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.

Monsoon Trigger Flood, Waterlogging Alerts Nationwide Today

Active monsoon conditions brought light to moderate rainfall to Kathmandu Valley and several hilly districts on Monday, prompting meteorologists to warn of possible waterlogging, localized flooding, and landslides. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said the monsoon trough remains near its normal position in western Nepal but south of normal in the east. Officials expect rain to continue over the next three days, with isolated heavy rainfall possible in some hilly areas. Residents, particularly those near rivers and landslide-prone zones, have been urged to remain alert and follow weather advisories.

Speaker Makes Ruling to Government

Speaker at the House of Representatives (HoR), Dol Prasad Aryal, has ruled on the government to address the concerns raised by MPs during the emergency and zero hours of the HoR sessions. In today’s session, he emphasized, “I urge the government to provide updates on the steps taken to mitigate the loss of life and property caused by floods, landslides, and inundation across the country, along with details on disaster management and preparedness.”

National Assembly Members Raise Dalit and Inflation Concerns

Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Monday urged the government to address issues including Dalit rights, road safety, inflation, women’s employment, caste discrimination, and public transportation during zero hour. Members called for action on rising accidents, particularly on the Karnali Highway, stronger market monitoring to curb inflation, improved roads, greater support for women’s self-employment, and implementation of the government’s commitments to the Dalit community.

House to Take Up Intelligence, NRB and Heritage Bills

The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, with lawmakers set to deliberate on several key bills. Law Minister Sobita Gautam, on behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, will seek permission to introduce a bill restoring provisions of the Nepal Special Service Act. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle will propose sending the Nepal Rastra Bank (Third Amendment) Bill to committee, while Culture Minister Khadak Raj Paudel will table the Intangible Cultural Heritage Bill. Youth Minister Ramjee Yadav will also seek consideration of ILO Forced Labor Convention Protocol No. 29.

Minister Wagle, ADB President Kanda Discuss Development Cooperation

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle and Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda held talks on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to continued cooperation for Nepal’s development. The meeting took place at the finance minister’s office in the Ministry of Finance at Singha Durbar. During the meeting, Wagle thanked the ADB for its assistance and investment in Nepal’s development and requested the bank’s continued support in the years ahead. Kanda said supporting Nepal’s development remains a high priority for the ADB, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to continued cooperation.

Executes Inter-Ministerial Transfers of 15 Joint Secretaries

The Cabinet of the government approved the structural reorganization and transfer of 15 senior Joint Secretaries across multiple federal ministries and provincial executive bodies. The institutional shakeup reassigned top administrative roles, including the executive chiefs of both the Inland Revenue Department and the Department of Customs. The civil service reshuffle redirected senior personnel from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Youth, Labor, and Employment to fill vacant provincial secretary positions inside Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Madhesh Province, and Koshi Province. Additional lateral shifts altered administrative teams within the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Health and Food Cleanliness, and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Nepal Climbs to 164th in the Global Passport Index 2026

In the Global Passport Index 2026 published by Global Citizen Solutions Nepal climbed two places from last year to rank 164th. Unlike traditional passport rankings that primarily measure visa-free access, the index evaluates passports across 14 indicators, assigning 50 percent weight to global mobility and 25 percent each to investment opportunities and quality of life. The assessment is based on data from organizations including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Sustainable Development Report. According to the report, Nepali passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 10 countries, including India, Palestine, Dominica, Micronesia, Haiti, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Singapore. However, prior visas remain mandatory for travel to about 107 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and Japan. Among South Asian countries, Maldives ranked 107th, India 125th, Bhutan 132nd, Sri Lanka 141st, Nepal 164th, Pakistan 188th, and Afghanistan remained last at 197th. China was ranked 104th in the index.

Minister Yadav says Domestic Job Creation Remains Government’s Top Priority

Youth, Labor, and Employment Minister Ramjee Yadav on Monday said the government has placed domestic job creation at the center of its employment policy, alongside efforts to make foreign employment safer and more dignified. Speaking during discussions on the Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly, he said labor inspections were conducted at 1,321 workplaces in the past 100 days, recovering over Rs 44 million through fines and settlements linked to labor rights violations. Yadav added that a draft of the National Employment Policy, 2026, is in its final stage, while Nepal’s first Care Economy Policy is also being prepared. He further said authorities resolved 1,004 foreign employment complaints in the past three months, securing Rs 300.7 million in compensation for victims.

