In a match held at Miami Stadium, Florida, USA, Uruguay scored an equalizing goal in the 80th minute. On June 16, in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, Uruguay leveled the score against Saudi Arabia with a goal from Maxi Araújo.
Earlier, Abdullah Al-Amri had given Saudi Arabia the lead by scoring in the 41st minute.
The government has initiated a freeze process to prevent the transfer of ownership of encroached government and public lands, as recommended by the Rawal Commission report. The Ministry of Land Management has issued correspondence to the Department of Land Management and Records and the Survey Department to halt any transactions involving these lands. An eight-member committee has also been formed to effectively implement the council’s decision.
Kathmandu, 1 Ashad – The government is moving forward with the implementation of the investigation and protection measures outlined by the High-Level Commission on the Inquiry and Protection of Government and Public Lands, known as the Rawal Commission. A freeze has been imposed to stop any transfer of ownership of all encroached government and public lands through any means.
The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs, and General Administration has instructed the Department of Land Management and Records and the Survey Department via letter to ensure that the encroached lands listed in the commission’s report are not sold, transferred, or otherwise alienated in the name of any individual. According to the ministry, the High-Level Commission’s report on the inquiry and protection of government and public lands has been submitted to the Nepal government. The cabinet has already made decisions for its implementation and established an eight-member committee to ensure effective enforcement of these measures.
Shishir Khanal, Head of Foreign Department of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), met with Liu Haixing, Head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in Beijing. During the meeting, Liu expressed China’s readiness to develop friendly relations and increase cooperation with the RSP across various sectors. Khanal reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to the One-China policy and emphasized that Nepali territory will not be used for anti-China activities.
On 1 Ashar, in Beijing, Foreign Minister and RSP Foreign Department Head Shishir Khanal held talks with Liu Haixing, Head of the CCP Central Committee’s International Department (IDCCP). The discussions focused on expanding and strengthening the friendly relationship between the CCP and the RSP.
Liu Haixing stated that China is prepared to enhance exchanges with the RSP, strengthen strategic communications, share experiences, and provide cooperation through party-plus channels across multiple fields. In response, Minister Khanal recalled the seven-decade diplomatic relationship between Nepal and China, expressing his commitment to reinforcing relations based on the Panchsheel principles.
Khanal reiterated Nepal’s steadfast adherence to the One-China policy and assured that Nepali territory would not be used for any anti-China activities. He also conveyed Nepal’s interest in collaborating with China in scientific and technological fields, education, water resources, and connectivity. Highlighting the RSP’s eagerness to build inter-party relations with the CCP, Khanal noted that CCP’s experience in good governance and network development would be valuable for the RSP.
June 16, Dhangadhi – The Sudurpashchim Province government has announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with Finance Minister Bikram Singh Dhami highlighting a strong emphasis on the agricultural sector. He stated that NPR 55 crore has been allocated under sectoral programs for agriculture, fisheries, and cooperatives.
Dhami detailed that NPR 3 crore has been designated for the full vaccination campaign, and funds have been arranged to develop the Sudurpashchim Provincial Roadmap, establish the Jwalayumaitri model village, promote fruit and agriculture commercialization, provide awards to farmers, and implement the Chief Minister’s Small Enterprise Program in Bhimdatt Dhakari Rural Municipality, Sigar, Kamal Bazaar, and Shikhar municipalities.
Additionally, NPR 4 crore has been set aside to support cooperatives and assist freed Kamaiya-Haliya communities in income generation. NPR 1.35 crore has been earmarked for the Integrated Agriculture and Irrigation Development Project. The budget also includes provisions for establishing a souvenir house at Dhangadhi Airport.
An allocation of NPR 5 crore has been assigned for establishing a Dhulo Milk Cloth Factory, while NPR 6 crore is dedicated to promoting the kalincha (betel leaf) industry. Furthermore, NPR 1.8 crore has been allotted to integrate agricultural subsidies with the banking system and provide subsidies to farmers engaged in raising local chicken breeds, Dhami added.
The District Court of Rupandehi has withdrawn the organized crime and money laundering charges filed against Rashtriya Swatantra Party chairman Ravi Lamichhane and other accused individuals. The bench, presided over by Judge Rameshkant Adhikari, ordered the withdrawal of these two charges while maintaining the cooperative fraud case. Previously, the district courts of Kaski and Parsa had also dismissed all charges except those related to cooperative fraud.
The Rupandehi District Court issued the order to withdraw the organized crime and money laundering charges against all the accused, including Ravi Lamichhane. Judge Adhikari’s panel preserved the cooperative fraud case as is but directed the withdrawal of the additional two charges.
