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. Here are today’s key news updates:

RSP President Rabi Lamichhane Arrested Following Court Order: Police arrested Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane on Friday evening from his residence in Kathmandu after the Tulsipur High Court ordered his custody in a cooperative fraud case. The Butwal bench overturned a Rupandehi District Court ruling that had released Lamichhane on bail. The court also upheld custody for former DIG Chhabilal Joshi. A police team led by SSP Hobindra Bogati executed the arrest.

Twin Earthquakes Jolt Jajarkot, Trigger Panic Among Locals: Two back-to-back earthquakes struck Jajarkot district on Friday night, triggering panic among residents. A 5.2-magnitude tremor was recorded at 8:07pm, followed by a stronger 5.5-magnitude quake at 8:10pm, according to seismologist Shiva Subedi. The epicentre was near Paink in Jajarkot. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received, but strong shaking was felt in surrounding districts, including Dolpa. Locals in Tripurasundari Municipality-1 reported that the second tremor felt more intense, prompting many to flee their homes in search of safety. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and continuing to assess the impact.

PM Oli and Indian PM Modi Hold Talks in Bangkok: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a brief meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, following the conclusion of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). The meeting took place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok.

The two leaders, who had already appeared together at a state dinner hosted by the Thai government on Thursday evening, met again for informal talks. Earlier, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During that meeting, PM Oli had extended an official invitation to PM Modi to visit Nepal.

BIMSTEC Reinvigorate Our Regional Cooperation, Says PM Oli: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the three pillars of the BIMSTEC Summit – Prosperity, Resilience and Openness – not only align with the Sustainable Development Goals, but also resonate deeply with Nepal’s national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.

Addressing the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok of Thailand today, Prime Minister Oli stressed that BIMSTEC must not only navigate the changing tides but also seize the opportunity to reinvigorate our regional cooperation. “I believe that the theme of the Summit –Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC, provides us with that compass –a compass that is pro people, pro prosperity and pro welfare,” he argued.

Two Dead, Four Injured in Panchthar Fire: Two people died in separate forest fire incidents in the Panchthar district. The deceased have been identified as Pratima Sambahamphe, aged 22, Kummayak Rural municipality-3 in Panchthar, and 47-year-old Ushakala Nembang Rai of Jawari, Phidim Municipality-13.

Rai was caught in a wildfire while searching for firewood in the Jawari forest of Phidim-13 on Thursday afternoon. Family sources have stated that she died on the way to the Burn Hospital in Kathmandu.

Kulman Ghising Publicly Addresses His Dismissal and Hints at Political Aspirations: After being removed from his position as the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising has publicly shared his views for the first time. In a press conference held in Kathmandu on Friday, Ghising discussed the work he accomplished during his tenure and the allegations that led to his removal by the government.

Additionally, Ghising subtly hinted at the possibility of entering politics, though he did not explicitly confirm whether or not he plans to pursue a political career. When asked by a journalist, “Among the public figures that are currently favored, when might we see you in politics?”, Ghising responded, “As a responsible citizen, I am ready to take on any responsibility.”

Home Minister Promises Fair Investigation in Tinkune Violence: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has accused royalist groups of inciting violence at Tinkune with the intention of spreading chaos and undermining the Constitution and the political system.

During a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives on Friday, Minister Lekhak assured that a fair investigation will be conducted into the events that occurred at Tinkune on Chaitra 15 (March 28) in Kathmandu.

The Minister emphasized that the government will take strong action against any anti-constitutional and disruptive activities in the future. He pledged to ensure that citizens’ security is guaranteed and that a conducive environment for the unhindered exercise of democratic rights is created, with the government remaining proactive in this effort.

Acting Prime Minister’s Call for Talks Ignored by Protesting Teachers: Teachers from various districts, who have come to Kathmandu to protest, have refused to attend the talks called by Acting Prime Minister Prakashman Singh. The Prime Minister had invited the protesting teachers for discussions at 3 PM on Friday.

