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.

Air India Flight AI171: 242 Onboard Confirmed Dead After Crash: An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick crashed shorty after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, killing all 242 people on board, Indian media have reported. Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 aircraft, lost control just minutes after departing. Eyewitnesses described a fiery descent followed by a massive explosion as the aircraft slammed into a doctors’ hostel located near the airport premises.

PM Oli Emphasizes Modernizing Education for Employability and Self-Reliance: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed the need for a fundamental transformation of education to make it technology-driven, practical, and employment-oriented. Speaking at the 99th meeting of Kathmandu University’s assembly held at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar, on Thursday, PM Oli—who also serves as the university’s chancellor—highlighted the importance of producing a skilled workforce capable of creating jobs and engaging in self-employment. He appreciated the positive efforts Kathmandu University has made toward this goal.

Mayor Balen Shah Faces Graft Complaint Over Rs 10 million Lift Purchase: A formal complaint has been lodged at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah, alleging serious irregularities in the procurement of a newly installed lift at the municipal office. The complaint, filed on Thursday by Yubaraj Saphal, claims that the lift—worth nearly Rs 10 million—was procured without adhering to standard procedures mandated by Nepal’s public procurement laws. Saphal has alleged that the process bypassed key steps such as competitive bidding, public tender notices, and quotation collection.

Opposition Parties United on Forming Probe Committee in Visit Visa Case: Opposition parties have come together on the issue of forming a probe committee regarding the visit visa scandal. Manish Jha, Acting Spokesperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), informed that opposition parties are united on the formation of the committee. “All opposition parties currently in the federal parliament have reached a consensus to form a probe committee to permanently eliminate ‘organized crime of human trafficking through visit visas,’” said Acting Spokesperson Jha.

Speaker Ghimire Reminds NC-Maoist Chairman Prachanda About TRC Bill: Speaker of the Parliament, Devaraj Ghimire, reminded CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ about the TRC Bill. During their meeting on Thursday, Speaker Ghimire recalled that the TRC Bill had been passed by consensus and urged Prachanda to play a role in ending the ongoing parliamentary deadlock. Reminding Prachanda about the TRC Bill, Speaker Ghimire emphasized the need to open the House to discuss various bills, including the budget.

KMC Executive Meeting Likely Soon as Mayor, Deputy Mayor Reconcile: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has agreed to convene the long-delayed executive meeting and municipal assembly after holding a discussion with Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol and three ward chairs on Wednesday at Kathmandu Plaza. The meeting marked the first direct communication between the mayor and deputy mayor in over two months, following a period of heightened tensions and institutional deadlock. The discussion included Ward-17 Chair Nabin Manandhar, Ward-32 Chair Nabaraj Parajuli, and Ward-15 Chair Ishwarman Dangol.

UML Leader Sherdhan Rai Denies ex-Prez Bidya Bhandari’s Political Comeback: CPN-UML Standing Committee member and Koshi Province in-charge Sherdhan Rai has dismissed recent media reports suggesting that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari intends to return to active politics. Speaking at a press conference organized by Press Chautari Nepal, Rai clarified that Bhandari has not expressed any such intention to him despite their regular communication. Rai emphasized that rumors of Bhandari contesting for the party’s top leadership are unfounded and misleading.

High Court Judge Who Acquitted Aftab Alam Smeared with Black Soot: Judge Dr. Khushiram Tharu of the Birgunj branch of Janakpur High Court was publicly humiliated when individuals, reportedly linked to the Nepal Communist Party (Majority), smeared his face with black soot while he was on the bench. Police intervened promptly and arrested two of the attackers. The assault occurred days after Judge Tharu led a bench that acquitted Nepali Congress leader Mohammad Aftab Alam, who was serving time in a high-profile murder case, sparking outrage among certain political groups.

Prachanda and Madhav Nepal Hold Talks to Break Parliamentary Deadlock: Chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the ongoing political crisis and the prolonged stalemate in the federal parliament. The talks were held at the Maoist parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar. According to leaders present, the two sides deliberated on finding a “middle-ground solution” to resume parliamentary business, which has been obstructed for several weeks.

