Nepal

Nepali Congress has declared Gagan Thapa as its Prime Minister candidate, signalling a generational shift within the party; The decision aims to project reformist leadership ahead of upcoming political contests and strengthen the party’s national appeal

366 gharials in rivers Rapti and Narayani have been recorded with a new survey, confirming a steady recovery of the endangered crocodile; a freshwater dolphin was also sighted, signaling improving river health and success of conservation efforts in Nepal

Karki's government is mired in controversy for disputed political appointments, alleged misuse of authority, and infighting within the ruling coalition; These issues have stalled key reforms and eroded public trust

Department of Passports is in final negotiations with French and German firms to secure a short-term supply of machine-readable passports: stock has fallen below 170.000 units and the new biometric passport contract doesn’t begin until mid-March 2026

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has renewed efforts to enforce a long-ignored ban on public smoking; An awareness drive with fines is underway and though past attempts failed, the city says strict enforcement is vital for public health and pollution control

The Baitadeli dialect, rooted in the Khas tradition, is a marker of identity of the far west; mostly oral, eventually written in Devanagari, it declines as Nepali dominates; Locals see it as vital heritage, its preservation a cultural distinctiveness

On August 1, Bagmati Province was officially declared fully vaccinated for children aged 16–23 months, with all districts achieving complete coverage