KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know.

Complaint Filed Against Prime Minister Shah Over Rap Battle Lyrics

A complaint has been filed at the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police against Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) regarding a rap battle video from 12 years ago. Former lawmaker Sunil Babu Pant submitted the complaint via email, alleging that the lyrics incite sexual violence and insult the dignity of women and the LGBTQ+ community. SP Dilip Kumar Giri confirmed the registration of the complaint on Friday, noting that other community members also visited the bureau to voice similar concerns. The police have launched an investigation to analyze the specific language used in the video to determine if it violates existing cyber and dignity laws.

Speaker Pledges Accelerated Lawmaking and Institutional Integrity

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has committed to accelerating the legislative process while strictly adhering to constitutional and legal procedures. During a discussion with the Parliamentary Affairs Journalists’ Society on Friday, Aryal emphasized that rapid lawmaking directly benefits citizens and prevents social issues caused by legislative delays. He stated that his focus is on leading the parliament as a respected institution that meets public expectations, especially following the Gen Z protest and recent elections. Aryal requested journalists to continue identifying weaknesses in parliamentary performance to help improve institutional accountability and uphold high standards of governance.

Government Hospitals to Implement 2-Day Weekend Policy

The Ministry of Health and Population has announced that government hospitals will now implement the two-day public holiday policy on Saturdays and Sundays. Under this arrangement, outpatient department (OPD) services will remain closed during the weekend, while emergency and essential services will continue to operate 24 hours a day. The decision follows a Cabinet move and a notice published in the Gazette on April 5. To minimize the impact on patients, the Ministry has directed hospitals to keep ambulance services ready and coordinate referrals to other facilities. Information regarding available services will be provided through hospital websites and information systems to assist the public during the holiday periods.

Medical Council Bans Doctors from Sharing Patient Videos Online

The Nepal Medical Council has issued a strict directive prohibiting doctors from sharing patient-related videos on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. The Council expressed serious concern over the growing trend of doctors broadcasting patient details and disease-specific content and prescribing medications through online consultations without physical examinations. The directive warns that such practices can cause confusion, fear, and medical complications for patients. Doctors are urged to maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to professional ethics and scientific evidence. The Council also advised the public not to follow unverified medical advice found on social media and to consult only qualified, registered practitioners for health concerns.

Nepal and Qatar Celebrate 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and the Qatari Ambassador to Nepal, Mohamed Al Ansari, successfully concluded a high-level meeting on Thursday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The discussions focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in labor migration, hydropower, and agriculture. Both officials reviewed plans for anniversary celebrations and explored new avenues for investment expansion and tourism promotion. The meeting solidified Qatar’s status as a vital partner in infrastructure development and a primary destination for Nepali migrant workers, marking a successful milestone in their half-century of economic and diplomatic partnership.

Foreign Minister Meets Non-Residential Ambassador of Lithuania

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held a courtesy meeting on Friday with Diana Mickevičienė, the non-resident ambassador of Lithuania to Nepal. The two officials discussed ways to further strengthen the relationship between the two nations and identified new areas for cooperation and assistance. Nepal and Lithuania established diplomatic relations on December 30, 2005, and have since collaborated on various international platforms. The meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at expanding mutual cooperation in trade, technology, and cultural exchange, reflecting Nepal’s broader strategy of diversifying its diplomatic engagements with European nations.

Supreme Court Grants Proxy Permission to PM Shah in Contempt Case

A joint bench of the Supreme Court consisting of Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal and Justice Shanti Singh Thapa has granted Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) permission to be represented by a proxy in a contempt of court case. The case dates back to June 22, 2023, when Shah posted a social media status challenging an interim order from the Patan High Court regarding the screening of Hindi films in Kathmandu. While the court had previously denied similar requests, it granted the proxy on Friday, citing the Prime Minister’s official responsibilities following the House of Representatives elections. This decision means Shah no longer needs to attend court hearings in person for this matter.

Supreme Court Official Sentenced to 6 Months for Forgery

The Kathmandu District Court has found Mahiman Singh Bista, an official at the Supreme Court, guilty of document forgery. A bench led by Judge Khimananda Bhusal delivered the verdict on Friday regarding a case where Bista wrote a forged letter ordering the arrest of Resham Chaudhary. The court sentenced Bista to 6 months in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. The case highlights a serious breach of legal ethics within the judicial administration, involving the fabrication of official correspondence related to high-profile political figures.

