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Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, streaking the Republican presidential candidate's blood across his face and prompting his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt, Reuters reported.

Law enforcement officials told reporters they had tentatively identified a suspected shooter but were not ready to do so publicly. They also said they not yet identified a motive.

Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him. He emerged about a minute later, his red "Make America Great Again" hat knocked off, and could be heard saying "wait, wait," before the fist bump, then agents rushed him to a black SUV.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump said later on his Truth Social platform following the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Pittsburgh. "Much bleeding took place."

The shooting occurred less than four months before the Nov. 5 election, when Trump faces an election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Most opinion polls including those by Reuters/Ipsos show the two locked in a close contest, according to Reuters.

Leading Republicans and Democrats quickly condemned the violence.

The Trump campaign said he was "doing well."

Biden said in a statement: "There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

Republican US Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas told Fox News his nephew had been wounded at the rally.

The shooting raised immediate questions about security failures by the Secret Service, which provides former presidents including Trump with lifetime protection.

It was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Republican President Ronald Reagan, Reuters reported.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Trump has left the Butler area under the protection of the US Secret Service with the assistance of the Pennsylvania state police. Republican U.S. Representative Daniel Meuser told CNN Trump was headed to Bedminster, New Jersey, where he has a golf club.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will appoint the new Prime Minister today.

The process of appointment and swearing-in of the Prime Minister will take place today after the deadline set by the President for the formation of the new government comes to an end, said Kiran Pokharel, the Press Advisor of the President.

President Paudel had, in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the Constitution, called on parties on Friday to submit their stake on the new government leadership by 5 pm today.

Accordingly, the Chairperson of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli had submitted his claim for the post of the Prime Minister on Friday itself with the support of Nepali Congress.

Following the expiration of the deadline at 5 pm, President Paudel will appoint the Prime Minister this evening. However, the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and ministers will be held at 11 am on Monday, as the time will not be enough for the same on Sunday, added Press Advisor Pokharel.

A new government is being formed after incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a majority of the Parliament, with the CPN-UML deciding to part ways with him and join hands with the main opposition, Nepali Congress.

I’ve been working at a marketing firm for three years. Recently, we got a new manager who micromanages and criticizes without constructive feedback. This has created a tense and demoralizing atmosphere. I feel constantly on edge, undervalued, and stressed. It’s affecting my performance and mental wellbeing. I used to love my job, but now I dread it. The constant criticism without positive reinforcement has made me doubt my abilities and lose confidence. It’s harder to concentrate, and I feel more anxious and overwhelmed each day.

I need to address the issue but I’m unsure how to approach the conversation without being confrontational. I want to express my concerns and propose a more supportive and effective way of working together. What should I do?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

A new manager who micromanages can make things difficult due to their working style. Micromanagement often arises from the manager’s insecurity and fear of losing control, making it difficult for other employees. The need for attention to small details creates additional challenges for employees. This is a common issue and a source of aggression in management styles.

The psychological aspect to consider is that micromanagement impacts you because it undermines your sense of autonomy. When there is no trust with the manager, and everything seems like an order, it can lead to increased stress and burnout among employees, as one may feel pressured to constantly meet the manager’s expectations. This type of fear can cause workplace anxiety, lack of concentration, and burnout.

You can start by initiating a conversation. Find a suitable time to talk with your manager. When starting the conversation, it’s better to begin with acknowledgement and then discuss the difficulties. Use ‘I’ statements to express how micromanagement is affecting your performance. For example, instead of saying “You are making me feel…,” say “I’m feeling…” This allows you to honestly express what is difficult for you without hiding your feelings.It will become easier to communicate your needs.

Secondly, take care of yourself by balancing work and life priorities and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Engage in activities outside of work that you enjoy. Sharing your experiences with friends, family members, or close ones also helps. Self-care activities such as exercise or listening to music can help you tackle stress. If you feel constant pressure and find it hard to handle, professional help can be beneficial. Seeking help from professionals can help you navigate through personal and work-related stress and burnout.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) would not join the new government.

Leader Metmani Chaudhary said that the party would support the government based on its merits and demerits.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has directed its lawmakers to vote in favor of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. 

PM Dahal is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament today.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has 10 lawmakers in the House of Representatives. 

On July 9, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the fourth review under the four‑year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Nepal, allowing the authorities to withdraw the equivalent of approximately $41.3m. This brings the total disbursements under the ECF for budget support thus far to about $247.7m.

The ECF arrangement for Nepal was approved by the Executive Board on 12 Jan 2022, for 180 percent of quota, or about $371.6m. Nepal has made good progress with the implementation of the program, which has helped mitigate the impact of the pandemic and global shocks on economic activity, protect vulnerable groups, and preserve macroeconomic and financial stability. The program is also helping to catalyze additional financing from Nepal’s development partners.

