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.

HoR Begins Discussion on Annual Policy and Program:

The meeting of the House of Representatives under the Federal Parliament has commenced. The session, which began at 11 AM on Monday, is currently holding a discussion on the government’s annual policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83. Earlier in the session, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to present a proposal for discussion on the policy and program outlined by President Ram Chandra Paudel during his address to the joint session of both houses of the Federal Parliament on Friday, Baisakh 19 (May 2). According to Padma Prasad Pandey, Secretary General of the Federal Parliament, members will also present amendments related to the proposed policy and program, which will then be deliberated upon.

PM Oli and NC President Deuba Hold Talks on Vacant NRB Governor Post:

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held an extensive discussion focused on the appointment of the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), a position that has remained vacant for nearly a month. According to sources, the two top leaders met on Sunday evening for around one and a half hours, revisiting the issue of the central bank’s leadership, which has remained unresolved since Maha Prasad Adhikari retired from the post on Chaitra 24. The post of NRB Governor has been vacant since Adhikari’s departure, leaving the central bank without leadership. Prior to Deuba’s recent visit to Thailand, on Baisakh 2, there had already been a recommendation to appoint Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, the Executive Director of NRB, as the next governor.

High Court Seeks Clarification in Rabi Lamichhane Bail Case:

The Hetauda bench of the Patan High Court has asked for a clarification after Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane filed a petition to cancel a bail order issued against him. A single bench led by Justice Shanta Sedhai made the decision in connection with a case involving suspected financial irregularities at the Sahara Cooperative in Chitwan. Earlier, on Magh 24, 2081 BS (February 6, 2025), the Chitwan District Court had ordered Lamichhane to pay Rs 5.4 million as bail. He paid the amount the same day and was released. Lamichhane later moved the High Court, asking it to cancel the bail order. The court has now sought clarification before making a decision.

RSP Demands Judicial Probe into Chaudhary’s Arrest:

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has demanded a judicial investigation into the arrest of Nagarik Unmukti Party’s patron Resham Chaudhary. Speaking during Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, RSP lawmaker Shiva Nepali raised this demand. “I call for a judicial investigation concerning the arrest of Resham Chaudhary, the founder of the Nagarik Unmukti Party,” he said. On Baisakh 17 (April 30), a unification between the Nagarik Unmukti Party and the Janamat Party had been scheduled. Chaudhary was arrested at Pragya Bhawan while attending the unification announcement event. The RSP has insisted that a judicial probe should be conducted into the incident.

Speaker Issues Ruling for Diplomatic Action over Prisha’s Death at KIIT:

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has issued a ruling directing the government to initiate high-level diplomatic dialogue with India regarding the death of Nepali student Prisa Shah at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. The issue was raised during the zero hour of the House of Representatives session on Monday by several lawmakers. Following the discussion, Speaker Ghimire made the ruling. Shah was found dead, reportedly by hanging. Speaker Ghimire said the incident has drawn serious attention from the Parliament.

Two-thirds Majority Government Leading to Misgovernance, Claims Prachanda:

Chairman of the main opposition party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda,” has stated that the two-thirds majority government has only delivered misgovernance.  Speaking during the discussion on the policy and program in the House of Representatives today, Prachanda made this remark. “With the arrogance of a two-thirds majority, this government is riding on the horse of misgovernance and appears to be fulfilling only formalities,” he said.  “This government has failed to address public discontent and the complexities of the economy,” he added.  Prachanda also criticized the government’s policy and program for failing to spark enthusiasm even within the ruling party.

Sudurpaschim CM Shah Calls on UP Counterpart Adityanath: 

On the final day of his official visit to India, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah paid a courtesy call on his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath. The meeting took place at the official residence of the Chief Minister in Lucknow. According to CM Shah’s Secretariat, the two leaders held discussions on various matters, including strengthening bilateral ties and mutual cooperation. Invited by the Government of India, CM Shah has been leading a 10-member delegation on the visit that began on Baisakh 16.  The team toured Delhi, Dehradun, and Lucknow. During the trip, CM Shah also met with his counterpart in Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, and other ministers.

Police Baton-Charge Youths Protesting at EPS Korea Office in Gwarko:

Police have baton-charged youths staging a sit-in protest at the EPS Korea Branch of the Department of Foreign Employment in Gwarko, Lalitpur. The youths were protesting with the demand that they be allowed to go to South Korea for employment. According to a participant in the demonstration, police used force to disperse them. During the incident, police also reportedly mistreated journalists present at the scene. Journalists attempting to take photos of the protest claimed they were warned not to take pictures and were threatened with detention if they did not comply. Despite passing the Korean language test 18 months ago, many of them have not yet been able to go to Korea. They have been staging a sit-in for the past three days to pressure the government to act.

