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 Warns: “Attempts to Weaken UML Will Not Succeed”: Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has asserted that Nepal’s journey toward prosperity and development will not be halted. Speaking at a party gathering in Butwal, he accused foreign reactionary forces of attempting to divide the UML. Oli defended Nepal’s democratic republic, saying it was established through the people’s sacrifices and must be protected from regressive elements spreading chaos and misinformation. Reaffirming that the current coalition government is stable and will last until the next election, he dismissed speculation about its collapse. Oli also warned that efforts to create a UML without him would ultimately fail.

Parliamentary Committee Fails to Decide on Judicial Probe into Tinkune Incident: A meeting of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee ended inconclusively on Friday amid disagreement over forming a judicial probe into the Tinkune incident. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak addressed lawmakers’ queries during the session. Committee Chair Bimala Subedi proposed directing the government to establish a judicial investigation commission. However, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula opposed the move, and Nepali Congress lawmaker Jiban Pariyar also refrained from supporting it, resulting in no decision being reached.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Urges Teachers to End Agitation, Promises New School Education Act: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged teachers to end their ongoing agitation, assuring that the government is committed to introducing the new School Education Act soon. Speaking at a public meeting in Butwal, Oli emphasized that while the government acknowledges the challenges faced by teachers, street protests are not the solution. He reassured educators that the new Act would address the issues within the school education system. Additionally, Oli addressed rumors about his relationship with Tribhuvan University’s Vice-Chancellor, clarifying that there was no conflict and that he had approved the resignation in due process.

Home Minister: Tinkune Violence Was Premeditated, Arrests Ongoing: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak told Parliament’s Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee that arrests of those involved in the March 28 pro-monarchist violence continue, with key suspect Durga Prasai already in custody. He said the government will cover treatment costs for the injured and has initiated compensation for families of the two deceased. Calling the Tinkune protest a violation of the Constitution, Lekhak emphasized that while dissent is allowed in a democracy, attempts to challenge the system are unacceptable. The incident, he added, was premeditated and aimed at inciting terror and anarchy, and must not be repeated.

Govt Prioritizes Constitution Amendment, Good Governance, and Economic Revival: Minister Gurung: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, said that amending the Constitution, promoting good governance, and revitalizing the economy are top priorities of the current government. Speaking to journalists at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Gurung—also the government spokesperson—said a task force with members from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML is identifying areas of possible constitutional amendment to build wider public consensus. He also said that the government is actively working to ensure regular operations of the Gautam Buddha International Airport, with a 10-point action plan now in place under the Tourism Ministry’s supervision.

Rabi Lamichhane Moves Supreme Court Against Custody Order: RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the Tulsipur High Court’s April 4 ruling to remand him in custody. The petition was submitted by his wife, party representatives, and his lawyer. Lamichhane is currently detained in Rupandehi prison over allegations of embezzling millions from the Supreme Cooperative while leading Gorkha Media Network before entering politics. The Supreme Court has registered the petition and scheduled the hearing for Sunday.

Kathmandu District Court Approves 12-Day Detention for Durga Prasain in Tinkune Violence Investigation: The District Court of Kathmandu has granted a 12-day detention order for medical entrepreneur Durga Prasain to allow the police to investigate his involvement in the Tinkune violence that occurred on March 28. Prasain, who was arrested by the Nepal Police in Bhadrapur, Jhapa, on Friday, was presented before the court where Judge Shisir Raj Dhakal approved the detention. Along with Prasain, his security aide Dipak Khadka was also detained. Prasain is reportedly connected to a violent protest by supporters of the ex-king, prompting the government to invoke laws against crimes against the state and organized crime.