Following this court decision, it appears that a settlement path may open in the case after Ravi Lamichhane and the other accused return the money owed to the victims. Alongside Ravi, GB Rai, Kumar Ramtel, and others involved in the matter had the other charges, except for cooperative fraud, withdrawn. Previously, the Kaski and Parsa district courts had also withdrawn charges unrelated to cooperative fraud against the accused.
The match between Belgium and Egypt at Seattle Stadium ended in a 1–1 draw. On June 16, in Kathmandu, Belgium managed to escape defeat in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to an own goal. In the 19th minute, Egypt’s Imam Ashour scored to give his team the lead. However, an own goal in the 66th minute forced Egypt to settle for a draw. Belgium capitalized on an unfortunate shot from Egypt’s Mohammad Hany that went into his own net, allowing Belgium to get back into the game. Both Belgium and Egypt, in Group G, now share one point each. Matches between Iran and New Zealand in this group are yet to be played.
June 16, Kathmandu. The Sudarwest Province government has decided to increase the salaries and allowances of its employees by 10%. Finance Minister Bikram Singh Dhami announced this decision while presenting the budget.
June 15, Kathmandu – The Janamat Party Nepal has decided to take the initiative to form a ‘National Alternative Front’ by bringing together opposition parties. On Monday, Janamat announced the formation of a task force to establish this front, including the Labour Culture Party, Ujyaalo Nepal Party, and Progressive Democratic Party (Pralopa).
The plan is to hold talks on party unification and coalition building with parties that share similar political principles, ideas, and goals. To this end, Narendra Prasad Chaudhary has been appointed as coordinator of the negotiation task force. Jaykant Raut and Pramod Kumar Gupta have been included as members of the negotiation team.
During the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Belgium, Egypt has taken the lead. On June 16, in Kathmandu time, at Seattle Stadium, Egypt solidified their advantage in the 19th minute of the competition. Imam Ashour from Egypt scored the goal, putting his team ahead. Imam struck the ball from just outside the penalty area, delivering a shot that went beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
Summary: All seven provincial governments have announced their budgets for the fiscal year 2083/84. Bagmati Province has proposed the largest budget at NPR 6.693 billion, including a feasibility study for introducing metro rail services in Kathmandu. Madhesh Province, however, has reduced its budget allocation to NPR 4.113 billion. Kathmandu, 1 Asar – On Monday, all provincial governments unveiled their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. Data from budget implementation and revised estimates indicate that most provinces are unlikely to spend more than 70% of their current fiscal year’s budget. Nevertheless, provincial governments have presented larger budgets for the next year compared to the ongoing one. Despite competitive posturing in terms of budget size, provinces have not outlined concrete plans for improving public expenditure. Similar to the federal government, employee service and benefit enhancement continue to receive high priority in provincial budgets. This year’s budget statements also show a concerted effort to enhance presentation and appeal.
Koshi Province is currently implementing a budget of NPR 3.588 billion but has announced a budget of NPR 4.044 billion for the upcoming year. Karnali plans to spend NPR 3.299 billion this year and has proposed NPR 3.539 billion for the next year. Bagmati has proposed a slightly smaller budget of NPR 6.693 billion compared to the current NPR 6.746 billion. Lumbini has reduced its budget from NPR 3.891 billion to NPR 3.738 billion. Madhesh is implementing an NPR 4.698 billion budget this year but has planned a cutback to NPR 4.113 billion next year.
While provinces have announced ambitious infrastructure projects, implementing these plans remains challenging. Bagmati, for example, intends to conduct a feasibility study for metro rail operations in the Kathmandu Valley. Karnali has included a pod vehicle operation plan in its budget. Although several provinces have mentioned spending cut plans, concrete details are lacking. Cash grant programs, however, remain adequately funded.
Koshi’s Ambitious Budget with Salary Increments for Staff
Koshi Province has once again proposed an ambitious budget. With current expenditures at NPR 3.588 billion, the province is projecting a 12.74% increase, submitting a budget of NPR 4.044 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. By mid-April alone, only 36.29% of the current budget had been spent, yet a significantly larger budget is being presented. Provincial Finance Minister Bidur Kumar Linthep has announced plans to install smart CCTV surveillance systems and GPS devices on public transport. The budget also includes provisions to reestablish a COVID-19 holding center, establish an IT park in Dhankuta, and provide training for 5,000 youth. Koshi has allocated NPR 1.238 billion for road infrastructure and urban development. A rooftop solar program for community schools has been funded with NPR 20 million. The province has declared ‘Koshi Tourism Year’ from Shrawan 2083 to Asadh 2085. Projects with assured funding will be prioritized, and capital expenditure will be planned through annual proposals. There is also mention of revisiting public spending standards. Salary increases and allowances for staff have been included as well.
