- Friday, 3 July 2026
Kathmandu, July 3: There is a possibility of rainfall taking place in majority of the parts of the country, as a result of the effect of the monsoon winds.
According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather of the country is currently generally cloudy, with moderate rainfall taking place in some places in Bagmati, Koshi and Lumbini provinces.
This afternoon, there is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places in the mountain and hilly regions of the country and snowfall in some places in the high mountainous regions. There is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places in the Tarai.
Tonight, the weather will continue to remain generally cloudy throughout the country. There is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places in the mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces and snowfall in some places in the mountainous regions of Karnali, Sudurpaschim and Lumbini provinces. In addition, moderate rain with thunder and lightning is possible in some places in the hilly and Tarai regions.
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01- Former MP Koiri arrested
Mahottari, July 3: Police have arrested leader of the CPN (UML) and former member of the House of Representatives, Laxmi Mahato Koiri. A resident of Gaushala-2 in Mahottari, he was arrested from the UML party office premises in Gaushala-5 on Thursday evening.
Koiri was arrested after the Janakpurdham High Court on Wednesday sentenced him to five years in prison in the case of murder of Armed Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Thaman BK.
Spokesperson of the District Police Office, Mahottari, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Panchalal Gole confirmed that Koiri was arrested in accordance with the court’s decision.
Earlier, Koiri was acquitted in the same case by the Mahottari District Court. While the case was sub judice in the court, Koiri, who was elected from Mahottari-1 from the CPN (UML) in the 2079 BS House of Representatives election, was also a candidate in the last March 5 general elections. However, he was defeated.
Following the arrest, Koiri was taken to the district headquarters, Jaleshwor. Armed Police Force personnel BK was brutally beaten on the streets of Jaleshwor in during the Madhesh movement in 2015 and was killed while he was being taken to Janakpur in an ambulance after receiving initial treatment in Jaleshwor for further treatment.
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03- ‘Stop selling bird flu infected poultry’
Kathmandu, July 3: The Department of Livestock Services has warned of action against traders found selling bird flu infected poultry including chickens, ducks and quails.
Urging not to play with people’s health, Department Spokesperson Dr Mukul Upadhyay said strict action will be taken as per the law if infected birds are found being sold in the market.
Meanwhile, the Department has urged people at large to take special precaution as there is a risk of the virus spreading to humans, if dead chickens are randomly thrown and during culling of the infected birds.
So far, around 700,000 poultry, 1.1 million eggs and 300,000 kg of poultry feed have been destroyed in 11 districts where bird flu has been confirmed, including the Kathmandu Valley.
A team of veterinary technicians is active in the infected areas of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan and Nawalparasi to control the spread of the disease, Dr Upadhyay said. As a Rapid Response Team has been mobilized in the concerned districts, some districts are in the process of being brought under control.
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04- NA meeting today: Appropriations of seven ministries to be discussed
Kathmandu, July 3: The National Assembly is meeting at 1:15 pm today to hold discussions on economic and budget-related bills and the Appropriation Bill.
According to the Parliament Secretariat, the agenda for the meeting is for NA Secretary Tul Bahadur Kandel to table messages received from the House of Representatives regarding the “Economic Bill, 2083” and the “National Debt Recovery Bill, 2083”.
This will be followed by a group discussion on the appropriations of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Defense under the Appropriation Bill, 2083.
Similarly, the appropriations of the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and Secretariat of the National Planning Commission will be discussed.
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05- Drinking water supply from Melamchi to Kathmandu suspended
Kathmandu, July 3: Water supply to the Kathmandu Valley has been temporarily suspended from today after flooding at the source of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.
According to Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) spokesperson Bir Bahadur Chand, the supply of water flowing from Melamchi river to the Sundarijal-based treatment center has been temporarily suspended as the water at the source of the Melamchi has become muddy, making the processing process complicated.
The water at the source has become extremely turbid due to rainfall. The water supply will resume as per the predetermined distribution schedule after the source become clean. However, if there is continuous rain it may take some time to from continuity of drinking water from Melamchi to Kathmandu, Chand said.
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06- 500 million released for compensation to poultry farmers affected by bird flu
Kathmandu, July 3: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment has released Rs 500 million to the Department of Livestock Services to compensate poultry farmers affected by the recent outbreak of bird flu in various districts of the country.
The Department had requested funds from the Ministry to distribute compensation to farmers who have suffered financial losses due to bird flu. Department spokesperson Dr Mukul Upadhyay said that the released funds will be used to provide compensation up to 75 percent of the loss to the affected poultry farmers.
About 700,000 birds, 1.1 million eggs and 300,000 kg of feed have been destroyed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan and Nawalparasi, where bird flu infections were detected. This is reported to have caused a loss worth Rs 700 million.