Nepali Army Medical Team Completes Humanitarian Mission in Myanmar After Earthquake: A 16-member Nepali Army medical team returned to Nepal on Friday after providing critical medical aid in Myanmar, following a devastating earthquake. The team, which arrived on April 1, established a health camp in Yamethin city and treated 965 patients, performing 133 surgeries and addressing 248 orthopedic cases. Nepal also sent 41 tons of relief materials. The mission highlighted Nepal’s commitment to regional humanitarian aid and strengthened its bond with Myanmar, following a similar gesture of support after Nepal’s 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

Kathmandu City Detains Over 20 Vehicles for Emission Violations: Kathmandu Metropolitan City detained over 20 high-polluting vehicles, releasing them only after repairs and fines. Despite prior warnings, many owners ignored calls for maintenance. Random emission testing found 63% of diesel and 19% of petrol vehicles exceeding pollution limits. Some vehicles failed tests even after receiving green stickers, raising concerns of manipulation. While emission control is federally led, the city is taking local action under the 2021 KMC Act. The city also plans to enforce cleaner vehicle interiors following passenger complaints.

Minister Bhandari Flags Skills Gap Amid Rising Foreign Employment, Vows Reform: Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari has raised concern over Nepal’s shortage of skilled workers, noting that over 400,000 unskilled laborers were forced to seek jobs abroad due to a mismatch with employer needs. Speaking at a review event for the Swisscontact-run ‘State-Up’ project, he pledged to modernize the employment system by connecting job seekers with national and international employers through technology. Bhandari also called on local governments to create employment quotas. Officials from Koshi Province praised the Swiss-backed project for boosting youth and women’s access to entrepreneurship. The initiative ends in March 2025, with support from Swiss development agencies.

Jawalakhel’s Central Zoo to Extend Hours Until 8 PM Starting New Year 2082: Starting April 14, the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel will extend its hours until 8 pm, following public demand, as announced by Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri. The zoo currently operates from 10 am to 5 pm. The announcement came alongside the inauguration of new infant breastfeeding rooms. Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan emphasized the zoo’s importance to Lalitpur, and plans for an open zoo in Suryabinayak are in progress. Additional rare wildlife will also be introduced.

Economic Reforms Commission Urges Government to Create Investment-Friendly Environment: The High-level Economic Reforms Recommendation Commission has urged the government to create an investment-friendly environment and reduce production costs to spur economic growth. Commission Chair Rameswar Prasad Khanal highlighted factors such as low credit growth, a decline in real estate transactions, delayed government payments, and the crisis-hit construction sector as key contributors to decreased consumption and investment. The commission called for immediate policy interventions to stimulate demand and structural reforms to improve competitiveness. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel expressed confidence in the report and pledged phased implementation of its recommendations as part of the upcoming budget.

High-Level Economic Reforms Advisory Commission Urges Government to Avoid Imprisoning Businesspeople and Focus on Structural Reforms: The High-Level Economic Reforms Advisory Commission has advised the government against imprisoning businesspeople for general crimes, emphasizing the negative impact on economic growth. Led by former Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal, the commission highlighted that the country’s economic challenges are due to weak demand and issues on the supply side. It recommended improving both demand-side and supply-side policies and implementing suggestions from previous commissions, including the Public Expenditure Review Commission and the High-Level Tax System Reform Committee. The commission also called for prioritizing projects that can be completed within five years and improving revenue management.

Nepal Issues Ultimatum to Social Media Platforms: Register by Mid-April or Face Shutdown: Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithivi Subba Gurung, has given an ultimatum to major social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube: register with the government by mid-April or face being shut down. Speaking at the Federation of Nepali Journalists’ convention, Gurung emphasized the need for formal registration to tackle unregulated content and scams on these platforms. While the government plans to introduce new media-related bills, including a cybersecurity bill, Gurung reassured that online media will not be targeted. Platforms must appoint local officers or risk a ban if they fail to comply.

“Jeevan Ko Rang Keshari” Wins Hearts with Its Touching Story of Orphaned Sisters: The emotional web series “Jeevan Ko Rang Keshari”, based on the story of Keshari and her sister Sushma who are orphaned after a flood sweeps away their parents, is airing every Friday on Keshari Official’s YouTube channel since Kartik 2. Written and acted by Subash Subedi and directed by Saroj Ghimire, the series reflects real struggles in Nepali society. Featuring Ayushma Karki as Keshari, it has received strong audience praise and is soon set to air on television.

