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.

PM Oli to Address HoR Session Tomorrow: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to address the House of Representatives on Friday. Mahesh Bartaula, the chief whip of the ruling party, CPN-UML, confirmed that Prime Minister Oli will deliver an address during the Friday parliamentary session.

He stated, “The Prime Minister is scheduled to give a contemporary address during the Friday session. He will provide insights into the country’s political developments and the current situation of the nation through this address.” The first meeting of this year’s budget session is scheduled for 1 PM on Friday.

Newly Appointed Education Minister Panta Sworn In: Newly appointed Education Minister Raghuji Panta has taken the oath of office and secrecy. On Thursday, President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath to Panta at the Presidential Residence, Sheetal Niwas.

On Wednesday, CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta was appointed Minister for Education, Science, and Technology by President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Panta was given the ministerial responsibility after former Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai tendered her resignation to the Prime Minister on Baisakh 8 (April 21).

Maoist Centre Slams Govt Over Teachers’ Protest: The CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to take the lead in resolving long-standing issues related to the School Education Bill and the ongoing teachers’ protest, criticizing the government’s apathy despite educators being on the streets for weeks. In a meeting held Thursday morning at the party’s parliamentary office in Singha Durbar, the Maoist Centre’s parliamentary party agreed to hold talks with other political forces to push for a resolution.

Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey informed that the party is concerned by the government’s continued silence and lack of action on the teachers’ demands. The government has shown little sensitivity toward the teachers’ protest. We will engage with other opposition parties to build momentum for a solution,” Pandey stated following the meeting.

If Necessary, We’ll Walk Out of This Government, says Gagan Thapa: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has stated that remaining in the current government is a compulsion for the party. Speaking at a program held on Thursday to mark Democracy Day, Thapa said, “Today, we are here out of compulsion. We are not alone in the government. We’ve had to make some compromises, but we won’t compromise on fundamental matters.”

“We must be able to say, if necessary, we’ll walk out of this government. Being in the government is not the biggest thing,” he added. Emphasizing that merely discussing problems is not enough, Thapa said it is necessary to offer solutions and build trust among the people. He added that restoring hope in a restless society is the responsibility of national forces, and that this responsibility rests with the Nepali Congress.

Sudip Neupane’s Final Rites Held in Butwal: Sudip Neupane of Butwal, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated at Triveni Ghat. His body was brought to his home in Butwal, Rupandehi on Wednesday for the funeral.

He was cremated by his uncle Kapildev Neupane (Krishna), as his parents were separated, and the father was absent, according to neighbor Thaneshwor Paudel. Sudip’s body, originating from Manakamana Path in Kalikanagar, Butwal-11, was flown from Srinagar to Delhi, then to Lucknow. From there, it was transported by ambulance via Sunauli, the Nepal-India border, to Butwal.

Senior Nepali Congress Leaders Meet at Shashank Koirala’s Residence: Key leaders of the Nepali Congress close to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba gathered on Thursday at the Maharajgunj residence of leader Shashank Koirala for political discussions. At the invitation of former General Secretary Shashank Koirala, the meeting was attended by former Vice Presidents Bimalendra Nidhi and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat — all considered close to Deuba.

Also present at the discussion were Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, central committee members NP Saud, Dilendra Prasad Badu, Pushpa Bhusal, Nain Singh Mahar, Guru Baral, Ambika Basnet, Shiva Humagain, Rajib Dhungana, and Urmila Thapaliya, among others. The meeting was followed by a tea reception hosted at Koirala’s residence.

Health Minister Warns Private Medical Colleges Over Resident Doctors’ Allowances: Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel has warned that the government will withhold all cooperation with private medical colleges if they fail to implement the approved living allowances for resident doctors. Although the government has decided to provide allowances equivalent to the 8th level salary grade, private medical operators have not complied.

Minister Paudel stated in a discussion with the Safe Workplace Committee formed by resident doctors that the ministry will ensure the decision is implemented at any cost. He emphasized, “Until the Rs 48,000 allowance is implemented by private colleges, no relevant government work will proceed.”

