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.

New Zealand Deputy PM Peters Calls on President Paudel and PM Oli: New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, held separate courtesy meetings with President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Deputy PM Peters first called on President Paudel at Sheetal Niwas, where they discussed mutual interests and the long-standing relations between Nepal and New Zealand. Later, at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, PM Oli and Deputy PM Peters held discussions on strengthening bilateral ties. The two leaders emphasized enhancing cooperation in areas such as agriculture, tourism, education, trade, and investment.

PM Oli Lays Foundation for Dhulikhel Trauma Centre: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, while laying the foundation stone for the Dhulikhel Trauma and Emergency Center within the Dhulikhel Hospital campus, stated that his administration has begun undertaking new projects. He noted that, in addition to initiating new works, the government is also completing ongoing projects. “There is criticism that the government hasn’t done anything, but in fact it has launched many projects. Development does not happen in a single day; it progresses gradually. It isn’t as easy as talking about it; it takes time to accomplish. And in order to get things done, there must be a sense of collective ‘we will do it,’” he said.

High Court acquits NC leader Aftab Alam in Rautahat bombing case: Nepali Congress leader Mohammad Aftab Alam has been acquitted by the Birgunj bench of the High Court Janakpur. The verdict of life imprisonment issued by the Rautahat District Court on 13 Baisakh 2081 B.S. (25 April, 2024) has been overturned by a division bench comprising Justices Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan of the High Court. Alam had been serving a life sentence after Rautahat District Court Judge Matrika Prasad Acharya sentenced him in connection with a deadly incident.

Parliament Adjourned; Next Session Scheduled for Tomorrow Afternoon: The House of Representatives meeting scheduled for today was adjourned until 1 PM tomorrow after the main opposition continued its obstruction for a second consecutive day, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and a parliamentary probe into the visit visa scam. Earlier in the day, the session had briefly convened but was suspended for half an hour in hopes of reaching a consensus through informal dialogue. However, no agreement was achieved, and the post-break session could not proceed either. As a result, the Parliament Secretariat posted a notice announcing the adjournment of the meeting.

Opposition Obstructs House Session Again: The meeting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday was once again disrupted by opposition parties, despite a prior agreement to allow proceedings. Before the session began, Speaker Devraj Ghimire held a discussion with chief whips and whips of various parties and reportedly secured consensus to let the House function. However, the session could not proceed due to the opposition’s obstruction. As soon as the meeting commenced, lawmakers from the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, among others, stood up in protest, prompting Speaker Ghimire to adjourn the meeting for half an hour. On Tuesday as well, opposition protests had forced a postponement of the meeting.

PM Oli Calls Prachanda to End Parliament Obstruction, Allow Home Minister to Speak: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called main opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Wednesday, requesting him to help end the parliamentary obstruction and allow Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to address the House. Prachanda had convened a meeting of opposition parties to discuss several pressing issues, including the controversial visit visa case and Thursday’s scheduled presentation of the national budget by the government. PM Oli made the phone call during the opposition meeting, asking Prachanda to create an environment for Home Minister Lekhak to respond to questions raised against him in the parliament.

Visit Visa Scandal: Lekhak Dismisses Accusations, Vows Transparency: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has termed the allegations against him in connection to a recent visa scandal as a politically motivated attack. In a press conference organized to clarify his position, Lekhak firmly denied any involvement in the case concerning visit visas and criticized attempts to drag his name into the controversy. “I came to know through the media that on Jestha 8 (May 22), a joint secretary was summoned for questioning over visit visas and that their mobile phone and laptop were taken into custody,” said Minister Lekhak. “But the way my name is being associated with the case is baseless. I have no involvement in this matter. The attack on me is entirely political.”

Deuba, Lekhak Meet PM Oli Amid Mounting Pressure over Visa Scandal: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba visited Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his Baluwatar residence on Wednesday, as political tensions escalated over the visit visa controversy. Deuba was accompanied by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is at the center of the scandal. The visit follows a stormy session in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, which was disrupted by opposition lawmakers demanding Lekhak’s resignation. The Home Minister has been accused of irregularities in the issuance of visit visas, a charge he denies but which has triggered widespread outrage.

Lingden Warns of Resistance if UML Obstructs Royalist Rally in Kathmandu: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden has warned of resistance if CPN-UML cadres attempt to obstruct their planned rally in Kathmandu on Thursday, as suggested by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Lingden stated that RPP will not tolerate disruptions to their program under the pretext of “occupying Kathmandu,” a term Oli recently used while addressing his party supporters. However, Lingden clarified that the RPP rally will be peaceful and that the party has no intention of engaging in any form of violence.

