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.
I Will Resign in 14 Months, Deuba to Take Over, Says PM Oli: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said he will step down in 14 months, paving the way for Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to become the next prime minister. Speaking to journalists outside the Parliament building on Friday, Oli made the remark in response to questions about ongoing rumors of a change in government.
“After 14 months, I will resign. Sher Bahadur ji will become the prime minister,” Oli said, hinting at a possible power-sharing deal. His comments come amid renewed political chatter about a possible reconfiguration of the ruling coalition. Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal had earlier briefed his parliamentary party that coalition discussions would resume once Deuba returned from Thailand.
Deuba Denies Power Shift Rumors: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has categorically denied rumors of a possible change in the ruling coalition. Speaking to reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport after returning from Thailand, Deuba said, “There is no possibility of a change in the power equation. These are just rumors.
Deuba’s statement comes amid rising political chatter over a potential new alliance, especially after opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ told a Maoist parliamentary party meeting that he would hold formal talks with Deuba about forming a new coalition upon his return. Alongside Deuba, his wife and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana also returned from Bangkok and addressed the speculation. She said the trip was strictly personal and related to medical check-ups. “There was no political agenda, no meetings. These government-change rumors are baseless,” she said.
Prachanda Inaugurates Quake Photo Exhibition in Barpak: Ten years after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, a solemn memorial event was held in Barpak, Gorkha—the epicenter of the disaster. Top political leaders, local residents, and survivors gathered to honor the lives lost and reflect on the country’s journey of recovery and resilience.
Former Prime Minister and Chair of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ reached Barpak on Friday to participate in the 10th Earthquake Memorial Day program. He was accompanied by former Deputy Prime Minister and senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, as well as Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey and other political figures. The program began at exactly 11:56 AM—the precise time the earthquake struck on Baisakh 12, 2072 BS—with a moment of silence observed by the attendees to pay tribute to the thousands of lives lost in the disaster.
RPP Chair Lingden Claims NC Leader’s Son Arrested in Tinkune Protest: Rajendra Lingden, the chairman of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), claimed that the son of Nepali Congress’s Deputy General Secretary was arrested during the protest in Kathmandu’s Tinkune on the 15th of Chaitra (March 28).
During his address in the House of Representatives on Friday, Lingden stated that the Deputy General Secretary’s son was arrested for involvement in a robbery at Bhatbhateni Supermarket, but the police immediately released him. Lingden also mentioned that he had records of the incident. “We have the record, Home Minister,” he said, “Your party’s Deputy General Secretary’s son was arrested for the robbery at Bhatbhateni. Why was he released so quickly?” However, Lingden did not reveal the name of the arrested individual.
HoR Meeting Adjourned Until Sunday, Pre-budget Calendar Takes Shape: The House of Representatives will reconvene at 11 AM on Sunday, after adjourning its opening session of the budget session on Friday. Despite being the first day of the new fiscal agenda, Friday’s meeting saw party leaders stress the need to focus on lawmaking alongside budget deliberations. Leaders from various parties pledged to actively contribute to the legislative process during this session.
In the meantime, the Parliament Secretariat has released a detailed biweekly calendar outlining the key agenda items of the session. As per the schedule, House meetings will take place on Baisakh 14, 15, and 16. A joint session of the federal Parliament on Baisakh 19 will see the President present the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year. Further meetings are set for Baisakh 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, and 31, paving the way for extended discussions on government plans.
Five Injured in Rukum West Road Accident: A Force Motors vehicle (Lu 2 Kha 6271) traveling from Nuwakot in Rukum West to Nepalgunj met with an accident, leaving five passengers injured. According to local authorities, three of the injured have sustained injuries to their arms and legs, while the remaining two are reported to be in serious condition.
The injured were rushed to a medical facility in Bagchaur Municipality of Salyan district for initial treatment, said Krishna Shah, in-charge of Simkholi Police Station. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and remains at large. Police are still working to confirm the identities of the injured, Shah added.
RSP’s Acting President Aryal Criticizes Congress-UML Alliance: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Acting President Dol Prasad Aryal has criticized the alliance between the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, claiming that it has worsened the country’s situation. Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Friday, Aryal stated that the alliance has made it impossible to envision good governance and the end of corruption.
