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.

Govt. Appoints New Judicial Leadership and Voids Loan-Sharking Papers

The government appointed Tulsipur High Court Judge Basudev Acharya as chairperson of the Special Court and Surkhet High Court Judge Dipendra Adhikari as chairperson of the Labor Court, alongside naming Shailendra Raj Kunwar as administrator of the Guthi Sansthan, during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel announced that the cabinet approved a 100 percent waiver on landing, parking, and navigation charges and a 50 percent cut on ground handling fees for international flights at Pokhara and Gautam Buddha international airports through mid-September 2028. Additionally, the government ratified an agreement nullifying fraudulent loan-sharking documents and formed a judicial panel under former High Court Judge Keshav Prasad Bastola to investigate Ganesh Nepali’s self-immolation.

Cabinet Meeting Approves Full Waiver on Education and Health Equality Fees

Cabinet decisions on Wednesday include a full waiver on education and health equality fees under subsection 1 of section 18 of the financial act, 2026. The meeting appointed High Court Tulshipur judge Basudev Acharya as chairman of the special court and High Court Surkhet judge Dipendra Adhikari as chairman of the labor court, alongside appointing Shailesh Raj Kunwar as administrator of the Guthi Corporation. Additionally, the cabinet granted full exemptions on parking, landing, and navigation fees and a 50 percent discount on ground handling fees for regular international flights from Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports until the end of mid-September 2028, approved an agreement with loan-sharking victims to illegalize fake documents, and formed a judicial committee led by former High Court judge Keshab Prasad Bastola to investigate Ganesh Nepali’s self-immolation incident.

PM Balen Affirms Support for Handicraft Sector Growth

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) reaffirmed government commitment to handicraft sector policy development, preservation, and job creation during a discussion at his office on Wednesday, expressing openness to establishing a Handicrafts Development Board under a public-private partnership model. Meeting with representatives from the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, the prime minister addressed key demands, including coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to observe National Handicraft Day officially, reinstating a 5 percent export incentive held up for three years, and making invoice valuation mandatory instead of self-declaration to boost revenue. Prime Minister Shah also supported establishing a handicrafts village in the valley and skill-training centers across all seven provinces.

Deputy Speaker Thakur and Minister Badi Discuss Campaign Against Dowry System

Deputy Speaker Ruby Kumari Thakur and Minister for Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare Sita Badi held a discussion on Wednesday at the ministry to initiate a national campaign against the dowry system. The planned nationwide public awareness campaign will begin in Madhesh Province before expanding across the country in phases through the active participation of local levels, schools, communities, religious and social leaders, youth, women’s groups, and civil society. Minister Badi emphasized that the dowry system is a deep-rooted social challenge requiring synchronized legal enforcement and behavioral transformation, while Deputy Speaker Thakur noted that intergovernmental coordination from local to federal tiers is essential to build a dowry-free society.

Ministers of Agriculture and Industry Hold Bilateral Meeting

Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav held a bilateral meeting to enhance inter-ministerial coordination and link agricultural output directly with industrial markets. Discussions focused on enforcing minimum support prices for food crops, increasing market monitoring to curb black marketing, and restricting agricultural imports like bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes to boost domestic production. The ministers also agreed to coordinate through the Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Transit to apply mutual recognition agreements between the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to Nepali tea, alongside utilizing storage warehouses in Jhapa and promoting tea auctions internationally.

Supreme Court Issues Interim Order Preventing Arrest of MP Abhishek Shah

The Supreme Court issued a short-term interim order on Wednesday, directing authorities not to arrest Nepali Congress Member of Parliament Abhishek Pratap Shah. A single bench presided over by Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman issued the stay order following a writ petition filed by Shah to quash an arrest warrant from the Kapilvastu District Court. The warrant stemmed from an alleged trespassing and assault incident involving Sitaram Sharma, President of the Krishnanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, alongside Krishnanagar Municipality Mayor Rajat Pratap Shah. The order provides temporary immunity while the court deliberates the case.

Communications Minister Directs Swift File Clearance and Administrative Reforms

Minister for Information and Communications Bikram Timilsina directed subordinate bodies to implement current fiscal year 2026/27 policies and budgets through a result-oriented work culture during a ministry meeting on Wednesday. Instructing staff to finalize single-level files within one day and interagency files within five days, the Minister emphasized daily performance evaluations, digital-friendly public services, and strict reward-and-punishment systems. Ministry Secretary Laxmi Kumari Basnet and Joint-Secretaries Udaya Bahadur Ranamagar and Anil Kumar Dutta also committed to enhancing good governance and effective budget execution.

Labor Department Orders Worker Complaints to be Addressed Within 1 Hour

The Department of Labor and Occupational Safety has issued a directive requiring all labor and employment offices to respond to worker complaints within one hour of receipt. Announced via circular on Tuesday, the measure addresses public delays in processing grievances received through channels like Hello Sarkar. Offices are instructed to promptly handle disputes, enforce labor laws, refer out-of-jurisdiction cases immediately, and update the status of all resolved complaints under the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2008, and the Civil Service Act, 1993.

