Nepal News Evening Briefing | Thursday, May 1, 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.

Oli-Deuba Hold Talks at Singha Durbar: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba have held a meeting. According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, discussions are currently underway at the Prime Minister’s Office located in Singha Durbar.Earlier, it was reported that Maoist Centre Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) was also invited to the meeting, but it has been understood that he did not attend despite the invitation.

PM Oli Claims ‘Mount Everest’ Has No Connection to Sagarmatha: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has controversially stated that Sagarmatha, the world’s tallest mountain, has no relation to the name “Mount Everest.” Speaking at the Koshi Province Investment Summit that began in Biratnagar on Thursday, he said that the association between Sagarmatha and the British name “Mount Everest” is baseless. “The name Mount Everest was given after a British man named Everest. That person had actually calculated that Lhotse—not Sagarmatha—was taller,” Oli remarked. “So why was the highest peak named after him? It’s completely illogical.”

BJP’s Foreign Affairs Head Chauthaiwale Meets Nepal’s Political Heavyweights: Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the Foreign Affairs Department of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is currently in Kathmandu on an unofficial visit, where he has held a series of one-on-one meetings with prominent Nepali political leaders from across the spectrum. Dr. Chauthaiwale met former Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, for a courtesy call on Thursday. The meeting touched upon bilateral relations, regional developments, and party-to-party ties between the BJP and Nepal’s left-leaning parties. In addition to Prachanda, Dr. Chauthaiwale also held separate meetings with senior leaders including Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist); Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, senior Maoist Centre leader and former Finance Minister; and prominent Nepali Congress leaders Dr. Shekhar Koirala and Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat.

Resham Chaudhary’s Arrest Puts Unity Between Janamat and NUP in Uncertainty: The unity process between Janamat and the Nagarik Unmukti Party has become uncertain following the arrest of Resham Chaudhary. Chaudhary was released on Wednesday after being arrested following an unauthorized letter issued by Supreme Court official Mahiman Singh Bisht. However, the review of the incident is still pending, and the unity process will take some more time, according to Abdul Khan, Vice President of Janamat Party. “After Resham Chaudhary’s arrest, our unity was disrupted. He has been released, but the truth of the incident has not yet been clarified. The police are investigating the staff member who sent the arrest letter. We also have to review the incident from our side. Therefore, the unity won’t happen immediately, not today or tomorrow,” Khan explained.

UML Aims for 750,000 Members Ahead of Statute Convention: The Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) has announced plans to increase its party membership to 750,000 by the time of its upcoming statute convention. Declaring this year as the “Year of Internal Party Life,” Organization Department Secretary Madhav Dhungel stated that the party aims to raise its membership to 6 percent of the total national electorate by the convention. He informed that instructions have already been issued to send updated membership details to provincial committees within the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May). “We have directed the district committees to complete both new membership drives and renewals within Baisakh and submit them to the provincial committees,” said Dhungel.

18 Vacant Seats in National Assembly to be Filled in Magh: The election to fill 18 vacant seats in the National Assembly will be held in the upcoming month of Magh. The terms of 19 members elected in the 2076 elections will end in the upcoming Falgun. Among them, one seat is held by Bamdev Gautam, who was appointed by the President. The remaining 18 seats will undergo elections. According to the National Assembly Member Election Act, an election must be held 35 days before the seat becomes vacant. The term of National Assembly members will end on 20th Falgun, and an election must be held 35 days prior to this as per legal provisions. Section 5 of the National Assembly Member Election Act specifies the procedure for determining the election date. According to subsection (1) of Section 5, the Nepal government is responsible for setting the election date, but this must be done after consulting the Election Commission.

Prachanda Talks of New Revolution, Calls for Cadres’ Readiness: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has stirred political debate once again, signaling what he called a “new revolution” during an International Labor Day event in Kathmandu. “We are preparing for a new movement, a fresh campaign, a new revolution,” he told attendees at the program organized by the All-Nepal Trade Union Federation. “The party is ready to lead—and you, the workers, must also be prepared.” Though Prachanda stopped short of detailing what this revolution entails, he referenced the recent Postal Highway campaign, claiming it reached 10 million people and revitalized party energy.

