Nepal News Evening Briefing | Sunday, June 22, 2025

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.

RSP and RPP Stage Walkout Amid Ongoing Visa Scandal Protest in Parliament: Lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) walked out of the House of Representatives on Sunday, escalating their ongoing protest demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and a high-level probe into the visit visa scandal. Despite the obstruction, Speaker Devraj Ghimire proceeded with the agenda, prompting RPP to leave in protest, while RSP lawmakers, who had initially encircled the well in silence, walked out when ruling party MP Arjun Narasingh KC began speaking.

MP Amresh Kumar Singh Sparks Controversy, Suggests Leasing Out 72 Districts: Independent lawmaker Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh stirred controversy in the House of Representatives on Sunday by sarcastically proposing that Nepal should retain only five “fortunate” districts that receive the bulk of the budget, and lease the remaining 72 districts to countries like the U.S., China, and India. Speaking during discussions on the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26), Singh criticized the distribution of the national budget, alleging that it has been unfairly concentrated in five districts represented by influential politicians.

Arrest Warrant Issued for Janamat Party’s Lumbini Provincial Lawmaker Rayamajhi: An arrest warrant has been issued against Suman Sharma Raymajhi, a proportional representation member of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly from the Janamat Party. The Parsa District Court issued the warrant on Jestha 16 (May 30), but she remains absconding. Asha Kumari Chauhan from Pokhariya, Parsa, filed a complaint at the Parsa District Police Office accusing Raymajhi of banking fraud. Meanwhile, on Asar 3 (June 17), the Parsa police requested Bardiya police through an official letter to arrest and hand over Suman Sharma Rayamajhi.

NC Leader Shekhar Koirala Calls for Party General Convention by Mangsir 2083: Nepali Congress central member Dr. Shekhar Koirala has said that the party’s general convention must be held within Mangsir 2083 B.S., as scheduled. Addressing a party gathering organized by the NC Tanahun District Committee on Sunday, Dr. Koirala emphasized the importance of holding the convention on time. “I support holding the party’s general convention on the scheduled date. Delaying it any further will not benefit the party,” he said. He further stressed that the convention must take place before the 2084 general elections to ensure proper organizational preparedness.

Secretariat Meeting Set for June 25 to Discuss General Convention: The ruling CPN-UML party will hold its Secretariat meeting on Wednesday, June 25. According to Rajendra Gautam, Chief of the Publicity Department, the meeting will take place after General Secretary Shankar Pokharel returns from the United Kingdom today. Gautam said the key agenda will be decisions regarding the party’s upcoming statutory general convention, scheduled for September 5 to 7. The Secretariat will finalize the agenda, preparations, and other arrangements for the event.

Gagan Thapa Proposes Strong Probe Panel to Investigate Assets of Party Leaders: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for the party to pass a proposal to form a powerful investigation committee to examine the assets of leaders who have held responsibilities since the party came to power. Speaking at a program organized by the Nepal Student Union Dolakha-Kathmandu Contact Committee on Sunday in Kathmandu, Thapa emphasized that unless an impartial commission—free from party quotas—is established to conduct fair investigations, future generations will not trust their leadership.

Election Commissioners Disown Letter Naming Mukul Dhakal as RSP General Secretary: Commissioners at the Election Commission have claimed that the letter sent confirming Dr. Mukul Dhakal as the General Secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is not an official decision of the commission. They clarified that the party’s application submitted on Shrawan 17, 2081 (August 1, 2024), seeking updates to its office bearers and central committee members, has not been formally decided upon by the commission. Therefore, they said, the commission cannot take responsibility for the contents of the letter sent in the matter.

Two Killed, One Injured in Motorcycle Collision in Saptari: Two people died and one was injured in a motorcycle collision at the Koshi Barrage in Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality-1, Saptari. According to police, the victims were 19-year-old Asharam Mandal of Rajpur, Shambhunath Municipality-11, and 34-year-old Om Prakash Panjiyar of Bairwa, Kanchanrup Municipality-1. The accident occurred when a motorcycle (Sa 10 Pa 562) heading from Kankalini Temple to Bhaluwa collided with another motorcycle (Ba 55 Pa 6639) coming from the opposite direction, informed Madhav Prasad Kafle, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Kanchanpur Area Police Office.

