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.
RPP Chair Lingden, Lawmakers Tamang and Shahi Arrested Inside Singha Durbar: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Rajendra Lingden, along with lawmakers Buddhiman Tamang and Gyanendra Shahi, was arrested on Sunday following a symbolic protest inside Singha Durbar, the central administrative complex of Nepal’s federal government. The trio, joined by other RPP lawmakers, had entered Singha Durbar and staged a brief but defiant demonstration against the current political system. They displayed pamphlets with slogans calling for systemic change, the restoration of the monarchy, and a national referendum.
Police swiftly intervened, confiscating the pamphlets and attempting to block the protest. Despite efforts by security personnel to stop them inside the parliamentary party office, the RPP leaders managed to step outside, continuing their protest at the main entrance of Singha Durbar. It was at this point police detained Lingden, Tamang, and Shahi and escorted them away from the site.
RPP Chair Lingden Reacts to Arrest: “No Surprise from Authoritarian Government”: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden has stated that he was not surprised by his arrest, following a protest inside Singha Durbar. After staging the protest within Singha Durbar, police detained Lingden and three other RPP leaders at the gate of the building. Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Lingden said that such actions were typical of an authoritarian government, and he was not surprised by the incident.
He commented, “This is exactly what an authoritarian government does. There is nothing surprising about it. We were not shocked by this. We are all ready to be imprisoned.” Lingden, along with Vice Chairman and Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Buddhiman Tamang, Chief Whip Gyan Bahadur Shahi, and MPs Deepak Bahadur Singh and Bina Lama, had staged the protest inside Singha Durbar, claiming it was part of the party’s political activities.
PM Oli Meets Contestants of ‘My Dance Universe’ and ‘My Voice Universe’ Season 2: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met the contestants of ‘My Dance Universe’ and ‘My Voice Universe’ Season 2 today, who are from 23 countries. These contestants, selected from among Nepali-origin artists residing around the world, were appreciated by the Prime Minister for their talents.
The show, organized by the Intra Foundation and broadcast on Nepal Television, showcases the vibrant cultural expressions of Nepali art, literature, dance, and gestures. During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli highlighted the significant role of the contestants in keeping these cultural elements alive. He emphasized that, regardless of where they reside, Nepali people carry a “genetic memory” that continues to preserve and bring to life Nepali art and culture.
Rabi Lamichhane Files Habeas Corpus Petition in Supreme Court: A habeas corpus petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody on charges of cooperative fraud. The petition, seeking his release, was filed on Sunday, and a hearing has been scheduled for Monday, according to the Supreme Court administration. Earlier, Lamichhane had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision that sent him to detention.
The Supreme Court has already retrieved documents from both the High Court and District Court in relation to the case. The petition requests the Supreme Court to annul the High Court’s order and keep Lamichhane out of custody. Since it appears the decision may take time, Lamichhane has also filed a habeas corpus petition to address his detention.
There Is No Bar for Former President, Vice President to Return to Politics: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said there is no bar for the former President or Vice President to come back to politics. Talking to the media persons at Biratnagar Airport today, he said constitutional laws and international tradition also did not stop the former President and Vice President from returning to politics.
The CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair said a meeting between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and him on Saturday focused on concluding the peace process. Chair Dahal clarified that there was no difference of opinion among the three political parties for strengthening the federal democratic republic.
Hearing on Petitions Against Appointment of 52 Constitutional Officials Deferred: The Supreme Court has continued the hearing on writ petitions filed against the controversial appointment of 52 constitutional officials, keeping the case in a “continuous hearing” status.
On Sunday, a constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut and Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Kumar Chudal, and Nahakul Subedi conducted a hearing on the matter. Government attorneys presented arguments in defense of the government’s actions during the session. As the arguments could not be completed, the bench scheduled the next hearing for Monday.
Purna Bahadur Khadka Appointed Acting President of Nepali Congress: Purna Bahadur Khadka has been appointed as the acting president of the Nepali Congress. According to the party’s Chief Secretary, Krishna Prasad Poudel, Khadka’s appointment is in line with Article 25, Subsection (13) of the party’s amended statute of 2017. The appointment comes as party president Sher Bahadur Deuba is currently abroad. Khadka has been designated as the acting president until Deuba’s return.
