Khadka remarked that introducing take-and-pay after laying out a 28,500 MW power roadmap was a serious mistake.

Actress Surakshya Itani to Make Film Debut with ‘The Blue Light’: Surakshya Itani, who gained popularity from the comedy series Sakkigoni, is set to make her film debut with The Blue Light. The production team officially announced her inclusion in the film, which she described as a new chapter in her artistic journey. The film is being directed by Baliram Chauhan, who is also making his directorial debut through this project. The film, which held its auspicious launch ceremony on Tuesday, will feature Arpan Thapa, Mahesh Tripathi, Ayushman Deshraj Joshi, Benisha Hamal, Shristi Shrestha, Surakshya Itani, Grishma Katuwal, and Sahara Sharma in lead roles.

Bagmati Province Tables Film Bill to Regulate Cinema Industry: The Bagmati Province government has initiated the process of drafting legislation to professionalize and regulate the film sector. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law tabled a film-related bill in the provincial parliament. This bill was registered with the Provincial Assembly Secretariat on Baisakh 28, 2082 (May 11, 2025), seven years after the establishment of the provincial government. It was formally tabled during the provincial assembly session held on Jestha 20 (June 3, 2025), by Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Suraj Chandra Lamichhane.

Apple’s Upcoming Film ‘Tashi’ Wraps Up Shooting in Nepal: American tech giant Apple has completed filming its upcoming movie Tashi in Nepal. The final three days of the shoot took place in the popular tourist destination of Bandipur in Tanahun. Before that, filming was conducted in Mustang, Lalitpur, Sindhupalchok, and Solukhumbu’s Khumjung. According to production sources, the Nepal shoot alone lasted a month and cost approximately NPR 150 million. The Nepal leg of the shoot was managed by Bollywood company iTAP, led by Pravesh Sahani. Over 300 technicians were brought from India, and local Nepali actors were also cast. The project is said to have supported local tourism and created employment opportunities.

Nepal to Play Hong Kong in Friendly Ahead of Asian Cup Qualifiers: The Nepal national men’s football team will play an international friendly match against Hong Kong on Thursday, ahead of their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Laos. The match will be held at the Hong Kong National Stadium in So Kon Po and is scheduled to start at 5:45 PM Nepal time. This will be Nepal’s second friendly and third overall match under the guidance of Australian head coach Matt Ross. Since Ross took over, Nepal’s results have been mixed. Notably, Nepal secured a historic victory against Singapore in a previous friendly but lost to Malaysia in the Asian Cup qualifiers. The team is using these matches to prepare on a short timeline ahead of their crucial qualifier against Laos.

Abhay Yadav’s Bowling Leads Madhesh to 2nd U-16 Win: Madhesh Province recorded their second consecutive victory in the U-16 National Cricket Tournament on Wednesday, defeating Gandaki Province by five wickets. Chasing a target of 105 runs set by Gandaki, Madhesh successfully reached the target in 14.1 overs, losing five wickets. Madhesh’s top scorer was Sushant Singh with 25 runs, supported by an unbeaten 23 from Sheikh Arman, 13 from Mahi Yadav, and 10 from Numair Ahmad. Gandaki’s Raj Pariyar took the most wickets with three, while Anish Raut and captain Suprim Sunar took one wicket each. Gandaki, having lost the toss and choosing to bat first, were all out for 104 runs in 32.4 overs. With this win, Madhesh earned four points from two matches, while Gandaki remains winless.

Ghorahi Awards Players for President’s Running Shield Runner-Up: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City honored its players who secured second place in the 15th District-Level President’s Running Shield competition. The ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan office. The event was chaired by Narendra Pun, coordinator of the City Sports Development Committee. Mayor Narulal Chaudhary, Deputy Mayor Humakumari DC, Chief Administrative Officer Rishiram KC, and Social Development Committee Coordinator Rammani Pandey, among others, felicitated the players by presenting them with scarves and certificates in recognition of their achievement.

Israel Kills Nearly 100 People in Gaza in 24 Hours, Halts Aid: At least 95 Palestinians have been killed and 440 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. Israel’s military has warned starving Palestinians in Gaza against approaching roads to the US-backed aid distribution sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which will be closed for a whole day for “renovation, reorganisation and efficiency improvement work”. The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza, a measure expected to be vetoed by the United States.

New South Korean President Lee Takes Power After Resounding Election Win: South Korea’s center-left leader Lee Jae-myung was officially declared president on Wednesday after a decisive win in a snap election, stepping into the top office amid deep national divisions following his predecessor’s failed attempt to impose martial law. Lee, representing the Democratic Party, secured 49.4% of the vote, comfortably defeating conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.2%. Kim’s campaign was weakened by internal party strife and the impact of a third-party candidate splitting the right-wing vote. His loss marks another blow to the former ruling party of impeached ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol.

Elon Musk Slams Trump’s Signature Budget Bill As a ‘Disgusting Abomination’: Billionaire Elon Musk has renewed his criticisms of United States President Donald Trump’s signature budget bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” in a series of social media posts. On Tuesday, just days after leaving his post in the Trump administration, Musk offered yet another broadside against the legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk wrote. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”