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The race for Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives took a dramatic turn on Thursday. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi claimed that Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane had verbally agreed to support the RPP’s bid for Deputy Speaker. However, the ruling party instead backed the Harka Sampang-led Shram Sanskriti Party.

The RSP announced its endorsement of 26 years old Rubi Kumari Thakur of the Shram Sanskriti Party, virtually ensuring her victory. With this backing, the alliance commands 189 seats in the lower house—well above the two-thirds majority threshold—placing Thakur far ahead of the RPP candidate Saraswati Lama. Thakur’s candidacy was proposed by Shram Sanskriti lawmaker Aaren Rai and was seconded by RSP’s Ashok Kumar Chaudhary.

RPP’s Shahi publicly accused Lamichhane of reneging on a prior commitment. “We will see how much he fulfills his promise,” Shahi told reporters.

The emerging alliance is notable given past tensions. Harka Sampang, chair of the Shram Sanskriti Party, has been a vocal critic of the RSP-led government both inside and outside Parliament. Despite this, the two parties have now aligned, giving the ruling bloc a commanding two-third majority.

The Shram Sanskriti’s path to the Deputy Speakership appears to have been shaped by internal rifts within the RPP, despite an earlier verbal understanding between leaders.

A source told ApEx that the RSP had initially preferred Khusbu Oli as a consensus candidate for Deputy Speaker. However, RPP parliamentary party leader Shahi instead pushed forward Saraswati Lama, who is also the spouse of RPP leader Buddhiman Tamang.

Although Oli seconded Lama’s nomination, she was reportedly seeking the post herself. After learning of the internal discord within the RPP, the RSP recalibrated its position and chose to back the Shram Sanskriti Party’s candidate. 

The election follows the unopposed appointment of Dol Prasad Aryal as Speaker on April 5. Constitutional provisions require that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker be from different parties and of different genders. 

The price of gold has increased in the domestic market today. However, the price of silver has declined.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, yellow metal is being traded at Rs 296,900 per tola (11.66 grams) increasing by Rs 2,200 per tola.

Similarly, the Federation has fixed the price of silver at 4,960 per tola. It has declined by Rs 85 per tola.

The price of gold was Rs 299,000 per tola and silver was traded at Rs 4,875 per tola on Thursday.

According to international media, gold is being traded at USD 5,300 per ounce and silver at USD 95 per ounce in the international market today.

The government has directed the bodies concerned to make alternative arrangements for the continuous and effective delivery of health services in the context of implementation of the two-day weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

In the case of Sunday, directing the hospitals to operate OPD service on the basis of their workload and human resources in the context of Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Population asked the hospitals to make arrangement of giving holiday for two days, one day apart from Saturday and to provide services giving replacement leave if it is not possible to give holiday on Sunday. 

The Health Ministry requested the Provincial Hospitals and the Health Ministry of all the seven provinces to make arrangements in accordance with this guideline.

Former Japan international Keisuke Honda will continue his global goal-scoring quest in Singapore with the ​39-year-old midfielder joining FC Jurong from next ‌season, the club announced on Friday, Reuters reported. 

Honda has represented 11 club teams during his career including AC Milan and CSKA ​Moscow and last played at club level ​for Bhutan's Paro FC in 2024.