Nepal has first woman prime minister as president dissolves parliament and sets March elections

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The president of Nepal 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 caused the collapse of the previous administration.

President Ram Chandra Poudel also dissolved parliament and set March 5 as the date for elections based on the recommendation of the new prime minister, the president's office said in a statement late Friday. The most recent legislative elections were held in 2022.

Karki, a popular figure while serving as the court's only female chief justice in 2016 and 2017, was sworn in by the president Friday in a small ceremony at the presidential residence that was broadcast on state-run television.

Karki, 73, was known for her stand against corruption in the government while serving as chief justice. Some lawmakers tried to impeach her in April 2017 and made accusations of bias, but the move was unsuccessful and criticized as an attack on the judiciary.

Street demonstrations began Monday in the capital Kathmandu over a social media ban turned violent, with protesters attacking government buildings and police opening fire. Though the ban was rescinded, unrest continued over broader grievances. Tens of thousands of protesters attacked and burned the parliament, presidential residence and businesses.

The violence prompted Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign Tuesday and flee his official residence. Nepal’s army took control of the capital Tuesday night and negotiations between protesters, the army and the president began 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, called the protest of Gen Z, were sparked by the short-lived ban on platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube, which the government said had failed to register and submit to oversight.

But they soon reflected broader discontent, with many young people angry about what they call “nepo kids” of political leaders who enjoy luxurious lifestyles while most youth struggle to find work.

"Gen Z" leaders and others raise their hands with former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, center, after she was sworn in as interim prime minister at the presidential residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sujan Gurung)

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki leaves the president's residence after she was appointed as interim prime minister following protests that collapsed the previous administration in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki attends her swearing-in ceremony as interim prime minister at the presidential residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sujan Gurung)

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, right, greets Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel after taking the oath as interim prime minister during a ceremony at the presidential residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sujan Gurung)

Relatives of a person killed during anti-corruption protests that erupted after a social media ban, later revoked, react at the postmortem block of the Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo provided by the Nepalese President House, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, right, is administered the oath of office by Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel, center, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, following protests that collapsed the previous administration. (Nepalese President House via AP)

Riot police use a water cannon on protesters outside Parliament in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A protester wearing flak jacket and carrying a shield snatched from a policeman shouts slogans at the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's government's various ministries and offices during a protest against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

FILE - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sushila Karki, right, observes a minute's silence during Democracy Day in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)

FILE - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sushila Karki takes part in celebrations of Democracy Day in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Feb. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)

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)

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)

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)

MIAMI (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 18 of his season-high 39 points in the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown added 27 and the Boston Celtics trailed most of the way before rallying to beat the Miami Heat 119-114 on Thursday night.

Sam Hauser added 17 points for the Celtics, who outscored Miami 36-21 in the fourth quarter and won after facing as much as a 19-point deficit. It was their second-biggest comeback win of the season, after coming from 20 down to beat Indiana on Dec. 22.

Simons had the second highest-scoring game for a reserve this season — Utah's Brice Sensabaugh had 43 on Wednesday night in a loss to Chicago — and became the fourth Celtics player in the last 50 years to score at least 39 off the bench. The others: Larry Bird, Todd Day and Payton Pritchard.

Norman Powell scored 26 points for Miami, which got 22 points apiece from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Andrew Wiggins added 16 for the Heat.

Simons had 11 consecutive Boston points in the fourth quarter to chip away at what was left of the Miami edge, and then Hauser got an open 3-pointer with 5:21 left to give the Celtics their first lead since the opening minute of the game.

The lead changed hands twice more, before Brown's 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining put Boston on top for good.

Miami started the game on a 28-9 run, putting the Celtics in a most unusual early position.

That 19-point margin — only about seven minutes into the game — matched the biggest first-quarter deficit the Celtics faced in a 304-game span since trailing Indiana by 20 early on in a game on Dec. 21, 2022. Boston also trailed Milwaukee by 19 in the first quarter on April 9, 2024.

The Heat played without starting point guard Davion Mitchell (left shoulder contusion) and sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left knee soreness).

Celtics: At Atlanta on Saturday night.

Heat: Host Oklahoma City on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons, center, is defended by Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) comes under pressure from Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) goes for the basket defended by Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware, obscured, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) reacts after making a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches from courtside during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)