Nepal picks three with reform credentials for interim cabinet | World News

New Miners, from left, Rameshwor Prassad Khanal, Miner of Finance, Kulman Ghising, Energy and irrigation Minry, and Om Prakash Aryal Home Minry attend an oath swearing ceremony in front of the presidential building vandalized during recent protests, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal’s interim Prime Miner Sushila Karki unveiled cabinet roles on Monday for three figures with reform and anti-graft credentials to lead the Himalayan nation after deadly violence led to parliament’s dissolution.
A former chief justice, Karki became the first woman to lead the country last week, after nationwide anti-graft protests killed at least 72 people, and forced the resignation of Prime Miner KP Sharma Oli.
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The finance minry will be headed Rameshwore Prasad Khanal, the president’s office said in a statement, adding that he had been sworn in President Ramchandra Paudel.
A former finance secretary, Khanal led a panel that recently recommended key economic reforms.
The energy minry goes to former state power utility chief Kulman Ghising, the office said. When in office, the engineer had combated the scourge of load-shedding in the mountainous nation.
The home (interior) miner will be Om Prakash Aryal, a human rights lawyer and adviser to the mayor of Kathmandu, the capital, who launched legal battles on various issues of public interest.
Nepal’s worst protests in decades were led the ‘Gen Z’ group opposing widespread corruption. The unrest and acts of arson and vandalism that followed injured more than 2,100.
Karki, 73, who formally took office on Sunday, tasked with holding national elections on March 5, has asked officials to start rebuilding public structures destroyed in the protests.
These included the complex housing the prime miner’s office and other minries, along with the supreme court and the parliament building. The homes of political party leaders, such as Paudel and Oli, were also targeted.
Also set on fire were shopping malls, hotels and other businesses.
There is no monetary estimate yet of damages.
