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A total of 480 Afghan refugee families returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran on Sunday.

The returnees received basic assistance at border crossing points upon arrival, according to Xinhua.

Last week, around 3,300 families returned as part of the ongoing repatriation process. An estimated 7m Afghans remain abroad, while approximately 2m have returned in the last year, primarily from Pakistan and Iran, where authorities have urged illegal migrants to leave.

The current account remained at a surplus of Rs 210.22 billion in the last nine months of the current fiscal year 2024/25 compared to a surplus of Rs 179.83 billion in the same period of the previous year.

In US Dollar terms, the current account registered a surplus of 1.55 billion in the review period against a surplus of 1.35 billion in the same period last year.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) stated this in its Review of the Monetary Policy of the Current Fiscal Year 2024/25.

The Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs 346.23 billion in the nine months of the current Fiscal Year 2024/25 compared to a surplus of Rs 365.16 billion in the same period of the previous year.

In the US Dollar terms, the BOP remained at a surplus of 2.55 billion in the review period compared to a surplus of 2.75 billion in the same period of the previous year.

The NRB stated that in the review period, net capital transfer amounted to Rs 7.71 billion. In the same period of the previous year, such transfers amounted to Rs 4.78 billion. Similarly, in the review period, Rs 8.96 billion foreign direct investment (equity only) was received. In the same period of the previous year, foreign direct investment inflow (equity only) amounted to Rs 6.49 billion.

Foreign Exchange Reserves

Gross foreign exchange reserves increased 18.9 percent to Rs 2426.84 billion in mid-April 2025 from Rs 2041.10 billion in mid-July 2024. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves increased 15.4 percent to 17.63 billion in mid-April 2025 from 15.27 billion in mid-July 2024.

Of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves held by NRB increased 15.6 percent to Rs 2136.46 billion in mid-April 2025 from Rs 1848.55 billion in mid-July 2024. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 50.8 percent to Rs 290.38 billion in mid-April 2025 from Rs 192.55 billion in mid-July 2024.

The share of Indian currency in total reserves stood at 20.4 percent in mid-April 2025.

Foreign Exchange Adequacy Indicators

Based on the imports of nine months of 2024/25, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 17.1 months, and merchandise and services imports of 14.2 months.

The ratio of reserves-to-GDP, reserves-to-imports and reserves-to-M2 stood at 39.7 percent, 118.7 percent and 32.8 percent respectively in mid-April 2025.

Such ratios were 35.8 percent, 108.6 percent and 29.3 percent respectively in mid-July 2024.

An action plan has been prepared to fully implement the recommendations of the High-Level Economic Reforms Advisory Commission. The committee formed to develop and submit this action plan—chaired by former Finance Secretary Rameshore Prasad Khanal—has completed the report and submitted it to the Ministry of Finance.

The action plan outlines 408 activities to be carried out over the next three years. Khanal said the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has finalized the action plan based on the Commission’s recommendations, and it is now the government's responsibility to implement it accordingly.

The plan includes key reforms such as gradually narrowing the interest rate corridor through monetary policy, cutting government expenditure, reducing indirect tax rates, lowering production and business costs, formulating a strategy to foster an investment- and business-friendly environment, and increasing the eligibility age for the senior citizen allowance from 68 to 70 years.

It also emphasizes allocating budgets to well-prepared projects to ensure timely completion, reprioritizing ongoing initiatives, retaining employees on the same project throughout its duration, allocating sufficient resources for national pride and multi-year projects, and advancing new projects only if financial resources are secured.

The plan proposes liquidating state-owned enterprises such as the Janakpur Cigarette Factory, Butwal Yarn Factory, Nepal Engineering Consultancy Service Center, National Construction Company Nepal, and Nepal Orient Magnesite. Their immovable assets will be transferred to the government and managed accordingly. Additionally, the plan calls for restructuring Nepal Airlines Corporation within two years and appointing an external strategic partner for its professional management.

Other key measures include issuing infrastructure bonds for high-yield projects, maintaining integrated credit information for banks, financial institutions, and cooperatives, restructuring the Nepal Stock Exchange, and taking strict actions such as freezing the passports and assets of cooperative directors who embezzle funds or default on loans within six months.

A single-window system will be implemented for registering all types of companies. Business registration will be made free, a dedicated law will be introduced to regulate foreign investment, and policies on remote work, agricultural market regulation, and digital transformation will be introduced. Internal and external electricity transmission lines will be expanded to boost consumption, and a comprehensive ecosystem for the IT sector will be developed.

The plan also proposes formulating a long-term integrated infrastructure master plan and utilizing various climate finance instruments—such as carbon taxes and green finance—to enhance Nepal’s competitiveness in accessing international climate funding.

Following a decision by the Government of Nepal on April 15, the action plan was authorized to implement the recommendations of the Commission chaired by Khanal. While the report focuses primarily on economic reforms, it also includes sector-specific recommendations, which have been incorporated into the action plan.

Each concerned ministry will be responsible for implementing the activities within its jurisdiction by delegating tasks to subordinate departments, agencies, offices, or divisions. Ministries are expected to prepare clear, time-bound action plans with milestones and incorporate them into their annual programs. They must also submit detailed implementation plans to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The Prime Minister’s Office will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the plan. In addition, facilitating ministries and agencies will be required to coordinate, support, and guide the execution of activities. Provincial and local governments will also have an equal role in ensuring the effective implementation of this action plan.