RPP Expresses Grief over Terrorist Attack in Kashmir: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has expressed deep sorrow over the attack on a group of tourists by a terrorist group in Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Issuing a press release, party chair Rajendra Lingden said 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed and dozens injured in the attack.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the RPP flayed what it called an ‘anti-human’ incident. Stating that acts of terrorism against humanity in any region and under any pretext were not acceptable, he said the RPP was always against such acts of terrorism. “In this hour of grief, we extend our sympathies to the neighbouring country India and to its people and the Government.

Striking Teachers Organize Blood Donation on Streets Amid Ongoing Protest: Government school teachers and staff protesting through an educational strike held a street-side blood donation program today. The event took place Thursday morning along the Babarmahal–New Baneshwor road section in Kathmandu. Previously, the protesting teachers had engaged in street demonstrations with slogans and symbolic dances to press the government to issue a teacher- and staff-friendly Education Act.

Their protest, ongoing since Chaitra 20 (April 2), is led by the Teachers’ Federation and has brought together educators from across the country to the capital. Due to the movement, the start of the new academic session has been disrupted, with school admissions and classes yet to begin. Even the Grade 12 examinations, initially scheduled for Baisakh 11 (April 24), have been postponed to Baisakh 21 (May 4) due to the continued protest.

Viral Video Shows Traffic Police Beating Man in Alleged Incident from Kathmandu Valley: A video showing traffic police beating a civilian has gone viral on social media. The video shows four traffic officers, one of whom is seen knocking a man to the ground and beating him.

One officer is seen throwing the man’s documents on the ground while walking away. Based on the visible crowd and a bus marked with “Kirtipur Yatayat,” the video is suspected to have been filmed in Kathmandu Valley.

Nepal Police Transfers 121 DSPs, Shuffles Key Posts in Kathmandu Valley: Nepal Police Headquarters has transferred 121 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), including a reshuffle in seven police circles within the Kathmandu Valley. Hari Khatri has been assigned to New Baneshwor, replacing the Kathmandu District Office post. DSP Eliza Giri will now lead the Thankot police circle.

Rajbabu Maharjan has been sent to Kirtipur, Gyan Bahadur Bisht to Balaju, and Madhu Kumar Thapa to Kalimati. In Lalitpur, Yam Kumar Shrestha is assigned to Chapagaun, and Nabaraj Dhungana to Thimi in Bhaktapur.

Janamat and Nagarik Unmukti Parties Set to Announce Unification on Baisakh 17: The Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party are set to officially announce their unification on Baisakh 17 (April 29), according to the secretariat of Janamat Party Chair CK Raut. Claiming this as a historic and unprecedented merger, the secretariat stated the move will leave a long-lasting impact on Nepali politics. Senior leaders of both parties have been holding negotiations and preparing for the unification in recent weeks.

Suspended Province Lawmaker Manange Withdraws SC Review Petition: Rajiv Gurung, also known as Deepak Manange and currently suspended from the Gandaki Province Assembly, has withdrawn his review petition from the Supreme Court. Manange had been convicted of attempted murder by the Supreme Court on Kartik 20, 2081 B.S.

He filed a petition for review on Magh 4, 2081 B.S., but it had not yet been heard. On Monday, he filed a request to withdraw the petition, which was accepted by a bench comprising Justices Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phuyal, and Til Prasad Shrestha, as per the Supreme Court’s website.

UML Organizes ‘Youth Celebration’ in Kathmandu to Mark Democracy Day: The CPN-UML held a ‘Youth Celebration’ event on Thursday at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, marking Democracy Day as a victory for the people. According to Kshitij Thebe, president of the National Youth Association Nepal, only speakers below 40 years of age were featured at the event.

The program featured performances by popular artists and bands including Shanta Rani Pariyar, Elina Chauhan, Purna Rai & Brothers, Wangde Sherpa and the Cowboys, The Elements, and Sushant & Raga, aiming to attract the youth crowd.

Share market recovers on Thursday after four consecutive days of decline: The share market, which had been declining for the previous four trading days, saw a recovery on Thursday. On this day, the NEPSE index rose by 2.07 points. Following this increase, the NEPSE index settled at 2,658 points. The total turnover also increased by Rs 300 million. While the previous day’s trading volume was Rs 7.57 billion, it reached Rs 7.87 billion today.

