KATHMANDU: Stay updated with Nepal News’ evening briefing, bringing you the day’s most important developments from Nepal and across the globe. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we deliver a concise roundup of the top news you need to know.

Speaker Aryal Highlights Intangible Cultural Property Bill at Chinnalata Awards

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal stated that the Intangible Cultural Property (Protection) Bill, 2024, will provide a legal framework for conserving and promoting national heritage during the 44th Chinnalata Song Award Distribution Ceremony on Saturday. The Bill, currently under discussion in the International Relations and Tourism Committee, includes provisions protecting community interests and penalizing violations. Speaker Aryal conferred awards on five personalities: Madan Krishna Shrestha, Nawaraj Lamsal, Kiran Kandel, Bimala Rai, and Sarika Ghimire.

Govt. Decides to Procure ABIS for National ID Program via G2G Arrangement

The government decided to procure the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) for the national identity card program from IN Group, a French state-owned company, through a government-to-government arrangement. The Cabinet approved the decision on June 12, 2026, authorizing the Department of National ID and Civil Registration to negotiate without competitive bidding for 10 million biometric records. Procurement will follow the pricing agreed in fiscal year 2018/19 at EUR 0.0995 per unit, equivalent to Rs 17.49. The Cabinet approved procuring 1.5 million licenses initially, with 8.5 million to follow through the G2G mechanism.

FNJ Stages Protest Demanding Protection of Press Freedom

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) staged a demonstration at Maitighar in Kathmandu on Friday, calling on the government to protect press freedom, uphold freedom of expression, and ensure civil rights. Organized under the slogan, “Protect freedom of press and expression, ensure civil rights,” the protest drew journalists advocating for stronger safeguards for media freedom and constitutional rights. During the demonstration, participants urged the government to uphold press freedom, respect the right to freedom of expression, and guarantee civil liberties.

Minister Rawal and Chinese Ambassador Discuss Healthcare Projects

Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal held a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming at the ministry on Saturday. The discussions focused on bilateral cooperation, including Xizang Autonomous Region-supported assistance projects, upgrading the Civil Hospital, establishing a CAR-T cell therapy laboratory for cancer treatment, and the digital transformation of land administration. During Minister Rawal’s first formal interaction with the envoy, Ambassador Zhang praised the ministry’s achievements during the government’s first 100 days in improving service delivery and good governance.

Karnali CM Kandel Resigns Ahead of No-Confidence Vote

Karnali Province Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel resigned on Saturday ahead of a scheduled no-confidence vote, ending a political crisis triggered by the withdrawal of four Nepali Congress ministers over power-sharing disputes. Rather than facing the floor test backed by a new coalition between the Nepali Congress and the Nepali Communist Party, Kandel chose a pre-emptive exit. In his farewell address, he defended his tenure’s administrative reforms and questioned the future stability of the incoming government before submitting his resignation to the Province Chief.

Madhesh to Implement Model Integrated Agriculture Program

The Madhesh Provincial Government will implement a model integrated agriculture program across ten local units to strengthen agricultural research, technology transfer, and organic farming, Minister of Agriculture, Forest, and Environment Gita Chaudhary announced on Thursday. Speaking at a federal-provincial coordination meeting, Chaudhary stated that municipalities will be selected based on provincial recommendations to deliver modern technologies directly to farmers, boost production, and prioritize organic farming. Madhesh Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav pledged the provincial government’s full cooperation for the initiative, emphasizing closer coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments.

Oli and Prachanda Sign Power-Sharing Pact for Provincial Governments

The CPN (UML) and the Nepali Communist Party have signed a formal agreement to share governance across provincial assemblies. The pact was signed on July 25 by CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Communist Party Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.” According to the text of the agreement, the coalition establishes a clear division of executive leadership across five provinces: the CPN (UML) will lead the governments in Koshi, Bagmati, and Lumbini provinces, while the Nepali Communist Party will take leadership in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces Meanwhile, the governance structure and leadership for Madhesh and Gandaki provinces will be finalized following further consultations with other political parties represented in those assemblies. The document states that the decision to collaborate stems from recent legislative disagreements, administrative friction, and budget formulation deadlocks within provincial assemblies.

Education Secretary Arrives in Dhangadhi for Talks with Dr Govinda KC

Education and Sports Ministry Secretary Chudamani Paudel has arrived in Dhangadhi to hold talks with Dr Govinda KC, as the government steps up efforts to end his hunger strike through dialogue. The move follows a telephone conversation between Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel and Dr KC on Friday evening. According to the minister’s secretariat, Secretary Paudel was dispatched to facilitate negotiations aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable resolution. In a further effort to break the deadlock, Prime Minister’s Health Advisor Dr JP Agrawal is also scheduled to travel to Dhangadhi on Sunday for discussions with Dr KC. The government has intensified negotiations in an effort to resolve the hunger strike through consensus.

