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.

President Paudel Unveils Govt Policy for New Fiscal Year: President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday addressed the joint session of the Federal Parliament, presenting the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year.  The joint sitting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly began at 3 PM at the Parliament Building in New Baneshwor. The President’s address, mandated under Article 95 of the Constitution of Nepal, outlined the government’s strategic focus on reviving public optimism, especially among youth, by emphasizing entrepreneurship, skill development, startup promotion, and good governance.  The policy framework also aims to stimulate government spending in priority sectors. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, discussions on the proposed policy and program will take place from Baisakh 22 to 28 (May 5–11), after which it will be endorsed by the Parliament.

Govt to Pursue Constitution Amendment Through Consensus, Says President Paudel: The government will pursue constitutional amendments through political consensus, President Ramchandra Paudel announced during a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Friday. While unveiling the government’s annual policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year, President Paudel said the Constitution of Nepal, promulgated in 2015, will be reviewed and amended to address weaknesses seen in the implementation phase. “The government will initiate the process of constitutional amendment based on consensus, by reviewing the Constitution and correcting the shortcomings observed during its implementation,” President Paudel stated.

President Announces School Education Act in Government Policy: President Ram Chandra Poudel announced that the primary demand of the teachers’ protest, the enactment of the School Education Act, will be addressed in the upcoming fiscal year. During the joint session of the federal parliament today, while presenting the government’s policy and program for the fiscal year 2082/83, President Poudel assured that the much-awaited law, which aims to improve the education sector, will be passed in the current parliamentary session. The protest had been led by teachers demanding better working conditions, proper wages, and the swift implementation of the School Education Act, which seeks to overhaul the education system in Nepal.

Oli Criticizes Teachers for Ignoring 52% SEE Failure Rate:  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has sharply criticized teachers for their lack of concern over the failure of 52% of students in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE). Speaking at a program in Kathmandu on Friday to mark National Information and Communication Technology Day, PM Oli expressed disappointment that teachers were not taking the alarming failure rate seriously. Referring to a post he saw on social media, Oli said, “I heard a teacher talking and he was criticizing me harshly. I don’t even know him, and probably we’ve never even met—but he was insulting me without reason.”

Cabinet Meeting Postponed, Swearing-in of Minister of State Halted: The scheduled oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed State Minister for Energy has been postponed. The cabinet meeting, which was also supposed to take place today, has likewise been halted. The government had appointed Kham Bahadur Garbuja of the Nepali Congress as the Minister of State for Energy yesterday. While the swearing-in was scheduled for 10 AM today, a notice of postponement was issued. The cabinet meeting scheduled for the same time has also been postponed until further notice. The reason for the postponement has not been disclosed.

Foreign Ministry Initiates Diplomatic Inquiry into Prisha Shah’s Death: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated diplomatic efforts to investigate the death of Prisha Shah, a student from Birgunj who was studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in the Indian state of Odisha. Shah was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening. Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba expressed her sorrow over the incident via social media platform Facebook on Friday, stating she was deeply saddened by the death of Nepali student Prisha Shah, who was found dead in her hostel room at the Indian institute. She added, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately launched diplomatic efforts yesterday itself through the Government of India, senior officials of the Odisha government, and the Nepali Embassy in Delhi to investigate the facts and truth behind the incident.

Indian Foreign Ministry Expresses Condolences Over Death of Nepali Student in Odisha: India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed sorrow over the death of Prisa Shah, a Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha.  In a press release issued on Friday, the ministry extended condolences to Shah’s family and said it was in regular contact with the Odisha state government since the incident came to light. “Since receiving information about this tragic incident, the Ministry of External Affairs has been in constant touch with the Odisha government,” the statement said. “The state government has extended full support to the bereaved family, and the police are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.”