According to the Bird Flu Disease Control (Fourth Amendment) 2074, there is a provision to provide compensation of up to 75 percent of the damage to the concerned owner after evaluating the culled poultry, poultry products and bird feed.
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07- 100 Days of Government: Foundation being laid for accessible and responsive healthcare services
Kathmandu, July 3: The new government’s goal of providing patients with treatment as quickly as possible and providing them with medicines at affordable prices is slowly taking shape.
The government is doing so by maintaining overall digital record of patients including their health status and treatment provided to date. There are six health-related goals in point no. 85 of the 100-point agenda of governance reforms made public by the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah in March earlier this year.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Food Safety has gradually started to eliminate many anomalies in the health services sector by starting with a change in working culture. Comparing the past and the present, Ministry Spokesperson Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari says the entire working culture of the health sector has changed. The practice of dilly dallying, violating the procedure, and making decisions based on biases has now been eliminated. From large federal hospitals providing health services to lower-level units under the ministry, there is continuous monitoring and inquiry from the ministerial level to make them accountable and work result-oriented.
One notable change is the government’s step to make 10 per cent free beds in hospitals mandatory targeting the poor and financially incapable people. Since the ‘Free Health Dashboard’ with integrated details of free hospital beds came into operation, 2,262 people have benefited. So far, 213 hospitals have put updated details on their total beds, including the beds that will constitute 10 percent of them, on the dashboard.
In addition, the free health dashboard has contact numbers and service details of a total of 32 blood transfusion service centers, including Nepal Red Cross and hospitals. The government has approved the Targeted Group Free Treatment Dashboard (Operation and Management) Procedure, 2083, to provide all services in free beds and has placed it on the website of the Ministry of Health and Food Safety.
In addition, continuous service-related training has been provided to health workers, and soft skills training has been provided to 727 people from various hospitals so far.
Meanwhile, significant work has also been done under the government’s 100-point agenda commitment to make burn treatment effective. The government has allocated a grant of Rs. 20 million to Kirtipur Hospital for state-of-the-art burn treatment.
In addition, Rs. 200 million has been allocated to establish a burn treatment fund for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. Rs. 100 million has been allocated to the ministry to replenish the insufficient funds in hospitals. So far, the government has also provided training to 48 health workers from 12 federal hospitals in the initial treatment and management of burns. In addition, budget has been allocated for training other doctors, health workers or nursing staff in burn treatment and management.
Likewise, continuous coordination and collaboration with various health institutions is being carried out to ensure the health care of 2,599 injured people during the GenZ protests.
In addition, the government has implemented the Procedure for Reimbursement to Hospitals for Medical Treatment of Injured People in Various Protests, Conflicts and Natural Disasters in the Country, 2082 BS. Accordingly, about 8.5 million rupees have been paid to hospitals so far for the medical treatment of injured people in armed conflicts and people’s movements.
As an important step towards good governance, the government has also prepared a report on the problems identified for improving public procurement management and the suggestions for solutions.
Similarly, preparations are underway to formulate a new Health Service Act by amending and integrating the Nepal Health Service Act, 2053 BS, in line with the proposed Civil Service Act.
As an additional step towards good governance, the Ministry of Health has also prepared the Procedure for Selection, Recommendation and Appointment of Officials of Public Bodies Affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene, 2083.
In addition, the draft of the Ministry of Health and Food Safety’s Employee Code of Conduct and the Organization and Management Survey of the Ministry have been prepared, and performance indicators have been prepared with job descriptions of each position in the ministry.
Meanwhile, a toll free number under the ‘Hello Health’ platform has been put into operation for the management of any public complaints related to health. The hotline number 1115 is allocated for health-related complaints while it can also be done by scanning the QR code on the ministry’s website. By the end of Jestha in the fiscal year 2082/83, a total of 6,629 complaints, feedback and service requests were received under the ‘Hello Health’ initiative.
Spokesperson Dr. Adhikari also informed that the government has addressed all the complaints received on ‘Hello Health’ till mid-June.
Similarly, the government has taken effective steps to prevent any negligence or compromise in the quality of service in health services through monitoring from various large hospitals to drug stores. During this period, more than 1000 monitoring of various types has been conducted. Necessary actions, warnings and instructions have also been issued by the ministry after the monitoring.
In addition, the government has effectively addressed the dues in health insurance payment. Since the formation of the government, nearly four billion rupees have been paid for health insurance schemes. A regular monitoring system has been set up to make the overall health service effective.