Koirala Slams Government for Failing to Implement Seven-Point Deal with UML:

Ruling Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has criticized the government for failing to implement the seven-point agreement made with the CPN-UML. Speaking briefly to journalists at the Federal Parliament premises on Monday, Koirala remarked, “This government was formed based on a seven-point agreement. But it has failed to deliver on its promises—constitutional review, economic reforms, ending corruption and impunity, and ensuring good governance.” He stressed the need for a broader, inclusive constitutional review process involving all parties represented in Parliament and other stakeholders. Koirala also claimed there were no internal issues within his party regarding the current government.

Royalist Joint People’s Movement Committee Announces New Protest Drive:

The Joint People’s Movement Committee, formed to reinstate the monarchy, has announced it will soon launch a fresh round of protests. A meeting held Monday at Navadurga Party Palace in Sukedhara, Kathmandu, made the official decision to mobilize. On Chaitra 15 (March 28), a royalist group had organized a protest at Tinkune, Kathmandu, demanding the restoration of the monarchy. During that protest, two people, including a journalist, lost their lives. The police had arrested protest leaders Durga Prasai, Rabindra Mishra, and Dhawal Shamsher Rana, accusing them of engaging in unlawful activities. Among those arrested, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) General Secretary Rana has been released on bail, while RPP Vice Chair Rabindra Mishra remains in police custody.

APF Increase Vigilance at Border to Prevent Illegal Crossings:

The Armed Police Force has increased its activities in the border area to prevent illegal border crossings. To achieve this, the force has intensified 24-hour border patrols and strictly maintained a record of people moving across the border. To make border security more effective and prevent any potential illegal movements, discussions, meetings, and interactions with local leaders from the border areas have been prioritized, according to Armed Police Force spokesperson DSP Shailendra Thapa. Additionally, the Armed Police Force is strictly conducting checks on documents and questioning individuals crossing the border as per the necessity, Thapa added.

Two Boys Drown to Death in Nawalpur:

Two boys have drowned while swimming in Nawalpur. According to the District Police Office, the incident took place in the Jukti stream at Keladi, Ward No. 3 of Gaindakot Municipality. The deceased have been identified as 16-year-old Pramishan Pathak of Bharatpur Metropolitan City–8 and 16-year-old Shishir Panta of Ward No. 4, Dharma Chowk, police spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhu Nepal confirmed.

Thunderstorm Traps Eight in Phewa Lake, All Rescued:

Eight people stranded in Phewa Lake due to a sudden thunderstorm and rain on Monday afternoon have been rescued. A team from the Armed Police Force’s Kalika Battalion in Kaski carried out the rescue operation. According to Battalion Chief, Armed Police Force DSP Surya Timilsina, two individuals who had fallen directly into the lake—22-year-old Resham Thapa from Chitwan and 21-year-old Bijay Sunar from Lakeside, Pokhara-6—were rescued safely. “We rescued both who had fallen directly into the lake,” he said. “We also rescued six others who were stranded near the lake shore.” On the same afternoon, the body of a youth who went missing while swimming in the Seti River was recovered. The Armed Police Force’s diving team retrieved the body of 18-year-old Yubaraj BK, a resident of Ward 14, Majheripatan, Pokhara Metropolitan City, originally from Nisikhola Rural Municipality Ward 3, Baglung.

Teriya Magar to Host ‘Mero Dance Universe Season 2’ on Nepal Television:

Teriya Phouja Magar, who won Dance India Dance Little Masters Season 3 in 2014 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 9 in 2017, is set to appear as the host of the dance reality show “Mero Dance Universe Season 2,” which will be broadcast on Nepal Television. This global show, organized by the Intra National Welfare and Support Foundation of America, will begin airing from Sunday. Talents of Nepali origin from 23 countries around the world are participating. The show will be aired every Sunday and Monday at 8:50 PM. The show will also be streamed simultaneously on the Foundation’s official YouTube channel, according to Executive Director Chudamani Bhattarai.

Actor Raj Katuwal Set to Appear as Action Hero in ‘Narsimha: Avatar’:

Actor Raj Katuwal will be seen in an action role in the upcoming Nepali film Narsimha: Avatar, which is scheduled to release on Jestha 9. Action films regained popularity in Nepal last year, and the production team believes that Narsimha: Avatar will join the list of successful action movies. Raj has prepared extensively for this role, transforming his physique and undergoing mixed martial arts training. “I’m appearing with the determination to prove my capability,” Raj shared. “Even though I’ve been in this field for 15 years, I never truly reflected on my potential. Perhaps it was the naivety of youth. This time, I’ve embraced the challenge of acting head-on.”

