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 Criticizes Nepali Media for Language Usage: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed discontent with the language used by Nepali media during a program celebrating the 125th anniversary of Gorkhapatra Daily. He argued that Gorkhapatra remains the only newspaper upholding the purity of the Nepali language and criticized the use of informal pronouns like “timi”(you) in news reports. “Compared to other newspapers, Gorkhapatra has been at the forefront of preserving the linguistic purity of Nepali,” Oli stated. He also reflected on the language used during the monarchy and questioned the lack of respect in modern reporting.

HoR Session: MPs Call for Immediate Govt Action on Key Issues: Lawmakers voiced a series of pressing concerns during the ‘urgent time’ of today’s House of Representatives session, urging the government to take swift action on various critical issues. Mahesh Kumar Bartaula called on the government to ensure immediate medical care for 10 people injured in a Bolero jeep accident in Raksirang, Makawanpur earlier today. He emphasized that six of the victims are in critical condition and require urgent treatment. Madhav Sapkota requested the Speaker to direct the government to investigate corruption allegations involving the Securities Board. According to him, an Initial Public Offering (IPO) had been halted due to demands for commissions, warranting a thorough probe. Yogendra Mandal raised concerns about a family displaced by a devastating house fire on March 18.

Security Council Meeting held at Singha Durbar: A Security Council meeting was held today at Singha Durbar, chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Key attendees include Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Defense Minister Manbir Rai, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, and Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel. The meeting discussed the potential impact of the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan on Nepal. Earlier, the National Security Committee had already decided to boost security monitoring at borders and airports.

Prachanda Injured After Falling at Resort: Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) reportedly fell and sustained injuries at Terrace Resort in Lakuri Bhanjyang, Lalitpur. According to high-level sources, Prachanda had stayed at the resort on Tuesday night when the incident occurred. He was rushed to Mediciti Hospital after suffering head injuries, requiring three stitches before being discharged. Although his secretariat claimed he slipped in the bathroom, the exact location of the incident was not specified. His daughter Ganga Dahal confirmed the incident on Facebook, stating that he had sustained head injuries after falling in the bathroom.

National Security Committee Meeting Convenes Amid Rising Tensions Between India and Pakistan: The National Security Committee convened on Wednesday afternoon at the Ministry of Home Affairs to analyze the potential impact of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan on Nepal. The committee decided to implement a security strategy and enhance surveillance along border areas. All three security forces have been instructed to increase monitoring along the borders. According to sources, a circular has already been issued to enhance security arrangements. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, representatives from the Nepal Army, Police Chief Deepak Thapa, Armed Police Chief Raju Aryal, National Investigation Department Chief Hutaraj Thapa, and officials from the ministry’s security division.

RSP Ready to Support Govt if Needed, Says Biraj Bhakta Shrestha: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Parliamentary Party’s Deputy Leader Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has made it clear that RSP will not seek an alternative to the current government. He further pledged that if the government is on the verge of collapse, RSP would step in to support it. Speaking during the discussion on policies and programs at today’s House of Representatives meeting, Shrestha emphasized that the fall of the government formed by major parties would not send a positive message to the public. “Although, in principle and practice, the two largest parties should be on different sides, they are currently together,” he said. “Many of our colleagues have also been saying that this government should not fall. I also say that if efforts are made to bring down the government, RSP is ready to provide support. But the government should not collapse.”

17 Individuals Charged in Nepal Bal Mandir Land Lease Scandal: A case has been filed against 17 individuals in connection with the 28 ropani 5 aana land lease scandal at Nepal Bal Mandir in Naxal, Kathmandu. The District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, registered the case at the Kathmandu District Court on Wednesday. Deputy Attorney Ramhari Sharma Kafle stated that the case was filed after completing all necessary procedures upon receiving the required documents. Those charged include former Chairperson of Nepal Bal Mandir Rita Singh Vaidya, who is also the sister of Nepali Congress leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, along with Vice President Tulsi Narayan Shrestha, Ganesh Bhakta Shrestha, Krishna Shankar Shah, Shyam Kumar Ale, Subas Kumar Pokharel, Prachandra Raj Pradhan, Ram Kaji Kone, Yogendra Bahadur Shahi, Deepak Das Shrestha, Praveen Raj Joshi, and Murari Nidhi Tiwari.

Pokhara Metropolitan City Employees Halt Services Following Ward Chair’s Misconduct: Employees of Pokhara Metropolitan City have halted services in protest against Ward No. 4 Chair Dev Krishna Parajuli’s alleged misconduct. On Tuesday, Parajuli reportedly engaged in a scuffle with Administrative Division Chief Ishwari Prasad Pokhrel inside Chief Administrative Officer Shivraj Chaulagain’s office. Parajuli, who had been discontented over the lack of technical staff in the ward, had previously threatened to close the ward office if employees were not assigned. He claimed that the absence of staff had stalled development projects, causing budget allocations to remain unspent.