Nepal-India Ties Key to Shared Prosperity, Says Foreign Minister Rana: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba emphasized that Nepal and India can achieve shared prosperity through deeper connectivity and joint partnerships. Speaking at the Nepal–India Strategic Dialogue in Kathmandu, she highlighted the need to enhance trade, transit, and investment ties through stronger economic and infrastructure links. Dr. Rana envisioned a future where Nepali products like ginger reach Indian markets within 24 hours, and Indian tourists can fly from Delhi to Pokhara in a day.

NC’s Delegation Leaves for China Tonight: A 17-member delegation of former Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers is set to visit China starting Thursday night. The team is led by former minister and central working committee member Bal Bahadur KC. KC informed that the delegation is visiting China under the invitation and coordination of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The main purpose of the visit, he said, is to deepen ties between the Nepali Congress and the CPC. The delegation will depart Kathmandu at 11:30 PM via Guangzhou and is scheduled to reach Beijing on Friday afternoon. The team is expected to return to Nepal on the 19th of June.

Monsoon to Become Active Across Nepal Within a Week: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast that the monsoon will spread throughout Nepal within the next week, following an early onset in the eastern region. The monsoon entered eastern Nepal approximately 15 days earlier than the average onset date and is expected to cover the entire country soon. Senior meteorologist Shanti Kandel confirmed that rainfall activity has already increased starting Thursday, with light to heavy rainfall expected in all provinces over the coming days.

Five COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at Teku Hospital in the Past Week: In the past week, five people tested positive for COVID-19 at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (Teku Hospital). According to the hospital director, Dr. Yuvanidhi Basaula, five infections were confirmed during the past week. “Among patients who came with symptoms such as fever, five were confirmed positive after testing,” he said. “However, none of them require hospitalization.”

Weather Alert Issued for Sudurpaschim Province Amid Heavy Rainfall: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has issued a weather alert after several parts of Sudurpaschim province experienced moderate to heavy rainfall over the last 1 to 3 hours. Rainfall monitoring stations at Pashchim Seti and Dipayal in Doti, along with Sahukharka in Dadeldhura, reported substantial precipitation levels, prompting concerns for local communities. The DHM’s Forecasting Division cautions residents to remain vigilant until this afternoon as sudden flooding may occur in small rivers and streams flowing through the affected areas.

NEPSE Falls by 9.08 Points; Daily Turnover Surges to Rs 12.51 billion: On the last trading day of the week, Nepal’s stock market index (NEPSE) dropped by 9.08 points, closing at 2,655 points. Despite the decline in the index, the total daily turnover witnessed a notable increase. Compared to the previous day’s turnover of Rs 9.90 billion, today’s trading volume surged to Rs 12.51 billion. A total of 99 companies saw an increase in their share prices, while 149 companies recorded a decline. Among the sectors, the hotel and tourism group posted the highest gain, rising by 2.14 percent. In addition to hotels, the hydropower sector rose by 0.22 percent and the finance sector by 0.89 percent.

Budget Focused on Retaining Nepali Workforce at Home, Says Finance Minister: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel stated that this year’s budget has included programs aimed at retaining Nepali manpower within the country. Addressing a program organized by Media International in Kathmandu on Thursday, he emphasized the need to focus on domestic possibilities while people are looking for opportunities even in outer space. He stressed the need for the right political leadership, vision, and effective implementation to create opportunities within Nepal.

World Bank Regional Director Gupta Calls on Energy Minister Khadka: World Bank’s regional director for South Asia, Pankaj Gupta, called on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka at his office in Singha Durbar today. During the meeting, they held discussions on the World Bank’s investment in the hydroelectricity sector of Nepal. During the meeting, Energy Minister Khadka thanked the World Bank for its investment in Nepal’s hydropower projects to date and urged for its continuation in the future.

NRB Forms Committee to Recommend Banking Sector Reforms: Nepal Rastra Bank has formed a special study committee to propose reforms in the banking sector within one month. The committee, headed by former Securities Board Chair Dr. Rewat Bahadur Karki (also a former NRB official), was approved in the central bank’s board meeting on Jestha 21 (June 4). However, official appointment letters to committee members are still pending.

IMF Completes Sixth Tranche Review under Extended Credit Facility: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Sarwat Jahan, completed its in-person review of Nepal’s eligibility for the sixth tranche under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) from May 26 to June 10. Once approved by IMF’s executive board and management, Nepal will receive USD 42.7 million (approximately Rs 5 billion).