Niti Shah Wins Best Debut Actress Award in New York:

Actress Niti Shah has won the Best Debut Actress Award at the 8848 Himalaya Music and Film Awards held in New York, USA. The award ceremony took place on Monday morning (Nepali time) at the Melrose Ballroom in New York. Niti received the award for her role in Jwai Saab, which was released during the Dashain festival. Actress Pooja Chand presented the award to Niti. “This award has inspired me to pursue my acting career with renewed energy and dedication,” Niti said from New York. Veteran actor Rajesh Hamal and musician Shambhujeet Baskota were the chief guests at the ceremony. Other artists residing in the U.S. also participated. Actor Bijay Baral won Best Actor for his role in Purnabahadurko Sarangi.

Nepal to Play First Match Against Hong Kong in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier:

Nepal is set to play its first match against Hong Kong in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) released Nepal’s match schedule on Monday. According to the announcement, Nepal is placed in Group C alongside Hong Kong and Bahrain. The group stage will follow a double round-robin format, where each team plays the others twice. The Asia Qualifier will take place in Thailand from May 9 to May 20. Competing teams include host Thailand, Nepal, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Bhutan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE. The Nepali women’s cricket team, currently training in India, will depart directly for Thailand from there.

India Camp Boosted Our Confidence Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers, Says Nepal Women’s Captain Indu Barma:

Nepal national women’s cricket team captain Indu Barma has said that their training stint in India ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier has been helpful for the team. Before heading to Thailand for the Asia Qualifier, the Nepali women’s team had conducted a preparatory camp in Delhi, India, where they also played a few practice matches. Captain Indu described the India training as very positive. “The training in India was really positive. We played a few matches as well, and the team delivered some strong performances,” she said. “We’ve built a clear vision for the qualifiers in Thailand and mentally strengthened ourselves as a team.”

Army Wins National Women’s Hockey Championship:

Nepal Army won the National Women’s Hockey Championship on Monday. In the single-round Robin League, the Army secured the top spot and became the champion. The undefeated Army team collected the highest points, totaling nine. At the Chyasal ground, the Army defeated Gandaki Province 3–0 in the final league match, which was considered a final match.  Damara Bhatta scored two goals, and Sita Maya Bal scored one goal for the Army.   Damara was named the ‘Player of the Match’ in the final. Gandaki Province, with two wins and one loss, secured second place with six points. Madhesh Province secured third place with three points in the competition organized by the Nepal Hockey Association. Madhesh defeated Bagmati Province 1–0, with Bhawana Rai scoring the decisive goal.

Gaza Civil Defence Says 19 Killed in Israeli Strikes:

Gaza’s civil defence agency said two Israeli air strikes killed at least 19 people in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory’s north early Monday. “Our teams found 15 martyrs and 10 wounded, mostly children and women, after an Israeli strike on three apartments” northwest of Gaza City, said the agency’s spokesman, Mahmud Bassal. Four other people were killed and four wounded in a strike on a house in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza City, he told AFP. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the reported strikes. It has intensified aerial bombardments and expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip since resuming its offensive in the Palestinian territory on March 18.

Peru Kidnapping Leaves 13 Dead in Gold Mine:

Thirteen miners have been found dead inside a mine in Peru after being kidnapped several days earlier. They were working at a gold mine owned by Peruvian mining company Poderosa, which is based in Pataz province, north of the capital Lima. The victims had been sent out to confront a group of people involved in illegal mining in the area, but were kidnapped by a criminal gang which was trying to gain control of the mine. The gang kept them hostage inside a mine shaft. For a week, they sent threatening messages to the miners’ relatives. There has been a spike in criminals attacking mines in the country in the past few years.

10 Dead, Dozens Hurt After Boats Capsize in China:

Ten people have died and 70 were hospitalised after strong winds caused boats carrying tourists to capsize at a scenic spot in southwestern China, state media said Monday. The passenger boats overturned Sunday afternoon on a river in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, state broadcaster CCTV said, sending 84 people into waters. As of Monday morning, ten were dead, 70 have been hospitalised and four were unharmed, state media said. One remains missing. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” in the search and rescue operations and treatment of those injured, state news agency Xinhua said.

Trump Orders 100 Per Cent Tariff on All Movies Produced Outside US:

US President Donald Trump has announced that he has directed the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to immediately start the process of imposing a 100 per cent tariff on all movies coming into the US that are produced in other nations. He said that the movie industry in the US is “dying” a very fast death and added that other nations were offering incentives to draw the American filmmakers and studios away from the US and termed it a “national threat.