Mourners pay their last respects to Assistant Sub-Inspector officer Milan Raya, who was killed during anti-corruption protests that erupted after a social media ban was later revoked is prepared for cremation at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Wife of Assistant Sub-Inspector Milan Raya, who was killed during anti-corruption protests that erupted after a social media ban that was later revoked, pays her last respect during his cremation at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
CORRECTS SPELLING OF NAME TO SHREEYAM, INSTEAD OF SHEEHAM - The father of Shreeyam Chaulagain, 19, who was killed during an anti-corruption protest that erupted after a social media ban, which has since been revoked, pays his last respects before his son’s cremation at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal’s president appoints former chief justice as interim premier and first woman leader
Sushila聽Karki, a popular figure when serving as the court’s only female chief justice in 2016 and 2017, was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Poudel at the presidential residence.
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) 鈥 Nepal ‘s president on Friday appointed former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister and the first woman to head the Himalayan nation’s government, following fiery protests that collapsed the previous administration.
Karki, a popular figure when serving as the court’s only female chief justice in 2016 and 2017, was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Poudel at the presidential residence in a small ceremony broadcast on state-run television. Politicians, officials and foreign diplomats invited at the ceremony congratulated her.
Karki, 73, was known for her stand against corruption in the government while in office. Some lawmakers tried to impeach her in April 2017, accusing her of bias, but the move was unsuccessful and was criticized at the time as an attack on the judiciary.
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Street demonstrations starting Monday in Kathmandu over a social media ban turned violent, with protesters attacking government buildings and police opening fire. Though the ban was rescinded, the unrest continued over , with tens of thousands of protesters attacking and burning the parliament, the presidential residence and businesses.
The violence prompted to resign Tuesday and flee his official residence. of the capital Tuesday night, and started negotiations among the protesters, army and president over an interim government.
Violence over the past week left at least 51 people dead, police said Friday.
Many of the dead were protesters killed by police fire and some were inmates trying to break out of a jail in the capital, Kathmandu. Three police officers also were among the dead, police said.
The military has enforced a curfew since late Tuesday, with residents given a few hours per day to leave their homes to buy food and supplies while soldiers guard the streets of Kathmandu.
The demonstrations 鈥 called the protest of Gen Z 鈥 originally were sparked by the short-lived ban on platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube, which the government said and submit to oversight.
But they soon reflected broader discontent, with many young people angry about what they call 鈥渘epo kids鈥 of political leaders who enjoy luxurious lifestyles while most youth struggle to find work.