Total Budget: NPR 4.044 billion
Recurrent: NPR 1.397 billion
Capital: NPR 2.075 billion
(Detailed information on other provinces’ budgets and plans is available in the original report but could not be fully included here.)
Kathmandu – The Sudurpashchim Province government presented its budget at midnight. Finance Minister Bikram Singh Dhami is currently presenting the budget. The Nepal Communist Party (CPN) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have boycotted the ongoing provincial assembly session where the budget is being discussed.
The budget presentation was initially scheduled for 5 PM on Monday evening. However, due to disputes between the ruling parties and ministers over the budgetary limits, the session was postponed until 9 PM. Ultimately, the meeting convened only at 11:30 PM, when the budget presentation began.
Originally, the provincial assembly was to meet at 5 PM. But disagreements on the budget between the ruling parties caused the session to be pushed back to 9 PM. When the meeting still could not be held at that time, the assembly was called again for 11:30 PM to proceed with the budget discussion.
June 15, Surkhet – Karnali Province government has announced a budget of NPR 3.53985 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 (2026/27). Finance and Planning Minister Rajiv Bikram Shah presented the budget to the Provincial Assembly on Monday.
Minister Shah noted that this represents a 7.28 percent increase compared to the current fiscal year’s budget of NPR 3.299665 billion, emphasizing that this year’s allocation exceeds that amount.
He clarified that the budget focuses on development sectors such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, education, and health. Of the total budget, 58.38 percent, or NPR 2.0746712 billion, is allocated for development expenditures.
Recurrent expenses amount to NPR 860.4556 million, accounting for 24.31 percent of the total budget. Financial transfers make up NPR 554.728 million, or 15.67 percent.
According to Minister Shah, the government plans to collect NPR 850.59 million from internal revenue in the next fiscal year, while projecting savings of NPR 641.519 million from the current fiscal year.
Additionally, the province will receive NPR 1.0668549 billion as revenue share from the federal government, NPR 106.323 million from the financial integration fund, and NPR 567.25 million in conditional grants.
Supplementary grants amounting to NPR 66.78 million, special grants of NPR 48.56 million, and NPR 9.6 million in foreign aid from the federal government will also be utilized.
With infrastructure as the highest priority, Minister Shah allocated NPR 1.093811 billion to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development for this fiscal year, slightly less than last year’s NPR 1.1001 billion.
Most infrastructure projects in the budget continue previous initiatives. NPR 65 million has been set aside for 14 strategic road projects, and NPR 367.5 million for constructing 122 new suspension bridges.
A total of NPR 750 million has been earmarked for constructing consolidated administrative buildings within the province. NPR 370 million has been allocated for smart city development in Birendranagar (Surkhet), Narayan (Dailekh), and Duni (Dolpa).
For post-earthquake reconstruction and housing programs targeting marginalized communities in Jajarkot and Western Rukum, the budget provides more than NPR 340 million.
The Karnali government has allocated NPR 230 million to upgrade Surkhet Provincial Hospital into a health science institute. Additional funding is also provided for hospital infrastructure development and human resources management. Dialysis services will be expanded at Dailekh Hospital, and NPR 40 million is reserved for advanced treatment facilities across the province.
Maternal nutrition allowances will continue, and NPR 25 million has been allocated for treatment support targeting patients with complex diseases such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s. Incentives for health volunteers supporting remote rural women have doubled, increasing the annual allowance to NPR 24,000. The Karnali overall health campaign will also emphasize Ayurveda and alternative medical systems.
In education, creative programs like ‘Book-Free Friday’ will be sustained. NPR 70 million has been allocated to introduce digital learning technology in community schools experiencing teacher shortages, along with NPR 50 million for recruiting expert teachers in mathematics, science, and English.
NPR 50 million has been set aside for preparations for the 10th Provincial Sports Festival, and NPR 37.5 million for stadium management. Additionally, NPR 50 million has been allocated to establish a modern library at Mid-Western University. The Ministry of Social Development’s budget exceeds NPR 610 million.
Agriculture and livestock remain major priorities. NPR 330 million is dedicated to promoting agricultural commercialization and NPR 80 million for livestock improvement programs. NPR 120 million is allocated for sheep and goat farming in mountainous regions, and NPR 40 million for fish farming in Surkhet.
The ‘One Village, One Fruit Garden’ program is supported with NPR 192.2 million, and NPR 19.6 million is reserved for agricultural modernization. A program aimed at farmers cultivating more than five hectares includes NPR 70 million worth of 100-percent interest rate subsidies.