At least eleven people were hospitalized following a mass shooting in Little River, South Carolina, on Sunday night.

The Horry County Police Department reported that the incident took place approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Horry County Fire Rescue transported 11 victims to area hospitals, with others arriving by private automobile, Xinhua reported.

Police categorized the incident as an "apparent shooting incident" and stated that it appeared to be isolated, with no ongoing threat to the community.

The Transport Management Office in Bara, Kalaiya has collected revenue of Rs 82.17 million as of May first week of the current fiscal year.

Office chief Avinder Das informed that the office has been collecting revenue enthusiastically over the last 10 months of the current fiscal year.

"The office has been collecting revenue on an average of Rs 6.1 million per month", he said.

The office collected the highest revenue of Rs 3.8 million from vehicle registration in the current fiscal year.

The office has collected revenue of Rs 1.69 million from new driving license approvals in the current fiscal year.

Additionally, revenue of Rs 2.84 has been collected under the heading of additional driving license approvals.

Under new driving license registration, revenue of Rs 8.37 million has been collected.

Furthermore, there has been a collection of Rs 3.3 million under the title of additional driving license registrations, Rs 2.7 million from license renewals, and Rs 8.28,950 from various vehicle-related revenues.

Similarly, Rs 860,525 has been collected from income tax and Rs. 3.9 million from other sources.

Every summer, residents of Madhes Province are forced to endure a severe shortage of drinking water, and this year is no exception. Despite the Nepal Water Supply Corporation operating from nine branches across all eight districts of the province, only 3.41 percent of the total population—just 38,000 out of 1,113,870 households—currently receive drinking water through the Corporation’s supply system. 

With a total population of over 6.1m, this figure underscores a significant gap in access. The Corporation’s infrastructure in the region includes 82 underground water sources (wells), 27 overhead tanks or reservoirs, 32 chemical dosing units, and 38,000 taps, but the reach remains limited. For instance, in Birgunj Metropolitan City, only 18 out of 32 wards have access to tap water. Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan City has coverage in 11 of its 27 wards; Gaur Municipality in seven out of nine; Malangwa in nine out of 12; Gaushala in seven out of 12; Lahan in 14 out of 24; Rajbiraj in 10 out of 16; and Janakpurdham Sub-metropolitan City in just 11 out of its 25 wards. 

According to Rakesh Goit, an engineer at the Corporation, many people continue to depend on traditional wells and communal taps, which results in low demand for individual tap installations. However, he points out that during the dry season, many of these taps run dry, and certain geographically challenged areas have no taps at all—leading to an acute crisis and a high seasonal demand for new connections. 

Although the Corporation is working under the government’s One House, One Tap policy, it has not been able to expand services across the region due to resource constraints. A major hurdle is the lack of adequate manpower. Shirish Raj Bhandari, head of the Corporation’s Lahan Office, warns that plans to hand over profitable branches to the private sector under a proposed Water Supply Management Board could threaten the Corporation’s existence. “Instead of expanding services, we are retreating, which requires immediate attention,” he says. 

The Corporation has an approved staffing of 200 across its nine branches in Madhes, but only 61 permanent and 52 contract staff are currently in place. To function effectively, an additional 274 staff are needed. Ajay Babu Dhakal, General Manager of the Corporation, notes that groundwater is the primary source of water in the province, and the current infrastructure reaches only about three percent of the households. To address this crisis and expand access to safe and quality drinking water, Dhakal stresses the need for a significant increase in budget and manpower to develop water sources, expand pipelines, and build necessary infrastructure—which, he says, will only be possible through cooperation among all three levels of government.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran will support the establishment of a regional uranium enrichment center but will continue enriching uranium on its own soil, according to Xinhua.

Speaking to the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, Araghchi reiterated that Iran is still committed to diplomacy in indirect discussions with the US, but will not negotiate under pressure.

He also warned that any attempt by France, Germany, or the United Kingdom to trigger the snapback mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal would be greeted with a "harsh" response. The mechanism allows international sanctions to be reimposed if Iran violates the agreement's conditions, Xinhua reported.

Indirect talks between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, have been ongoing since April in Muscat and Rome. Iran has rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment entirely.

US Ambassador Dean Thompson is visiting Mustang this week to highlight the United States’ commitment to preserving Nepal’s rich cultural heritage through the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). These projects reflect the strength of the 78-year US-Nepal partnership and contribute to sustainable tourism, economic growth, and cultural continuity. They also create opportunities for both the United States and local businesses in tourism, hospitality, and education.

During the visit, Ambassador Thompson and an Embassy team are visiting cultural heritage sites restored with AFCP support, engaging with local communities and project teams, and attending the Tiji Festival—a vibrant celebration of Nepal’s living traditions and shared values between the two nations.

“Every time I visit Mustang, I’m reminded that cultural heritage isn’t just about the past — it’s a living part of community identity,” said Ambassador Thompson. “AFCP restoration efforts help safeguard that identity while opening the door to new opportunities in tourism, education, and economic development. It’s a tangible example of how our two nations can grow stronger together.”

“Preserving culture is a smart investment,” said Public Affairs Chief Mike Harker. “When we restore a centuries-old monastery, we’re not just protecting history — we’re supporting communities, creating opportunities, and helping people share their stories with the world. That’s the kind of return cultural preservation can bring.”