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.

Home Ministry Reshuffles 18 Joint Secretaries, Transfers CDOs Across 13 Districts

The Ministry of Home Affairs published a structural deployment list on Friday executing the transfer and posting of 18 joint secretaries. The institutional rotation reshuffled Chief District Officers (CDOs) across 13 administrative zones, including Syangja, Kaski, Dhading, Sankhuwasabha, Palpa, Nawalparasi East, Saptari, Dhankuta, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Sarlahi, Ramechhap, and Surkhet. Additionally, the executive reassignment modified leadership positions within the Department of Immigration, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and the Department of National ID and Civil Registration.

No Parking Fees for ‘Pick & Drop’ for 15 Minutes at TIA

Drivers need not pay a parking fee for ‘pick and drop’ done for up to 15 minutes at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The TIA Office has made arrangements so that vehicles coming to drop off or pick up passengers at the airport will not be charged for up to 15 minutes when using the ‘pick and drop’ service. Office spokesperson Sanjay Kumar shared that the ‘pick and drop’ time has been extended considering the needs of passengers. He stated that previously, parking fees were not charged for up to seven minutes for ‘pick and drop’, but as this time was found insufficient, it has been extended for added convenience. “For the trial, we have arranged not to charge parking fees for 15 minutes for a month for ‘pick and drop’; action will be taken against those who charge fees against this arrangement,” he said.

Cooperative Committee Names 5 Major Loan Defaulters

The Problematic Cooperative Management Committee published an official roster of large-scale loan defaulters linked to financial groups designated as crisis-ridden by the Bagmati Province Government. The transparency list was released following a regulatory board evaluation held on Friday. Public records confirm the enforcement list targets outstanding credit lines and major borrow accounts registered under Laligurans Saving and Credit Cooperative, Sumeru Saving and Credit Cooperative, National Namobuddha Savings and Credit Cooperative Institution, Darshan Savings and Credit Cooperative Institution, and Civil Saving and Credit Cooperative.

Supreme Court Freezes Nepal Airlines Corporation Board Selection

The Supreme Court issued an interim stay order directing the government to halt the ongoing recruitment process for the new board of directors at the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A joint bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Shrikant Paudel instructed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the national flag carrier, and the official selection committee to freeze all executive appointment actions. The court issued the freeze order following a legal petition filed by Upendra Bahadur Karki, who claimed he was unfairly disqualified from final selection despite securing a placement on the competitive recruitment shortlist.

National Vigilance Center Catches Over Six Thousand Tardy Officials

The National Vigilance Center intensified surprise attendance inspections across public offices, deploying 5 specialized field monitoring teams to audit 10 government locations daily. Information Officer Sarita Khatiwada confirmed that field teams evaluated 1,130 government installations since August 2025, catching 6,710 civil servants violating official office hours and 1,162 staff skipping mandatory uniforms. The oversight agency recommended disciplinary warnings for the offending personnel under Section 55 of the Civil Service Act 1993, which mandates departmental actions for employees receiving two consecutive warnings.

Govt. Unveils Mining Reform Bill with State Control over Uranium

The government has proposed a new mining bill to replace the 1985 Mines and Minerals Act, introducing stricter regulations on mineral exploration, extraction, and licensing. The bill seeks to discourage license hoarding by requiring companies to begin exploration within six months and extraction within two years, or face license cancellation. It also proposes higher royalties, fees, and security deposits, along with penalties of up to Rs 10 million for unauthorized mining. The legislation clarifies the roles of federal, provincial, and local governments, grants local bodies authority over construction materials such as stone, gravel, sand, and soil, and strengthens environmental protection and compensation provisions. Radioactive minerals, including uranium and thorium, would remain under government control.

Foreign Minister Khanal Arrives in New Delhi on Official Visit

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal arrived in New Delhi today for an official visit to India at the invitation of his counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. According to an official update shared by the Embassy of Nepal in India on its X handle (@eonindia), Minister Khanal was received upon his landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport by the charge d’affaires, Surendra Thapa, alongside Munu Mahawar, the Additional Secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs. During the visit, the foreign minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks and participate in a series of high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries.

