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The tenth Memorial Day of the Gorkha Earthquake is being observed across the country with various programs.

On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country with its epicenter at Barpak in Gorkha district.

The disaster killed a total of 9,079 people and injured 22,309 others. It damaged over 800,000 private houses and 1,500 cultural heritages.

Districts including Gorkha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Dhading, Rasuwa, Makawanpur, Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga were affected the most by the quake.

Observation of the quake Memorial Day aims to make people aware about earthquake safety and for robust infrastructure development.

Likewise, a special event is being organized at the premises of Dharahara, Sundhara, in Kathmandu today. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to attend the program.

The budget session of the Federal Parliament is beginning today.

President Ram Chandra Paudel had summoned the meeting at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The meeting will be held at 1 pm today.  

As per the business schedule released by the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the Speaker of House of Representatives (HoR), Devraj Ghimire, would inform the House about the budget session summoned by the President and the reshuffle in the cabinet.

Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel is scheduled to table a proposal on Principle and Priorities of Appropriation Bill for discussions.

Leaders of different political parties would be given time on the basis of their parties for deliberations on the first day today.

Likewise, the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's personal secretariat shared that the UML's parliamentary party leader and PM Oli would address the House today.  

Government's policy and programs, and annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year would be tabled in this session of the Federal Parliament.

China has urged the United States to lift its extensive tariffs on Chinese goods as a sign of President Trump's commitment to settling the current trade war, BBC reported.

A Chinese official confirmed that no trade conversations had taken place, contradicting allegations by the Trump administration to the contrary.

As stated by BBC, the trade war continues to escalate, with China recently returning US-made Boeing aircraft in response to American tariffs.However, President Trump signaled a potential shift in tone, indicating that the imposed tariffs could be significantly reduced, though not eliminated entirely.

US President Donald Trump has condemned Russian airstrikes on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more overnight.

The BBC claims that Trump, in a rare public criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, termed the attack "not necessary" and urged him to "STOP" in a post on Truth Social.

Trump told reporters that he is "not happy" with the escalation and is putting "a lot of pressure" on Russia and Ukraine to cease the conflict. He made no indication of particular actions the United States might take.

The strike comes as peace talks remain stuck, with rising pressure on Ukraine to contemplate a settlement that may include giving up some territory—an issue Trump claims he can fix immediately.

The United Nations has called for “maximum restraint” from India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives on April 22.

As stated by Hindustan Times, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric condemned the attack and emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of disputes through “meaningful mutual engagement.”

“We appeal to both governments to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further,” Dujarric said during a press briefing.

The Pahalgam incident marks one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, further escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The KU Running Shield 2082, a national-level intercollege sports tournament hosted by Kathmandu University, is progressing toward its conclusion with wide participation and competitive matchups. Taking place at the 28 Kilo grounds in Dhulikhel, the event has brought together students from over 28 colleges across Nepal, along with athletes from India and Sri Lanka.

According to the latest medal tally, the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS) currently leads the competition with nine gold medals, bolstered by recent wins in boys’ volleyball and girls’ cricket. The School of Law (KUSOL) is in second place with seven gold medals, maintaining their position with a victory in the girls’ football final.

Among the notable performances, Ishan Pandey, a member of the Nepal Green squad, scored a century in a match against KU Engineering, contributing to KUSMS’s success in cricket.

Prabesh Guragain, Media and Promotions Lead of the event, said the tournament has seen participation from national-level athletes and international teams, calling it one of the most extensive university sports events to date. Aayush Chaudhary, Event Management Lead, emphasized the effort involved in organizing the event and acknowledged the contributions of the various teams involved.

Indoor events such as badminton, table tennis, and chess have concluded, while the final day on Friday, will include the cricket and football finals followed by the medal distribution ceremony. The event is expected to conclude with a formal closing ceremony, potentially attended by national sports figures.

Pakistan announced a series of retaliatory operations in response to India's punitive measures following the April 22 terrorist assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people.

In a statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Committee, Islamabad rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any diversion of water would be treated as an act of war. Pakistan also suspended the Simla Agreement and all bilateral agreements with India, according to the Firstpost.

Diplomatic and cross-border ties have been further shattered. The Wagah border crossing has been closed, SAARC visas for Indian nationals—except for Sikh pilgrims—have been suspended, and Indian defense and military advisors in Islamabad have been branded persona non grata and forced to go by April 30. The Indian High Commission's workforce has also been reduced to 30 members.

Pakistan has also closed its airspace to Indian-operated planes and banned all trade, even through third-country routes, Firstpost reported.

The government warned of a "full-spectrum national power response" to any danger to its sovereignty, indicating a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

South Africa’s finance ministry announced on Thursday that it will not proceed with the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) from May 1, following political opposition and investor concerns over potential instability in the coalition government, as claimed by Reuters.

As part of the national budget for 2025, the National Treasury recommended a gradual 1 percent point rise in VAT over two years. However, the two major coalition partners, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), were unable to agree on the initial 0.5 percent point raise.

As a result, the VAT rate would remain at 15 percent, the ministry confirmed. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is scheduled to propose amended versions of the Appropriation and Division of Revenue Bills in the coming weeks, Reuters reported.