He said, “When these two parties unite, things get worse. It has reached a point where we can’t even imagine good governance and the end of corruption.” Aryal also targeted former King Gyanendra Shah, warning that any attempt to bypass constitutional procedures would push the country towards conflict.
Minister-teachers Dialogue Stalls as Teacher Delegates Denied Entry to Ministry: Officials from the Nepal Teachers’ Federation had planned to meet with the Education Minister Raghuji Panta, but they returned without entering the Ministry of Education today. President Laxmi Kishor Subedi informed that they did not enter the ministry for special reasons. He clarified that they had gone to Singha Durbar only to congratulate the newly appointed Education Minister and had planned an official meeting but turned back without entering the ministry.
“Today, on the 12th of Baishakh, 2082, we were on our way to have an official meeting with the newly appointed Minister, but due to special reasons, we are returning without entering the ministry,” he said on Facebook. Subedi also clarified that the list of 25 names published by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology as talk team members was not prepared by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation.
Doctors’ Protest Disrupts Hospital Services: Hospital services, except for emergency care, have been severely disrupted in the Kathmandu Valley due to a doctors’ protest demanding a minimum wage. The protest, which has intensified over the past few days, has left many patients facing significant difficulties in accessing medical care. Doctors have gone on strike, suspending all services except for emergency care. Residential doctors from private medical colleges are also protesting for government-equivalent salaries and benefits, adding to the strain on medical facilities.
On Friday, doctors staged a rally from Maitighar to New Baneshwor as part of their ongoing demand for fair pay. This protest is a continuation of their efforts to secure a minimum wage and better working conditions. In response to the ongoing strike, the Nepal Medical Association issued a statement on Thursday, urging doctors to refrain from participating in any non-essential services, including general treatments and procedures.
I Thank Gagan Thapa for Exposing Intermediaries in PM’s Bedroom, Says Barshaman Pun: Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta’, Deputy General Secretary and Member of Parliament of the main opposition party, CPN (Maoist Centre), has thanked Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa for his statement revealing that intermediaries have reached the Prime Minister’s bedroom.
Speaking on behalf of his party during the Friday meeting of the House of Representatives, Pun expressed his gratitude to Thapa for speaking out. Thapa had made the claim during a program held in Kathmandu on April 15, stating that intermediaries were able to reach the Prime Minister’s bedroom. Pun further expressed, “The powerful General Secretary of the ruling party and members of the governing mechanism have admitted that intermediaries have access to the Prime Minister’s bedroom. I want to thank him for speaking the truth, even though late.”
Minister Gurung Warns of Facebook Ban If Not Registered in 7 Days: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has warned that Meta (Facebook’s parent company) will be banned in Nepal if it is not registered within the next 7 days. At an interaction program organized by the National Information Commission in Kathmandu on Friday, Minister Gurung stated that although multiple notices have been issued urging Meta to register in Nepal, the company has not complied.
Minister Gurung emphasized that money from Nepal is consistently being transferred to Meta’s offices, and therefore, the company must register in Nepal and pay taxes. He pointed out that Meta has boasted of having revenue greater than Nepal’s GDP, and he argued that the nation’s sovereignty cannot be tied to money.
Leopard Attack leaves Four Injured in Nawalparasi: Four individuals were injured in a leopard attack in the rural area of Pratappur, Nawalparasi. The attack occurred in Guthi Prasauni, Ward No. 6, while the victims were working in their own fields. Among the injured is 36-year-old Raghubir Kewat.
The other victims include 30-year-old Prem Koiri, 28-year-old Umalal Koiri, and 27-year-old Mohammad Mia from Sushta Rural Municipality-5. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Bir Datta Panta, Kewat suffered injuries to his back, legs, and hands, while the others sustained injuries to their hands and legs. All victims are in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local health post.
Two Earthquakes Jolt Sindhupalchok and Rukum Purba: An earthquake has struck Phulpingkot of Sindhupalchok as the epicenter. According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur, a tremor measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 11:57 AM today, with its epicenter around Phulpingkot.
Earlier, another earthquake had hit Rukum yesterday evening. The tremor, which struck at 7:34 PM, was measured at 4.2 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter at Ranmamaikot in Rukum.
NEPSE Index Shows Small Increase This Week: On the last trading day of the week, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index showed a slight increase, rising by 2.08 points (0.07%) to reach 2,658.02. After a steady decline over the past four days, the NEPSE index showed modest improvement on Thursday, as investors increased their share purchases.