Licence Printing System Upgraded for 24-Hour Delivery

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timilsina announced that driving licenses will now be printed and handed over within 24 hours of revenue payment. During an inspection of the Security Printing Center in Panauti, Kavre, on Friday, the minister stated that the era of waiting months for a license has ended. The center is currently printing approximately 40,000 licenses daily to clear the backlog. Executive Director Debraj Dhungana aims to complete 1.2 million prints by April 25 and the remaining 1.7 million by mid-July. The government also plans to use the center for printing passports, bank checks, and excise stickers in the future.

Education Minister Urges Media Partnership for Sector Reform

Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Sasmita Pokharel has called for a continuous partnership with journalists to monitor and improve the education sector. During a meeting with the Education Journalists’ Group on Friday, Pokharel urged the media to highlight both successes and failures to keep the government accountable. She pledged to review and implement the Communication Strategy for Education, 2009, and is preparing to present the School Education Bill in the upcoming budget session. The group, led by Nirjala Kakshapati, submitted a memorandum suggesting increased investment in education, research fellowships, and the implementation of the National Education Commission 2019/20 report.

12 Parliamentary Committee Chairpersons Take Oath of Office

The newly elected chairpersons of 12 parliamentary committees under the Federal Parliament took their oaths of office and secrecy on Friday. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal administered the oath during a ceremony held at Singha Durbar. Members of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) were elected to lead 11 of the committees. Notably, Bharat Bahadur Khadka of the Nepali Congress was elected as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. The appointments mark a significant step in operationalizing the legislative oversight functions of the parliament following the recent restructuring of committee leadership.

Harka Sampang Urges Reform of Administrative System and Laws

Harka Sampang, chairperson of the Shram Sanskriti Party and lawmaker from Sunsari-1, has written an open letter to the government and the law minister calling for major reforms in the administrative system. Sampang identified administrative hurdles and the working style of the bureaucracy as the primary reasons for the country’s lack of development. He described the current legal and procedural complexities as a “cancerous” knot that requires “surgery” through legislative amendments. His letter proposes two main reforms: replacing the permanent appointment system with contract-based hiring for civil servants to ensure accountability and abolishing cumbersome laws in favor of simple, development-friendly regulations. He expressed his party’s readiness to collaborate with the government to achieve these structural changes.

Ojaswi Sherchan to Lead Education and Health Committee

Ojaswi Sherchan of the Rastriya Swatantra Party has been elected as the chairperson of the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives. Sherchan secured the position with a majority vote, defeating Guru Prasad Baral of the CPN (UML), who received minority support. The election followed the nomination process held on Thursday. As the head of this vital committee, Sherchan will oversee legislative matters and government policies related to the country’s education and healthcare sectors, as well as the rapidly evolving information technology landscape.

Bharat Bahadur Khadka Elected Public Accounts Committee Chair

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Bahadur Khadka has been elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives. His candidacy was proposed by Mohan Acharya and seconded by Janak Raj Giri. Khadka was the sole candidate to file a nomination within the timeframe set by the Federal Parliament Secretariat on Thursday. The Public Accounts Committee is traditionally chaired by a member of the opposition or a major coalition partner to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability within the government’s financial operations.

Unions Warn Government Against Banning Civil Servant Associations

Following the Cabinet’s announcement of a 100-point governance reform agenda that includes the abolition of political trade unions in public administration, 6 major employee unions have warned the government against such a move. Representatives from unions affiliated with the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), and other major parties submitted a joint memorandum to the Secretary of Federal Affairs on Friday. They argued that the right to organize is protected under Article 17 and Article 34 of the Constitution of Nepal, as well as International Labour Organization conventions. The unions are demanding that the upcoming Federal Civil Service Act include provisions for national-level trade unions and ensure equal growth opportunities for employees across federal, provincial, and local levels.

Kanchanpur Administration to Provide Services on Public Holidays

The District Administration Office in Kanchanpur has announced that essential services, including citizenship, passport, and national identity card issuance, will remain available during public holidays. The assistant chief district officer stated that this initiative is designed to provide convenience to service seekers. Offices will remain operational during major holidays such as Buddha Jayanti, Republic Day, Prithvi Jayanti, Lhosar, Magi, and International Women’s Day, as well as Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. Citizens are encouraged to bring necessary documentation to receive services during these designated holiday periods, ensuring that administrative processes are not delayed by the festive calendar.