Teachers End Month-long Protest Following Agreement with Government: The teachers’ street protest, which had been ongoing for nearly a month, has come to an end today after a nine-point agreement was reached with the government. The decision to end the protest followed successful negotiations between representatives of the teachers and Education Minister Raghuji Panta on Monday. The agreement was subsequently approved by the Council of Ministers. Minister Pant announced that with the suspension of all protest activities, student enrollment will begin without delay, and schools—closed for almost a month—will resume normal operations. He added that the government’s commitment to addressing the teachers’ key concerns led to the complete withdrawal of their protest programs.

School Staff Reject 9-Point Agreement Between Govt and Teachers: The Nepal School Staff Council has publicly rejected the recent nine-point agreement signed between the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, sparking fresh divisions among stakeholders involved in the month-long protest. The rejection was announced through a joint statement issued by Council Chairperson Gangaram Tiwari and General Secretary Shantinath Yogi. The Council, which represents school administrative and support staff, said it had not been consulted during the negotiation process, and strongly objected to the outcomes of the deal. According to Yogi, the agreement was reached on the 29th day of the ongoing protest movement, following the Federation’s announcement of a second phase of street demonstrations. The Council, however, criticized the Federation’s abrupt decision to withdraw its agitation after the agreement, saying it betrayed the collective demands of all school-level employees.

Madhav Nepal Says Constitution Amendment Not a Government Priority: Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal has stated that constitutional amendment is not a priority for the current government. Speaking at an event in Kathmandu on Thursday to mark May Day, Nepal criticized the ruling coalition of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, saying that despite coming to power with promises of amending the constitution, they have failed to prioritize the issue. He accused the government of backing away from its earlier commitment to amend the constitution by 2087 B.S. “Generally, after a constitution is implemented, a review is necessary after ten years of practice,” he said. “We promulgated the constitution in 2072 B.S., and it ensured fundamental rights for the people. But a comprehensive evaluation is still needed.”

Foreign Minister Rana Commits to Implementing Rights of NRNs: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has expressed the government’s commitment to implementing the constitutional rights granted to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). She made the statement during a program titled “Nepalis in Diaspora: Government’s Responsibility and Role of Coordination Committees,” organized by the Nepali Congress’s Department of Nepal People’s Coordination Committee at the party’s central office on Thursday. Dr. Rana highlighted that with a stable government in place, it has become easier to implement the rights granted by the Constitution. She acknowledged the delay in distributing NRN cards but assured that the government is now fully committed to resolving this issue.

136th International Workers’ Day Marked: On the occasion of the 136th International Workers’ Day (May Day) 2082, the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) organized a rally on Thursday. The rally began from Bhrikutimandap and proceeded through Sundhara and Ratnapark before concluding back at Bhrikutimandap in a mass assembly. May Day is observed globally on May 1 each year to honor the professional dignity and rights of workers. It serves as a reminder of the hard-won labor rights and as a platform to pressure governments and employers for the continued protection and promotion of workers’ interests.

Hridayendra Shah Breaks Silence with Message of National Unity: Former Prince Hridayendra Shah, the grandson of former King Gyanendra Shah and son of former Crown Prince Paras Shah and former Crown Princess Himani Shah, is known for his quiet presence and low public profile. He unexpectedly entered the national conversation after actress Suraksha Panta casually suggested he should act in a film. What began as a light-hearted comment quickly snowballed, drawing reactions from royalists and even Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who warned Hridayendra not to “dream of becoming king.” In a rare move, the 22-year-old royal, currently studying for his master’s degree in Boston, took to Instagram with a composed response: “Sometimes it is more difficult to be true and real than to play a role in a film… Let’s spread kindness. Nepalis should support one another—not tear each other down.”

PM Inaugurates First Koshi Investment Summit, Calls for Investment in The Province: Koshi Province has organized its first-ever provincial investment summit starting Thursday in Biratnagar. The provincial government has set an ambitious target to attract investments worth nearly Rs 180 billion by showcasing 71 projects across sectors such as tourism, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and health. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the summit at the Birendra Sabha Griha. Inaugurating the Summit, Prime Minister Oli said Koshi Province offers a favorable environment for investment in all sectors. He highlighted that legal reforms have been made to ease investment and emphasized the government’s support for entrepreneurship. “Seek out entrepreneurship; the government is with you,” he said.

