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Some 61 local governments have yet to unveil their budgets for the current fiscal year. 

As per the rule, the local level governments are obliged to introduce their budgets within June 24 (Asar 10). 

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, 692 out of a total 753 local level governments have so far introduced their budgets and put for implementation. 

With this, number of local governments failing to bring their budgets is 61. According to the ministry, five local governments from the Koshi province, 40 from the Madhes province, and five from the Bagmati province have not yet presented their budgets. 

It is found that the local governments have failed to present their budgets due to political dispute and local coordination gap. 

When all local governments in the Gandaki province have brought budgets, seven local governments from Lumbini province, three from Karnali province and a local government from Sudurpaschim province failed to comply with budget unveiling. 

Bhojpur Salpasilichho rural municipality, Itahari sub-metropolitan city, Dharan sub-metropolitan city, Sunbarshi municipality of Morang, and Sunkoshi rural municipality of Okhaldhunga have not yet been able to make their budgets public. 

Only five local level governments in Saptari under the Madhes province have not disclosed their budgets. Three from Siraha, ten from Dhanusha, one from Mahottari, five from Sarlahi, five from Rautahat, five from Bara, and five from Parsa have not presented their budgets. 

According to the portal maintained at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Hariharpurgadhi rural municipality of Sindhuli, Bigu of Dolakha, and Khaniyabas and Galchi rural municipalities of Dhading have not presented their budgets.  

Although the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has already unveiled its budget, it appears that they have not yet posted the details to the portal of the ministry. 

Among other local governments failing to bring the budgets in Lumbini province are Palhinandan rural municipality and Pratappur rural municipality from Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), Kotihimai and Sammerimai rural municipalities from Rupandehi, Shuddhodhan rural municipality from Kapilvastu, Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city and Lamahi municipality from Dang. 

It is stated in the ministry's details that Kumakh, Chhatreswori, and Dharma rural municipalities of Salyan district in Karnali province have not submitted their budgets. 

Similarly, it is noted that Tikapur municipality in Sudurpaschim province has not submitted its budget according to the ministry's details. 

The Constitution has obligated the federal government to present the budget in a joint session of both the Houses of the Federal Parliament on Jestha 15 every year. 

Likewise, there is a provision for the provincial governments to present their budget proposals on Asar 1 and the local governments to introduce budgets on Asar 10 every year. (RSS)

The low pressure trough of the monsoon at present is located to the south than the average position. 

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, weather this afternoon will be generally cloudy across the country. 

There is a possibility of moderate rainfall in some areas of the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, and in a few locations of the Terai regions in the remaining provinces. 

The Division has indicted generally cloudy weather in the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi province tonight while remaining areas will see partial cloud cover. 

Moderate rainfall is likely to take place in some areas in the hilly regions and a few locations in Terai regions. (RSS)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Bishnu Prasad Paudel has urged the media sector to pinpoint weaknesses of the government and effectively reach out the good works to the people. 

During his address to the 27th Annual General Meeting and convention of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON) here today, he said the media sector should advance its performance both critically and recommending ways. 

"It is the responsibility of the media to clearly expose any policy lacunas or weaknesses in their implementation," Paudel noted. Additionally, it is equally important to inform citizens about the achievements and work done for the public good by the government." 

On this occasion, Finance Minister Paudel emphasized the importance of economic journalism, stating the role of journalists is essential in enabling the country’s economy. 

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal noted the country's economy has been impacted by several reasons such as the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but improvements have been seen recently. 

He mentioned FNCCI is always seeking ways the private sector can play a role in improving the economic sector of the country and has been continually advising the government on legal and practical reforms. 

Also speaking on the occasion, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Birendra Raj Pandey shared the CNI's ongoing study on the need of investment in different sectors to improve the country's economy and the necessity of policy and legal reforms for this. 

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal mentioned that although economic indicators have been improving, the private sector is still not ready for investment. 

He emphasized the implementation of the suggestions and recommendations provided by the High-level Economic Reforms Recommendation Commission to the government. 

Former presidents of SEJON expressed their views on the challenges facing the media sector, the quality of journalism, and the need for investigative reporting related to the economic sector. 

The convention will elect new leadership for SEJON today. (RSS)

The CPN (UML) will continue its second statute convention today. 

The presentation of the reports remaining from yesterday will be delivered, today, on the second day of the convention underway at the Sunrise Hall in Godawari, Lalitpur. 

UML publicity department chief, Rajendra Gautam informed that the convention will start from 8:00 am. 

Today, chairpersons of the central disciplinary commission, Keshav Badal, the central accounting commission, Dr. Pushpa Kandel, and the central election commission, Dr. Bijay Subba, will present the reports from their respective bodies. 

It may be noted that party chair KP Sharma Oli had presented the political report, while party vice-chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel presented the proposal for statute amendments, and secretary Pokhrel presented the organizational report yesterday. Chair of the central advisory council, Amrit Kumar Bohora, had also presented his report. 

Gautam shared that the representatives would be divided into various ten groups today for group discussions on the reports. 

A total of 2,341 representatives from across the country are participating in the convention which will last tomorrow.  (RSS)

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 5, 2025, granting tariff exemptions to countries with reciprocal US trade agreements.

Effective September 8, the exemptions cover over 45 goods, including metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and some agricultural products, Reuters reported.

The move aligns US tariffs with existing trade deals, benefiting countries like Japan and EU members, and reflects Trump’s ongoing strategy to reshape global trade in favor of US interests.

A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 1m Venezuelans and Haitians in the US. Judge Edward Chen ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lacked the authority to revoke the program, calling the decision racially biased and unsupported by reason, Reuters reported.

The ruling preserves protections for roughly 600,000 Venezuelans and 521,000 Haitians, noting that sending them back could expose them to dangerous conditions amid instability in their home countries. The Trump administration plans to appeal, while the Department of Homeland Security has not commented.

TPS, created in 1991, shields individuals from deportation and grants work authorization for those from countries facing conflict, disasters, or extraordinary conditions. Under the Biden administration, the program was extended to cover these communities, a move Noem later attempted to reverse.

This decision is a major judicial check on the administration’s immigration policies, reinforcing protections for vulnerable immigrant populations, according to Reuters.

The EU has fined Google €2.95bn (£2.5bn) for abusing its dominance in online advertising by favouring its own ad exchange, AdX, over rivals, BBC reported. Regulators said the practice raised costs for competitors and cut publishers’ revenues.

Google called the decision “wrong,” vowed to appeal, and argued it would harm European businesses.

President Donald Trump condemned the ruling as “very unfair” and threatened tariffs in response, accusing the EU of targeting US companies.

The case adds to growing global scrutiny of Google’s dominance in digital advertising, according to BBC.

A Sri Lankan bus carrying local tourists visiting lush tea plantation hill towns plunged nearly 1,000 feet (300 metres), with the crash killing 15 people, AFP reported.

The accident took place on Thursday night in the mountainous Ella area, about 130 kilometres (81 miles) east of the capital. Sixteen others on board were injured.

According to AFP, the group was returning home after a holiday in the cooler hills when the bus hit another vehicle, crashed through guardrails and then shot over the side.

The accident is the worst since May, when 23 passengers died in a bus crash in Kotmale.

The island's winding roads are considered among the most dangerous in the world. Sri Lanka, a nation of 22 million people, records an average of 3,000 road fatalities each year.