Nepali Film ‘Mahabhoj’ Opens Advance Ticket Booking Nationwide: The advance ticket booking for the much-anticipated Nepali movie Mahabhoj, scheduled to release on Friday (June 13), has officially opened across the country. Major multiplex chains and single-screen cinemas have started accepting reservations, signaling a strong push for the film’s nationwide rollout. Initially slated for release two weeks ago, Mahabhoj faced postponement due to various political disturbances and protest movements that affected its scheduled debut.

Anju Panta and Khem Century Arrive in London for 17th Nepali Open Concert: Renowned Nepali singers Anju Panta and Khem Century arrived in London on Wednesday night to participate in the upcoming 17th Nepali Open Concert in the United Kingdom. The event, organized by the Magar Association UK, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Joining them is rising artist Bijay Thada Magar, who gained national recognition by making it into the top 12 of The Voice of Nepal Season 3.

Singer Meera Rana Honored with ‘Prem Dhoj Pradhan National Music Award 2082’: Singer Meera Rana has been honored with the ‘Prem Dhoj Pradhan National Music Award 2082’, receiving a cash prize of NPR 101,000. The award was presented by the Golden Voice Prem Dhoj Pradhan Memorial Foundation during a special program recognizing contributions to Nepali music. As Meera Rana could not attend the event, her brother Bijendra Mishra accepted the award on her behalf.

Nepali National Football Team Returns Home After Historic Loss to Laos: The Nepali national football team has returned home after competing against hosts Laos in the second match of the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. In the match held on Tuesday at the New Laos National Stadium, the home team secured a historic 2–1 victory over Nepal. Following the defeat, the Nepali team returned home on Wednesday night. Nepal and Laos first met in international football 11 years ago during the AFC Solidarity Cup, which ended in a 2–2 draw.

Madhesh Clinches U-14 National Cricket Title with Victory Over Lumbini: Madhesh Province has won the U-14 National Cricket Championship. In the final match, Madhesh defeated Lumbini Province by 6 wickets to secure the title. Chasing a modest target of 51 runs set by Lumbini, Madhesh reached the total in just 9.1 overs, losing four wickets in the process. Tahir Ansari scored 13 runs, while Rahul Paswan added 12 for Madhesh. For Lumbini, Suraj Yadav and captain Sandeep Thapa each took two wickets. Earlier, after losing the toss at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground, Lumbini was invited to bat and was bowled out for 51 runs in 18.5 overs.

Nepal Women’s Football Team Drops to 100th in FIFA Rankings: The FIFA ranking of the Nepali national women’s football team has declined. According to the latest rankings released by FIFA on Thursday, Nepal has slipped one position to reach the 100th spot. The drop follows Nepal’s 2–0 defeat against Thailand in a friendly match held on June 2, 2025. Thailand, in contrast, has improved its standing by one position and now ranks 46th. Even South Asia’s top-ranked team, India, has also seen a decline in its ranking.

Trump Says Rare Earths Deal ‘Done’ with China: Talks aimed at cooling tensions between the US and China have ended in a “deal”, according to US President Donald Trump. He said China had agreed to supply US companies with magnets and rare earth metals, while the US would walk back its threats to revoke visas of Chinese students. “Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval from President Xi and me,” Trump wrote on his media platform Truth Social. It followed two days of intense talks in London to resolve conflicts that had emerged since the two sides agreed a truce in May

US to Partially Evacuate Embassy in Iraq as Iran Tensions Rise: Non-essential US embassy staff and their dependants in Baghdad are to be evacuated from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources have said. Officials did not say exactly what prompted the removal, but have been told Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, the BBC’s US partner CBS reported. This was part of the reason some Americans were advised to leave the region, officials said, adding that they anticipated Iran could retaliate on certain US sites in Iraq.

Watchdog Finds Iran Failing to Meet Nuclear Obligations: The global nuclear watchdog has found Iran has failed to meet its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years. A resolution passed by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carries the threat of an eventual referral to the UN Security Council. It follows a report from the IAEA last week, which cited a general lack of “co-operation” from Iran and raised concerns over secret activities and undeclared nuclear material in areas which have long been under investigation.