Minister Shah reported NPR 70 million allocated for cotton farming in Surkhet and Mugu districts, NPR 40 million for livelihood support to impoverished citizens, and NPR 96 million for youth-oriented agricultural programs.
The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives has been assigned a budget of NPR 2.528768 billion, compared to NPR 2.57 billion in the current fiscal year.
The minister emphasized prioritizing agricultural mechanization next year, focusing on modernization, reducing production costs, and increasing productivity.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development will receive NPR 481.958 million next fiscal year, up from NPR 383 million this year. The province has prioritized key drinking water projects including ‘One House, One Tap’.
To address longstanding water supply challenges in Birendranagar, NPR 300 million has been allocated for the Bheri Lift Drinking Water Project and the Jhalakunda Lift Scheme in Sharda Municipality. NPR 207.5 million is set for climate-concentrated drinking water and sanitation programs across three districts.
Various irrigation schemes have been allotted NPR 66.3 million, while NPR 203.39 million is designated for multi-purpose projects from Bulbule to Nikas River in Surkhet. The Jumla-mul Lake multi-use project has an allocation of NPR 30 million. To secure provincial ownership in large hydropower projects, NPR 500 million has been reserved for share investments.
NPR 50 million has been allocated to expand Surkhet Airport, which is included in the province’s policy programs.
The government has planned to coordinate annually with the federal government to address the long-term needs for provincial airport development. However, no progress has been reported on the Surkhet Airport expansion so far.
In the budget speech, Minister Shah shared plans to initiate domestic flights connecting Surkhet Airport to other districts in Karnali and stated, “We aim to expand regular air service to other districts within the province in coordination with the federal government, and the necessary budget has already been allocated for this.”
Full Budget Speech:
June 15, Kathmandu – Bipendra Ramudamu has been appointed as the president of the Nepali Congress affiliated organization, Nepal Dalit Association. On Monday, party chair Gagan Thapa named Ramudamu to the position of president of the Dalit Association. Chair Thapa assigned him the responsibility and provided an 11-point mandate and detailed directives to complete the general convention within the stipulated time frame, according to Krishna Prasad Dulal, acting chief secretary of the Nepali Congress central office.
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup group ‘G’ match, Belgium and Egypt are set to face off at Seattle Stadium. Led by the fully fit captain Mohamed Salah, Egypt will take the field while Belgium aims to protect its reputation. Out of the four encounters between the two teams, Egypt has won three, and Belgium has triumphed once. Kathmandu, June 1.
Belgium, which was eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, begins its 2026 FIFA World Cup journey against Egypt. The match at Seattle Stadium in Washington will kick off at 12:45 AM Nepal time. This match in group ‘G’ is crucial for both teams. Egypt, preparing for its fourth World Cup appearance, will strive to challenge Belgium, which has participated 14 times in the World Cup.
Egypt will start its World Cup campaign with a fully healthy squad and high morale. Mohamed Salah, who suffered a hamstring injury at the end of April, has fully recovered. Salah will captain Egypt while playing as a winger. Coach Hossam Hassan may develop a strategy to absorb Belgium’s pressure and focus on counter-attacks.
Belgium, embarrassing themselves with an early exit from the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage, aims this time to uphold the fading reputation of their ‘Golden Generation.’ Premier League players Leandro Trossard and Jeremy Doku will shoulder the wing responsibilities, while striker Romelu Lukaku is expected to lead the attack on the field.
The government has initiated the process to cancel licenses of hydropower projects that have remained non-operational for an extended period. A committee formed by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has recommended revoking the permits of 38 hydropower projects that have Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) but have shown no progress. Energy expert Prabal Adhikari emphasized that canceling licenses alone is not a solution; the underlying causes of project delays must also be identified.
Since 1st Ashad (mid-June), the government has been moving forward with this process. The committee recommended cancelling permits for 38 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 1,388 megawatts that have entered into PPAs but have not made any significant progress for a long time. The Department of Electricity had also earlier recommended license cancellations for 11 projects. The ministry has confirmed that the cancellation process is ongoing and will be carried out through the Department of Electricity Development.
According to ministry officials, project progress has been classified into ‘Green,’ ‘Yellow,’ ‘Yellow Plus,’ and ‘Red’ zones based on the level of advancement. Fifteen projects with over 50 percent progress within five years are being prioritized and encouraged for rapid completion. Meanwhile, 75 projects with extremely poor progress have been listed as problematic and will face necessary actions.
Energy analyst Prabal Adhikari stated that license cancellation is not the ultimate solution. He stressed the need to investigate the internal reasons behind project stagnation. Without identifying the root causes, simply canceling licenses and reallocating them to new stakeholders could lead to recurring problems and further delay national objectives.