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.

Prime Minister Oli Holds Talks with Indian Ambassador Srivastava: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held discussions with Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, at his residence in Baluwatar. During the meeting, they talked about the recent tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, on April 22. Ambassador Srivastava informed the Prime Minister that although India carried out a retaliatory operation, there was no jet strike as rumored. He also expressed gratitude for the statement issued by the Government of Nepal and acknowledged Nepal’s commitment not to allow its territory to be used against neighboring countries.

Chinese Embassy in Nepal Advises Citizens to Avoid Border Areas: The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has advised its citizens to avoid Nepal-India border areas. In a statement posted on its WeChat channel, the embassy said that both Nepal and India have heightened security in the border regions, and there is a risk of accidentally crossing into Indian territory. The message emphasized caution to avoid entering Indian soil without a valid visa due to the open border between Nepal and India.

Lawmakers Demand Govt’s Preparedness Plan Amid India-Pakistan Tensions: Speaking during the House of Representatives session on Friday, members of parliament raised concerns over the possible consequences of the India-Pakistan conflict. CPN-UML lawmaker Saraswati Subba has called on the government to prepare for potential impacts of the ongoing India-Pakistan war, emphasizing the need for alignment with the national security policy. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Shishir Khanal emphasized that the conflict could disrupt supplies to Nepal. He questioned whether the government had formulated any contingency plans and demanded a discussion in parliament for clarity on the matter.

Federal Civil Service Bill: Draft Report Prepared, Discussion Announced: The draft report of the bill to regulate the formation, operation, and service conditions of the Federal Civil Service has been prepared. The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives has scheduled a discussion for the upcoming Sunday at its meeting hall in Singha Durbar. The bill was registered in the House of Representatives on Falgun 21, 2080 B.S., and after initial discussions, it was sent to the State Affairs Committee for clause-wise deliberation on Jestha 15, 2081 B.S.

RPP Chairman Lingden Says Last Year’s Policies Were More Positive: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden has stated that last year’s policy and program were more positive compared to this year’s. Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Friday, Lingden remarked that the previous policy initiatives showed some effort to bring change, whereas this year’s policies seem to lack such ambition. He pointed out that last year, the government had expressed its commitment to strengthening federal democratic republics and instilling hope and confidence among the people.

Deuba’s States No Problems from Congress in the Coalition: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba stated that there are no issues from his party’s side within the ruling coalition. In a briefing held at his residence in Budhanilkantha on Friday morning, Deuba told party officials that there were no conflicts with Prime Minister Oli and CPN-UML leaders. He also recalled that even after the 2079 elections, the Maoist Centre’s Chairman Prachanda left the alliance voluntarily, and if PM Oli were to do the same, it would have no significant impact.

Speaker Ghimire Directs Government to Ensure Security for Nepalis Amid India-Pakistan Tensions: Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire has instructed the government to ensure the security of Nepali citizens residing in India and Pakistan amidst escalating tensions between the two countries. During Friday’s House of Representatives session, lawmakers raised concerns about the safety of Nepalis living in conflict zones. Responding to the concerns, Speaker Ghimire directed the government to take necessary measures for their protection and safety.

Govt. Assures Security of Nepalis in Pakistan: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reassured the public about the safety of Nepali students and other nationals studying and residing in Pakistan. In response to the escalating tensions with India, the Ministry issued a statement on Friday, confirming the government’s vigilance in ensuring the security of Nepali citizens in Pakistan. “In light of recent developments, the Government of Nepal remains fully aware of and committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nepali students and other nationals in Pakistan,” the statement said. “The Nepali Embassy in Pakistan is in continuous contact with all students and nationals there to assist them.”

Monarchy Supporters Organize Motorcycle Rally Demanding Restoration of Constitutional Monarchy and Hindu Kingdom: Monarchy supporters organized a motorcycle rally demanding the reinstatement of a constitutional monarchy, a Sanatan Hindu Kingdom, and a multi-party democracy. The rally, held in the capital on Friday, saw the participation of key royalist leaders, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) Chairman Kamal Thapa and RPP leader Prakash Chandra Lohani, among others.

Madhav Kumar Nepal Undergoes Successful Angioplasty: CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal successfully underwent angioplasty. He had been experiencing health issues for a few days and was admitted to the Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre in Maharajgunj. According to party Politburo member Mohan Gautam, the angioplasty was successful, and he is expected to be discharged today.