Doctors’ Protest Continues: Doctors have been protesting for the past 35 days under the banner of the Safe Workplace Struggle Committee for Health Workers. The movement primarily involves residential and other doctors studying in various medical colleges across the country. During this period, agreements have been reached between the Ministry of Health and Population and various organizations representing the protesting doctors. However, the struggle committee has continued its protest, citing unresolved issues.The committee claims that several private medical colleges have not paid doctors’ salaries for the past three months and have been issuing threats to residential doctors. They have vowed to continue their agitation until these issues are addressed.

Congress MP Saud Urges Government to Fulfill Diplomatic Responsibilities Amid India-Pakistan Tension: Nepali Congress MP NP Saud has urged the government to recognize its diplomatic responsibilities in light of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking during the zero-hour session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Saud emphasized the need for Nepal to fulfill its national and international obligations during this critical time. The former Foreign Minister expressed sorrow over the killing of 26 innocent people, including Nepali youth Sudip Neupane, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He called on the government to prioritize diplomatic efforts to safeguard Nepal’s interests.

Govt Reluctant to Recover Assets Stashed Abroad, Says CIAA Chief: Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Prem Kumar Rai, has raised concerns over the government’s lack of action in recovering assets hidden abroad by corrupt individuals. Speaking at a meeting of the Federalism Strengthening and National Concerns Committee in the National Assembly, Chief Commissioner Rai revealed that the government is unwilling to take steps to retrieve assets stashed in countries like Singapore, the United States, and various European nations, despite agreements from those countries to facilitate their return to Nepal. He urged lawmakers to work towards recovering these ill-gotten assets, emphasizing the need to address corruption beyond the nation’s borders. Rai also criticized the government’s slow progress in the matter, despite the formation of a task force aimed at facilitating the return of such assets. He expressed frustration with the lack of urgency in their efforts.

Microfinance Victims Protest in Kathmandu: Microfinance victims from various districts protested in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The protesters gathered at New Baneshwor after marching peacefully from Sundhara through Jamal, Bhadrakali, and Maitighar. The demonstration aimed to highlight their grievances against predatory microfinance practices, with participants demanding government intervention and regulatory measures. After reaching New Baneshwor, the protesters returned to Maitighar, continuing their peaceful demonstration.

NEPSE Surges by Double Digits, Index Closes at 2673.69: Nepal’s stock market witnessed a significant surge on Wednesday, with the NEPSE index climbing by 62.25 points, closing at 2673.69. This marks a 2.38% increase for the day. A total of 308 securities were traded through 99,305 transactions, resulting in the exchange of 27.24 million shares. The total transaction amount reached a staggering NPR 10.51 billion. All subgroups saw gains, with investors in finance and hydropower sectors making the most profit. Among the top performers, Nepal Micro Insurance Company and Crest Micro Life Insurance saw the highest growth, each surging by 10%. Additionally, companies like Butwal Power Company, Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals, and Peoples Hydropower also posted strong gains, contributing to a highly profitable trading day for investors.

NRB Submits Pre-Budget Review Report for Fiscal Year 2082/83: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has submitted its pre-budget review report for the fiscal year 2082/83 to the Ministry of Finance. Acting Governor Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timilsina handed over the report to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel. Acting Governor Timilsina stated that the report was prepared after conducting studies and discussions across various regions of the country. Finance Minister Paudel expressed that the report would play a significant role in shaping the upcoming budget.

Government Announces Mandatory Registration of All Businesses with Social Security Fund: In the newly presented policy and program for the fiscal year 2082/83, the government has announced that all industries and institutions will be required to register with the Social Security Fund. The new program requires all employees engaged in any form of employment to be mandatorily registered for contributions to the Social Security Fund. The policy also stipulates that businesses must provide proof of regular contributions to the Social Security Fund when renewing their business licenses. Though the Social Security Fund was established nearly eight years ago, it was initially voluntary. The policy now mandates registration for all employment types, including companies, institutions, cooperatives, and other cooperative entities.

Protest at Gautam Buddha International Airport: Businesses in Rupandehi, dissatisfied with the lack of regular international flights from the Gautam Buddha International Airport, gathered in front of the airport gate to protest. On Wednesday morning, more than a dozen associations, led by the Chamber of Commerce Rupandehi, held a sit-in protest at the main gate of the airport for an hour. The business leaders warned that if international flights were not resumed regularly, they would escalate the protest, including halting domestic flights, boycotting relevant ministers, and staging a sit-in at the Ministry in Kathmandu. Darpan Shrestha, the President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce in Rupandehi, stated, “Today’s sit-in is only a signal; if our demands are not met, we will escalate our protest significantly.”

Producer Sharmila Pandey Prepares for New Film Starring Pradeep Khadka and Gaurav Bista: Filmmaker Sharmila Pandey, known for producing movies like Love Love Love, Aama, and Parastree, is gearing up for her next project. This time, she is collaborating with actors Pradeep Khadka and Gaurav Bista. Discussions have already taken place with both actors regarding the new film. After meeting with Pradeep, producer Pandey stated, “Pradeepji mentioned that he would be available after six months. He also plans to visit America soon to meet with Suraj and listen to the script. We intend to shoot the entire film in America.” The movie will be directed by her son, Suraj Pandey, who made his directorial debut with the film Parastree.

