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.

Curfew Imposed in Simara, All Flights Canceled

All scheduled flights for Wednesday at Simara Airport were canceled after the local administration imposed a curfew order in the Bara district due to escalating security concerns. The unrest began with a rally led by CPN (UML) leader Bikram Basnet, which quickly deteriorated into escalating tension, prompting the deployment of tear gas against youth demonstrators attempting to surround the airport. The curfew was imposed in the Simara area from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM today to preempt potential clashes. Buddha Air, which operates five daily flights, was only able to complete one flight, and a second scheduled flight carrying CPN (UML) leaders was diverted before reaching the runway.

US Adds USD 50 Million in Grant Funding to MCC Nepal Compact

The governments of Nepal and the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced an additional grant of USD 50 million (approximately Rs 7 billion) to the MCC Nepal Compact. This supplemental funding brings the total available grant to USD 747 million (approximately Rs 106 billion), which includes USD 550 million from the US and USD 197 million from Nepal. The new resource is intended to ensure the full completion of priority electricity transmission infrastructure, strengthen Nepal’s energy system reliability, and enhance regional energy trade and international connectivity. The aid is non-debt and grant-based, promoting US excellence and best practices.

PM Karki Conducted All-Party Meeting Today on Interim Priorities

Prime Minister Sushila Karki is scheduled to convene a crucial consultation meeting with various political parties on Wednesday, at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The meeting will focus on the priorities of the current interim government, which was established under her leadership on September 12. The interim administration has primarily focused its efforts on successfully concluding the upcoming House of Representatives election, slated for March 5, 2026.

CPN (UML) to File Writ Petition Against Parliament Dissolution

The CPN (UML) has resolved to petition the Supreme Court against the recent dissolution of the Parliament. The decision was made during a meeting of the dissolved parliamentary party held on Tuesday at the party headquarters in Chyasal. Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula informed the press that the party assigned Bartaula and Sunita Baral to file the writ petition seeking the restoration of the House of Representatives. Separately, the UML Central Organization Department met to finalize the procedure for selecting delegates for the upcoming Eleventh General Convention, with selection required by November 29.

Durga Prasai’s Midnight Arrest Sparks Criticism of Government’s Action

Medical businessman Durga Prasai’s arrest at his residence in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-6, Bhaktapur, around midnight on Monday, has drawn sharp criticism from public figures. Gen Z leader Suden Gurung and constitutional expert Bhimarjun Acharya questioned the necessity of a midnight arrest, calling it a “great stain on civilian rule” and demanding a government explanation. District Police Complex, Kathmandu, Spokesperson Pawan Kumar Bhattarai issued a statement clarifying that Prasai was apprehended for making inflammatory statements that violated public peace and incited violence, stressing that freedom of expression does not grant impunity for unlawful acts.

Deuba Faction Members Meet to Discuss Congress Convention Before 2026 Election

Approximately 25 central members of the Nepali Congress (NC), aligned with party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, are scheduled to meet for internal discussions on Wednesday in Kupandol, Lalitpur. The meeting is taking place one day before the Central Committee meeting and focuses on the demand to hold the 15th General Convention before the House of Representatives election on March 5, 2026. Separately, about 80 other central members close to Deuba are scheduled to meet in Baneshwor today.

Yesterday’s Cloudflare Outage Exposed Global Web Weakness

A Cloudflare maintenance outage on Tuesday evening disrupted approximately 7.5 million websites, including X and OpenAI ChatGPT, temporarily interrupting global services. The incident underscored a major security warning by exposing the vulnerabilities created by heavy centralization and the risk of a single point of failure in internet infrastructure. Cybersecurity experts emphasize the need for multi-provider strategies, distributed networks, and stronger resilience planning. Organizations are encouraged to adopt Zero Trust security frameworks, evaluate tools such as Cloudflare Warp for protected connectivity, and regularly review emergency response systems to minimize future disruption and strengthen operational continuity.

Printing Delay Halts Lamjung Passport Renewal Until March 2026

The District Administration Office (DAO) in Lamjung is directing passport applicants to Kathmandu after the Department of Passports announced it cannot print new or renewed passports until mid-March 2026, except in urgent cases. Assistant Chief District Officer Thaman Singh Gautam explained that the delay is due to a transition in suppliers for e-passports. The inability to deliver passports on time has caused the number of applicants at the DAO to drop. The DAO reported distributing 1,315 passports in the first quarter of the current fiscal year but confirmed that printing for applications submitted since mid-August remains halted.