UML Issues Whip to Support Government’s Policies and Programs: The ruling CPN-UML has issued a party whip directing its members to attend and vote in favor of the government’s policies and programs. On Friday, Chief Whip of UML, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, issued the directive, emphasizing that all members must be present and vote in support of the policies and programs, which are set to be submitted for decision on Sunday. The UML clarified in the whip, “President presented the annual policy and program for the Government of Nepal for the fiscal year 2082/83 during the joint meeting of both houses of the Federal Parliament.

Uncertainty Surrounds Nepal’s Bipin Joshi Among Gaza Hostages: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently confirmed that 21 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are believed to be alive, while three others, including Nepal’s Bipin Joshi, remain unaccounted for, with grave doubts about their status. A senior Israeli official revealed on Thursday that no signs of life have been received from these three hostages since shortly after the outbreak of the war. Among the missing hostages, two are foreign nationals — Bipin Joshi of Nepal and Pinta Nattapong of Thailand — along with one Israeli citizen. Although no official declaration of their death has been made by Israel, the situation remains dire, and their families have been continuously updated.

Stock Market Index Rises This Week Amid Mid-Week Surge: The stock market index witnessed growth this week, despite declines on three out of five trading days. The significant surge on Wednesday helped the market close in positive territory. On Sunday, the market dropped by 3.44 points, followed by a 9.98-point decline on Monday. However, it recovered slightly by 1.03 points on Tuesday and saw a substantial jump of 62.25 points on Wednesday. On the final trading day, Thursday, the market slipped again by 12.04 points. The political uncertainty and delay in the Governor’s appointment process caused the market to fall again on Thursday. Despite the index’s fluctuations, trading volume remained strong. Over the past two days, transactions exceeded NPR 10 billion, with the weekly turnover reaching NPR 556.6 billion.

SEBON Fails to Reach Decision on New Stock Exchange License: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) called a board meeting on Thursday to discuss the licensing of a new stock exchange; however, no decisive conclusion was reached. The meeting was convened to deliberate on the implementation of the report prepared by the study committee led by Chintamani Shiwakoti, a director at Nepal Rastra Bank. The study was aimed at exploring the feasibility and requirements for a new stock exchange in Nepal. On Poush 5, 2081 B.S., the Government of Nepal’s Cabinet had instructed SEBON to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations from Shivakoti’s study committee.

JICA to Provide 2.8 billion Yen Grant for BP Highway Reconstruction: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to provide a grant of 2.8 billion Japanese Yen for the reconstruction of the BP Highway. According to Arjun Prasad Aryal, spokesperson of the Department of Roads, a preliminary draft regarding the grant has been received. “Suggestions are to be made on it. Currently, the ministry is writing its opinion for submission,” he said.

At the current exchange rate, the Japanese Yen is equivalent to NPR 2.65 billion. Aryal mentioned that the exact amount will be finalized after the department sends its suggestions back to JICA.

Neighboring War Raises Economic Concerns for Nepal: The ongoing war between India and Pakistan has raised concerns about the potential impact on Nepal’s economy. Despite the conflict being geographically distant, experts warn that the economic consequences could affect Nepal due to its high dependency on trade with India. Economist Chandramani Adhikari stated that the war could cause economic instability in South Asia, with ripple effects in Nepal’s economy, particularly in trade, investment, technology transfer, and inflation. As Nepal’s economy is import-driven, it is likely to be more affected by any disruptions.

Nepal Film Development Board to Launch Real-Time Box Office Data System in Two Weeks: The Nepal Film Development Board is set to launch its highly anticipated “Real-Time Data” box office system within two weeks. The system was successfully tested on Thursday, according to Board Chairman Dinesh DC. Under this system, ticket sales from movie theaters will be recorded in the box office’s central server within five minutes of the transaction. The implementation of this system will finally bring years of effort to fruition. Government representatives, filmmakers, and distributors will have access to the box office data. Chairman DC mentioned that the system would allow analysis of a movie’s or theater’s track record. “Every theater will also be able to view its business records,” he added.