Grand Premiere of the Film Jaar Held in Lalitpur: The movie Jaar, which is set for release this Friday, had its grand premiere on Tuesday at QFX Labim Mall in Lalitpur. The event was attended by notable personalities, including former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and popular Bollywood actress of Nepali origin, Manisha Koirala. The premiere saw a strong presence of filmmakers, film journalists, and literary figures. The event also included a cultural dance performance reflecting the traditions of the Magar community. Most attendees expressed their appreciation for the film. Former Prime Minister Bhattarai praised Jaar, calling it an authentic representation based on Indra Bahadur Rai’s story, which is set against a 200-year-old backdrop. He added that the film would help the younger generation understand the social context of that era and the history of the Jaar tradition in Nepal.

Dr. Sumi Malla Wins Two Titles at Mrs. Tourism Queen International 2025: Dr. Sumi Malla, the winner of Mrs. Vogue Nepal 2025, has secured two major titles at the Mrs. Tourism Queen International 2025 held in Bangkok. She was crowned Mrs. Inspirational and Second Runner-up in the global competition. Her achievements were announced during a special event in Kathmandu. Dr. Mall, who is also a senior dentist, competed against participants from 25 different countries to secure the two significant titles. Reflecting on the competition, she stated, “The main title went to the contestant from Russia, as the moment favored her. However, I am proud of my performance as a representative of Nepal. Winning Second Runner-up and Mrs. Inspirational is an achievement in itself, even if I didn’t secure the main title.”

Nepal Women’s Cricket Team to Depart for Thailand for ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Qualifier: The Nepali National Women’s Cricket Team is set to leave for Thailand on Wednesday to participate in the ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Qualifier. According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the team will fly to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The Nepali squad is currently in Delhi, India, where they played two practice matches against local clubs. During their stay, Nepal faced three defeats against the Delhi-based teams. One of the matches was called off due to rain. In the first match against RPCA, Nepal lost by 32 runs but managed to secure a thrilling four-run victory in their final practice game on Tuesday. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Thailand from May 9 to May 20. Nepal will play its opening match against Hong Kong on May 10. The competition features nine teams, including the host nation Thailand, Nepal, Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE.

Third ‘Janakpurdham Mayor Cup’ to Feature Four Indian Cricket Teams: The third edition of the Janakpurdham Mayor Cup is set to take place starting this Friday, running until Jestha 2. The tournament is being organized by the Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City in collaboration with the District Cricket Association, Dhanusha. According to Shobhakanta (Guddu) Pandey, the President of the District Cricket Association, four teams from India will participate in the event. The Indian teams will represent four cities: Delhi, Lucknow, Muzaffarpur, and Purnia. Additionally, teams from all eight districts of Madhesh Province will join the competition. The teams are divided into four groups, with one Indian team placed in each group.

Bharatpur Metropolitan City Requests Federal Government to Settle Gautam Buddha Cricket Stadium’s Pending Dues: Bharatpur Metropolitan City has formally written to the federal government seeking grants to clear outstanding dues exceeding NPR 180 million for the under-construction Gautam Buddha Cricket Stadium. The decision to request federal assistance was made during a recent executive meeting of the metropolitan city. Business owners who supplied construction materials on credit for the stadium have not received payments for a long time. Despite Bharatpur Metropolitan City taking ownership of the stadium from the Dhurmus Suntali Foundation, it was initially reluctant to accept the debt obligations. However, due to mounting pressure from suppliers, the metropolis has initiated fresh efforts to address the pending dues. Frustrated business owners have warned that they may take legal action against the metropolitan city if payments are not made soon.

Scores killed in Indian strikes in Pakistan as tensions rise after Kashmir massacre: India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations early Wednesday, killing at least 26 people including a child, in what Pakistan’s leader called an act of war. India said it struck infrastructure used by militants linked to last month’s massacre of tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Pakistan claimed it shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation as two planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir. At least seven civilians were also killed in the region by Pakistani shelling, Indian police and medics said. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbors since the attack, which India has blamed Pakistan for backing. Islamabad has denied the accusation.

UN Chief Calls for Maximum Military Restraint from India, Pakistan: After India carried out precision strikes at terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for maximum military restraint from both countries. UN Secretary-General spokesperson said that Guterres is “very concerned” about India’s military operations across the Line of Control and the international border. In a statement, the UN Secretary-General spokesman said, “The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Trump Appeasing Putin with Pressure on Ukraine: Joe Biden has said that pressure from the Trump administration on Ukraine to give up territory to Russia is “modern-day appeasement” in an exclusive interview, his first since leaving the White House. Speaking in Delaware on Monday, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin believed Ukraine was part of Russia and “anybody that thinks he’s going to stop” if some territory is conceded as part of a peace deal “is just foolish”. Biden, who spoke as Allied nations mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day this week, said he was concerned about US-Europe relations breaking down under President Donald Trump, which he said “would change the modern history of the world”.