Complaint Filed Against Meghraj Pokharel Proposed as Supreme Court Judge: A complaint has been lodged with the Federal Parliament’s Parliamentary Hearing Committee against senior advocate Meghraj Pokharel, who was recently proposed by the Judicial Council for appointment as a Supreme Court judge. The complaint was filed today by T.B. Karki, who argued before the committee that Pokharel is unfit to serve as a Supreme Court justice. The complaint is registered as number 21 with the committee.  Pokharel was proposed for the Supreme Court judgeship by the Judicial Council in its meeting held on June 10.

Night Traffic Resumes Along Muglin–Malekhu Section: The installation of RCC beams (girders) on four bridges along the Muglin–Malekhu road section was completed this morning, paving the way for uninterrupted night-time vehicular movement starting today. However, traffic along a section of the Prithvi Highway—from Naubise to Malekhu—will remain closed tonight and tomorrow night, as girders are yet to be placed on one remaining bridge, according to the Nagdhunga–Muglin Road Project Office. Kedar Prasad Nepal, chief of the western section of the Nagdhunga–Muglin Road Project, said that the girder placement has been completed at the Barbang, Mowa, Khatauti, and Gomati Khola bridges.

FNJ Recognizes YouTube and Social Media as Journalism Platforms: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has officially recognized platforms like YouTube and other social media as legitimate mediums of journalism. In its two-day third central meeting held in Pokhara, the FNJ acknowledged the transformative impact of the internet and technology on news dissemination. The federation emphasized that journalism practiced through digital platforms should be brought under professional journalism standards. FNJ has also urged the government to grant legal recognition and develop appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks to bring internet-based journalism under the ambit of formal media laws and standards.

Share Market Plunges Over 30 Points on First Trading Day of the Week: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell sharply by 32.93 points to close at 2,595.97 on the first trading day of the week. Trading volume was limited, with only NPR 914 million worth of shares exchanged, involving 21.5 million shares sold. Out of all listed stocks, only 23 saw price gains, while 225 shares experienced declines. Joshi Hydropower investors earned the highest profit on Sunday, with a gain of Rs 31.62 per share. Alongside, investors in Sapta Koshi Development earned Rs 50.33 per share, while those holding NIC Asia Debentures made Rs 60 per share.

NRB to Withdraw Rs 60 billion in Deposits on Monday: Nepal Rastra Bank is set to withdraw Rs 60 billion in deposits on Monday (tomorrow). Through a bidding process, the central bank plans to absorb excess liquidity from the banking system. Since the start of the current fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal Rastra Bank has been continuously withdrawing liquidity to manage the surplus funds in the banking sector. According to information provided by Nepal Rastra Bank, due to the increasing deposits, the bank is going to conduct an online auction on Monday to manage and withdraw the excess liquidity.

IPO Approval Row Escalates Between Parliamentary Committees: A dispute has erupted between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Finance Committee over IPO approvals, with PAC directing the Securities Board not to allow IPOs from companies with net worth below Rs 90 per share (December 28, 2023), while the Finance Committee (June 2) countered that such a threshold is not required by law. Though the board had halted IPOs for 1.5 years, it has since approved 12 companies meeting the threshold, yet delays persist even for eligible firms. Reaffirming its stance on June 19, PAC asked for a status report within three days, prompting the board—caught between the two panels—to seek legal advice.

Petroleum Imports Through Birgunj Border Reach Rs 174.9 billion in 11 Months: During the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, petroleum products worth Rs 174.9 billion have been imported through the Birgunj border. The imports include diesel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and furnace oil. Overall, compared to the same period last fiscal year, imports of the five types of petroleum products decreased by Rs 106 million. Although petroleum imports have declined in terms of value, revenue collected from petroleum products increased by 11.66 percent, amounting to Rs 764 million.

Nepal Still Depends Heavily on Food Imports: According to the 2021/22 agricultural census, 62 percent of Nepali households are engaged in agriculture. However, despite this, large quantities of agricultural products continue to be imported from abroad. Customs Department data clearly shows that Nepal is dependent on imports for major crops such as rice, millet, maize, buckwheat, wheat, and barley. According to official figures, in the current fiscal year 2081/82 (2024/25) up to mid-June (11 months), Nepal has spent NPR 5.758 billion on importing only rice, wheat, millet, maize, buckwheat, and barley.

Darjeeling Duo ‘Badri & Durga’ to Perform at This Month’s ‘Paleti’ Music Series: The monthly musical series ‘Paleti’, held on the last Friday of every English month at Nepalaya will feature a renowned musical duo from Darjeeling in this edition. The celebrated pair—Badri & Durga—will take the stage at this month’s Paleti. The long-running event, known for its intimate musical sessions, has been organized for over 20 years. For this performance, the duo will present some of their most popular songs along with new compositions set to the lyrics of noted songwriter Dinesh Adhikari.