Environment Minister Chaudhary Directs Development Focus to Climate Resilience

Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Environment Gita Chaudhary urged state planners to harmonize national economic targets with strict ecological preservation strategies during her address at the World Environment Day 2026 central assembly on Friday. The minister stated that the government is focusing resources on expanding green climate financing, improving disaster preparedness, and upgrading environmental data tracking networks. Choudhary added that 30 active air quality monitoring stations are providing data for national policymaking and confirmed that the Department of Environment is prioritizing targeted clean air action plans for the Kathmandu Valley.

King Charles III Attends Formation Parade of King’s Gurkha Artillery

The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA), a new unit under the British Brigade of Gurkhas within the British Army, was formally marked during a formation parade attended by King Charles III at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Larkhill on June 4. The event was organized by the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army, to celebrate the establishment of the artillery unit within the Gurkha forces serving under the United Kingdom’s armed services. Senior military officials from the British Army and members of the Gurkha community attended the ceremony, which highlighted the long-standing service of Gurkha personnel within the UK military structure. The formation of the KGA was described as a significant milestone in the continued expansion and recognition of Gurkha units within the British Army.

Nepali Officials Complete Europe Visit on Disaster Management

Senior officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) have completed a Europe visit aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction and management. Organized under the EU-funded SUPER-II Project, the visit included meetings with European Commission bodies and UN agencies in Belgium and Germany. Discussions focused on disaster financing, emergency coordination, climate risk assessment, information management, and implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Officials said the knowledge gained and partnerships established during the visit will help enhance the capacity of NDRRMA and emergency operations centers, contributing to a more resilient disaster management system in Nepal.

NEA Urges Bharatpur Consumers to Limit Power Use Amid Rising Demand

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Bharatpur Distribution Center has urged consumers to avoid using non-essential electrical appliances as soaring temperatures drive up electricity demand. According to Center Chief Rajendra Kumar Chaudhari, increased summer consumption has overloaded transformers and distribution lines, causing voltage fluctuations, transformer failures, and damaged power lines in some areas. Power supply has also been affected by ongoing grid substation automation work in Bharatpur. The distribution center, which serves around 75,000 consumers, records a daily demand of about 65 MW and receives power through two 90 MW substations. Officials said simultaneous increases in electricity use during the heatwave have placed significant pressure on the system.

RSP Chair Lamichhane Returns After 5-Day India Visit

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane returned to Nepal on Friday after completing a five-day visit to India at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to his secretariat, Lamichhane arrived in Nepal from New Delhi after concluding a series of political and diplomatic engagements. During the visit, he held meetings with senior Indian leaders and interacted with officials at the Embassy of Nepal in India. The visit was aimed at strengthening political dialogue and enhancing ties between the two neighboring countries.

Khil Raj Regmi Urges Governance-Focused Constitutional Reforms

Former Chief Justice and former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi has urged the constitutional amendment task force to preserve the Constitution’s basic structure, preamble, and existing religious provisions while prioritizing governance stability. Regmi cautioned against adopting an executive presidency, warning it could encourage authoritarianism. He proposed reducing the restriction on no-confidence motions from two years to six months and cutting proportional representation seats to 60. He also recommended lowering the minimum age for House of Representatives candidates to 21, merging thematic commissions under the National Human Rights Commission, introducing special development measures for Karnali and Madhesh, and strengthening judicial accountability through an independent disciplinary mechanism for judges.

Ujyalo Nepal Opposes Budgetary Taxes Imposed on Power Consumption

The Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP) expressed strong opposition on Friday against newly introduced fiscal provisions in the national budget that levy taxes on electricity consumption. Leadership voiced dissatisfaction with current government initiatives, stating that state programs are failing to address immediate public challenges and risk causing widespread citizen disillusionment. The political group announced it would launch public counter-protests if state policies continue to harm consumer interests, adding that the party will focus its alternative economic agenda on developing water resources, agriculture, and tourism.

Dhawal Shamsher and Durga Prasai Form Alliance to Launch Political Party

Former lawmaker Dhawal Shamsher Rana and civic campaign leader Durga Prasai reached an agreement on Friday to establish a joint political party. The strategic tie-up comes immediately after Rana led a group of 186 political cadres to collectively resign from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) on Thursday. The organizing leaders stated that the incoming political organization will integrate with ideologically aligned movements and individual platforms while committing to reserving 60 percent of all internal leadership seats for youth and women representatives.