However, the teachers informed that they will not attend the meeting. They demanded to negotiate with the Prime Minister himself. Teachers from across the country have been protesting in Kathmandu since Chaitra 20 (April 2), demanding the enactment of the School Education Act.

Air Pollution Lessens in Kathmandu Valley: The level of air pollution has reduced with increase in the wind speed. With the rise in wind speed, the scale of air pollution has also decreased today. Kathmandu Valley, which was listed as the world’s most-polluted city for the past few days, has been listed at number seven today. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, air pollution in Kathmandu Valley reached 348 AQI becoming the world’s most-polluted city on Thursday afternoon.

RPP Vice Chair Tamang Questions Mental Health of Those Demanding Active Monarchy: Buddhi Man Tamang, Vice President of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has raised serious concerns about the mental state of those advocating for the return of an active monarchy in the 21st century.

Speaking during a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee held at Singha Durbar on Friday, Tamang questioned the mindset of individuals who believe Nepal should return to a monarchy similar to the one after 2017 BS (1960 AD).

Tamang made it clear that the re-establishment of an active monarchy is not possible in today’s context. “Some people talk about reinstating the monarchy as it existed after 2017 BS (1960 AD). That’s not what we’re advocating for,” he said. “We have been carrying the agenda of having the monarchy as a ceremonial guardian, not an active ruler.”

IGP Clarifies No Tear Gas Fired from Roof of Tinkune House: The Inspector General of Nepal Police, Deepak Thapa, has clarified that no tear gas was fired from the roof of the house that was set on fire by royalist groups at Tinkune on Chaitra 15 (March 28).

There had been claims that the house was set on fire because tear gas and gunshots were allegedly fired from the roof at the protesters. However, Thapa clarified that no tear gas was fired from the roof of the house. He explained, “Tear gas is fired from below to above, not from above to below.” He further stated, “Tear gas was not fired from the house at Tinkune, nor was it fired from the stage.”

Speaker Ghimire Leaves for Uzbekistan to Participate In IPU Assembly: A Nepali parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has left for Uzbekistan today to attend the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the 4th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network.

The delegation includes members of parliament Shyam Kumar Ghimire, Anjan Shakya, Suryaman Dong Tamang, Sobita Gautam, Secretary General of the Federal Parliament Padma Prasad Pandey and Secretary of the House of Representatives Harkaraj Rai. The annual assembly of the Organization and the fourth summit of the Non-Aligned Network will be held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, from April 5 to 9.

RPP Protests in Kathmandu Demanding Release of Detained Leaders: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) staged a protest in Kathmandu on Friday, demanding a fair investigation into the events that occurred a week ago at Tinkune and the release of party leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shamser Rana, along with all other detained protesters.

On Chaitra 15 (March 28), a violent protest organized by royalist groups in Tinkune resulted in the deaths of two people and incidents of vandalism and arson. Following the incident, the police arrested Mishra and Rana, leaders of RPP, and initiated legal proceedings against them. The party is now calling for the immediate release of all detained individuals and a transparent inquiry into the incident.

Acting PM Singh Meets President Paudel in Sheetal Niwas: Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh met with President Ram Chandra Paudel. The meeting took place at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas, on Friday. The President’s Secretariat has stated that current issues were discussed during the meeting. This is his first meeting as Acting Prime Minister.

BIMSTEC Reinvigorate Our Regional Cooperation, Says PM Oli: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the three pillars of the BIMSTEC Summit – Prosperity, Resilience and Openness – not only align with the Sustainable Development Goals, but also resonate deeply with Nepal’s national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.

Addressing the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok of Thailand today, Prime Minister Oli stressed that BIMSTEC must not only navigate the changing tides but also seize the opportunity to reinvigorate our regional cooperation. I believe that the theme of the Summit –Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC, provides us with that compass –a compass that is pro people, pro prosperity and pro welfare,” he argued.