Minister Timilsina Pledges Transparent Budget Spending

Communication and Information Technology Minister Bikram Timilsina on Monday pledged that every taxpayer-funded rupee would be spent transparently and in line with fiscal discipline. Responding to lawmakers in the National Assembly, he said the government aims to develop the Security Printing Center into a self-reliant institution, noting it has produced 2.4 million smart driving licenses and 3.5 million postage stamps this fiscal year. He added that strengthening communication infrastructure remains a government priority.

Sampang Urges Cautious Constitutional Amendments

Shram Sanskriti Party Chair Harka Sampang on Monday said constitutional amendments should preserve the Constitution’s core structure and avoid unnecessary changes. Addressing the House of Representatives, he welcomed the government’s efforts on good governance and corruption control while urging faster construction of the Darchula-Tinker Road, early distribution of land ownership certificates to squatters, and the upgrade of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences into a university with more decentralized health services.

Angdambe Questions Source of PM Balen’s Declared Assets in HoR

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bhishma Raj Angdambe on Monday questioned the source of Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen)’s declared assets, particularly his reported gold holdings. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Angdambe said he supports the government’s anti-corruption campaign but stressed that all public office holders, including himself and the prime minister, should be subject to impartial asset investigations and publicly disclose the sources of their wealth.

Lawmakers Prasai presses Home Minister Gurung

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Ramesh Prasai on Monday urged Home Minister to explain the government’s long-term strategy to prevent recurring fatal accidents on the Karnali Highway, saying the state cannot evade its responsibility to protect citizens’ lives. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Prasai asked the Speaker to direct the home minister to respond in Parliament, arguing that repeated tragedies on the highway have been reduced to routine news and require a lasting policy response.

Basana Thapa, Gyan Bahadur Shahi Question Delayed Rescue After Karnali Crash

Nepali Congress Chief Whip Basana Thapa and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Parliamentary Party Leader Gyan Bahadur Shahi on Monday urged the government to explain the delayed rescue response following the recent vehicle accident on the Karnali Highway. Speaking during the House of Representatives meeting, Thapa said timely rescue was not carried out after the bus traveling from Surkhet to Kalikot met with an accident. She also criticized the government for failing to disclose the full facts of the incident despite several days having passed and called for the upgrading of the Karnali Highway. Shahi accused the government of neglecting the people of Karnali, saying ministers travel by helicopter while the state remains absent during disasters. He demanded that the government clarify the reasons behind the delayed search and rescue operation, make the findings public, and pay greater attention to the needs of citizens in remote areas.

NC Rival Faction Opens Office for 15th General Convention

A dissident faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) on Monday launched preparations for the party’s 15th General Convention by opening a contact office in Chundevi, Kathmandu. Leader Min Bishwakarma said the group discussed convention preparations and concluded that efforts to prevent a party split had failed due to the establishment faction’s stance. The faction will meet again on July 7 to finalize the convention timetable and programs for BP Memorial Day, saying the office aims to promote a “general convention of unity.”

Baburam Bhattarai Calls for Generational Leadership Shift

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Monday called for transferring the experience of older generations to younger leaders, saying it is vital for Nepal’s long-term development. Speaking at a book launch in Kathmandu, he stressed political stability, good governance, and better use of human and natural resources. Bhattarai said political parties must evolve with new ideas and younger leadership, adding that development proposals put forward by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) should be adopted as national policy with support from major parties.

