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Preparations are going on for the 27th Pokhara Street Festival to be held on the occasion of the New Year in Pokhara. To make the street festival a grand success, the organizers have intensified publicity in major cities across the country. The organizing team has intensified publicity in Dharan, Itahari and Biratnagar of Sunsari to invite people to participate in the street festival to be held from Dec 28 to Jan 1 2026, organized by the Pokhara Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN).

The festival is being organized with the aim of promoting tourism, preserving local art and culture, and revitalizing economic activities, said Basanta Gautam, coordinator of the festival organizing committee. He said that Pokhara will be promoted as an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists throughout the festival period. The festival will include musical performances by local and national artists, folk duets, cultural tableaux, traditional dances, food stalls, handicraft exhibitions and various entertaining games, Gautam informed.

Coordinator Gautam said that programs like food festivals, tug of war, and talent shows will increase the special attraction of the audience. Gautam said that adventure sports competitions like boat race and waiter race, will be held in Fewa Lake. To make the festival more attractive and for tourists coming to observe, hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs will provide up to 20 percent discount on hotel rooms and special discounts on food dishes throughout the festival period, said Gopi Bhattarai, coordinator of Pokhara Tourism Year 25.

The organizer said that this festival, which is being organized with the aim of strengthening tourism, culture and local economy simultaneously, will help in introducing Pokhara’s identity at the national and international levels. To promote the festival, the organizing team is visiting places like Dharan, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Kathmandu and inviting people to attend the festival.

Opponents of Myanmar’s military rule urged citizens to stay indoors on Wednesday in a “silent strike” protesting the Dec 28 elections, which critics say are designed to legitimize the junta. Images showed empty streets in Yangon as many joined the action.

Meanwhile, authorities charged 10 pro-democracy activists in Mandalay with disrupting the electoral process after a rare flash-mob protest. The charges carry up to 10 years in prison. Despite threats to shopkeepers and tight security, activists say the strike shows public resistance to military rule remains strong.

Algerian journalist and AL24 News commentator Mehdi Ghezzar was released Wednesday morning after being briefly detained by French police near his Paris residence. Ghezzar told AL24 News he was held for several hours, calling it another instance in what he describes as growing pressure on him in France.

Ghezzar was recently removed from the French radio programme Les Grandes Gueules on RMC, where he had been a well-known voice. His exclusion followed his outspoken commentary on the war in Gaza and his strong support for the Palestinian cause. He says he has also faced repeated stops at Paris airports, despite being publicly recognised for his commentary.

His brief arrest has sparked criticism from observers who see it as part of a broader pattern of pressure on journalists whose views challenge dominant media narratives. The incident has renewed debate about press freedom in France and concerns over the gap between official commitments and practices on the ground.

Austrian ski jumper Stefan Kraft announced the birth of his daughter on Tuesday, sharing the joyful news on Instagram with the message: “Welcome to earth, our little princess.” The 32-year-old said the newborn has made the family’s happiness “perfect.” Kraft recently skipped the World Cup events in Ruka and Wisla to be with his wife during the final days of her pregnancy. The ski jumping season continues this weekend in Klingenthal, Germany, but it remains uncertain whether Kraft will return to competition or extend his time at home with his family.

UNESCO officially recognised Italian cuisine as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, celebrating a tradition deeply rooted in family, community and regional diversity. The decision was announced on Wednesday at the 20th ICH session held at Delhi’s historic Red Fort.Italy began its bid in 2023, arguing that its food culture represents more than iconic dishes like pizza or pasta—it is a shared ritual passed down through generations.From Lombardy’s ossobuco to Puglia’s orecchiette, the cuisine reflects a mosaic of regional flavours and histories.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the recognition as a moment of national pride, saying it will help protect authentic Italian products from imitation. Industry groups predict the accolade could boost tourism by up to 8 percent within two years, adding nearly 18 million overnight visits. Italian cuisine now joins global culinary traditions such as French haute cuisine, Korea’s kimchi-making and Japan’s Washoku.

Police have arrested an inmate who escaped from the central jail during the Gen-Z Protest on September 9.

Subin Gurung (22) of Siranchowk Rural Municipality-8 in Gorkha district, currently living in Tarakeshwor in Kathmandu, was apprehended from Manamaiju area, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shiva Kumar Shrestha said. 

Gurung was charged with smuggling and poaching of wildlife.

The United Kingdom is preparing for Storm Bram, which is expected to hit on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing gusts of up to 90mph (144km/h) to north-west Scotland and strong winds widely across the country. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for north-west Scotland from 16:00 to 23:59 BST Tuesday, with yellow warnings in place for Wales, south-west England, Northern Ireland, and other parts of Scotland and north-west England. Bram will also bring heavy rainfall, with 20-40mm expected widely and up to 80mm on higher ground, raising the risk of localised flooding, particularly in already saturated areas. Travel disruption, property damage, and power outages are possible. Storm Bram, named by Met Éireann, develops rapidly on Tuesday before moving north to the west of the UK

Soldiers guarded Nepal's parliament and patrolled deserted streets on Wednesday with the capital Kathmandu under a curfew, after two days of deadly anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign, Reuters reported.

The upheaval in the poor Himalayan nation was unleashed by a social media ban that was announced last week, but was rolled back after 19 people were killed on Monday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control crowds.

The death toll from the protests had risen to 25 by Wednesday, Nepal's health ministry said, while 633 were injured.

Nepal's army said that relevant parties were coordinating to tackle the situation after the protests and resolve the issue. Media also said preparations were being made for authorities and protesters to hold talks, without giving details. Reuters could not independently confirm the information, according to Reuters.