Of the 83 companies whose shares rose, 161 saw a decrease, and one remained stable. Most sub-indices showed a decline, but the trade sub-index rose by 17.72 points, the hydropower sub-index increased by 7.73 points, and the investment sub-index saw an increase of 2.81 points.
MCC Aid Program to Continue in Nepal: The United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has indicated it will not halt aid programs in Nepal, despite political shifts in the United States following the re-election of Donald Trump.
Reuters reported that Trump’s administration, led by trusted ally Elon Musk, has instructed the suspension of all MCC projects except for those in Nepal and three other countries. Trump has expressed that such foreign aid programs are not a priority, citing concerns about taxpayer money misuse.
NRB Takes Action Against Banks Violating Regulatory Guidelines: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has taken action against three development banks and two finance companies for non-compliance with regulatory guidelines. According to NRB, Mukti Nath Development Bank, Narayani Development Bank, Salpa Development Bank, Janaki Finance, and Pokhara Finance were penalized for violating operational standards.
In one case, the Chairman of Mukti Nath Development Bank, Bharat Raj Dhakal, was found to be involved in construction activities, prompting NRB to issue a warning.
Durga Prasai Under Investigation Over Loan Defaults: Durga Prasai, a medical entrepreneur, who had garnered attention by running campaigns to waive loans and interests, now faces scrutiny as the loans taken for three of his projects have surpassed NPR 7 billion.
Prasai, who previously led a campaign against financial institutions, now stands accused of threatening bank officials, including the former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. Prasai has been arrested and is currently under police custody.
Mothihari-Amlekhganj Petroleum Pipeline Imports Over 57 million Kiloliters of Diesel in 6 Years: Since the operation of the Mothihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline under the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), a total of 57,166,513 kiloliters (5.71 billion liters) of diesel has been imported over the past six years. According to the Madhesh Regional Office of the Nepal Oil Corporation in Amlekhganj, this amount of diesel was imported through the pipeline from the fiscal year 2076/77 to the current fiscal year 2081/82. This data reflects imports over the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
Regional Office Chief Pralankar Acharya mentioned that between 1,353 kiloliters and 3,568 kiloliters of diesel were imported daily via the pipeline. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, a total of 851,338 kiloliters of diesel has been imported. In the previous fiscal year 2080/81, the daily import rate was 2,840 kiloliters, with a total of 1,036,600 kiloliters of diesel imported over the year.
Popular Folk Singers Kshetri and Pariyar Rock the Stage in Hong Kong: Famous Nepali folk singers Bimalraj Kshetri and Shantarani Pariyar thrilled the audience in Hong Kong with their performance. They performed at the “Everest Music Night 2025” held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Hall in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, where they mesmerized the crowd with their popular songs.
The event was presented by the Angbuhang Society Hong Kong and jointly organized by Miss Nepal Hong Kong and Everest Group. The program also featured performances by singer Ekdev Limbu and his band, along with a dance performance by the popular dance duo ‘Cartoon Crew’—Saroj Adhikari and Ashma Biskarma. Additionally, models Alisha Sharma and Usha Upreti delivered an engaging dance performance, while comedian Bharatmani Paudel entertained the audience with his comedy.
Two New Nepali Films Released Today: Two new Nepali films, ‘Khel’ and ‘Bhuthan,’ have hit theaters across the country starting today (Friday). Both films are set to compete against each other in the ongoing Friday releases. Both films, which are claimed to be of high quality, cover different themes. ‘Khel’ is directed by Anurag Pradhan and Astha Shrestha, while ‘Bhuthan’ is directed by Binod Paudel.
‘Khel’ features performances by artists such as Suraksha Pant, Monika Thapa, Hena Nagarkoti, Nikita Acharya, Samapika Gautam, Mithila Sharma, Sarita Giri, and Bholaraj Sapkota. The film blends Nepali folklore, traditions, spirituality, thriller, and suspense. ‘Bhuthan,’ with the English title ‘The World’s Happiest Man,’ stars Haribansha Acharya in the lead role. The film also features Dayahang Rai, Anuradha Majumdar, Pooja Chand, Richa Ghimire, Joese Pandey, Aditi Pyakurel, Tom Crane, Bimal Subedi, and Hollywood actor Bruce Dern.