UNDP and NTB Launch Free Trekking Guide Training for 28 Women in Solukhumbu

A 15-day residential training program for women trekking guides has commenced in Garma, Solukhumbu district, coordinated by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP) under the UNDP. The free training prioritizes women’s empowerment and sustainable tourism development, hosting 28 participants from various regions. The program aims to impart technical trail knowledge, safety management, first aid, and professional service skills. Local officials highlighted that increasing female participation in trekking will enhance the safety, reliability, and inclusivity of Nepal’s Himalayan tourism sector.

WHO Hands Over Prefab Buildings to Health Ministry in Singha Durbar

The World Health Organization (WHO) formally handed over six prefabricated buildings, constructed with its technical assistance, to the Ministry of Health and Population in Singha Durbar on Wednesday. Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki confirmed that the buildings, located in the former Narsingh Dal Battalion area, were received by Health Minister Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam. The ministry plans to move into the new premises within a few days, as the main ministry building on Ramshah Path was destroyed by fire during the Gen Z protests on September 9.

Government Approves Relief Funds for 2,429 Gen Z Protesters

The Council of Ministers, meeting on Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, approved relief funds of Rs 15,000 for each of the 2,429 individuals injured during the recent Gen Z demonstrations. Communication and Information Technology Minister Jagdish Kharel announced the decision. The meeting also recommended that President Ram Chandra Paudel issue an ordinance to amend the Nepal Special Service Act, 1985. Furthermore, the government accepted additional grant assistance of approximately five million USD from the Government of Norway and Rs 281.4 million from the Government of Switzerland for governance support programs.

Minister Pariyar Appeals for Global Aid on Himalayan Climate Crisis

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar utilized the COP 30 Ministerial meeting in Belém, Brazil, on Monday and Tuesday to emphasize the severe domestic effects of climate change, specifically highlighting the continuous melting of Nepal’s Himalayas. Pariyar reiterated Nepal’s commitment to restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2045 through forest conservation and renewable energy. He appealed for international financial and technological assistance to mitigate the rapidly escalating loss and damage. During the conference, Pariyar met with Loss and Damage Fund Executive Director Ibrahim Cheikh Diong and Indian Minister Bhupendra Yadav to discuss financing opportunities.

Amritman Shrestha Named Acting GM of Nepal Airlines

The government has appointed Amrit Man Shrestha, a current Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) board member, as the acting general manager. Shrestha, a former administrative employee of NAC, retired as an acting deputy director at the corporation. The appointment, decided at the Tuesday Cabinet meeting, was made after Deputy Executive Director Janak Raj Kalakheti reported an inability to function effectively as the acting general manager due to a lack of financial authority. Shrestha, who possesses nearly 24 years of service experience with NAC, will exercise all the powers of a general manager in his new capacity.

Koshi Commission Taranath Niraula Named Vice Chairman

The Koshi Province Cabinet meeting on Wednesday appointed Taranath Niraula of Biratnagar as the new Vice Chairman of the Koshi Province Planning Commission. Niraula, who brings extensive experience from the banking sector, replaces Dr. Rajendra Adhikari, whose resignation, effective on November 6, was accepted by the Cabinet. The appointment was confirmed by the Chief Minister’s Press Advisor, Bikram Luintel.

Lumbini Speaker Uses Two Government Residences Despite Fiscal Pledge

Lumbini Province Speaker Tularam Gharti Magar is facing criticism for using two government residences, one in Rapti Rural Municipality, Dang (the capital), and one in Butwal, even after dissolving his private secretariat to promote fiscal good governance. The residence in Butwal was meant to be vacated after the provincial capital moved to Dang in 2022. The building, owned by the National Vocational Training Institute, is needed for training and administrative work. While the Speaker uses the Butwal residence as a “contact office,” his continued use places an unnecessary financial burden on the state, contradicting his commitment to austerity.

Waste Disposal Halted: Locals Block Bancharedanda Landfill

Local residents of Kakani, Nuwakot, and Dhunebesi, Dhading, have again blocked waste disposal at Bancharedanda landfill, forcing trash vehicles from Kathmandu to return. The locals are demanding the written implementation of the 18-point agreement reached on June 9, 2022, with Kathmandu Metropolitan Mayor Balendra Shah’s team. They resumed the blockade after the 15-day verbal commitment made by Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising on November 2 to begin implementation failed to materialize. The unfulfilled agreement includes demands for scientific waste management, leakage prevention, and minimizing odor, citing health concerns from accumulated waste.