Former Minister Sudan Gurung Assets Probe Panel Submits Report

An independent probe panel looking into the assets and equity investments of former Home Minister Sudan Gurung submitted its official 45-page findings report to Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday. The evaluation committee was established by a cabinet decision on May 6 after Gurung resigned his executive post on April 22 amid controversies over a joint business partnership with an individual detained for money laundering. The panel received a five-day extension to finish the document, which outlines factual analysis, official testimonies, and structured policy suggestions for the government.

RSP Forms 3 Member Election Committees for District Conventions

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) established three-member election panels across all 77 districts to oversee its upcoming local leadership conventions scheduled to run this weekend. Central Election Commission Chief Bhuvan KC confirmed that while most regions are moving forward, voting processes in specific local tiers within Bagmati Province and Madhesh Province were suspended due to formal internal appeals. Under party rules, each district committee will elect one president, one vice president, one secretary, and one joint secretary, alongside five inclusive members and representation from each federal constituency.

Govt. Directs Joint Probe Panel on Confiscated Electric Vehicles by APF

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers ordered the establishment of a joint investigative committee to check 779 electric vehicles held under suspicion of custom tax evasion. The probe panel contains representatives drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Customs, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force (APF). Operational logs verify that enforcement checkpoints seized 775 cars passing through the Korala border checkpoint in Mustang, two vehicles along the Pasang Lhamu road link in Nuwakot, and two cars at Adamghat in Dhading. Security agencies confirmed that normal vehicular freight transits passing through complete and validated legal documentation are moving through checkpoints without delays.

50 Inmates of Chitwan Jail Suffer from Viral Fever

Fifty inmates at the Chitwan Prison have fallen ill with viral fever. According to Rabindra Dhungana, chief of the District Jail, this health issue has been detected in 50 prisoners so far. He stated, “Five to seven people are suffering from viral fever on a daily basis. The problem is increasing every day.” There are currently 712 inmates in the prison, which has a capacity of 600. Although there is a provision to accommodate 50 women and 550 men, inmates are being kept beyond its capacity. Those suffering from viral fever are being treated in separate rooms. Jail chief Dhungana mentioned that medicine management has been arranged with the support of the District Public Health Office and Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

World Environment Day Marked Nationwide with Diverse Programs

World Environment Day 2026 was celebrated across Nepal on Friday through a series of synchronized environmental programs and public awareness campaigns. This year’s national initiatives were organized around the central policy theme “Foundation for a Prosperous Future: Climate and Nature-Friendly Development.” Various government agencies, development partners, ecological experts, and local stakeholders organized events across the country to promote nature-friendly development and address pressing climate adaptation challenges.

UNESCO, KU Launch Climate Education Training for Teachers Across Nepal

UNESCO and the School of Education at Kathmandu University have launched a national training program to strengthen climate education in schools across Nepal. Introduced on World Environment Day, the initiative, titled “Leading Green Schools and Climate-Ready Classrooms,” is a three-credit course designed for school leaders and teachers. The program aims to improve climate literacy and help educators incorporate environmental awareness and climate action into teaching and school management. Supported by the Norwegian Embassy and implemented through a UNESCO-UNICEF partnership, the pilot phase will cover 100 schools across all seven provinces. Organizers said the program supports Nepal’s climate commitments and seeks to turn policy goals into practical classroom action.

SSP Suresh Kafle Takes Charge of Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police

SSP Suresh Kafle was appointed chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office following a revised administrative order issued by Prime Minister and Home Minister Balendra Shah. The leadership assignment was updated after the initial transfer of SSP Shanti Raj Koirala sparked internal procedural disputes within the security administration. Koirala was recently leading the Nepal Police Provincial Office in Janakpur, and standard police regulations restrict assigning consecutive command posts; following the correction, Koirala was transferred to the Special Bureau at Police Headquarters while Kafle moved from the bureau to take over the traffic desk.