Nepal Rastra Bank Without Full-Time Governor for 23 Days: Nepal Rastra Bank has been under the acting leadership of Deputy Governor Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina for the past 23 days. Since the retirement of Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari at the end of his five-year term on Chaitra 24, political parties have failed to reach consensus on appointing a new governor, despite several negotiations and behind-the-scenes maneuverings. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel appointed Dr. Timsina as acting governor on Chaitra 25 under Section 27 of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act. However, legal experts say this provision does not explicitly authorize appointment of an acting governor in case of normal term completion. Amid the deadlock, concerns are rising about the central bank’s daily operations and regulatory effectiveness being undermined due to the vacancy at the top.

IFC and FNCCI Discuss Collaboration: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) have held discussions on matters of Nepal’s economic development, employment and mutual collaboration. IFC South Asia Region Head Gregory Smith and FNCCI Vice President Hem Raj Dhakal discussed mutual partnership and coordination between the two organizations. The meeting took place at FNCCI Secretariat. IFC’s Smith said that IFC is ready to collaborate with the FNCCI for Nepal’s economic development. He said the IFC would cooperate in knowledge-related partnerships, capacity building of small and medium enterprises and ensuring meaningful employment avenues for the youth in order to strengthen Nepal’s private sector.

NEA to Import Additional 600 MW Electricity from India: The Nepal Electricity Authority has been granted permission to import electricity from India for up to 15 hours a day. Previously, the authority had been importing electricity for 12 hours daily, but starting from Thursday, they are allowed to import for 15 hours. The Indian government has given Nepal Electricity Authority additional approval to import 600 megawatts of electricity from the Muzaffarpur- Dalkebar line from 2 AM to 5 PM. Previously, the approval was only for a period from 6 AM to 5 PM, known as solar hours. India had already granted permission for the import of 654 megawatts of electricity, with 600 megawatts from the 400 kV Dalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line and 54 megawatts from the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar line. However, due to rising electricity demand within India itself, Nepal had not been receiving the full requested amount. Now, Nepal has been granted permission to purchase 600 megawatts of electricity for 15 hours daily.

Filming of Nepali Movie Maitighar Begins in Myagdi: The shooting of the movie Maitighar has officially begun. On Thursday, filming started with a traditional inauguration ceremony in Takam village of Myagdi. Producer Rohit Adhikari informed that the auspicious beginning (puja) of the film took place at the local Ganesh Temple. According to him, the film will be shot in Takam and Dharapani villages for 20 days, with the remaining 20 days of filming to take place in Tatopani area of Darbang. Chairperson of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality, Prem Prasad Pun, attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Expressing happiness that a film was being shot in the village for the first time, he remarked that Maitighar would play an important role in promoting tourism in the region.

Actor Ramesh Upreti Returns to Films with Maharajadhiraj After 8 Years: Actor Ramesh Upreti is set to make a comeback in the film Maharajadhiraj after eight years. He was last seen in the 2017 movie Aishwarya. According to the production team, Upreti has been signed for the lead role in the film. Although he remained in Nepal during this period, he did not act in films, appearing only in a few music videos. Maharajadhiraj is being directed by Parichhed Sen, who previously directed Premganj. The film is scheduled to release during the upcoming Dashain festival on Phulpati. A poster released earlier featured actor Pal Shah in two contrasting looks—one nude seated on a throne, and the other in royal attire wearing a crown and holding a scepter. The female lead is yet to be finalized.

Poster of Upcoming Comedy Film Jante Bakhro Unveiled: The official poster for the film Jante Bakhro, which is set to release on Jestha 23 (early June), has been made public. Combining comedy, mystery, rural themes, and contemporary issues, the poster features the film’s entire lead cast. A prominently featured goat wearing pink sunglasses appears in the foreground, surrounded by various characters. Their expressions hint at a thrilling plot with humorous twists. The poster was designed by Royal Bhimsen and the Trident Concept Team. Actors Saugat Malla, Garima Sharma, Asif Shah, Lokendra Lekhak, Bishal Pahari, Kamal Devkota, and Rusha Neupane are among the featured cast. The central placement of the goat suggests that the film may revolve around a mysterious and comedic storyline involving the animal.