KMC Begins Revision of Local Language Curriculum for Schools

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has initiated the process to revise and simplify the local language curriculum and textbooks, aiming to make them more child-friendly and scientific. Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol emphasized that local language education is not merely for testing but serves to establish the identity and culture of the indigenous community. KMC is currently implementing Nepal Bhasa and Tamang language textbooks for grades one through eight. Dangol stressed the need to prioritize capacity development programs for teachers in institutional schools, as training for community school assistant instructors is already underway.

Minister Seeks Major Revision of 2025 Film Bill

Communication and Information Technology Minister Jagadish Kharel stated that the Film Bill, 2025, is incomplete and requires significant amendment. Speaking at the National Assembly Legislation Committee meeting today, he noted that the bill, introduced 56 years after the previous one, is not contemporary. He suggested that amendments need to reach 20 to 30%, or even 40%, to make it time-appropriate. Minister Kharel emphasized that the film sector needs facilitation and services before regulation and argued that the sector should remain under the Communication Ministry. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding elections on March 5, 2026. The proposed bill has received 189 points of amendment from committee members and 20 other lawmakers.

‘The Blue Light’ Psychological Thriller Movie Poster Released

The official poster for the psychological thriller film, The Blue Light, has been released, featuring the main cast members: Mahesh Tripathi, Arpan Thapa, Benisha Hamal, Shristi Shrestha, and Ayushman Joshi. A common theme of despair is visible across all five characters, with Mahesh Tripathi uniquely holding an axe. Directed by Baliram Chauhan, the film is set for release on December 25. The movie, presented by Skyfall Pictures, also features child artists Grishma Katuwal and Sahara Sharma.

Sudurpaschim Royals Defends 147 Runs to Register Maiden Win

Sudurpaschim Royals have defended a par total of 147 runs to defeat Kathmandu Gorkhas by 29 runs. Playing their first match under the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at Kirtipur-based TU International Cricket Ground today, Sudurpaschim Royals bowled out Kathmandu in 16.5 overs, restricting them to just 118 runs. For Kathmandu, Only Aakash Tripathi and John Simpson were able to make good scores of 34 and 24 runs respectively, while other batsmen failed to make any impact despite chasing a modest total. For the bowling side, Harmit Singh took 2 wickets giving away only 21 runs in his full quota of 4 overs. He had also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring the only half century of the match. Hemant Dhami and Scott Kuggeleijn also took 2 wickets each

Spain, Belgium, Switzerland Qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland have all secured their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification berths in the European qualifiers held on Tuesday night. Spain, the 2010 champions, drew 2 goals to 2 against Turkey, placing them first in Group E and marking their 16th overall World Cup appearance. Belgium achieved qualification by routing Lichtenstein 7 goals to 0 in Group J, led by Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere, who each scored two goals. Switzerland also qualified after holding Kosovo to a 1-goal-to-1 draw in Group B.

Ronaldo Attends White House Dinner with Saudi Crown Prince

Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House black-tie dinner on Tuesday night alongside the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. US President Donald Trump hosted the event and called it an “honor” to host Ronaldo, who has become a face of Saudi Arabia’s modernization through his starring role in the Saudi football league. The visit marks one of Ronaldo’s first known visits to the US since 2016. Ronaldo signed an astronomical deal with Al Nassr in early 2023, reportedly for USD 200 million a year.

Nvidia Switch Could Double AI Server Memory Prices by Late 2026

A report by Counterpoint Research suggests that Nvidia’s move to use smartphone-style LPDDR memory chips in its AI servers could cause server-memory prices to double by late 2026. Nvidia is making the change from DDR5 chips to reduce power costs. Because each AI server needs far more memory chips than a handset, this is expected to create sudden demand that the industry is not equipped to handle, straining capacity from suppliers like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron. Higher prices will increase costs for cloud providers and AI developers.

Japan’s Largest Urban Fire Since 1976 Damages 170 Buildings

A massive fire in the city of Oita, on the Japanese island of Kyushu, damaged at least 170 buildings and killed one person, authorities said. This is reported to be Japan’s largest urban fire since 1976, excluding incidents caused by earthquakes. The blaze, which burned through residential buildings near a fishing port and spread to a forest, was said to be the size of seven football fields. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

West Faces Shortage of Heavy Rare Earths Dysprosium and Terbium

The West’s effort to build a homegrown magnet supply chain, led by US-backed MP Materials, is hindered by a critical scarcity of heavy rare earth elements, specifically dysprosium and terbium. These elements are vital for magnets used in EV engines and defense technology. MP Materials’ Mountain Pass mine contains only traces of these elements. Analysts warn that the West will still rely on China for 91% of its heavy rare earth needs by 2030, down only slightly from 99% in 2024.