Film ‘Paanch Pandav’ Set for Nationwide Tihar Release

The upcoming social drama Paanch Pandav is scheduled to hit theaters nationwide during the Tihar festival. Distributed by Rohit Kattel and Ratna Shrestha’s RR Films, the movie features a powerhouse cast including Hari Bansha Acharya, Jitu Nepal, Aryan Sigdel, Mahesh Tripathi, and Sushil Sitaula in the lead roles. Director Basanta Niraula and writer Sushil Paudel explained that the film uses the imagery of the five Pandavas from the Mahabharata to tell a contemporary Nepali story. Produced under the Kalirani Films banner by Kali Rani Shrestha, the project also stars Deepa Shree Niraula and Sarita Giri, aiming to provide full entertainment for audiences during one of Nepal’s biggest holiday seasons.

Swastima Khadka Portrays Badi Woman in New Film ‘Lalibazar’

Actress Swastima Khadka has described her lead role in the upcoming film Lalibazar as a career-defining performance. Speaking at the trailer launch on Friday, she highlighted that the film depicts the struggles and successes of a mother from the Badi community. Produced by Shatkon Arts, the team behind hits like ‘Mahajatra,’ the film is directed by Yam Thapa and executive produced by Pradip Bhattarai. The cast includes Rabindra Singh Baniya, Mukunda Kumar Shrestha, and Samaira Thapa. Actor Baniya noted that while the story is set in the Terai region, its themes of maternal sacrifice are universal. ‘Lalibazar’ is set to release in cinemas on May 1.

Dipendra Singh Airee to Lead Nepal in T20I Series Against UAE

The Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) has announced a 15-member squad led by Dipendra Singh Airee for the upcoming T20I series against the UAE. The matches are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. Notably, regular captain Rohit Paudel has been excluded from the T20I squad but will continue to lead the ODI team. The squad sees the return of Kushal Malla and Arjun Saud, while uncapped players Santosh Yadav and Hemant Dhami have also earned spots. This leadership shift highlights CAN’s strategy to utilize different captains for different formats as they prepare for international competition.

JBM Football Academy Enters Khajura Gold Cup Final

JBM Football Academy Lucknow secured its spot in the final of the First Khajura Gold Cup Football Tournament on Friday. In the first semifinal held at the D-Gaun Mini Stadium in Khajura-4, Banke, JBM defeated Gorkha Boys Sports Club Butwal with a score of 3-1. Nikhil Tamang opened the scoring for JBM in the 12th minute, followed by goals from Suraj Bhandari in the 43rd minute and Umesh Darlami in the 60th minute. Despite being reduced to 10 players after captain Sujan Magar received a red card, JBM maintained its lead. Goalkeeper Umesh Kumar was named Player of the Match. The final, organized by New Danfe Sports Club, will take place on Sunday, with a winner’s prize of Rs 700,000.

Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz Following Lebanon Ceasefire

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully reopened for all commercial vessels for the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire. The announcement via social media follows a period of significant tension where Iran proposed charging “tolls” for the use of the international waterway, which handles approximately 20% of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Iran for the move, having previously threatened sanctions if the passage remained blocked. The closure, triggered by regional conflict starting February 28, had left hundreds of tankers and nearly 20,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf region.

Pope Leo’s Stronger Rhetoric Draws Clash with Donald Trump

Pope Leo has adopted a more forceful tone during his Africa tour, sharply criticizing war, inequality, and global power dynamics, prompting repeated attacks from US President Donald Trump. The pope’s remarks, delivered in countries including Cameroon and Algeria, signal a shift from earlier caution to more direct condemnation of global injustices. Analysts say his stance reflects growing concern over world leadership and conflict, particularly the Iran war. The shift positions Leo as a more outspoken moral voice, continuing a tradition of papal advocacy while challenging the balance between neutrality and direct criticism.

US Singer D4vd Arrested in Teen Death Investigation

US singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities found her remains in September inside a Tesla linked to the singer in Los Angeles. The 21-year-old is being held without bail as prosecutors review the case. The victim had been reported missing months earlier, and her cause of death remains undetermined. The case had been under grand jury investigation since December. D4vd, known for indie-pop hits and a rapid rise in the music industry, had withdrawn from public appearances following the discovery.