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 today.

We Will Investigate All Corruption and Irregularities: Interim PM Karki

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has announced that her cabinet will consist of no more than 11 ministers and will include only non-political individuals who have institutional experience and will not contest elections.  Speaking to BBC Nepali Service, she emphasized, “We are looking for non-political individuals. Only people who will not contest elections will be appointed as ministers.” In addition, PM Karki has revealed plans to establish a separate commission to investigate corruption, citing the mandate of the Gen Z protests as the reason.

Indian Ambassador Srivastava Calls on Interim PM Karki

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a courtesy meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Tuesday afternoon at Singha Durbar. During the meeting, Ambassador Srivastava reiterated India’s continued support for Nepal’s progress and prosperity, assuring that New Delhi would stand by Nepal in its development and reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, a video conference between Prime Minister Karki and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi has already been scheduled for Thursday.

Final Farewell to Gen-Z Protest Martyrs

The funeral procession for those who lost their lives during the Gen Z protest was held today. The procession moved from Maharajganj to Pashupatinath, where the martyrs were cremated with full national honors. Energy Minister Kulman Ghising and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal were among the officials who participated in the funeral procession. So far, a total of 72 people have died in the Gen Z protest. The government has declared all the deceased as martyrs. The funeral, which was originally scheduled for yesterday, was postponed to today.

Four Nepalis Killed in India Vehicle Accident

At least five people, including four Nepali nationals, died after a pick-up vehicle they were traveling in fell into a deep gorge in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district in India on Monday. According to Indian media outlets, four victims died on the spot, while one later succumbed to injuries in hospital. The deceased Nepalis have been identified as Rajesh Bista, Ekendra Shahi, Laxmi Malla, and Dilli Bahadur Shahi, reportedly hailing from Salyan district. Among the injured were Nabaraj Shahi and Him Bahadur Shahi.

No Advance Ticket Booking for Dashain and Tihar This Year

The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) in Kathmandu has announced that advance ticket booking for this year’s Dashain, Tihar, and other festivals will not be allowed. A meeting held on Tuesday at the Min Bhawan office in Kathmandu, which included all relevant stakeholders, concluded that advance bookings were unnecessary since many travelers have already started their journeys. Bijay Bahadur Swar, President of the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, explained that as students have already begun returning home there will be no special arrangements for advance ticket booking.

Gen Z Protest Death Toll Reaches 73

The death toll from the Gen-Z protests has reached 73. Among them, three were from the police force: Constable Milan Rai, Assistant Sub-Inspector Amrit Gurung, and Officer Uttam Thapa. Additionally, 21 people were killed after being shot by police in New Baneshwar, either at the scene or during treatment at hospitals. During the looting and arson on September 9, 38 people lost their lives. Fifteen bodies were recovered from burned properties, including Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket and private homes. Additionally, 10 deaths occurred among prisoners and juvenile detainees.

Maoist Centre to Build New Grand Office After Gen-Z Arson

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to construct a new and grand central office after its Koteshwor Paris Danda headquarters was heavily damaged in an arson attack by Gen-Z protesters on September 9. Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ inspected the party office on Tuesday, a week after the incident. He confirmed that while large portions of the building, including the workers’ and YCL sections, were destroyed, some crucial materials were saved.

Sanduk Ruit Declines Ministerial Role, Pledges Support to Government

Senior eye specialist Dr. Sanduk Ruit has declined an offer from Prime Minister Sushila Karki to join her interim government as a minister, while assuring that he will provide support in other ways. On Tuesday, PM Karki visited Tilganga Eye Institute to personally discuss Dr. Ruit’s possible participation in her government, which was formed following the Gen-Z protests on September 8 and 9. During the meeting, the Prime Minister explained that she had assumed leadership under exceptional circumstances and requested Dr. Ruit’s assistance in guiding the government.

Gen Z Protest Sparks Calls for Leadership Change in Maoist Centre

In the wake of the Gen Z protests, debates over party restructuring have intensified, with Janardan Sharma, Deputy General Secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre), demanding the resignation of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.” Sharma, who has long advocated for internal party transformation, believes that the current leadership has lost its legitimacy following the youth-led movement. He sees the Gen-Z protests as a positive signal for change and has begun discussions within party ranks to push for a leadership transition.

Preliminary Damage Assessment Begins at Ministerial Residences

In Lalitpur Metropolitan City–18, Bhaisepati, preliminary damage assessment has begun at the federal ministerial residences, as well as the provincial chief and chief minister residences, following arson during the Gen Z protests. According to the Federal Secretariat, the damage report for the incident on September 9 is expected to be ready within a week. Superintendent Engineer Chakrabarti Kanta of the Secretariat stated that the initial data collection has already started.

Election Commission Begins Preparations After House Dissolution

Following the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the announcement of elections on March 5, 2026, the Election Commission has started preliminary preparations. Earlier, the by-election schedule for Rupandehi-3, initially set for November 3, was canceled to accommodate the upcoming mid-term elections. Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai stated that formal consultations with the government, as well as administrative planning and other preparatory work, have commenced immediately following the election announcement.

16 Injured in Nepal Army Truck Accident on East-West Highway

A Nepal Army truck carrying soldiers met with an accident on the East-West Highway at Churiyamai, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-15, near the Makwanpur-Bara border, leaving 16 people injured. The accident occurred around 2:50 PM on Tuesday. The truck, numbered Lu 280, was part of a convoy of four trucks traveling from Rajdal Battalion-2, Tanahun, toward Dhanusha under the command of Deputy Commander Harsha Bikram Adhikari. According to Makwanpur police, the truck involved in the accident was carrying 22 army personnel.