A total of 83 companies saw an increase in their share prices, while 161 declined and one remained unchanged. The “Investment” subgroup recorded the highest gain at 2.4 percent. Similarly, the Hydropower sector rose by 0.22 percent, Trade by 0.39 percent, and Banking by 0.03 percent. On the other hand, Development Banks fell by 0.76 percent, Finance by 0.83 percent, Hotels and Tourism by 1.16 percent, Life Insurance by 0.32 percent, Manufacturing by 0.17 percent, Microfinance by 0.46 percent, Non-life Insurance by 0.28 percent, and the “Others” group by 0.13 percent.

Pure Energy Limited Shares Distributed to Over 119,000 Applicants: The IPO allotment of Pure Energy Limited took place today (Thursday) at the office of the issue manager, Nabil Investment Banking. A total of 119,520 applicants received 10 shares each through a lottery system.

Out of 1.85 million applications, only 1.84 million were approved. The IPO was open for public subscription from Chaitra 28 to Baisakh 2. The company issued 1,195,200 units of shares at a face value of NPR 100 each, amounting to NPR 119.52 million.

Capital Expenditure Responsibility Lies with Respective Ministries, Says Finance Minister: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel clarified that the responsibility for capital expenditure lies with the concerned ministries, not with the Ministry of Finance. Speaking at a meeting of the Ministerial-Level Development Problem Resolution Committee held at the Ministry of Finance, Paudel emphasized that while the Finance Ministry is responsible for resource management and facilitation, it is up to the relevant ministries to implement the allocated budget and ensure progress in spending.

“The notion that the Finance Ministry is solely responsible for capital expenditure is incorrect,” Paudel said. He also directed government employees to focus on resolving audit issues, facilitating foreign investment, mobilizing capital, utilizing modern technologies, and improving service delivery.

Government Moves Ahead with Alternative Development Finance Bill: The government is proceeding with a new bill under the banner of “Alternative Development Finance Operations,” which experts say will only increase the financial burden on the state. A bill aimed at regulating the operation of alternative development finance has been registered in the Parliament Secretariat.

The bill proposes the establishment of a fund as an autonomous body under full government ownership. The proposed institution would have an authorized capital of NPR 100 billion and a paid-up capital of NPR 25 billion. Experts argue that with a paid-up capital even lower than that of commercial banks, the institution may become a liability to the state.

‘Khel’ Premieres Ahead of Friday Release: The film Khel, set to release this Friday, was premiered on Wednesday evening at QFX’s Chhaya Center hall. The event was packed with celebrities. Actors Suraksha Pant, Hena Nagarkoti, Monika Thapa, Nikita Acharya, and Samapika Gautam were present at the premiere along with the film’s directors Anurag Pradhan and Aastha Shrestha.

At the event, director Pradhan shared that he has applied the knowledge he gained from Bollywood to this Nepali film. Actress Pant expressed her confidence in the film’s success, saying it was made with sincere effort by the youth. She added that she was happy with the response the film has received so far.

‘Gangubai’ Actress Chum Darang Set for Nepali Film Debut: Chum Darang, known for her roles in India’s popular TV reality show Bigg Boss Season 18 and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, is confirmed to make her debut in a Nepali film. She will star opposite actor Pradeep Khadka in the upcoming action film Airi, which is currently in pre-production.

The shooting is expected to begin in two weeks, and Chum is presently in Kathmandu attending a workshop for the film. During the workshop, she has been learning the Nepali language. “She is currently memorizing her dialogues as per the script,” a source said. “She will be seen as the lead female opposite Pradeep Khadka in the film.”

Director Ashok Thapa and Dhiraj Magar Join Forces for ‘Jalaki’: Ashok Thapa, the director of last year’s hit film Khusma, is set to collaborate once again with actor Dhiraj Magar. Magar has been cast in the lead role of Thapa’s upcoming directorial feature, Jalaki. The first phase of shooting was completed a few days ago. Dhiraj Magar will join the team for the second phase of filming. Khusma’s lead actress, Upasana Singh Thakuri, is also part of Jalaki in a lead female role.

The film is based on a triangular love story and features a strong ensemble cast including Shambala fame Sonam Topden, Astitwa Bhattchan, and Aakriti Rajbhandari in key roles. Known for her appearance in Sushant KC’s blockbuster music video Bardali, Jalaki marks Aakriti Rajbhandari’s debut in feature films.