Health Minister Warns of Scrapping Affiliation of Private Medical Colleges:  Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel has warned that the government may cancel the affiliation of private medical colleges if they refuse to implement the Medical Education Commission’s decision on allowances for resident doctors. During a meeting with representatives from resident doctors and the Nepal Medical Association at the ministry today, Minister Poudel issued a stern warning. On Magh 25, 2081 BS, the 16th meeting of the Medical Education Commission—chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli—had decided that all resident doctors studying in postgraduate programs at affiliated private medical colleges should receive a living allowance equivalent to that given to resident doctors in public institutions (equivalent to the 8th level of the health service).

Nepali Congress Calls Parliamentary Party Meeting: The ruling Nepali Congress has called for a meeting of its parliamentary party. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 2:00 PM in the Lhotse Hall of the Federal Parliament building in New Baneshwor. The government is set to present the policy and program for the fiscal year 2082/83 in Parliament today. Before the discussion on the policy and program begins in Parliament, the Nepali Congress has called for the party meeting.

Dev Gurung Calls for Probe into Alleged Irregularities in Pokhara Airport Construction: General Secretary of CPN (Maoist) Centre, Dev Prasad Gurung, has demanded an investigation in the alleged irregularities during the construction of Pokhara International (regional) Airport. Speaking at a press meet organized by the Press Centre Nepal in Pokhara today, the leader demanded the judicial investigation being based on the report on the alleged irregularities produced by a parliamentary sub-committee. The leader from the major opposition said the party will always support good initiatives of the coalition government of the two largest parties: the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML).

Govt to Include HPV Vaccine in Regular Immunization Program: The government has announced that the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer in women, will be included in the regular immunization program. While presenting the policy and program, President Ram Chandra Poudel stated that cancer treatment services for children under 14 years of age will be provided free of cost. Additionally, more effective programs will be introduced for pregnant and postpartum women in remote areas. The policy also includes provisions for free healthcare for senior citizens. “Effective programs will be implemented for pregnant and postpartum women in remote areas, and free healthcare services will be provided to senior citizens,” President Poudel remarked.

BJP Leader Chauthaiwale Calls on Finance Minister Paudel: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Head of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Foreign Affairs Department Vijay Chauthaiwale held a meeting at the Ministry of Finance in Singha Durbar today. On the occasion, discussions were held on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest, according to Finance Minister Paudel’s secretariat. Chauthaiwale was on a three-day visit to Nepal. He returned to India today.

Court Allows 4-Day Custody of SC Official for Fake Letter to Jail Resham Chaudhary: Kathmandu District Court has granted police four days to detain and investigate Mahiman Singh Bista, a Supreme Court section officer accused of misusing the court’s letterhead to send a fake letter ordering the arrest of Nagarik Unmukti Party patron Resham Chaudhary. Bista was arrested on Wednesday and presented before the court on Friday for extension of remand. According to police spokesperson SP Apilraj Bohora, Bista sent the unauthorized letter to Dillibazar Jail, after which Resham was taken into custody. The Supreme Court later issued a clarification letter, calling the first one unauthorized and ordering Resham’s release, which came after four and a half hours of detention.

Govt Sets 13 Priorities for Upcoming Fiscal Year: The government has outlined 13 key priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, as presented by President Ram Chandra Paudel in his address to the joint session of the Federal Parliament. The first priority is to strengthen the federal democratic republic and counter any movements that oppose it. Additionally, the government plans to initiate a constitutional amendment process based on consensus to address gaps identified during its implementation.  Political and policy stability will be another key focus, ensuring consistent governance throughout the year.  The government will also prioritize the reprioritization of development projects, placing emphasis on feasibility and the elimination of non-viable or flawed initiatives.

Nepal Stock Market Drops 1.31% This Week: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell by 1.31% this week, dropping 35 points from last week’s close of 2,658 to settle at 2,623. Due to the public holiday on Thursday for Labor Day, trading took place over four days. The market declined on three of those days. While it gained 3.58 points on Sunday, it dropped by 14.53 points on Monday, 15.08 points on Tuesday, and 8.14 points on Wednesday. Despite the market decline, trading volume remained significant. Transactions reached Rs 10.87 billion on Sunday, followed by Rs 8.91 billion on Monday, Rs 7.57 billion on Tuesday, and Rs 9.37 billion on Wednesday.