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08- Concrete bridge constructed at Tamutar
Bhojpur, July 3: A concrete bridge has been constructed at Tamutar, connecting Shadananda municipality and Salpasilichho rural municipality of Bhojpur. This has made it easier for the locals in their movement.
The bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 63.3 million of the Infrastructure Development Office under Koshi province government.
Earlier, the movement of locals used to come to a complete standstill during monsoon season due to flood in the local stream for the lack of a concrete bridge. Especially patients, pregnant women, students had faced difficulties due to this.
The citizens of two local levels have been directly benefitted with the construction of the bridge, said a local Tej Bahadur Ghale.
Chief of Infrastructure Development Office, Rajan Raj Raddy, shared that 50-meter long bridge has come into operation from Chait 2082. The bridge has connected Shadananda municipality-1 and Salpasilichho rural municipality-3.
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09- Gold, silver prices up
Kathmandu, July 3: The price of gold and silver has increased in the domestic market today, the last trading day of the week.
Up by Rs 7,200 per tola (11.66 grammes), the gold price has reached Rs 290,700 per tola today. It was Rs 283,500 per tola on Thursday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, silver is being traded at Rs 4,615 per tola today against Rs 4,450 per tola on Thursday.
According to international media, gold is being traded at 4,179 US dollar per ounce and silver at Rs 62 US dollar per ounce in the international market today.
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10- 100 Days of Government: Dream of 10 trillion economy moves ahead in ‘mission mode’
Kathmandu, July 3: The various measures adopted by the government for the revival and advancement of the economy are starting to show positive results. Within 100 days of the formation of the government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), approved by the electorate, improvements in revenue collection and overall promising changes in the economy have been observed.
Trust in the private sector has been growing, investment is expanding, and even donors’ confidence has increased. The government, which has received two-thirds of public support, has created an investment-friendly environment.
Following the demands of the private sector, it has moved forward with the process of repealing more than a dozen outdated and impractical laws. Trust has further increased due to actions like abolishing unnecessary and impractical offices and making improvements in tax laws.
On March 27, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle took office and expressed his commitment to taking concrete steps for the country’s economic recovery and good governance. He had decided to start the process of repealing 15 old laws that were deemed unfriendly to the private sector and ordinary citizens. He said that this decision was made based on the high-level economic reform suggestion report and recommendations from various business organizations.
Based on the roadmap he presented on the day of assuming office, the Ministry of Finance has effectively carried forward its activities.
The dream of a 10 trillion economy
The current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has focused most on one important issue in the meantime: a 10 trillion rupees economy. Finance Minister Dr. Wagle has also given it priority. Believing that the size of the economy needs to increase significantly for the country’s economic progress, the government has been pushing forward its activities. This topic was even mentioned in the manifesto presented by the RSP during the House of Representatives election held on March 5.
The Finance Minister has repeatedly emphasized that the economy will be expanded by boosting energy production, tourism, ICT, agriculture, infrastructure, and institutional reforms, and work has already started in a ‘mission mode’ for this. The upcoming fiscal year’s budget has also been focused accordingly. The RSP’s election manifesto had presented an ambitious plan to increase Nepal’s economy to over 100 billion dollars within the next five to seven years. The budget released by the government on May 29 reflects the same policy.
The manifesto aims to achieve an annual economic growth of at least 7% at constant prices and to raise Nepal’s per capita income to 3,000 dollars within 5 to 7 years. According to the World Bank standards, Nepal is a low-income country.
The goal is to reach a respectable middle-income country level in the next 5 years.
The government has given high priority to good governance and service delivery. The concept of ‘not line but online’ has been applied to government services. The commitment to implementing meritocracy and building a party-free state mechanism has been put into practice. Dozens of acts and regulations that were considered obstacles to economic growth have been repealed at once, creating a favorable investment environment for the private sector.
In the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, the government has set five priorities. The government’s first priority is good governance. Second is the revival of the economy. Third is internal and external connectivity in the country. Similarly, the fourth priority is social investment, and the fifth is the expansion of soft power through tourism, culture, and history. This has been highlighted in the budget.
Since political stability has been achieved, the government believes that honestly moving the country forward will pave the way for economic progress. The impacts of the war in the Middle East on remittances, petroleum products, and chemical fertilizers, including short-term, medium-term, and long-term impacts, have been analyzed and addressed. Public holidays on Saturday and Sunday have been given for this purpose.
The internal economic slowdown, unemployment, and sluggish economic growth have been addressed. The ‘drought’ in revenue collection and spending, as well as the situation where the private sector couldn’t take loans despite rising bank liquidity, have gradually been moving towards improvement.
