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.

National Assembly Approves 4 Major Legislative Ordinances

The National Assembly endorsed four major legislative ordinances during an official parliamentary session convened on Friday. The approved statutory drafts encompass the Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Ordinance, the Money Laundering Prevention (Third Amendment) Ordinance, the Cooperative (First Amendment) Ordinance, and an omnibus ordinance amending several Nepal acts concerning various Health Science Academies. The Upper House passed the legislative instruments immediately after the House of Representatives granted identical clearances to the same four ordinances earlier that day, signaling unified parliamentary backing for urgent financial and infrastructural regulatory adjustments.

HoR Passes National Debt Recovery Bill for Consideration

The House of Representatives on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to take the National Debt Recovery Bill, 2026, into consideration. The proposal was presented by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, who said the upcoming fiscal year’s budget provides for borrowing based on the country’s financial capacity. Responding to lawmakers during the discussion, Wagle said outstanding public debt stands at about Rs 3,000 billion but stressed that debt should be assessed relative to the size of the economy. He maintained that the budget was formulated within fiscal discipline and would be implemented through strengthened domestic revenue mobilization. Several lawmakers participated in the discussion before the proposal was endorsed.

National Assembly Members Raise Concerns Over Squatters and Dalit Rights

National Assembly members on Friday called for food, shelter, and medical support for homeless squatters displaced from riverbanks, including the Bagmati River, while raising a range of social and governance concerns. Gomadevi Timalsina claimed squatters housed in holding centers lacked basic necessities, while Madan Kumari Shah (Garima) said adequate arrangements had not been made even after two months. Other lawmakers highlighted domestic violence, pressures on anti-graft officials, challenges faced by freed Kamaiya communities, caste-based discrimination, the closure of tea industries, and controversial remarks allegedly made by a minister. The concerns were raised during the zero hour of the National Assembly meeting.

Central Zoo Closed Indefinitely After Bird Flu Detection

The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel has been closed to visitors indefinitely after cases of avian influenza (bird flu) were detected among animals and birds within the zoo premises. In a notice issued on Friday, the zoo management said the decision was taken to protect public health and prevent the possible spread of the disease. The closure came into effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice. The zoo, operated by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), stated that necessary disease-control and monitoring measures are underway. Officials said further information regarding the reopening of the facility will be provided after the situation is fully assessed. The management has apologized to visitors for the inconvenience and requested the public’s understanding and cooperation during the temporary shutdown.

Special Court Grants Extended Judicial Custody for Passport Fraud Suspects

The Special Court extended the judicial custody of four prime defendants for an additional 5 days to facilitate deep institutional probes into passport printing corruption. A two-judge bench comprising Justices Narayan Prasad Poudel and Umesh Koirala approved the extension following an administrative petition filed by state investigators. According to court registry files, the targeted defendants Tirtha Raj Aryal, Sunil Kumar KC, Tulsi Prasad Acharya, and Manindra Malla remain under detention. The judicial tribunal granted the extra time after prosecutors argued that comprehensive evidence collection and cross-examinations concerning corporate printing irregularities were still ongoing.

7-Member Taskforce Formed to Handle Pathibhara Cable Car Dispute

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers established a seven-member expert investigative taskforce to resolve prolonged territorial and environmental disputes delaying the Mukkumlung Pathibhara cable car project in Taplejung. Formed under direct secretarial executive orders from Prime Minister Balendra Shah, the special working panel is led by his social development advisor, Bishwa Rai. The panel includes senior divisional engineers from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, project opposition representatives, members of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee, and cable car company executives. The team received a strict 15-day deadline to submit viable, peaceful structural recommendations.

Cabinet Appoints Gopal Prasad Bhatta SEBON Chairman

The government has appointed Gopal Prasad Bhatta as the new chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), following a Cabinet decision made on Friday. Announcing the decision, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Bikram Timilsina said the Cabinet also approved several legal reform measures. These include drafting a new bill to amend and consolidate cooperative laws and a separate bill to regulate and supervise savings and credit cooperatives. The Cabinet further endorsed replacement bills to amend the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Public Procurement Act, approved legislation related to the Nepal Special Service Act and National Service Corps, and cleared a bill to amend laws governing the Academy of Health Sciences.