NRB Issues New Guidelines for Savings and Credit Cooperatives: Nepal Rastra Bank has approved and implemented new guidelines and standards for cooperatives engaged in savings and credit transactions.

With the introduction of the “Guidelines and Standards for Savings and Credit Cooperatives, 2081”, the central bank has imposed a new restriction that allows cooperatives to borrow only up to 5% of their total assets from banks, financial institutions, and cooperative banks.

Additionally, the guidelines include a provision that such loans cannot exceed 100% of the cooperative’s capital fund, thereby putting a cap on excessive borrowing and promoting financial discipline within the cooperative sector.

Nepal and Thailand to Form Joint Business Council: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade have reached an agreement to establish a Joint Business Council.

During a bilateral meeting held at the Thai Chamber’s office with the visiting FNCCI delegation currently in Thailand, both parties signed a memorandum of understanding to form the council. The newly formed Joint Business Council is expected to facilitate investment promotion and exchange between Nepal and Thailand, enhancing economic cooperation and opening new avenues for business collaboration in both countries.

Former NEA ED Ghising Claims He Was Removed for Pursuing Outstanding Dues: The former Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has claimed that his removal from the position was due to his efforts to recover the outstanding dues from industrialists for the dedicated and trunkline services.

In a press conference, Ghising stated that his attempt to collect the dues was the main reason behind his dismissal. He further questioned, “Is trying to recover outstanding dues from public institutions considered a crime against the state?” and emphasized that the people of Nepal and history will demand an answer in the future.

Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari Bids Farewell: The Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Mahaprasad Adhikari, has officially taken leave from his position today. Appointed as the governor on 24th Chaitra 2076 (6th April, 2020), Adhikari has concluded his five-year tenure at the central bank.

Upon his departure from the office, Adhikari held a press conference at the Nepal Rastra Bank premises. During the conference, he reflected on the ups and downs of his tenure and mentioned the attempts to interfere with the autonomy of the central bank. Adhikari expressed pride in his role during his tenure, highlighting that he had worked to ensure the bank’s operations adhered to global standards and maintained its autonomy.

Emotional Song ‘Naacha Putali’ from Nepali Film ‘Jhilko’ Released: The song ‘Naacha Putali’ from the upcoming Nepali movie ‘Jhilko’ has been officially released. The emotionally charged track portrays efforts to cheer up a sorrowful young girl, connecting deeply with themes of sadness and healing.

The song features lyrics by Ananda Adhikari, music by Deepak Sharma, and is sung by Shahima Shrestha. Its poignant composition is enhanced by a touching narrative shown in the music video. In the video, Ashma Bishwakarma and Chahana Pun deliver captivating dance performances as they attempt to lift the spirits of the film’s lead character, portrayed by Ayushi Dhakal. Actor Sunil Pokharel also appears in the video, his somber expressions reflecting the seriousness of the film’s storyline.

Prakash Saput’s Directorial Debut Film ‘Basanta’ Hits Theaters Today: The much-anticipated Nepali film ‘Basanta’ has been officially released in theaters today, Friday, under the Friday Release category. The film enjoys a solo release slot, meaning no other major new films are launching alongside it this week. However, it hasn’t completely dominated screens nationwide, as previously released films like ‘Anjila’ and ‘Laj Sharanam’ are still occupying many cinema halls.

‘Basanta’ marks the directorial debut of popular singer Prakash Saput, who also plays the lead role. The film has been released simultaneously in Nepal and a few international markets, signaling high expectations and broader appeal. The film stars Prakash Saput alongside Swastima Khadka, Prabhat Pal Thakuri, Shree Shiwansi, Urmila Lamgade, and Khadka Bahadur Pun. Supporting roles are played by veteran actors Anup Baral, Kamalmani Nepal, Prakash Ghimire, and Bishal Pahari.

