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The government has projected an economic growth rate of 6 percent in the Fiscal Year 2025/26.

Unveiling the annual budget at the joint session of the Federal Parliament today, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel said that the government's annual policy and programs and the budget's programs announced for the upcoming fiscal year would contribute to achieve the target of 6 percent of economic growth rate.

Likewise, the finance minister announced to maintain the 5.5 percent of inflation in the upcoming fiscal year.

The 78th World Health Assembly concluded Tuesday with the adoption of a global pandemic agreement and a $4.2bn base budget for 2026–2027.

The WHO hailed the agreement, the result of over three years of negotiations post-COVID-19, as a major step toward stronger global pandemic preparedness. The budget, based on the Fourteenth General Program of Work, was reduced from an earlier $5.3bn proposal, according to Xinhua.

The Assembly also passed on measures concerning health funding, traditional medicine, air pollution, antibiotic resistance, maternal and child nutrition, and health workforce development.

Chinese vice Premier Liu Guozhong attended the Assembly, where China took part in over 70 agenda items and organized side events, Xinhua reported.

Israel has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, the biggest expansion in decades. Some were unauthorized outposts, now legalized under Israeli law, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Katz said the move “prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel,” while the Palestinian presidency called it a “dangerous escalation”, BBC reported.

Since 1967, Israel has built around 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews. Most of the world considers them illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.

The government has decided not to increase the salaries of government employees in the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26.

The government, however, increased the dearness allowance.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that the salaries of civil servants could not be increased.

With the decision, the government staffs will receive Rs 5, 000 montly dearness allowance. Currently, they are getting Rs 2, 000 monthly.

The government has allocated Rs 10 billion for health insurance.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that Rs 10 billion has been allocated for health insurance.

The government has allocated Rs 10.19 billion for midday meals to students up to grade 5.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that Rs 10.9 billion has been allocated to provide free midday meals to students up to grade 5.

The construction of the Kohalpur-Surkhet-Jumla 132 kV transmission line will be completed within two years for the regular supply of electricity in Karnali Province.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that the construction of the transmission line will be completed within two years.

Vietnam and Hungary have agreed to strengthen their comprehensive partnership following talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Tamas Sulyok.

Key areas of collaboration include boosting bilateral commerce to $2bn USD, financing development projects with Hungarian concessional loans, and strengthening relations in education, labor, nuclear energy, medicines, and climate response, Xinhua reported.

Both sides agreed to strengthen political coordination and international involvement. To mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, Vietnam and Hungary will organize joint cultural and people-to-people exchange activities.