The economy continues to face challenges as growth, projected around three percent in FY2023/24, remains below potential in the context of subdued domestic demand and post‑pandemic balance sheet repairs. Economic activity is expected to pick up, with growth reaching 4.9 percent in FY2024/25, supported by stronger domestic demand. The cautiously accommodative monetary policy stance, planned increase in capital expenditure in the FY2024/25 budget, additional hydropower generation, and a continued increase in tourist arrivals are expected to boost domestic demand and growth. Inflation is expected to remain within the Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) target ceiling of 5.5 percent.

Domestic risks dominate the outlook. Failure to raise the execution rate of capital projects would deprive the economy of much-needed stimulus and weigh on growth. Fragile political stability could disrupt policy continuity and reform implementation. Intensification of financial sector vulnerabilities, such as a further rise in NPLs or more failures of cooperative lenders, could endanger banking system soundness. Externally, high commodity prices could slow the recovery in energy-intensive sectors. Nepal remains vulnerable to natural disasters.

Nepal’s economic reforms progress

Bo Li, deputy managing director and acting chair

Nepal has made significant strides in its economic reform agenda. Decisive actions in monetary policy, bank regulation, and phasing out Covid-19 support policies played a major role in overcoming urgent balance of payments pressure in FY2021/22. Reserves continue to rise without the need for distortive import restrictions. Fiscal discipline was maintained in FY2022/23 and so far in FY2023/24, despite revenue shortfalls. Bank supervision and regulation have improved with the implementation of new supervisory information systems, the Working Capital Loan Guidelines, and Asset Classification Regulations. Nepal’s medium-term outlook remains favorable as strategic investments in infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector, are expected to support potential growth.

With growth below potential, executing the planned increase in capital spending, as envisaged in the FY2024/25 budget, while maintaining fiscal discipline through domestic revenue mobilization and rationalization of current spending, remains critical to boosting growth and preserving medium-term fiscal sustainability. Strengthening public investment management will support the needed boost to capital spending. Enhancing fiscal transparency will help contain fiscal risks and further strengthen medium-term fiscal sustainability.

As monetary policy transmission is still weak in the context of balance sheet repair, a cautious and data-dependent monetary policy remains appropriate to preserve price and external stability. Continuing to strengthen Nepal’s financial system remains a top priority. Financial policy should remain vigilant and focused on building regulatory frameworks that promote sustainable credit growth while proactively addressing emerging vulnerabilities in the savings and credit cooperatives sector. Maintaining recent reforms regarding lending practices and asset classification is important as preparations for the loan portfolio review of the ten largest banks continue.

Nepal’s commitment to strengthening its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework is commendable. Amendments to a set of fifteen laws, including those on money laundering, have been recently enacted, and secondary legislation is under preparation to bring Nepal’s AML/CFT legal framework in line with international standards. It remains critical to ensure the effectiveness of the new legal framework. Reforms to implement the 2021 IMF Safeguards Assessment recommendations regarding the NRB Act and NRB audit are a priority.

Continued progress on the structural front remains necessary to foster investment and more inclusive growth. This includes improving the business climate, building human capital, and continuing to enhance social safety nets, particularly aiming for the full execution of the child grant budget, followed by an expansion of the program to all districts in Nepal.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1,800 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 146, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 144, 900 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 146, 600 per tola. It was traded at Rs 144, 200 per tola.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,885 per tola today.

An aircraft of Buddha Air with 59 people on board skidded off the runway at Gautam Buddha Airport while landing last night. 

The plane with call sign 805 skidded off the runway while landing from the east to west of the airport at 9:30 pm on Thursday.

It is said that the plane got stuck in the mud, Spokesperson of the District Police Office, Rupandehi, Manohar Prasad Bhatta said.

Bhatta added that all passengers were evacuated safely from the plane. The plane had 59 people on board including four crew members.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhatta said that the Gautam Buddha Airport is closed now as the plane is on the runway.

A team of technicians from Buddha Air is arriving here from Kathmandu to shift the aircraft from the runway.

Dozens of people went missing when two passenger buses plunged into the Trishuli river on Friday.

The incident occurred after a landslide triggered by torrential rainfall swept away the buses into the river at Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road section in Chitwan district, officials confirmed. The buses were carrying 65 passengers, it has been said.

Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Indra Dev Yadav, confirmed that two vehicles fell into the river at 3:30 this morning.

According to Yadav, a bus of Ganapati Deluxe heading to Gaur of Rautahat from Kathmandu was carrying 41 persons and the next bus on its way to Kathmandu from Birgunj had 24 persons on board.

The Chief District Officer, who is on the site, said that the rescue workers have started clearing the debris.

Yadav said details of the accident are awaited.