Actress Barsha Siwakoti’s Growing Film Demand: Actress Barsha Siwakoti’s film commitments have significantly increased, with one project after another being signed. Following the success of “Chhakka Panja 5,” Barsha has become highly sought after in the industry. Her film “Jhilko” was released last week, and she recently completed the shooting of “Magne Raja.” On Thursday, she signed yet another new film. Barsha will play a lead role in the upcoming film “Maharajdhiraj,” directed by Parichhed Sen. She has already signed a written agreement with the producers. Previously, Paul Shah and Ramesh Upreti were signed for the film. After signing, Barsha told Online Khabar, “I wanted to work with them because of their dedication, preparation, and seriousness towards the project. We signed the agreement as our schedules aligned.”

Two New Nepali Films Hit Theaters This Friday: As part of the Friday release schedule, two new Nepali films, “Unko Sweater” and “Jaar,” hit theaters nationwide. Though released simultaneously, both films have distinct themes. “Unko Sweater,” directed by Navin Chauhan, is a realistic social love story starring Bipin Karki, Miruna Magar, Pariksha Limbu, Alex Paras, Sunil Pokharel, Mao Tse Gurung, Prem Subba, Suraj Tamang, and Bhawana Khapangi Magar. “Jaar,” directed by Phurba Tsering Lama, is based on the acclaimed story “Jaar” by writer Indra Bahadur Rai. The film stars Saugat Malla, Anup Bikram Shahi, and Geetanjali Thapa in lead roles. Entirely shot in Sikkim, the film features both Nepali and Indian actors and crew.

Dispute at ANFA General Assembly After Former President Ganesh Thapa Denied Entry: A dispute erupted at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) General Assembly after former President Ganesh Thapa was denied entry. The opening ceremony was held at the Dhulikhel Municipality Hall, where National Sports Council (NSC) President Tanka Lal Ghising inaugurated the event by lighting a traditional lamp. Thapa was stopped at the gate, citing a lack of an entry pass, sparking a dispute and prompting the deployment of a large number of security personnel, including an Armed Police Force team led by a DSP. Thapa and his supporters demanded entry but were denied. Thapa remarked, “Either say you don’t accept the court’s decision or allow me entry to the General Assembly.”

Nepal Shares Points with Hong Kong in T20 World Cup Qualifier: In the first match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, which began in Thailand on Friday, Nepal shared points with Hong Kong. The match, scheduled to start at 8:15 AM at the Technology Ground in Bangkok, was called off without a toss due to bad weather and a wet outfield. Heavy rainfall the previous night left the field unplayable, and with continued rain forecasts, the match was officially canceled. Nepal will play its second match against Bahrain tomorrow, Saturday.

‘9th Pokhara Sports Award 2081′ Held Today: The ‘9th Pokhara Sports Award 2081’ program took place today (Friday) at 3 PM at the Pokhara Event Center. Organized by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum Gandaki, the event honored the best male and female athletes with awards along with a Talig electric scooter each. The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented with a silver vessel, a copper plaque, and a traditional shawl. Winners in other categories received awards along with a cash prize of Rs. 35,000 each. The program also featured a special musical performance by singer Samikshya Adhikari, according to the organizers.

India Orders Ports, Terminals and Shipyards to Increase Security Levels: India has directed all ports, shipping terminals and shipyards to implement increased security measures amid heightened tensions with its neighbour Pakistan, Reuters news agency reports. The order comes as India suspended civilian flights at 24 airports in the north following fighting with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan. Nearly 50 people have been killed, mainly in Pakistan, since India launched air strikes on Wednesday targeting “terrorist camps”, leading to the worst clashes between the neighbours in decades. Some of India’s biggest airlines, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, have cancelled more than 100 flights since Wednesday.

Robert Prevost Elected as First American Pope and Takes the Name Leo XIV: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has made history. The newly elected pontiff, now known as Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States, and the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The 69-year-old from Chicago stepped into his role as the 267th pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, addressing thousands of cheering Catholics with the words: “Peace be with you all.” As he addressed the crowds in St. Peter’s Square, Leo paid tribute to the late pontiff Francis, urging them to remember the late pope’s legacy of unity before outlining his own vision for the Catholic Church.

Putin Hosts Victory Day Parade with Tight Security and a Short Ceasefire: Vladimir Putin is leading Russia’s Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square and heightened security after days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital. Addressing Russia’s military, veterans and more than 20 international leaders including China’s Xi Jinping, Putin said Russia remembered the lessons of World War Two. He used his speech to tie the war to today’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and said all of Russia was behind what he called the “special military operation” – now well into its fourth year. A unilateral, three-day ceasefire was announced by Russia to coincide with the lavish 80th anniversary event, which Ukraine has rejected as a “theatrical show”.