Finance Minister Orders Cut in Fragmented Projects
Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal decided to cut fragmented and unprepared projects from the current fiscal year’s budget. A three-member committee, chaired by Budget and Program Division Chief Suman Dahal, was formed to recommend cuts. Members include Revenue Division Chief Uttarkumar Khatri and Foreign Aid Coordination Division Chief Dhaniram Sharma.

Banks Announce New Interest Rate
Banks and financial institutions have released their new interest rate schedules for mid-September to mid-October. This time, nine commercial banks made minor adjustments to interest rates, while the remaining banks maintained their existing rates. Among 20 commercial banks, interest rates for ordinary fixed deposits range from a minimum of 2.75% to a maximum of 2.80%. Savings accounts must maintain less than a 2% difference among types, and remittance accounts can add an additional 1% interest.

Remittances Boost Foreign Currency Reserves
Foreign currency reserves in the country continue to reach record levels due to increasing remittances. In the first month of fiscal year 2025/26, foreign reserves reached Rs 2.80 trillion. In US dollars, this is also a historic high at $20.03 billion. The steady increase in remittances has contributed to these reserves, with over Rs 100 billion entering monthly for the past 30 months.

Expenditure on Overseas Education Slightly Declines
Spending on foreign education has increased, but slightly less than last year. In a month alone, Rs 14.31 billion was spent for studies abroad. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, this is slightly lower than Rs 14.96 billion spent in the same month last year. Travel expenditures under the service account fell by 2.8% to Rs 21.70 billion, compared to Rs 22.32 billion in the same month last year.

Insurance Claims for Protest Damage Begin
Following protests on September 8-9, insurance claims for physical damage have started arriving. As of Monday, approximately Rs 25 billion in claims have been processed by non-life insurance companies. The initial claims tend to be large, but not all will be fully paid. Around 1,000 claims have been received so far, and more are expected.

Film Theaters Reopen and Productions Resume After Gen Z Protests

Film theaters that had been closed due to the political situation following the Gen-Z protests reopened on Monday. Filmmakers have also resumed shooting, production, and promotional activities. Shooting for the film “36 Ko Aankada” has restarted in various locations across Kathmandu. Director Sabir Shrestha confirmed that filming resumed after a three-day halt. The film features performances by Rekha Thapa, Puja Sharma, Mahesh Tripathi, Pushp Khadka, Nisha Adhikari, and others. Similarly, shooting for the film “Paral Ko Aago” has commenced in Myagdi.

Song ‘Yo Jyan Balidan’ from Film Balidan Released

The song “Yo Jyan Balidan” from the film ‘Balidan’ has been released, sung and composed by Sujan Chapagai with lyrics by Harka Saud. The song portrays a son’s emotional dedication to his mother and motherland, emphasizing that life is lived under the shelter of one’s mother and country, and that one is ready to sacrifice even their life if necessary. Through the hero’s voice, the song expresses deep love, devotion, and a spirit of sacrifice toward the nation and mother. Backing vocals were provided by Bibek Jha, Kriti Nepali, and Covid Baj, with musical arrangement by Kovid Baj.

Actor Rajesh Hamal Honored with Starlink Film Award in Canberra

Nepali actor Rajesh Hamal was awarded the ‘Starlink Film Award’ in Canberra, Australia, in recognition of over three decades of contributions to the film industry. He was lauded for his acting, personality, etiquette, and social service, inspiring Nepalis through his work. The award ceremony, sponsored by Starlink Mortgage and Finances, was organized by Photo Katha. The organization described Hamal as one of the brightest stars in Nepali cinema in the award citation.

Nepal Begins SAFF U-17 Championship with Victory

Nepal made a winning start in the SAFF U-17 Championship, defeating hosts Sri Lanka 2–0 in the opening match held in Colombo. Nepal’s Samir Kumar scored both goals, leading his team to a comfortable win. He netted the first goal in the 23rd minute and sealed the victory with another goal in the 75th minute. With this victory, Nepal earned three points in their first group stage match, making a strong start in the tournament. Nepal will face Bangladesh in their next fixture.

ANFA Postpones Meetings on U-16 and ‘A’ Division League

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has postponed two important meetings. The meetings for the ANFA U-16 Youth League, scheduled for Tuesday, and the Shaheed Smarak ‘A’ Division League, scheduled for Wednesday, have been put on hold. In a letter sent to clubs, ANFA stated, “Both meetings are postponed until further notice.” As a result, preparations for both competitions within the football association have been paused until new dates are announced.

 Pakistan’s Security Forces Kill 31 Insurgents in Overnight Raids  

Pakistan’s security forces raided two separate militant hideouts in the country’s northwest, killing 31 insurgents, the military said. The overnight raids took place in the districts of Bannu and Laki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, according to a military statement, which described those killed as “Khwarij,” a term authorities use for Pakistani Taliban fighters, but did not provide further details. The latest raids came days after the military said it killed 45 Pakistani Taliban in multiple operations in the northwest.

Israel Has Committed Genocide in Gaza, UN Commission of Inquiry Says

A United Nations commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. A new report says there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023: killing members of a group, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births.

India and US Seek Breakthrough in Day-Long Trade Talks

India and the US are holding a day of trade talks, sparking hope that stalled negotiations on a bilateral agreement will soon resume. A team led by US trade negotiator Brendan Lynch is in Delhi to meet officials from India’s commerce ministry. India said the meeting doesn’t mark the start of the next round of negotiations, describing it as a “discussion” about “trying to see” how an agreement can be reached. Negotiations on a trade deal had stalled after US President Donald Trump imposed a hefty 50% tariff on Indian goods, partly as a penalty for Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil and weapons.