NEA Issues White Paper, Moves to Take Rs 10 billion Short-Term Loan: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has issued a white paper revealing a dire cash flow crisis despite showing large assets and profits on paper. On Friday, NEA Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya made public the white paper, stating that the authority’s account holds zero cash balance, prompting it to seek a short-term loan of Rs 10 billion. Speaking at the press event, Shakya said, “While we show assets worth Rs 600 billion and even profits, the NEA currently has no cash reserve. This is why we have initiated the process of acquiring a Rs 10 billion short-term loan.” He added that the authority has already sent a formal request to the government for approval. “We are compelled to move ahead with the borrowing plan simply because the institution lacks liquid funds,” Shakya explained. “Even though short-term loans carry higher interest rates, we have no alternative at this point.”

EPS of Commercial Banks Decreases: As of the end of Chait (March) in the current fiscal year, the average earnings per share (EPS) for commercial banks stands at 14.27 rupees. This is a slight decrease compared to the previous year’s 14.31 rupees for the same period. During this time, the EPS for commercial banks has generally decreased, but there has been a significant improvement in distributable profits. At the end of the last fiscal year (Chaitra), the total paid-up capital of commercial banks was 379 billion 2 million rupees, with a profit of 40.68 billion 31 million rupees. In the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the paid-up capital increased to 385.33 billion rupees, and profits rose moderately to 41.25 billion 11 million rupees. During this period, 10 banks saw an increase in return on shareholder investment, while 10 others experienced a decline.

New Nepali Film ‘Jhilko’ Released Today: The new Nepali film ‘Jhilko’ has been released today, following the tradition of Friday releases. The film has been given a solo screening opportunity and is being shown in 116 theaters across the country, according to the distribution company DCN. The film addresses the impact of digital addiction on children’s lives, family relationships, and social standing. It features performances from Ayushi Dhakal, Sunil Pokharel, Barsha Siwakoti, Bishal Pokharel, Bholaraj Sapkota, Janwi Basnet, Jenish Shrestha, and Jebish Shrestha, among others. Directed by Yadav Kumar Bhattarai, who previously directed ‘Jhola’, the film is produced under the banner of Media for Culture Pvt. Ltd.

Grand Finale of ‘The Voice of Nepal’ Season 6 Tonight: The grand finale of the sixth season of the singing reality show ‘The Voice of Nepal’ will take place tonight at 8 p.m. Four contestants will compete for the title. The finalists are Roshan Rai from Team Melina Rai, Process Ponde from Team Khem Senchuri, Pramesh Rai from Team Raju Lama, and Arpana Acharya from Team Uday Sotang.

Film ‘Anjila’ Marks 51st Day of Screening: The film ‘Anjila’ has successfully entered its 51st day of screening, achieving a business of over 10 crores. Released on February 29 of last year, the film has continued to perform well at the box office. Directed by Milan Chams, the film is based on the life of Nepal women’s national football team captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba. Chams mentioned, “This is probably the first biopic Nepali film to reach the 51-day mark.” To mark the milestone, the production team will hold a celebration event today. The film stars Anjila Subba, Prem Kumar Shrestha, Sunil Thapa, Dayahang Rai, Bijay Baral, Srijana Subba, Mao Tse Gurung, Sumeen Gurung, and Buddhi Tamang.

Boys Union Club Secures Thrilling Victory: Boys Union Club claimed a thrilling victory over Brigade Boys Club in the Sahid Smarak ‘B’ Division League. In the match held on Friday at the ANFA Ground in Satdobato, Brigade Boys defeated Boys Union 3-2. For Brigade Boys, Dorje Tamang scored in the 29th minute, Sujit Budhathoki in the 66th, and Milan Limbu in the 71st minute. Boys Union’s Roman Shrestha scored in the 79th minute, while Ashish Gurung added another in the 87th minute, but it wasn’t enough to secure a comeback for the team. With this win, Boys Union has earned 15 points from nine matches, while Brigade Boys have accumulated 12 points from the same number of games. The ongoing league, organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), features 14 teams in the ‘B’ Division. The league winners will receive a cash prize of NPR 1.5 million, the runners-up will earn NPR 1 million, and the third-place team will be awarded NPR 500,000.