Teachers Continue Protest in Kathmandu Demanding Education Act: Teachers and staff members continued their protest in Kathmandu today, demanding the enactment of the Education Act. They marched from Maitighar to the Babar Mahal-New Baneshwor road and held a demonstration. In previous days, teachers had protested from 12 PM to 3 PM. However, today they adjusted their schedule to avoid overlapping with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) demonstration. Teachers held their demonstration up to 12 PM today, as the RPP started its protest at the same time.
Since March 20, teachers have been protesting in the Maitighar-Baneshwor area. Despite ongoing negotiations with the government, no agreement has been reached regarding the introduction of the School Education Act. As a result, teachers declared a nationwide educational strike starting from March 25, halting all educational activities. The ongoing strike has significantly affected new student enrollments in schools, and there are concerns that it could impact the upcoming Grade 12 exams.
Valley People Suffer Due to Double Protests: Daily life in the Kathmandu Valley has been affected today due to the traffic congestion caused by two separate protests — one by the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT) and the other by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The protests have primarily affected office-goers, who faced significant challenges in reaching their workplaces due to diversions in traffic routes. The CNT’s protest began at 9:00 am, while the RPP’s demonstration started at 12:00 noon.
Both protests centered on Maitighar to New Baneshwor areas, leading to alterations in traffic flow, according to Deepak Giri, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office. These changes in the traffic routes have caused major congestion on the diverted roads, creating severe inconvenience for commuters. Vehicular movement has been restricted around Maitighar, Babarmahal, and New Baneshwor following the RPP’s announcement to focus its protest near the Bijuli Bazar Bridge, a prohibited area for the demonstration.
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba Departs for Bangkok to Attend UNESCAP’s 81st Session: Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba has departed for Bangkok, Thailand, today. She is attending the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), scheduled from April 21 to 25 in Bangkok.
Since Nepal currently holds the presidency of UNESCAP, Minister Dr. Rana will preside over the 81st session of the commission. She will address the session on behalf of Nepal. The focus of the session will be on regional cooperation for sustainable urban development in Asia and the Pacific. Minister Dr. Rana will lead the Nepali delegation, which includes officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Planning Commission, and the Nepali Embassy in Thailand. The delegation is scheduled to return to Nepal on April 25.
Two Dead, 14 Hurt in Microbus-Scooter Collision: Two people were killed while 14 others were injured in a microbus-scooter collision at Kalimati of Bhanu municipality-10 on the Dumre-Besisahar road today. One male and one female have died in the accident, said District Police Office’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ashok Thapa. The female was traveling on the scooter and the man was a passenger of the microbus, it is said.
The microbus (Ba 2 Kha 4022) en route to Lamjung from Dumre and the scooter (Ga 2 6 Pa 4058) coming from the opposite direction met with the accident. The scooter rider who was severely injured in the accident was rushed to the Chitwan Medical College. Police have arrested microbus driver Man Bahadur Ghale of Sindhupalchowk for further investigation into the accident.
Stock Market Declines After Three Consecutive Days of Growth: After three consecutive days of gains, the stock market declined on Sunday. The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 16.68 points, closing at 2706. The market opened with a continuous decline. Investors became cautious after the release of the third-quarter financial reports by banks, which showed weak results. While the profits of the banks increased by a modest 1.4%, this growth was not due to an increase in business but rather because of advantages received from the central bank, including reduced loan loss provisions.
Furthermore, banks are still weak in terms of loan recovery and interest collection, leading to an increase in non-performing loans. The banking and financial sector is a dominant force in the stock market. Following the weak financial reports from banks and financial institutions, there are concerns that the performance of companies in other sectors might also suffer, which reflected in the overall decline across sectors today.
Hydropower Stocks Dominate Weekly Share Market Activity: Investor interest in hydropower stocks remains strong in the first week of the new Nepali year. Out of four trading days last week, total share transactions amounted to Rs 33.88 billion. Of this, companies in the hydropower sub-group accounted for about 33% of the total, according to NEPSE.