Home Minister Gurung Says Probe Found No Evidence of Custodial Assault

Home Minister Sudan Gurung has said an investigation into the death of Shreekrishna Bishwokarma in police custody in Sindhuli found no evidence of physical or mental torture by police. Responding to questions from National Assembly member Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar on Friday, Gurung said the committee report concluded that no assault had occurred during custody. He also informed lawmakers that a Dalit Cell has been operationalized within Nepal Police. During the discussion, Sunar questioned the circumstances surrounding the death and raised concerns over caste-based discrimination, including violence linked to inter-caste marriages. Gurung said the ministry would provide further information if new findings emerge.

Spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel Publicizes 150 Ministerial Decisions

The government, represented by its spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, made 150 executive cabinet decisions public during a formal press brief hosted at the ministry today. The released records aggregate specific cabinet resolutions enacted through multiple high-level sessions conducted across April and May 2026. Among the strategic actions, the government approved expanding the license capacity of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) on June 12. Additionally, on June 9, ministers approved the executive director selection criteria for the Nepal Administrative Staff College.

Opposition Lawmakers Accuse Government of Overreach and Interference

Opposition lawmakers used Friday’s House of Representatives meeting to accuse the government of institutional overreach, political interference and failures in governance. CPN (UML) lawmaker Guru Baral criticized the new procedure for appointing university vice-chancellors, arguing that final authority remains concentrated in the prime minister’s office. Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Khusbu Oli and Nepali Communist Party lawmaker Ganesh Bahadur Bishwakarma demanded clarification over allegations that anti-graft officials were pressured to issue arrest warrants. Lawmakers also questioned reported diplomatic missteps and challenged government statements on foreign affairs and territorial issues, calling for greater accountability from the executive.

Dispute Erupts Over Police Presence Near Koshi Minister’s Residence

A controversy has emerged after a police team was deployed near the official residence of Koshi Province Internal Affairs and Law Minister Indra Mani Parajuli in Biratnagar on Thursday night. The minister’s secretariat claimed the residence was raided, while police and local authorities said officers were searching for a fugitive wanted in an attempted murder case. Morang Chief District Officer Yubaraj Kattel and Superintendent of Police Kabit Katuwal denied that any search was conducted inside the minister’s residence, saying the operation targeted the surrounding area based on intelligence reports. The minister’s aides, however, said the incident stemmed from incorrect information and poor coordination.

Cooperative Fraud Remains Sole Charge Against RSP Chair Lamichhane

All charges filed against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane, except cooperative fraud, have been dismissed by courts across the districts where cases were registered against him. Most recently, a bench led by Judge Atmadev Joshi at the Kathmandu District Court on Friday ordered the withdrawal of the organized crime charge. Similar rulings had earlier been issued by district courts in Rupandehi, Parsa, and Kaski, while the Kaski District Court had also dropped the money laundering charge. The court decisions apply to other defendants, including GB Rai, leaving cooperative fraud as the only active charge in the cases.

Congress Lawmaker Questions Allegations of Pressure on CIAA Officials

Nepali Congress lawmaker Khadka Bahadur Budha on Friday objected to allegations that officials of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) were held at the Prime Minister’s Office for nine hours and pressured to issue arrest warrants. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Budha said the CIAA is an independent constitutional body and questioned whether an unidentified group was exerting undue influence within the state apparatus. In the same meeting, Shram Sanskriti Party Chair Harka Sampang criticized both the government and parliament leadership for ignoring his prolonged protests demanding action over remarks made by the prime minister. He warned that growing indifference toward public concerns was undermining accountability.

UML Reform Campaign Calls for Leadership Overhaul and Generational Shift

A reformist campaign within the CPN (UML) has intensified nationwide activities, calling for sweeping changes to the party’s leadership, structure and ideology. Issuing a special appeal to party leaders and cadres, the campaign argued that shrinking internal democracy, leadership arrogance and failure to accept responsibility for electoral setbacks have weakened public trust in the party. It proposed measures including leadership renewal, a two-term limit for all positions, direct election of leaders by party members, mandatory financial transparency and at least 40 percent youth representation in committees. The campaign warned that the party risks losing its historic relevance unless it embraces comprehensive reform and organizational transformation.