RSP Condemns Misbehavior Against Lawmaker Ganesh Paudel

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) parliamentary party condemned the misbehavior against House of Representatives (HoR) member Ganesh Paudel after he was smeared with black soot on July 23, 2026. In a statement issued on Saturday by chief spokesperson Kabindra Burlakoti, the party denounced the incident as a violation of democratic values and the rule of law. Lawmaker Paudel was targeted while returning from a public meeting in Rautahat constituency-4. The RSP demanded that the government conduct an impartial investigation, penalize those involved, and ensure the safety of public representatives.

Woman Found Dead Inside Burnt EV in Tarakeshwar

The body of a 45-year-old woman, identified as Rashmi Rijal of Tarakeshwar-9, was found severely burnt inside a parked electric car in Tarakeshwar-1, on Saturday afternoon. Rijal had been missing since July 24. Kathmandu District Police arrived at the scene after discovering the body on the back seat and have launched an investigation into the cause of death. The body has been sent to Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj for an autopsy.

Over 1.2 Million Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in FY 2025/26

More than 1.2 million foreign tourists visited Nepal during the 2025/26 fiscal year, with India remaining the largest source market, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The NTB reported 311,531 visitors from India, accounting for 25.76 percent of arrivals. The United States ranked second with 111,325, followed by China with 109,892. Peak monthly arrivals occurred between mid-October and mid-November 2025, with 124,829 visitors. Acting Chief Executive Officer Hikmat Singh Ayer attributed the growth to expanded global promotion and improved air connectivity, as the board targets higher-spending visitors through initiatives like Wellness Tourism Year 2027.

Film ‘Gaunthali’ Crosses Rs 10 Million Gross Earnings

The social drama film Gaunthali, directed by Kapil Rijal, grossed over Rs 10 million on Saturday, with projections reaching Rs 15 million by midnight, according to producer Suman Giri. Riding on positive word-of-mouth and strong audience turnout from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, the movie’s nine-day cumulative collection is expected to hit Rs 65 million. With a public holiday scheduled for Sunday and international screenings launched across 26 states in the United States, the filmmakers anticipate crossing the milestone mark soon.

Nepali Athletes Secure Three Gold Medals at Caboolture

Nepal won three gold medals at the Caboolture Open International Taekwondo Championship held at the More Field Sports and Leisure Centre in Brisbane, Australia. Competing in the 18 to 32 age category, Pragati Kuikel, Ayush Dhungel, and Adish Khadka each delivered outstanding performances to secure top podium finishes in their respective individual poomsae events.

Govt. Praised Motorsport Athlete Ashish Bharati for Historic Gold Medal

Ashish Bharati (Rony) became the first Nepali motorsport athlete to receive a government cash award, securing Rs 500,000 following recommendations from the National Sports Council under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Earning gold in the auto-gymkhana solo event at The Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship, Rony defeated world-class drivers from Japan, Australia, India, and Korea, marking a monumental milestone for Nepal Automobile Sports Association (NASA Nepal) after a decade and a half of organizational efforts.

Indian Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid Student Protests

Indian Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his cabinet post on Saturday, citing student demonstrations in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and across India. In his resignation letter shared on X, Pradhan stated his decision aims to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting student protests and to protect students’ futures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet issued a public statement. The resignation follows escalating tensions after a July 20, 2026, demonstration near the Indian Parliament, prompting the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to call for a nationwide candle march on Sunday, while Delhi Police registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against participants.

Trump Criticizes Media at Revived White House Correspondents’ Dinner

US President Donald Trump criticized sections of the media while reaffirming support for free speech during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the first since an April shooting forced the event’s cancellation. Trump praised the resilience of the press gathering and honored a US Secret Service officer who helped stop the gunman but also renewed his attacks on news organizations, accusing many journalists of bias. The scaled-down event, attended by about 700 guests under heightened security, celebrated press freedom and journalism, while organizers said next year’s dinner would return to the Washington Hilton, where the April attack occurred.

Houthis Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Arabia After Riyadh’s Air Raids

Yemen’s Houthi group said it launched a missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s Jizan province early Saturday, claiming it was retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Houthi targets in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida and a nearby island a day earlier. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in Jizan but did not immediately comment on the claim. The exchange came as regional tensions remained high despite no new overnight strikes reported by either the United States or Iran for the first time in two weeks. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued, with Oman holding talks in Tehran on the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington said both military and diplomatic options remained under consideration.