Other sectors included: Others (15.89%), Investment (13.65%), Life Insurance (7%), Commercial Banks (6%), and Development Banks (7%). Thursday saw the highest single-day transaction of the week with Rs 10.79 billion in share turnover.
India’s Minister for Power and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, to Visit Nepal: Manohar Lal Khattar, India’s Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is set to visit Nepal. Invited by Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, Khattar will arrive in Nepal for a two-day visit on 9th Baisakh. During his visit, Minister Khadka had invited Khattar to Nepal while on his trip to India on 30th Magh 2081.
Khattar, along with Energy Minister Khadka, will inaugurate several infrastructure projects on 9th Baisakh, including the 200kV Inaruwa–Basantapur–Baneshwor–Tumlingtar transmission line, part of the Koshi Corridor 220kV transmission line, and the 220/133/33kV Tumlingtar, Baneshwor, and Basantpur substations. These projects were completed with the support of the Indian government.
NRB to Withdraw Rs 30 billion in Liquidity: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is set to absorb NPR 30 billion in excess liquidity through a deposit collection instrument for a 21-day period starting Sunday. Banks and financial institutions interested in depositing money at NRB must submit online bids by 3 PM.
The bid range is set between NPR 100 million and NPR 500 million, and bidding can be done at multiple interest rates. The maturity date for principal and interest repayment is set for 28 Baisakh. Only banks and financial institutions categorized as ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ are eligible to participate, and the instrument can be used as collateral for interbank transactions.
Commercial Banks Earn Rs 41.25 billion in Net Profit in 9 Months: All 20 commercial banks have published their third-quarter financial reports for the current fiscal year. According to the disclosed reports, commercial banks earned a total net profit of NPR 41.25 billion from Shrawan to the end of Chaitra.
This is a slight increase from the same period last fiscal year, when banks earned NPR 40.68 billion, marking a growth of only 1.40%. Nabil Bank recorded the highest net profit at NPR 5.05 billion.
‘Deep Shrestha Musical Evening’ Scheduled for Baisakh 20 in Bhaktapur: Veteran singer and composer Deep Shrestha will perform at a special event titled “Deep Shrestha Musical Evening” on Baisakh 20 (May 2) in Bhaktapur. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Sunday. Jointly organized by the Bhaktapur Musical Society and Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce, the event will take place at the Imperial Banquet in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur. Organizers expect an audience of up to 1,200 attendees.
Entry ticket prices will range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500, depending on the seating category. The venue will also feature stalls showcasing various products and cuisines. Speaking at the press conference, Deep Shrestha expressed concern about the growing trend of singers relying on pre-recorded tracks. He said the modernization of music is welcome, but lamented the decline of contemporary original songs, calling for more focus on live musical integrity.
Political Drama Film ‘Mahabhoj’ Set to Release on Republic Day: The much-anticipated Nepali film ‘Mahabhoj’ is set to be released on Jestha 15, coinciding with Nepal’s Republic Day. With the release date approaching, the production team has unveiled two official posters. The first poster features six lead actors: Aryan Sigdel, Dayahang Rai, Khagendra Lamichhane, Anjana Baraili, Gaumaya Gurung, and Malika Mahat.
With a backdrop of currency notes, the poster hints at the film’s political and social themes. The second poster depicts a rural setting and includes not only the six main cast members but also popular actors Basundhara Bhusal, Buddhi Tamang, and Kamalmani Nepal. The film promises to explore deep-rooted political and societal issues through a powerful ensemble cast.
Pramesh Rai and Arpana Acharya Enter ‘The Voice of Nepal’ Season 6 Finale: Pramesh Rai and Arpana Acharya have secured spots in the final four of The Voice of Nepal Season 6. In last weekend’s episode, Acharya advanced from Uday Sotang’s team, while Rai was selected from Raju Lama’s team.