Rana and Prasai Launch Monarchy-Focused Political Campaign

Former Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana and campaigner Durga Prasai are preparing a nationwide political campaign centered on restoring the constitutional monarchy and promoting a Hindu state. After leaving the RPP on June 4, 2026, the two leaders agreed to establish a new political force and plan to begin a public outreach campaign from Madhesh Province on July 6. They say the proposed party will focus on nationalism, governance reform, youth participation and economic issues affecting ordinary citizens. Political analysts view the choice of Madhesh as strategically significant, while the RPP rejects claims that it abandoned the monarchy agenda and says it continues to advocate for it through democratic means.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Blasts at State Financial Policies

Former Prime Minister and Nepali Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal characterized current state policies and budget programs as anti-worker actions during a party function on Friday. Speaking at the central headquarters in Paris Danda, Dahal argued that recent fiscal decisions directly harm impoverished agricultural laborers and marginalized populations while protecting upper-class economic interests. He stated that opposition forces are currently organizing unified resistance campaigns across both the parliamentary floor and public spheres. Dahal warned that reactionary factions are attempting to weaken established democratic political parties by engineering internal splits and confusion.

RSP Convention: Chitwan Hotels Fully Booked As Heat Advisory Issued

Preparations have intensified in Bharatpur ahead of the first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), scheduled for June 21-23, with hotels nearing full occupancy and thousands of participants expected. Party leaders, delegates and supporters have already begun arriving, while organizers have advised attendees to prepare for extreme heat. According to party officials, around 80 percent of delegates have secured accommodation, with more than 3,000 hotel rooms expected to be occupied. A temporary structure capable of accommodating about 15,000 people has been erected for the convention. Police estimate that as many as 300,000 people could attend the opening session and have prepared traffic and parking management plans.

NRB seeks greater powers to tackle financial risks: Governor Poudel

Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Poudel has said the central bank needs additional authority to address financial risks and protect depositors, with some decisions requiring only agreement between the governor and the finance minister. Speaking at a House Finance Committee meeting on Friday, Poudel said such powers are necessary to prevent deposits in licensed institutions from being jeopardized and to ensure financial stability. He added that although some authorities have been expanded under existing banking laws, further reforms are needed. Poudel also informed lawmakers that NRB has submitted draft laws on financial consumer protection, banking offences, foreign exchange management, payment systems and financial sector restructuring to the Ministry of Finance.

National ID Department Launches Digital Card Downloads

The Department of National ID and Civil Registration introduced a self-service digital download feature on its web portal to streamline public access. Launched as a trial system yesterday, the portal allows valid citizens to securely retrieve their national digital identity cards embedded with personal photographs and verification QR codes. The deployment fulfills the 2nd point of the state’s 100-point governance improvement program. Registered citizens can obtain their official identity papers by providing their unique identification numbers alongside names in either Nepali or English, exact dates of birth, and citizenship issuance parameters.

National Examination Board Announces Class 12 Results

The National Examination Board officially published the Class 12 annual examination results today, demonstrating an overall 64.31 percent pass rate across all operational streams. The board administered the academic evaluations from April 27 through May 10. Out of 332,241 regular candidates, 231,770 students achieved full passing grades, yielding a 69.75% regular category success rate. Conversely, 30.25 percent of regular examinees totaling 100,471 students received Non-Graded (NG) results. Exam supervisors invalidated the papers of 40 candidates for cheating.

Swiss-Supported Fellowship Program Unveiled at Southasia Institute

Danielle Meuwly, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal, attended the foundation day of the Southasia Institute for History and Philosophy on Monday (June 15), where she participated in a panel discussion focused on promoting critical thinking and inclusive academic discourse. During the event, Ambassador Meuwly highlighted Switzerland’s support for the institute through its Inclusion Fellowship Program, which will provide four scholarships to students from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities across the country. The fellowships aim to expand access to higher education in history and philosophy while encouraging broader participation from diverse social groups in academic and public life. According to the embassy, the initiative is intended to strengthen inclusivity and ensure that a wider range of voices and lived experiences are represented in research, education, and public discourse, contributing to a more equitable society.

Madan Krishna Shrestha Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

Veteran actor Madan Krishna Shrestha received the Film Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Film Awards 2025 in recognition of his decades-long contributions to the domestic entertainment industry. President Ram Chandra Paudel presented the prestigious artistic accolade along with a Rs 375,000 cash prize during an official state ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas on Friday. Shrestha’s creative career across acting, satirical comedy, and social awareness campaigns significantly advanced the sector. The ceremony also recognized Uunko Sweater as best film, alongside veteran Nir Shah and Miruna Magar winning individual honors.