Sonam Topden Returns to Nepali Cinema with ‘Jalaki’: Internationally acclaimed actor Sonam Topden is making his much-anticipated return to Nepali cinema through a new film titled ‘Jalaki’, a project initiated by the makers of this year’s hit film ‘Khusma’.

Known for his powerful performance in the film ‘Shambhala’, which made waves at the Berlin Film Festival, Topden had been gaining momentum in the international film circuit. Now, with ‘Jalaki’, he’s stepping back into the domestic scene with a fresh and meaningful narrative. The film, rooted in cultural symbolism, takes its title from ‘Jalaki’, a stone pillar revered in the Magar community as a symbol of memory and love.

Gyanendra Malla Appointed Interim Coach for Nepal’s T20 Series in Hong Kong: Former national team captain Gyanendra Malla has been appointed as the interim coach of the Nepal national cricket team for the upcoming four-nation international T20 series set to begin on Chaitra 27 (April 9) in Hong Kong.

Malla began leading the training camp from Wednesday in Rupandehi as part of the team’s preparation for the series. His appointment comes after the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) appointed of the national team on Chaitra 15. Due to the delayed arrival of Stuart Law from Australia as the new head coach, CAN entrusted Malla with the coaching responsibilities in the interim.

Top Clubs to Battle in National Rugby Fifteens Championship in Lalitpur: Nepal’s premier rugby teams are gearing up for intense competition as the 4th National Men’s Rugby Fifteens Championship is set to kick off at Chyasal Stadium in Lalitpur. The tournament will run from Chaitra 27, 2081 to Baisakh 2, 2082 (April 9 to April 15, 2025), bringing together the best of the nation’s rugby talent.

This year’s championship will follow a round-robin format, ensuring that each team gets to face off against every other competitor. Major teams including Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club, Armed Police Force (APF) Club, and Gorkhali Rugby Club are expected to deliver a tough challenge in their quest for national glory.

National Athletes Nisha Thokar and Usha Bhandari Honored: Gorkha Municipality has honored two national-level athletes — football player Nisha Thokar and volleyball player Usha Bhandari — with a cash prize of NPR 20,000 each in recognition of their contributions to Nepali sports.

The honor was presented during the inauguration ceremony of the Mayor Cup Football and Deputy Mayor Cup Volleyball tournaments held on Thursday. The awards were handed over by Speaker of Gandaki Province Krishna Dhital, Gorkha Mayor Krishna Rana, and Deputy Mayor Masali Maya Thokar.

Israeli strikes on Gaza Kill Over 50 Palestinians:  Overnight strikes by Israel killed at least 55 people across the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said Thursday, a day after senior government officials said Israel would seize large areas of Gaza and establish a new security corridor across the Palestinian territory.

Israel has vowed to escalate the nearly 18-month war with Hamas until the militant group returns dozens of remaining hostages, disarms and leaves the territory. Israel has imposed a month-long halt on all imports of food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle.

South Korea’s Yoon Removed from Presidency: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office on April 4 after the country’s Constitutional Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach him over the Dec 3 martial law decree.

According to South Korean law, Yoon will be immediately removed from office and an early presidential election must take place within 60 days. Reading the verdict in the court with a live broadcast, Moon Hyung-bae, acting chief of the Constitutional Court, dismantled every justification Yoon provided for imposing martial law.

US Tariffs to Hit India’s GDP Growth: India’s economic growth could slow by 20-40 basis points in the ongoing financial year due to the latest U.S. tariffs, which would prompt deeper interest rate cuts by the central bank, analysts said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped a 26% reciprocal tariff on India, threatening the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) estimate of 6.7% economic growth in 2025-26 and the government’s economic survey forecast of 6.3%-6.8%. After the tariffs, Goldman Sachs lowered its growth estimate to 6.1% from 6.3%. Citi forecast a 40 bps drag on growth directly and indirectly, while Mumbai-based QuantEco Research estimated a 30-bps hit.