Durgesh Thapa’s Song ‘Dushman Hereko Herai’ Crosses 100 million Views on YouTube: The song ‘Dushman Hereko Herai’, composed by Durgesh Thapa, has crossed 100 million views on YouTube, marking a major milestone in Nepali music. The track also appeared on YouTube’s global trending list, reflecting its massive popularity. As of Saturday night, the song had been viewed over 100 million times. It has gained significant traction not only in Nepal but also among international audiences, becoming one of the most used Nepali songs on TikTok and Reels. Such is its popularity that Indian fans even created a Hindi version of the song.

Tharu Artists Deliver Powerful Performance in Kathmandu on World Music Day: On the occasion of World Music Day, national-level Tharu artists gave vibrant and original performances at the Nepal Academy (Pragya Pratishthan) in Kamaladi, Kathmandu. The event, part of a grand national Tharu cultural program, was organized by the National Tharu Artists Forum. Artists showcased traditional songs and dances representing their respective regions, captivating the audience and celebrating Tharu identity through music and culture. The event was inaugurated by Rastriya Unmukti Party patron and former lawmaker Resham Chaudhary.

Nepal Starts Strong with Victory Over Singapore in ACC U-16 East Zone Cup: Nepal kicked off their campaign in the ACC U-16 East Zone Cup with a convincing win over Singapore at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Malaysia. Nepal successfully chased down Singapore’s target of 139 runs in 33.3 overs, losing 4 wickets in the process. For Nepal, Prasiddha Jaishi was the standout batsman, scoring a solid 55 runs off 97 balls with 5 fours. Raunak Srivastava contributed a quickfire 40 runs off 44 balls, including 5 fours and 1 six. Shubham Khanal remained unbeaten with 9 runs.

Sports Ministry Proposes Rs 8 million to ANFA for Men’s and Women’s Football Leagues: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has proposed providing Rs 8 million to the All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to organize both men’s and women’s football leagues. The ministry has allocated Rs 4 million each for the men’s and women’s leagues in the national budget. ANFA had completed the women’s league last Magh (February). This year’s annual football calendar schedules the league to begin from Bhadra 22 (September 7). The league is expected to run for three months. In the previous season, departmental team APF defeated Nepal Police Club 4-0 in the final to claim the title.

Alpha Taekwondo Dojang Dangs Tops Lumbini Province Taekwondo Championship: Alpha Taekwondo Dojang from Dang secured first place at the Lumbini Province-level Second Ramnagar Open Taekwondo Competition held in Bhumahi, West Nawalparasi. The dojang won a total of 10 medals, including 7 gold and 3 silver. Meanwhile, Butwal Dojang finished second with 2 gold and 5 silver medals, and Tilottama Dojang secured third place with 1 gold and 1 bronze medal, according to the event coordinator, Tapan Kewat.

US Strikes Three Major Nuclear Sites in Iran, Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict: In a significant escalation of the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions, the United States has launched airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities in Iran. The attacks mark a direct US military involvement in the conflict, raising concerns of a wider regional war. President Donald Trump declared the strikes “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities. He warned Tehran to “make peace” or face “far greater” attacks in the future. In retaliation, Iran’s Foreign Minister condemned the strikes as “outrageous,” warning of “everlasting consequences” for the US and its allies.

Iran Says More Than 400 Killed Since Start of Conflict with Israel : Israeli attacks on Iran over the past nine days have killed over 400 Iranians and left 3,056 others wounded, Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Iranian Health Ministry’s public relations, said on Saturday. “Among the injured, 2,220 have been treated and discharged from Ministry of Health hospitals, while 232 received outpatient care at the scene of the attacks,” Kermanpour said in a post on social media platform X. According to the health official, the majority of the casualties have been civilians, with 54 women and children among those killed in the Israeli strikes.

Hot Air Balloon Incident Kills Eight in Brazil: At least eight people have died in a hot air balloon accident in southern Brazil, the governor of Santa Catarina state has said. There were 21 people on board the balloon in the city of Praia Grande on Saturday morning, Jorginho Mello posted on X. Thirteen people, including the pilot, survived and no one is missing, the state government press office reported. Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) said it was taking “all necessary steps to investigate the condition of the aircraft and the crew”.