The remaining two finalists will be chosen from upcoming episodes. One finalist will be selected from Khem Century’s team, between Process Pandey and Indrakala Rai. The other will come from Melina Rai’s team, between Roshan Rai and Sarthak Lama. The grand finale will take place on Friday, Baisakh 19 (May 2), where the winner of Season 6 will be crowned.
Taekwondo Athlete Adish Khadka to Compete in Japan and Australia: Nepali taekwondo player Adish Khadka is set to compete in two international taekwondo championships—one in Japan and the other in Australia. He will first participate in the Japan WATA Open International Taekwondo Championship, scheduled to take place from April 25 to 27 in Osaka, Japan. After that, he will head directly to Australia.
In Australia, Khadka will compete in the 2025 Gold Coast Open International Taekwondo Championship, taking place on May 3 and 4 in Gold Coast. In both competitions, he will participate in the U-17 Individual Poomsae category.
Winners of 8th National Skateboard Championship Awarded with Cash and Medals: Winners of the 8th National Skateboard Championship 2082 were honored on Saturday with cash prizes, shields, medals, and certificates. The annual championship is organized by the Nepal Skating and Skateboard Association. In the women’s open category, Khusi Bik won first place, followed by Lemon Magar in second, and Samiksha Rai in third.
In the men’s open category, Gajendra Bardewa claimed first place, Sharad Rai came second, and Basanta Rai took third. Similarly, in the junior men’s category, Abhishek Pariyar came first, Ankit Bik second, and Avinash Kumal third, according to Saty Thapa, General Secretary of the Association.
8th Mayor Gold Cup in Bhojpur to Feature Eight Teams Including One from India: The prestigious 8th International Invitational Mayor Gold Cup Football Tournament in Bhojpur will feature eight teams, including one from India. Teams participating include Georgian Football Club (India), Armed Police Force Nepal (Kathmandu), Church Boys United (Kathmandu), LX City (Morang), Bhagwati Sports Club (Khotang), Nawabuddha Football Club (Saptari), Salhesh Football Club (Siraha), and the host team, Bhojpur District Football Association.
Organized annually by the District Football Association with the main sponsorship of Bhojpur Municipality, the tournament will be held this year from Baisakh 14 to 20 at the stadium in Kodar, Bhojpur-7. Bhojpur Municipality has contributed Rs 3 million to the event, with additional funding coming from co-sponsors, according to the organizing committee.
Six Drowning Deaths as Huge Waves Hit Australian Coast: A fisherman died after being swept off rocks near Sydney on Sunday, stretching the Easter weekend death toll of drownings to six as huge waves battered Australia’s east coast. Emergency services winched two people from the surf at Wattamolla Beach, but one of them couldn’t be revived, New South Wales Police said in a statement.
The pair had been fishing when swept off rocks on the outskirts of southern Sydney. The second person, a 14-year-old boy, was in a stable condition in hospital. It continued a run of fatalities over the holiday weekend, with the search ongoing for two other people still missing in the surf since Friday — one off Sydney and one-off Melbourne.
Another Round of Anti-Trump Protests Hits US Cities: Thousands of protesters rallied Saturday in New York, Washington and other cities across the United States for a second major round of demonstrations against Donald Trump and his hard-line policies. In New York, people gathered outside the city’s main library carrying signs targeting the US president with slogans like “No Kings in America” and “Resist Tyranny.”
Many took aim at Trump’s deportations of undocumented migrants, chanting “No ICE, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” a reference to the role of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in rounding up migrants. In Washington, protesters voiced concern that Trump was threatening long-respected constitutional norms, including the right to due process.
Attacks continue despite Putin’s ‘Easter truce’ pledge, Zelensky says: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of creating an “impression” of a ceasefire while still taking military actions in some places in Ukraine. In the first six hours of the “Easter truce” – as ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin – Zelensky said there were 387 shellings and 19 assaults by the Russian army, and drones used 290 times.
Putin on Saturday ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” in Ukraine for the temporary truce, to which Kyiv said it would also adhere. Putin said the 30-hour truce would last from 18:00 Moscow time (16:00 BST) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday in Moscow. Ukraine has proposed extending the truce for a further 30 days.