Former Cricketer Lohani to Receive Financial Aid from CAN: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a financial support package of Rs 500,000 for former national cricketer Sidhant Lohani, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in India. In an official statement, CAN spokesperson Chhumbi Lama confirmed the decision to provide the aid, stating that the amount will be allocated to support Lohani’s recovery and ongoing therapy.

Lohani, once considered a promising talent for the national team, is now struggling with injury-related complications. He is receiving treatment at a hospital in Gurugram, India. He recently underwent knee surgery and is currently undergoing physiotherapy as part of his rehabilitation process.

Himalayan Java Basketball League to Begin from Baisakh 20: The Nepal Basketball Association (NBA) is set to host the Himalayan Java Basketball League (HJBL), as announced during a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday. The league will kick off on Baisakh 20. Although this is the first time the league is being held in a weekend format, due to the monsoon season, matches will be played not only on Saturdays and Sundays but also on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

According to NBA President Bhim Singh Gurung, six of Nepal’s top basketball clubs will participate: Times, Hounds, Kirtipur, Royals, GoldenGate, and Samakhushi Basketball Team. A total of 32 matches will be played in the league. Of these, 30 will be held in a double round-robin format, with each team playing two matches against every other team. Two additional playoff games will determine the champion.

SAFF Championship 2025 Cancelled: The SAFF Championship football tournament will not be held this year. Initially scheduled to be hosted in Sri Lanka this June, the tournament has now been called off, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) announced.

In a press release issued Thursday, SAFF stated that although there were preparations to hold the championship in a home-and-away format this year, the event has been postponed. SAFF added that the decision was made to allow enough preparation time for participating teams, host countries, and all stakeholders, in order to ensure a grander championship in the future.

20 Percent Work Completed on Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium: Construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Chitwan has reached 20 percent completion. Located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-15, the stadium is being built through a collaboration between the federal and provincial governments, with the metropolitan office leading the project. After the Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation was unable to continue the work, the metropolis took over and resumed construction.

The Himalayan Kalinchowk BBR JV was awarded the contract through a tender process and is currently executing the project. According to divisional engineer Santosh Acharya, one of the four planned parapets has been concreted, and preparations are underway for the next. Work is also progressing on the ground floor slabs of both towers. Over 170 workers are engaged at the site daily, from 8 AM to 9 PM, Acharya confirmed.

Nine Killed, 63 Wounded in ‘massive’ Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv: At least nine people were killed and more than 60 wounded in a “massive” missile attack on Kyiv early Thursday, Ukraine’s state emergency service said, among the deadliest attacks on the capital of the three-year war. Ukrainian authorities issued an alert for a missile attack, and AFP journalists heard explosions across the capital.

“Russia has launched a massive combined strike on Kyiv,” Ukraine’s state emergency service said on Telegram, updating the toll. According to preliminary data, nine people were killed, 63 injured,” it said, adding that among the 42 people hospitalised, six were children. Five districts across the capital suffered damage, including fires in garages and administrative buildings that have been extinguished.

Kashmiri Students Threatened in India After Attack: Students from Indian-administered Kashmir have reported harassment and intimidation in India after a gruesome attack in the Himalayan region killed more than two dozen Indian men, a student association said Thursday. Gunmen killed 26 men — all Indian except one Nepali — in the tourist hotpot of Pahalgam on Tuesday, the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested Muslim-majority territory since 2000. Survivors said the gunmen targeted men, sparing those who could give the Islamic declaration of faith, Indian media reported. The killings have shocked the world’s most populous country and enraged Hindu nationalist groups. Kashmiri students in states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were allegedly asked to leave their rented apartments or university hostels on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association convenor Nasir Khuehami said.

U.S. to Shut Down Millennium Challenge Corporation: The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a foreign aid agency renowned for its bipartisan support and transparency, is being shut down by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to an all-staff email obtained by Politico. Established in 2004 under the George W. Bush administration, MCC partners with over four dozen developing countries to promote economic growth and currently oversees $5.4 billion in active grants across 20 lower-income nations.

In the email, MCC’s acting CEO stated that DOGE would oversee a “significant reduction” in the agency’s programs and workforce. Employees were informed of voluntary early retirement (VERA) and deferred resignation (DRP) programs, with applications due by April 29. Some staff may face administrative leave starting May 5, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. The agency, comprised of over 320 employees, will see its operations terminated within 90 days, according to one anonymous employee.