Nepal National Football Team Heads to Manang for Preparation: The Nepal national football team has traveled to Manang to prepare for their upcoming international friendly match against Hong Kong and the first phase of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Laos. The players arrived in Lamjung on Thursday for a six-day closed training session, after which they proceeded to Manang. National men’s team head coach Matt Ross briefed the players upon reaching Lamjung, informing them that the training for the upcoming matches against Hong Kong and Laos would take place in Manang. “This closed training session starts today. We are conducting closed training at this altitude for the first time. Everyone will have to prove themselves. We are starting preparations from scratch,” Ross said.

APF Enters Final at Mayor Bhojpur Gold Cup Football Tournament: In the highly competitive semifinal of the 8th International Invitational Mayor Bhojpur Gold Cup Football Tournament, the Armed Police Force (APF) defeated the Georgian Football Club from India and secured a place in the final. The game remained goalless until the additional seven minutes of extra time, when APF’s player, Samirah Thokar, wearing jersey number 7, scored a goal that turned out to be the match-winner. Thokar was named the Man of the Match for his decisive goal in the semifinal.

Bagmati Province Youth and Sports Ministry to Organize Sports Awards and Youth Summit: The Youth and Sports Ministry of Bagmati Province is preparing to organize the first-ever Sports Awards and Youth Summit in Hetauda. This event is scheduled to be held after the establishment of the provincial government, as announced by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Min Krishna Maharjan. According to Maharjan, the event is aimed at encouraging young athletes. He emphasized that organizing competitions alone is not enough to boost the morale of young athletes. “Along with encouragement, there must be support from the state,” he said. The Ministry will hold the provincial-level Sports Awards and Youth Summit in the first week of Jestha at Democratic Chowk, Hupra, in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-4.

Ten Dead, Dozens Injured in Philippines Bus Crash: Ten people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a bus hit several vehicles at a toll gate on one of the busiest highways in northern Philippines, authorities say. The bus driver, who has been detained, said he had fallen asleep at the wheel, police told AFP, adding that four children were among the dead. Buses on the nearly 100km (62mi) Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway often ferry workers between Manila and surrounding provinces. The accident on Thursday happened while families were travelling for labour day. The Department of Transportation ordered the suspension of Solid North Bus, a major bus operator in the region and the company that owned the vehicle involved in the crash. The bus driver may be charged with “reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides,” police told AFP. The bus conductor has also been detained.

China Says Open to US Trade Talks Offer but Wants Tariffs Scrapped: China said Friday it is evaluating a US offer for negotiations on tariffs but insisted Washington must be ready to scrap levies that have roiled global markets and supply chains before talks can begin. Punishing US tariffs that have reached 145 percent on many Chinese products came into force in April while Beijing has responded with fresh 125 percent duties on imports from the United States. High-end tech goods such as smartphones, semiconductors and computers have received a temporary reprieve from US tariffs. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that China has reached out for talks on the tariffs, and this week said he believed there was a “very good chance we’re going to make a deal”. Beijing’s commerce ministry on Friday said that it was the US that had reached out and that it was “currently evaluating” the offer.

South Korea Former PM Launches Presidential Bid: South Korea’s former prime minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, joining the race in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of the ex-president. The June 3 vote will decide who replaces impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office ov his ill-fated declaration of martial law in December that sank South Korea into prolonged political turmoil. Political instability in the country intensified Thursday after a retrial was ordered for a presidential frontrunner over alleged election law violations, and as two key government figures — including Han — resigned. Han had hinted at a possible presidential bid when he resigned as acting president and prime minister on Thursday, suggesting that he was willing to “take on a greater responsibility”.