Popular Artist Durgesh Thapa to Hold Live Concert in Kathmandu Next Week: Renowned artist Durgesh Thapa is set to perform a live concert in Kathmandu next week. The concert will take place on Thursday, 18th of Baishakh (May 1), at Hyatt Ground, Bouddha. Durgesh, who is in high demand for stage performances both nationally and internationally, will be holding his first grand concert in Kathmandu.
The event is being organized by Triangle Inc. The preparations for the concert are in full swing, as confirmed by Ashish Dahal, the CEO of Triangle Inc. “We are preparing the event to be of the highest quality and grandeur,” he said.
Nine Bank Accounts of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) Frozen: The nine bank accounts of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) have been frozen, as they were declared illegal. The frozen accounts are located in several banks, including Global IME, Machhapuchchhre Bank, Nepal Investment Mega, Standard Chartered, NIC Asia, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Prime Commercial, NMB, and Nepal Bank Limited.
Earlier, a meeting of the National Sports Council (NSC) Board, chaired by the Minister for Youth and Sports Tejulal Chaudhary, decided to freeze the NOC’s bank accounts and communicate with the concerned authorities to restrict NOC officials from traveling abroad. Following that, the Ministry of Youth and Sports wrote to the central bank, requesting the details of NOC’s bank accounts.
Nepal Volleyball Association Wins Two Awards at CAVA: The Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) has won two awards at the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Annual General Assembly (AGM) held in Kathmandu on Friday. At the event, the CAVA Awards were presented, with NVA winning the “Federation of the Year” and “Performance Award.” NVA President Jitendra Bahadur Chand also received an individual award.
The CAVA Awards were distributed in four categories: International Excellence Award, Federation of the Year Award, Performance Award, and Distinguished Service Award. NVA secured the Performance Award based on its success in the CAVA competition in 2024, where Nepal won seven international medals, including gold. Uzbekistan Volleyball Federation won the Silver Award, while Kyrgyzstan Volleyball Federation received the Bronze Award.
Federal Government Postpones 10th National Sports Competition: The Federal Government has once again postponed the 10th National Sports Competition, which was scheduled to be held in Karnali Province from May 17 to May 24. This is the third time the competition’s dates have been changed.
Initially, the dates were proposed to be November 17-24, 2024, and then April 5-12, 2025. The competition was originally planned to take place in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, three and a half years ago. Despite infrastructure preparations being in place, the repeated postponements have affected the overall management and athletes’ training. A month before the competition, a secretariat for the organizing committee was established at the provincial stadium in Birendranagar and in Kathmandu.
Indian and Pakistani Troops Exchange Fire in Kashmir: Troops from Pakistan and India exchanged fire overnight across the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir, officials said Friday, after the United Nations urged the nuclear-armed rivals to show “maximum restraint” following a deadly shooting in the region. Relations have plunged to their lowest level in years, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting “cross-border terrorism” after gunmen carried out the worst attack on civilians in contested Muslim-majority Kashmir for a quarter of a century.
Syed Ashfaq Gilani, a government official in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, told AFP Friday that troops exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LOC) that separates the two countries. There was no firing on the civilian population,” he added. India’s army confirmed there had been limited firing of small arms that it said had been “initiated by Pakistan”, adding it had been “effectively responded to”.
Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Enter Space Station: The three astronauts aboard China’s Shenzhou-20 spaceship have entered the country’s space station and met with another astronaut trio in the early hours of Friday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover. The Shenzhou-19 crew opened the hatch at 1:17 a.m. (Beijing Time) and greeted the new arrivals, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The six crew members then took group pictures for the sixth space get-together in China’s aerospace history. They will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, the CMSA said. The Shenzhou-19 crew is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 29.
Yemen’s Houthi fighters down $200m worth of US drones in under six weeks: Yemen’s Houthi armed group has shot down seven US Reaper drones worth more than $200m in recent weeks, marking the most significant material loss yet in Washington’s campaign against the fighters. The drones were destroyed between March 31 and April 22, according to defence officials, as the Houthis step up efforts to target United States aircraft operating over Yemen.
Three of the drones were lost in the past week alone, suggesting an improvement in the Houthis’ ability to strike high-altitude US aircraft. The drones – each costing about $30m – were conducting surveillance or attack missions when they crashed into water or land. A defence official said the strikes occurred on March 31 and on April 3, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 22, according to The Associated Press news agency.