Energy Minister Khadka, U.S. Ambassador Thompson Discuss MCC, Bilateral Ties: Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, held a courtesy meeting with United States Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, at the Ministry today. The meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and reviewing the progress of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact. During the meeting, both sides discussed strategies to accelerate the implementation of the MCC project, which aims to enhance Nepal’s electricity transmission infrastructure and road connectivity.

Rastriya Swatantra Party to Allow Budget Presentation Tomorrow: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to block the budget presentation in Parliament tomorrow. Acting spokesperson Manish Jha stated, “We will not obstruct the constitutionally mandated budget process.” Although RSP and other opposition parties have been disrupting Parliament demanding Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation and investigation into the visit visa scandal, Jha confirmed that the budget for fiscal year 2082/083, scheduled for presentation on 15 Jestha (May 29), will be allowed to proceed as per constitutional procedures.

RPP’s Gyanendra Shahi Warns PM Oli Over Possible Violence Tomorrow: Gyanendra Shahi, chief whip of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), stated on Thursday that if any violence occurs during their upcoming event, the entire responsibility would lie with Prime Minister KP Oli. Speaking to journalists at the Parliament premises, Shahi accused the Prime Minister of trying to incite conflict by violating the constitution and laws through provocative speeches and mobilizing people. He said, “Our movement will be peaceful, but if any incident happens, the Prime Minister must take responsibility. The National Human Rights Commission has also already issued a statement.”

Home Minister’s Resignation Demanded Again in National Assembly: In today’s National Assembly session, members renewed calls for the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lal Shrestha amid the ongoing visit visa scandal. MP Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami, during a sudden speech, urged an impartial investigation into the scandal. He pointed out that several officials, including the head of the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport, have already been arrested by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Achhami stressed that the Home Minister should step down to ensure a fair inquiry.

Hindu Federation Rejects Shah Duo for Kingship, Calls for Virtuous Alternative: As royalist groups ramp up calls to restore the monarchy—with either Gyanendra Shah or his grandson Hridayendra Shah as king—a strong rebuttal has come from the World Hindu Federation Nepal. In a sharply worded statement, the Federation’s National Committee declared that neither of the widely discussed royal figures meets the standards of virtue and dignity required for kingship. “If the people desire a king in a Hindu nation, it should be someone clean, impartial, and popular,” said Dr. Ramchandra Adhikari, president of the Federation’s Nepal chapter.

NEPSE Index Rises by 17.44 Points; Banking Sector Leads Market Rally: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index rose by 17.44 points on Wednesday, reaching a new level of 2,693 points. Alongside the market index, trading volume also saw a notable increase. Compared to the previous day’s turnover of Rs 6.52 billion, today’s trading surged to Rs 8.58 billion. A total of 148 companies saw an increase in their share prices, while 97 declined and 2 remained unchanged. The market began its upward trend after 2:10 PM. The banking sector made the most significant contribution to the overall growth. While NEPSE climbed by 0.61%, the banking sector alone rose by an impressive 1.88%.

NRB to Withdraw Rs 80 billion from Banking System in a Single Day: Nepal Rastra Bank is set to withdraw 80 billion rupees from the banking system on Wednesday. Lately, due to excess liquidity in the market, Rastra Bank has been continuously withdrawing deposit amounts from the banking system. Rastra Bank has called for a bidding (auction) for 21 days, in which banks and financial institutions can participate. The bidding time has been set for Sunday at 3 PM. Banks and financial institutions can bid a minimum of 100 million rupees and, by dividing the maximum into parts of 50 million, can bid up to the total called amount.

Government Supports Fixed Interest Rate Policy but Remains Silent on Rate: The Government of Nepal has expressed support for a fixed interest rate policy as recommended by the High-Level Economic Reform Commission led by former Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal. However, the government has not clarified the specific rate to be implemented. While the private sector demands a 5.5% cap, bankers suggest a fixed rate between 9% to 10% could be more realistic. The issue remains under discussion as part of the broader economic reform agenda.

National Project Bank Standards to Apply Across All Levels from This Year: According to constitutional provisions, project bank standards will apply at federal, provincial, and local levels starting this year. As the government enters the final phase of preparing the upcoming budget, the National Planning Commission has advised placing only projects above Rs 30 million at the federal level, above Rs 10 million at the provincial level, and small projects at the local level in the Project Bank. Using the constitutional authority of exclusive rights, the federal government has formulated the “National Project Bank Standards 2081”, specifying budget thresholds for all three levels.