Ashish Piya to Return to Silver Screen After Five Years with Amigos: Actor Ashish Piya, who debuted with the film adaptation of Subin Bhattarai’s novel Summer Love, is making a comeback after five years through the romantic film Amigos. Directed by Markendey Dipwim Basnet, the movie is set to begin shooting in Nepal and Australia from this September. Two more lead actors are being cast. The film will be produced under the banner of BS International Studio by renowned filmmaker Dev Kumar Acharya.

‘Matribhoomi’ Film to Depict Nepal’s Cultural Diversity Across Borders: Falgunanda Lingden Films Pvt. Ltd. is set to produce “Matribhoomi”, with Kavita Rai Lingden as producer and Dinesh Lingden as writer-director. The film stars Sanjib Thebe, Sonia Sharma, Bheem Bahadur Magar, and others, and explores Nepal’s diverse castes, traditions, and cultures. It will be shot in Kathmandu, eastern Nepal, and parts of the U.S. Executive producer is Bheem Bahadur Magar, with Nareshkumar Menyangbo presenting. The film features choreography by Janak Karki and cinematography by Samrat Karki.

Teaser of Nepali Film Ke Ghar Ke Dera: Ghar No. 2 Unveiled: The teaser of Ke Ghar Ke Dera: Ghar No. 2 was released on Friday, featuring stars Khagendra Lamichhane, Nischal Basnet, Upasana Singh Thakuri, Aryan Sigdel, and others. Directed by Dipendra K. Khanal and written by Buddhisagar, the film reflects the emotional struggles of low-income families in Kathmandu. It portrays life as a shared rented space, highlighting themes of pain, love, separation, and emotional healing. The film is a joint production of Apple Entertainment, A Plus Entertainment, and Natraj Creation.

Bhurtel, Airee Power Nepal to Record Chase Against Kuwait in T20I Thriller: Nepal pulled off their highest successful T20I chase, defeating Kuwait by six wickets in the Hong Kong Quadrangular T20I Series. Chasing 186, Nepal reached the target in 18.5 overs, thanks to explosive knocks by Kushal Bhurtel (81 off 50) and Dipendra Singh Airee (31 off 12). Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh (53) shared a record 127-run opening stand. Airee also set a T20I record for most innings without a duck (66). Earlier, Kuwait posted 185/8, with Sompal Kami taking 3/36. With this win, Nepal leads the table with four points and will face hosts Hong Kong next in the final league match.

Ayush Timilsina’s Decisive Goal Secures Victory for Bhagwati Club in B Division League: Ayush Timilsina’s 75th-minute goal earned Bhagwati Club a narrow 1-0 win over Bansbari Youth Club in the Martyr’s Memorial ‘B’ Division League on Friday at the ANFA Complex, Satdobato. With the win, Bhagwati climbed to second place with 14 points from six matches—just one point behind league leaders Planning Boys United, who have played one more game. Bansbari, on the other hand, sits in eighth place with six points from five matches. The first half had ended goalless.

Xi Jinping Warns US of Self-Isolation Due to Unilateral Trade Measures: Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned the United States against self-isolation by pursuing unilateral trade restrictions during a visit from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Xi condemned the escalating tariff war initiated by the Trump administration, stating that there are no winners in such conflicts. He urged China and the EU to resist unilateral bullying to protect their rights and uphold international rules. The trade tensions between the US and China have disrupted global markets and raised concerns about supply chains.

US Military Base Commander in Greenland Fired for Disagreeing with Vice-President Vance’s Remarks: Colonel Susannah Meyers, head of the US military’s Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, was removed from her post after sending an email distancing herself from Vice-President JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark. Vance had criticized Denmark’s handling of Greenland’s security and reiterated President Trump’s interest in annexing the territory. Meyers’ email, stating Vance’s views did not reflect the base’s stance, was seen as undermining US leadership. Col Shawn Lee replaces Meyers, with the Pentagon emphasizing nonpartisan conduct.

Putin to Meet with Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Discuss Bilateral Relations: Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Steve Witkoff, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg, with talks expected to cover bilateral relations, a potential in-person summit between the two presidents, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the flexible nature of the talks, though no immediate breakthrough is anticipated. Witkoff, a key Trump confidant, has previously played a role in negotiating prisoner exchanges and engaging with Russia on diplomatic issues.