Gulmi Police Detain 5 Suspects Following Assailant Attack on Vice Chair

The Gulmi District Police Office detained five suspects for interrogation after hundreds of women held protests outside local administration offices on Friday to demand security protections for female officials. Demonstrators launched the rallies following an April 22 incident where a group blocked a government vehicle at 10:00 PM in Malika Rural Municipality-8 to aggressively interrogate Isma Rural Municipality Vice Chair Parvati Kunwar. Local groups marched to accuse the administration of delaying legal action, while police confirmed that the localized confrontation started over an unauthorized late-night use of a public office vehicle.

Light Benders Schedules New Book and Cinematic Movie Collaboration

Actor Bipin Karki’s production banner, Light Benders, announced a creative partnership on Friday to produce a cinematic feature film and an accompanying literature book. The upcoming entertainment project will be written and directed by journalist and author Bijay Kumar Panday. The production team is scheduling a comprehensive media launch in late September or October to reveal the full ensemble cast, with the companion novel slated to debut immediately following the theatrical movie launch.

Actor Rajesh Hamal Outlines Distinct Nature of Border Encroachment Varieties

Actor Rajesh Hamal published an analysis regarding national boundary disputes on Friday, stating that local border crossings and state-sponsored land incursions are separate political issues. Hamal noted that trans-border friction along the open boundary often stems from shifting river paths, missing border pillars, or local farm expansions, which can be settled through joint surveys and collaborative mapping. Conversely, he defined state-sponsored land encroachment as deliberate strategic expansions involving infrastructure building, military placement, and map updates, citing the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura sector as a primary example.

Nepal Set to Face Oman in Asian Games Cricket Qualifiers Semifinals

Nepal will play Oman in the semifinals of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Qualifiers in Singapore. The matchup was locked in on Friday after Hong Kong defeated Oman by 154 runs, securing the top spot in Group B and leaving Oman as the runner-up. Nepal had already secured the top position in Group A on Thursday by defeating Malaysia, who will now face Hong Kong in the other semifinal. All 4 semifinalists have already qualified for the Asian Games in Japan. In the final group match, Hong Kong posted a massive 287/1 in 20 overs, powered by Anshuman Rath’s unbeaten 160 off 56 balls, before restricting Oman to 133/8.

U-19 Women’s Cricket Qualifier Begins in Karnali

The Under-19 National Women’s Cricket Championship Qualifier began in Surkhet on Friday, with Karnali Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel announcing plans to build a modern cricket stadium in Birendranagar. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kandel said the provincial government is investing in sports infrastructure and remains prepared to host the 10th National Games. He also stressed the growing popularity of cricket among youth. According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament will help identify players for Nepal’s U-19 women’s national team, which will prepare for the 2027 ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup. The winning team will receive Rs 500,000, while the runner-up will earn Rs 300,000, with additional awards for outstanding individual performers.

India’s Satirical CJP Founder Returns for Education Protest

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, is returning to India on Friday to lead a planned protest in New Delhi against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities. The parody movement, launched on May 16, has rapidly gained millions of followers online, positioning itself as a youth-driven political voice. Dipke said he will seek police permission for a peaceful demonstration scheduled for Saturday, urging supporters not to gather at the airport to avoid disruption. The campaign has drawn additional attention with activist Sonam Wangchuk expected to join, while authorities have already restricted some of the group’s online platforms amid its growing influence.

Chinese President Xi to Visit North Korea to Meet Kim

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on June 8-9 for talks with leader Kim Jong Un, marking his first trip to Pyongyang since 2019. The visit comes as North Korea deepens ties with Russia while maintaining its longstanding alliance with China, its largest trading partner and key economic supporter. The leaders are expected to discuss trade, tourism, regional security, and North Korea’s nuclear program. Beijing is also seen as a potential mediator in efforts to revive dialogue between Pyongyang, South Korea, and the United States. The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea mutual defense treaty and highlights Beijing’s continuing influence over its isolated neighbor.

Russia and Ukraine Exchange 370 Prisoners in Latest Swap

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 185 prisoners of war each on Friday in the latest swap under an ongoing deal to release 1,000 detainees from both sides, officials said. Most of the Ukrainian soldiers released had been held since 2022, with the oldest aged 62, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia also returned one civilian as part of the exchange. The swap is the second phase of a broader agreement linked to a three-day ceasefire framework, reportedly brokered with involvement from the United States earlier in May. The United Arab Emirates also helped mediate the latest exchange, continuing its role in facilitating prisoner releases between the two countries.