22nd International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) Begins Wednesday: The 22nd edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) has begun on Wednesday. Organized by the KIMFF Foundation, the festival is taking place at QFX Chhaya Center and GAA Hall in Thamel. Running until Sunday, the festival will showcase over 65 films from 30 different countries. This year, KIMFF has curated internationally acclaimed films specifically for Nepali audiences. Alongside the international selections, a number of Nepali films created by local talents will also be screened, reflecting contemporary stories and realities of Nepal.

Nepali Film ‘Mahabhoj’ Premiered Ahead of Nationwide Release on Thursday: The Nepali movie ‘Mahabhoj’, scheduled for nationwide release starting Thursday, was premiered on Tuesday evening in Kathmandu. The premiere event was attended by journalists, the film’s production team, and victims of cooperatives. The participating cooperative victims shared that the film realistically reflected their own life experiences. They expressed that the film’s subject matter empowered and inspired them to continue seeking justice. After the screening, they enthusiastically said, “Mahabhoj has voiced the pain of victims that the state has ignored, speaking out through the screen.”

Pop Singer Sabin Rai and His Band ‘Pharaoh’ Announce 2025 America Tour: Pop singer Sabin Rai and his band ‘Pharaoh’ have announced their 2025 America Tour, scheduled to take place from July 25 to September 20. The tour will kick off on July 25 in Denver, Colorado. The band will perform on July 26 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 1 in Dallas, Texas, August 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and August 8 in Boston, Massachusetts. Further performances include August 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 15 in Austin, Texas, August 16 in Chicago, Illinois, August 23 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and finally on September 5 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

National-Level U-16 Cricket Tournament to Be Held in Karnali Province: Karnali Province is set to host a national-level U-16 cricket tournament. Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament will be held in Surkhet from June 2 to June 14, 2025 (corresponding to Jestha 19 to 31 in the Nepali calendar). According to CAN’s central treasurer, Padam Bahadur Khadka, the tournament is being organized as part of preparations for the ACC Men’s U-16 Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in June as per the calendar of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). This will be the first time such a tournament is being hosted in Karnali Province.

Nepali Women’s Football Team Departs for Thailand for Friendly Matches: The Nepali women’s national football team has departed for Thailand at 1:30 PM on Wednesday to play two friendly matches. However, only 21 players have departed as per the itinerary. According to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), two forwards currently playing professional football abroad, Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ and Rekha Paudel, will directly join the team in Thailand. Samba was signed by French top division league club En Avant Guingamp in Magh 2080 (January–February 2024). Meanwhile, striker Rekha Paudel has been representing Abu Dhabi Country Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nepal Eyes Historic Qualification for AFC Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Australia is set to host the AFC Women’s Asia Cup in 2026. So far, Nepal has never qualified for the prestigious continental tournament. This time, however, the Nepali women’s national football team is aiming to qualify for the first time. The qualifiers will be held in Uzbekistan in the last week of June. Nepal is placed in Group ‘F’ and is participating in the qualifiers for the second consecutive time. Players and coaches are hopeful of securing a place in the final tournament by successfully clearing the qualification round.

COVID-19 Cases in India Rise to 1,083; Multiple Deaths Reported: The total number of active COVID-19 cases across India has reached 1,083 with at least a dozen dead. Kerala has the highest number of cases, with 430 patients currently infected. On Tuesday, new cases were reported in Karnataka (36), Gujarat (17), Bihar (5), and Haryana (3). Meanwhile, 13 patients have recovered in Gujarat. In the Northeast, COVID-19 cases are also emerging. On Tuesday, two women in Arunachal Pradesh tested positive for the virus. One of them showed symptoms such as fever and mild cough, while the other was asymptomatic. In Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad, a 78-year-old COVID-positive elderly man died during treatment on Tuesday.

Israel Bombs Gaza Journalist’s Home, Killing At Least Eight: At least eight people have been killed in an Israeli attack on the home of Gaza journalist Osama al-Arbid in northern Gaza, with at least 15 deaths across the Strip since dawn. At least three Palestinians were killed and 46 wounded after the Israeli military opened fire on crowds who rushed to an aid point run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Criticism of the organization, backed by Israel and the United States, is growing, as the United Nations and major international NGOs say it does not abide by humanitarian principles and risks causing more death.

US Suspends Student Visa Processing as Trump Ramps Up Social Media Vetting: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday ordered a suspension of student visa processing as President Donald Trump’s administration ramps up vetting of their social media, according to an internal cable. It is the latest move that takes aim at international students, a major source of revenue for US universities, after Rubio rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration moved to bar Harvard University from admitting any non-Americans. A cable signed by Rubio and seen by AFP orders embassies and consulates not to allow “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.”