Actor Jitu Nepal Starrer ‘I Am Jit Bahadur’ Hits Theaters

The new social drama ‘I Am Jit Bahadur,’ featuring popular actor Jitu Nepal in the central role, commenced its nationwide theatrical screening today. Released as the sole domestic feature film this weekend, the narrative follows a jovial married man whose community theater passion evolves into an intense professional dream. Directed by Subhendu Ghosh with a total runtime of 133 minutes, the family film received a Universal certificate. The project features an ensemble cast including Barsha Raut and Priyanka Karki, while its long-term commercial performance remains reliant on word-of-mouth feedback against competing foreign titles.

46th National Athletics Championship Begins in Surkhet

The 46th National Athletics Championship has begun in Birendranagar, Surkhet, marking the first time the national competition is being hosted in Karnali Province. Inaugurating the event on Friday, Karnali Province Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Rajeev Bikram Shah said the championship would help establish Karnali as a sports hub and promote tourism and economic development. The competition features 28 events for men and women, with teams from all seven provinces, the Nepal Army, APF and Nepal Police participating. A total of 240 athletes are competing. Rajan Rokaya of the Nepal Army and Santoshi Shrestha of Bagmati Province won the opening 10-kilometer races.

Kathmandu Defeats Chitwan to Clinch Bagmati Province Cricket Title

Kathmandu captured the women’s cricket championship title under the 3rd Bagmati Province Sports Festival by defeating Chitwan by 7 wickets. During the final clash played at the Gautam Buddha Cricket Stadium in Chitwan, the host team batted first and scored 99 runs for the loss of 5 wickets within their allocated overs. Kathmandu chased down the 100-run victory target in 17.3 overs while losing only 3 wickets. The successful run-chase was led by top-scorer Kanchan Shrestha, who remained unbeaten on 42 runs, supported by teammate Usha Bhandari’s valuable contribution of 17 runs.

Taekwondo Fighters Secure 3 Medals at Gold Coast Presidents Cup

Nepali taekwondo athletes delivered notable performances at the Australian G-3 WT President’s Cup held on the Gold Coast, winning 3 international medals. The national men’s under-30 team, comprising martial artists Manoj Shrestha, Shishir Shrestha, and Paras Bhandari, secured a bronze medal in the collective Poomsae discipline. In the individual under-40 Poomsae category, Jit Bahadur Bote clinched a silver medal for the national delegation. Former 13th South Asian Games (SAG) gold medalist Kamal Shrestha claimed an additional bronze medal, while Ashok Khadka and Bablu Shivakoti served as official international referees.

US-Iran talks postponed as Switzerland keeps mediation offer open

Planned talks involving the United States, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed, according to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, which said it remains ready to facilitate negotiations. The announcement came as the White House confirmed US Vice President JD Vance would not travel to Switzerland because discussions have yet to be finalized. Meanwhile, regional tensions persisted after Israeli forces reportedly struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Vance said oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have rebounded, reaching 12.5 million barrels per day following a US-backed peace initiative involving Iran, contributing to lower oil and fuel prices. Switzerland said preparations for future talks are continuing.

More than 60,000 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims return home

A total of 60,588 Bangladeshi pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Hajj, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. The ministry reported that 54 pilgrims died during this year’s pilgrimage, including 36 men and 18 women, with most deaths occurring in Makkah. Of the returnees, 4,319 traveled under government arrangements and 56,269 through private agencies. National carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines transported the largest number of pilgrims, followed by Saudi Airlines and Flynas. Authorities said healthcare services remain active in Saudi Arabia, with more than 66,000 e-prescriptions issued. Repatriation flights will continue until June 30.

China Tightens ‘Indium’ Exports

China’s increased checks on ‘Indium’ exports have raised concerns among global buyers about the potential for tighter export controls on this strategically important metal. Indium is widely used in displays, solder, and advanced optical chips that power next-generation AI data centers. China produces nearly 70 percent of global supply, giving it a dominant position in the market. According to media reports, some overseas buyers have recently faced more detailed customs reviews. European buyers have revealed that Chinese authorities requested end-user information for the first time, while a North American buyer reported slower export approvals due to additional documentation requirements. Although no shipments have been blocked and indium metal remains outside China’s export-control regime, industry participants fear the additional scrutiny could signal future restrictions. The concerns come after Beijing placed indium phosphide, a key material used in high-speed optical chips, under export controls in 2025. The United States has already identified indium as a potential supply-chain vulnerability and is seeking to build strategic stockpiles of the metal.