US Returns 2 Stolen Cultural Artifacts to Nepal

The United States returned two historic Nepali cultural artifacts, a 13th-century gilt bronze Padmapani and a 16th-century polychromed wooden Nrityadevi, during a repatriation ceremony hosted by Nepal’s Department of Archaeology on Monday. According to the US Embassy in Nepal, the repatriation reflects years of cooperation between Nepal and the United States to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property. The embassy said the recently enacted US-Nepal Cultural Property Agreement will strengthen collaboration on investigations, trafficking prevention and the protection of Nepal’s cultural heritage. The embassy said 127 Nepali antiquities have now been returned from the United States to Nepal, with the latest repatriation marking another step in bilateral efforts to recover and preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

We are Committed to Right to Health: Health Minister

Health and Food Safety Minister Nisha Mehta on Monday said the government is committed to effectively implementing the constitutional right to health, announcing a Rs 96.377 billion allocation for the health sector in the 2026/27 fiscal year. Responding to lawmakers during discussion on the Appropriation Bill, 2026 in the National Assembly, Mehta said the government will gradually increase health spending in line with the National Health Financing Strategy. She said basic hospitals have been completed in 109 local units, with 336 more under construction, while more than Rs 23 billion has already been paid under the national health insurance program. The minister also said the government is promoting domestic production of free essential medicines, enforcing the provision requiring private hospitals to reserve 10 percent of beds for free treatment, and making electronic attendance mandatory in all federal hospitals to improve service delivery and accountability.

FDB Publishes Latest Box Office Figures, ‘Lalibazar’ Leads Collections

The Film Development Board (FDB) on Monday published the latest box office figures, with Lalibazar leading domestic collections after grossing more than Rs 93.2 million. According to the board, Lalibazar has sold 317,012 tickets and recently completed 51 days in theaters. ‘Roll No. 1’ has grossed over Rs 17.4 million from 69,166 ticket sales, while ‘I Am Jit Bahadur’ has earned Rs 3.1 million after selling 97,042 tickets. Meanwhile, ‘Jaand,’ which was released on June 26, has recorded a weak box office performance, grossing only Rs 116,645 from the sale of 569 tickets, according to the board.

Sarina Ghale Wins Gold at WMAC British Championship

Nepali Wuma Kung Fu athlete Sarina Ghale won a gold medal at the WMAC British Championship, claiming the women’s creative form title in the 18 years and above mixed belt category. According to Nepal Wuma Kung Fu Association President Sanjit Kumar Rai, Ghale secured the title in Worcester, United Kingdom, with a score of 22.9, narrowly defeating England’s Amelia Parkin, who finished with 22.8. Ghale, who moved to the United Kingdom about two years ago for higher studies, has continued competing while pursuing her education. She has completed a Master of Science in digital marketing and has also participated in several races, including the London Marathon. Rai said Ghale is now preparing to compete in the WMAC World Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in Austria in September.

Auction for 3rd Edition of NPL Began Today

The player auction for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has officially commenced. According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), each franchise team will be permitted to sign two additional Nepali players through this auction. Out of the 155 players who made it to the final shortlist for the auction, 52 players will secure spots with various franchise teams.

23 Ballistic Missiles Hit Kyiv, 21 Killed, Ukraine Cites Interceptor Shortage

Ukraine cites a critical shortage of interceptor missiles prevented its air defenses from stopping any of the 23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia during a major overnight attack on Kyiv, which killed at least 15 people in the capital and six more in the surrounding region. While Ukrainian forces intercepted most cruise missiles and drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to approve stronger air defense support at this week’s NATO summit, warning that Russia will continue targeting residential areas unless additional Patriot missile systems are supplied.

Italy Defends US Ties After Trump Renews Swipe at Meloni

Italy’s government reaffirmed the importance of maintaining strong ties with the United States after President Donald Trump reignited his public feud with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting a mocking image of her on social media ahead of this week’s NATO summit. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said relations with Washington remain a priority regardless of political disputes. Opposition leader Carlo Calenda condemned Trump’s remarks, while Meloni has not publicly responded. Once a close Trump ally, Meloni has recently criticized him over several international issues, reflecting growing tensions between the two leaders.

Microsoft to Cut About 4,800 Jobs Amid AI Spending Push

Microsoft will cut around 4,800 jobs, or about 2.1 percent of its global workforce, as it continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) while seeking to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The layoffs follow voluntary buyout offers made earlier this year and come after the company’s weakest first-half stock performance since 2022. Despite strong growth in its Azure cloud business driven by AI demand, Microsoft has projected USD 190 billion in spending for 2026, increasing pressure to improve profitability. The company is also reviewing its Xbox gaming business after declining margins and weakening revenue.