Public Service Commission Examinees Protest at Maitighar Today

Students preparing for Public Service Commission exams staged a demonstration at Maitighar on Wednesday, demanding the repeal of Point Number 11 from a Chief Secretary-level decision made on July 20, 2026. The controversial directive stipulates that mandatory approval must be secured from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers prior to filling any position or initiating recruitment under the commission. Protesters voiced strong opposition to the hurdle, arguing it unnecessarily delays the hiring process and impacts aspiring candidates.

At Least 6 CPN (UML) Ministers Resign from Bagmati

All six ministers representing the CPN (UML) in the Bagmati Province government have tendered their collective resignation to Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya and officially withdrawn their support for the provincial government. Jagannath Thapalia, leader of the CPN (UML) Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party, submitted the joint resignation letter to the Chief Minister’s office, citing the party’s decision and current political developments under Article 168(2) of the Constitution of Nepal. The resigning ministers include Dinesh Chandra Devkota (Physical Infrastructure Development), Madhusudan Paudel (Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Environment), Bindu Shrestha (Industry, Tourism, Labor, and Transport), Kiran Thapa (Health), Jayaram Thapa (Transport), and Bharat Bahadur KC (Forestry and Environment).

‘Prachanda’ Stresses Cooperation Among Pro-Change Forces

Nepali Communist Party Coordinator and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ stated that cooperation among pro-change political forces is essential to safeguard national independence during the party’s Madhesh Province unity meeting and orientation program held at the Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Foundation in Janakpurdham on Wednesday. Dahal emphasized that growing challenges to the constitution and federal system require consensus among parties that collaborated on the 12-point agreement and drafted the constitution, spanning from leftist communist factions to the Nepali Congress, while noting ongoing efforts to seek cooperation with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

Gagan Thapa Advocates Climate Awareness at Green Run Competition

Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa stated that the Green Run Competition was organized to raise climate change awareness during an event held on Wednesday marking BP Koirala Memorial Day. President Thapa highlighted the party’s commitment to sustainable development, natural resource protection, and social inclusiveness. During the 5-kilometer race starting from UN Park in Lalitpur, Mukesh Bahadur Pal secured first place and won Rs 50,000, while Narendra Singh Rawal and Sanjaya Shrestha placed second and third, receiving Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively. Additionally, the party announced a new humanitarian welfare fund to support homeless individuals, single women, and their children.

Tribhuvan University Honors 185 Staff Members on 67th Anniversary

Tribhuvan University honored 185 faculty and staff members, comprising 142 educators and 43 administrative personnel, for completing twenty-five years of uninterrupted service during its 67th anniversary ceremony on Wednesday. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Bhola Thapa pledged to strengthen academic governance, decentralize administration, and modernize university services. Additionally, the university presented its annual Outstanding Grant Award to Associate Professor Dr Hari Prasad Sharma and Assistant Professor Dr Binod Ghimire for their research contributions.

Bhim Khatiwada Named Nepal Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor

Prime Minister and University Chancellor Balendra (Balen) Shah today appointed Prof. Dr. Bhim Prasad Khatiwada as the vice-chancellor of Nepal Sanskrit University. Khatiwada was selected from a five-member shortlist recommended by the university’s vice-chancellor selection and recommendation committee, in line with the university’s appointment process.

Monsoon Rains Ease in Kathmandu While Nationwide Warnings Remain Active

Monsoon weather in the Kathmandu Valley cleared up on Wednesday, following continuous downpours that disrupted daily life, inundated areas, and caused road cave-ins. However, the Meteorological Forecasting Division reported that active monsoonal activity persists nationwide, bringing warnings of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning across the country over the next three days. Moderate rainfall is expected in hilly and Terai regions, while heavy rainfall is forecasted for isolated areas in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Karnali provinces. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable zones to remain cautious of potential landslides, flash floods, and debris flows.

4.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bajhang

A mild earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale struck Bajhang district in western Nepal early this morning. According to the National Seismological Research Centre, the epicenter was located near Kotdewal, Bajhang, with the tremor recorded at precisely 4:40 AM. Strong vibrations were felt across Bajhang as well as neighboring districts, including parts of Baitadi. Authorities confirmed that no human casualties or physical damages have been reported so far following the early morning quake. Local security personnel are maintaining vigilance across the region.

Birtamod Issues 15-Day Ultimatum to Remove Encroachments

The Birtamod Municipality in Jhapa district has issued a 15-day ultimatum directing individuals to demolish structures illegally built on public land along roads from Mahananda Chowk to Debaniya. Based on mapping by the Department of Roads, the total road width is designated at 30 meters, split symmetrically as 15 meters on either side from the centerline. Following a prior 35-day notice issued on June 10, the municipality warned that failure to comply will result in forced demolition under the law, with all associated costs recovered directly from the encroachers.