Citizen participation in budget formulation
This time, the government launched a portal to collect suggestions with the aim of directly involving citizens in budget-making. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has brought a suggestion collection portal to ensure direct participation of the general public in the process of formulating policies, programmes, and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
This digital platform was started to make the governance system more transparent and people-centered, while incorporating the real needs and fundamental expectations of the public into the government’s annual policies, programs, and budget.
Through that portal, citizens, experts, and policymakers both inside and outside the country gave their important opinions and suggestions regarding budget-making and development priorities. The portal helped bridge the gap between citizens and the state, establishing a new practice of good governance, and the suggestions received were seriously reviewed at the administrative level and implemented in a policy-based manner.
Finance Minister’s ‘Mission Mode’
Finance Minister Dr. Wagle has moved forward on the ‘Mission Mode’ work, meaning giving priority to work and results. Instead of focusing on speeches, the style of governance has been changed to achieve economic goals within the set timeframe. Traditional practices have been broken. Digital tracking, direct monitoring, and strict legal reforms have been implemented.
The main feature of this is a results-oriented approach. It is aimed at producing outcomes rather than being limited to speeches or superficial plans. Timeframes and performance indicators are being used.
A system has been set up to directly track the progress of projects and policy implementation through digital monitoring. Policy obstacles have been removed to boost the morale of the private sector and attract investment through legal and institutional reforms.
Institutional accountability has been established. Spending is being controlled, and quality maintained. There is a system in place to cut unnecessary administrative expenses, gradually phase out retail programmes, and implement programmes only through open competition.
The goal is to shift the economy from being remittance-and import-based to being driven by production, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Its impact on the economy and the private sector’s expectations is gradually creating a reliable environment. Tax cuts and policy ease have been maintained to raise the previously low business morale and generate demand that was stagnant in the market.
Efforts have been made to boost the economy by prioritizing agriculture, energy, infrastructure development, and digital governance.
Budget’s goal to expand the middle class
Finance Minister Wagle presented a budget of Rs 2.114 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year with the goal of expanding the middle class and uplifting the weaker sections. Special priority has been given to Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces in the budget.
Out of the total allocation, Rs 1 trillion 270 billion 580 million is allocated for current expenses, Rs 431 billion 100 million for capital expenditure, and Rs 422 billion 640 million for financial management.
Among the sources estimated to cover the expenses for the upcoming fiscal year, Rs 1 trillion 405 billion 310 million will come from revenue and Rs 61 billion 740 million from foreign grants, leaving a gap of Rs 657 billion 290 million. To cover this, Rs 247 billion 280 million will be mobilized from foreign loans.
The remaining Rs 410 billion shortfall from revenue and foreign aid mobilization will be raised through domestic loans. The Finance Minister is confident that the policy reform programmes announced in the budget will bring about 7 percent economic growth. Likewise, inflation is expected to remain within 6 percent.
The tax rates have been reviewed to stimulate the overall economy by supporting entrepreneurship and expanding the middle class. The limit for income tax exemption has been doubled, allowing individuals to pay only one percent tax up to 1 million. The maximum rate of personal income tax has been reduced by 10 percent. The budget emphasizes infrastructure expansion. Focus has been placed on policy reforms for the development of energy, road infrastructure, and sustainable economic growth.
Economic diplomacy and investment promotion
The Ministry of Finance has also actively pushed forward intensive economic diplomacy. Efforts have begun to attract foreign investment to Nepal, involving commitments to investment protection, in discussions with representatives from the private sector and well-known multinational companies.
The Finance Minister addressed virtually as the keynote speaker at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s ministerial session on financing for development held in New York, USA, and at ‘The Nepal Discourse’ organized by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
An agreement has been moved forward, in principle, with the process regarding the grant assistance of 28.5 billion Japanese yen for the improvement of Tribhuvan International Airport. In the Investment Board’s monitoring and facilitation meeting, necessary suggestions were received to resolve issues related to forestry and the environment seen in the implementation of projects under the board. The report from the committee formed to provide suggestions for the restructuring of Nepal Stock Exchange Limited has been received and has been implemented since 2082 BS.
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11- Nepal wins three medals in 16th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Championship
Kathmandu, July 3: Nepal has won three medals including a gold medal at the 16th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship.
Nepal received one gold medal, one silver medal and one bronze in the championship underway in Thimphu of Bhutan, according to Secretary at the Nepal Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Dinesh Kumar Rajbhandari.
Akash Shrestha won the gold medal for Nepal under Men’s Sports Physique up 170 cm category while Sita Khatri won silver medal under Women’s Athletic Physique.
Similarly, Pukar Shakya won the bronze medal under Men’s Sports Physique above 170 cm. This is the first international championship of all three players.
Nepal has been participating in the South Asian Bodybuilding Championship since its first edition.
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