Nepal Police Club Reaches MM Cup Final, to Face Tribhuvan Army Club: Nepal Police Club has secured a place in the final of the ongoing MM Cup One-Day National Cricket Tournament in Biratnagar. In the final group-stage match on Thursday, Police defeated Assam Cricket Club from India, confirming their spot in the final against fellow departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club. Police topped Group ‘B’, while Assam and Koshi Province were eliminated. Tribhuvan Army Club, as the winner of Group ‘A’, had already booked their place in the final. The championship match will take place on Saturday at 9 AM, with Tribhuvan Army Club facing Nepal Police Club for the title.

Nominations Announced for 9th Pokhara Sports Awards: The Gandaki chapter of the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum has announced the nominations for the ninth edition of the annual Pokhara Sports Awards. The nominations for four categories were made public during a press conference on Wednesday. These categories include Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Emerging Player, and Best Coach. Each category features three nominees. In the Best Male Athlete category, the contenders are Bishwas Adhikari from Nawalpur representing volleyball, Pradeep Khadka from Kaski in tennis, and Sumit Shrestha from Kaski representing football. For the Best Female Athlete category, the nominees are Aruna Shahi from Kaski in volleyball, Kripa Gurung from Syangja in fencing, and Sushmita Thapa Magar from Baglung, who has competed in ITF taekwondo and Muay Thai.

Nepal Women’s Roller Derby Team Returns from India After Training for Asian Championship: The Nepali women’s national roller derby team has returned to Kathmandu after a 10-day training camp in Punjab, India, as part of their preparation for the 20th Asian Roller-Skating Championship, scheduled to be held from July 1 to 3 in Incheon City, South Korea. The team had participated in a closed training camp from April 18 to 28. While preparing in Nepal for the past six months, the team traveled to India for further intensive training ahead of the continental competition. According to head coach Dilipraj Baral, the women’s roller derby team is being co-sponsored by Yeti Airlines. Coach Baral expressed confidence that Nepal’s roller derby squad has the potential to win a medal in the Asian Championship, adding that roller skating holds great promise as a sport in Nepal.

Pakistan Army Chief’s Kashmir Remarks Cause Anger in India: Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, is not known for seeking the spotlight. Yet in recent weeks, it has found him – not only in Pakistan, but across the border in India and in diplomatic capitals far beyond. His remarks on Kashmir – made just days before a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir which killed 26 people – have reignited a debate over Pakistan’s military stance and its role in rising regional tensions. Kashmir, which India and Pakistan claim in full but administer only in part, has been a flashpoint between the countries since they were partitioned in 1947. Though not directly linked to the violence, Gen Munir’s words have been dissected and interpreted as a shift towards a more confrontational tone, both from him and the institution he leads

Russia Launches Deadly Drone Attack on Odesa, Governor Says: Russian drones have killed at least two people and injured another five in a sustained attack on the Ukrainian city of Odesa, the governor of the region has said. Residential high-rise buildings, a supermarket and school were damaged, Oleh Kiper posted on Telegram. Elsewhere in Ukraine, the mayor of Kharkiv said a drone had struck a petrol station in the city centre, and explosions were also heard in the city of Sumy. Russia has not yet commented on the attacks. Residential buildings were damaged in the attack, the governor said “The enemy is attacking Odesa with strike drones. There is considerable damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly dwellings,” Kiper posted, before later confirming the casualties.

US, Ukraine Sign Rare Earth Minerals Deal: The United States and Ukraine have signed an “economic partnership agreement,” giving Washington access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in return for creating an investment fund in the country, CNN reported. Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, the US and Ukraine have been trying to sign an agreement on natural resources. The deal between the two nations comes after weeks of intense negotiations that at times became bitter and temporarily derailed US aid to Ukraine. On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department said that both nations signed the agreement. In a statement, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “As the President has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war.”