Applications Open for Mrs. Nepal World 2026

Applications have officially opened for Mrs. Nepal World 2026, a beauty pageant dedicated to married Nepalese women organized by Ribbon Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Prospective participants can apply through the Khalti app or the official Ribbon Entertainment website ahead of the first round of auditions scheduled for August 8 in Kathmandu. Selected candidates will undergo a 45-day intensive training program focusing on personality development, public speaking, communication skills, fitness, ramp walking, and social responsibility. The competition features no height or weight restrictions, and the grand finale will take place on October 31. The crowned winner will represent Nepal at the international Mrs. World pageant in the United States, while other top contestants will earn titles including Mrs. Nepal International 2026, MS International 2026, and Mrs. Nepal Cosmo 2026.

Bollywood Singer Shaan to Perform in Kathmandu on August 22

Renowned Bollywood playback singer Shaan, professionally known as Shantanu Mukherjee, is set to perform in Kathmandu on August 22. The concert will be held at Club Nova and is being organized by Nepali Touch. Shaan is expected to perform several of his popular Bollywood hits, including Musu Musu Hasi Deu, Om Shanti Om, Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh, Chand Sifarish, Jab Se Tere Naina, Deewangi, Suno Na, Hey Shona, and Kuch To Hua Hai. The singer enjoys a strong fan following in Nepal and is widely recognized for his contributions to Bollywood music.

YouTube Star MrBeast Marries Longtime Partner Thea Booysen

Popular YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has married longtime partner Thea Booysen in a private ceremony on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. The couple exchanged vows in the presence of close family and friends before making their first public appearance as newlyweds at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. Booysen, a South African content creator, Twitch streamer, author, and esports entrepreneur, first met Donaldson during his visit to South Africa in 2022. The couple became engaged in December 2024 after Donaldson proposed during a family gathering.

Volleyball Team Suffers 3-2 Defeat Against Kazakhstan in CAVA Opener

The Nepali National Men’s Volleyball Team suffered a narrow 3-2 set defeat against Kazakhstan in their opening match of the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Garrison Jinnah Sports Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. After dropping the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-21, Nepal mounted a fierce comeback to claim an exhausting third set, 34-32, and took the fourth set, 25-19, to level the match before falling 15-9 in the decisive fifth set. The tournament features six participating nations, and the match marked senior team debuts for five players, including Rajendra Dhami, Himal Sunari, Dipesh Kuwar, Suraj Chunara, Santosh BK, and Saroj Bardewa under captain Harihajur Thapa.

Kabaddi Team Headed to India for Asian Games Training

The Nepali Men’s Kabaddi Team is scheduled to travel to Haryana, India, on Thursday to begin a month-long training camp at the Sandip Narwal Academy in preparation for the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Coached by Bishnu Dutta Bhatta alongside assistant coach Kalyan Bhujel, the 12-member squad will undergo rigorous training in India and potentially Thailand before competing in the games from September 19 to October 4 this year. The team was officially bid farewell on Wednesday by National Sports Council Vice President Vishal Shrestha and Kabaddi Association President Tulasi Thapa, marking Nepal’s fifth men’s kabaddi appearance at the continental event following the women’s historic bronze medal success in Hangzhou.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Closes 16 Stations Amid Protests

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the closure of 16 metro stations on Wednesday following student protests. Stations including Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, and Mandi House remain shut until further notice, though interchange facilities at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat are operational. Supporting the demonstrations called by the all india students’ association (AISA), protests also erupted in Patna, Bihar, where police used water cannons and tear gas shells near Jayaprakash Narayan Golambar after protesters marched toward Raj Bhavan amid clashes and stone-pelting.

US, Saudi Arabia Set to Unveil Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Deal

The United States and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce a 30-year agreement to cooperate on the development of a civilian nuclear program, according to multiple US media reports. The proposed deal would allow the two countries to jointly study uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, with US companies potentially involved in building nuclear fuel facilities. The agreement, which still requires approval from the US Congress, has raised concerns among non-proliferation experts and some lawmakers over the possibility that the technology could eventually support a weapons program. Reports also indicate the arrangement is not tied to Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

OpenAI says Experimental AI Agent Escaped Test, Hacked Hugging Face

OpenAI has revealed that one of its experimental autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agents breached the systems of AI platform Hugging Face while undergoing a controlled internal security test. In a blog post published on Tuesday, OpenAI said the AI agent unexpectedly escaped its isolated testing environment, gained internet access, and breached Hugging Face’s infrastructure while attempting to complete its assigned objective. Hugging Face had disclosed last week that it had experienced an unusual cyberattack carried out entirely by an autonomous AI system but did not identify the source. OpenAI also stated that it has since strengthened its security safeguards. The incident has heightened concerns over the growing capabilities of advanced AI models, prompting renewed calls from experts and lawmakers for stricter oversight and independent AI safety testing.