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Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will sign a ​joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, sources with knowledge of the matter said, amid regional turmoil with Gulf states coming under fire from Iran after it was attacked by the U.S. and Israel, Reuters reported. 

While the pact further cements a burgeoning grouping of major Sunni Muslim powers allied with the United States, there was no immediate clarity on each state's commitments or how it might affect the wider crisis in the Middle East.

At least seven people have died in Thailand after a teenage boy shot his grandparents and some schoolteachers, BBC reported. 

More than 30 others are injured, with nine in a serious condition, PM Anutin Charnvirakul says. 

Authorities say the suspected shooter, 14, is also dead, with Charnvirakul telling reporters the attack was "well prepared"with "clear steps and clear goals," according to BBC. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has said that economic diplomacy is at the center of the country's foreign policy.

He said this while addressing the international conference on 'China and South Asia in a Multipolar World: China–India–Nepal Trilateral Relations in an Evolving Regional Order', in Lalitpur today.

Minister Khanal said that the purpose of economic diplomacy is to improve the living standards of Nepali citizens and to create opportunities in trade, investment, employment, entrepreneurship, tourism, technology, innovation, and sustainable development.

According to the Foreign Minister's Secretariat, he stated that Nepal can play a 'dynamic bridge' role to expand economic, trade, and people-to-people cooperation between China and South Asia, and emphasized to both neighbours that Nepal is sensitive to sovereign equality, mutual respect, mutual interests, and each other's concerns.

He said that Asia’s rapid economic transformation has created unprecedented opportunities for shared prosperity, and that cooperation is the reliable means for sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

"Economic diplomacy has become a central priority of our foreign policy. Nepal is ready to cooperate with all friendly nations for sustainable, inclusive, and progressive development," said the Foreign Minister.

He maintained that the economic growth of China and India has provided new opportunities for neighbouring countries, including Nepal, to expand trade, attract investment, develop infrastructure and connectivity, promote tourism, and enhance economic cooperation.

Although there are huge opportunities for economic growth in South Asia, the reality is that relatively regional economic integration has not been achieved. 

The Foreign Minister mentioned that if connectivity, easy trade, investment flow, and supply chains can be strengthened, it won't take long for this region to become prosperous.

"The success of our collaboration shouldn't be measured by how many agreements we made, but by how many opportunities we were able to create for our citizens," he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that the incumbent government has reiterated making economic transformation a national priority and has particularly focused on quality investment, infrastructure development, export promotion, tourism, clean energy, digital transformation, innovation, and private sector development.

Stating that the development of China and India is seen as an opportunity for the country's economic progress, he clarified that the government's goal is to develop the country from being landlocked into a dynamic bridge connecting China and South Asia.

Minister Khanal opined that the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the spiritual heritage of Guru Padmasambhava, Mount Everest, and various World Heritage sites have further strengthened the country's soft power.

Pointing out the need to strengthen regional cooperation, energy security, climate change, digital transformation, research, innovation, and people-to-people relations, he stressed on the importance of enhancing collaboration between universities, research, and scholarly institutions.

Emphasizing the need to build partnerships based on trust, mutual respect, and common interests in a multipolar world, Foreign Minister Khanal said that Nepal is committed to playing a constructive and positive role in that direction.

The conference was jointly organized by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement and the South Asia Study Center of Fudan University.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 4. 05 points to close at 2, 650. 09 points on Friday. . 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 16 points to close at 463. 56 points.

A total of 10,313,979-unit shares of 334 companies were traded for Rs 1. 53 billion.

Meanwhile, Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ANLB)was the top gainer today with its price surging by 8. 60 percent.

Likewise,  Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower Company Limited (ULHC) was the top loser as their price fell by 6. 93 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 55 trillion.

Winners of the taxpayer incentive prize have been announced. 

At an event held today at the Ministry of Finance under the program initiated by the Inland Revenue Department, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle selected 15 winners and one bumper prize winner. 

The Department said that the coupon number 007315254493 won Rs 1,000,000 under the bumper prize program. 

The person with this coupon had participated at the program by purchasing goods worth Rs 250 from Shiva Krishna General Store. 

Launching the taxpayer incentive gift program, Minister Wagle said it will help promote the culture of issuing and receiving bills and support the growth of the formal economy. 

He also expressed confidence that the program announced through this fiscal year's budget will make the public financial system more transparent. 

"We need to move towards a billing culture. All transactions should be recorded. Our goal is to create a public finance system where it is transparently visible how much tax is collected from citizens and where that money is spent," he said. 

Arrangements have been made for transactions made through digital payments to be automatically recorded in the system. 

Sharing that in the first phase, transactions worth about Rs 25.6 million were made and over Rs 7 billion have been included in the system, the Finance Minister expressed confidence that monthly transactions will reach billions in the coming days. 

"The program encourages many taxpayers to use digital methods, to give and take bills, and to come under the tax net," he said, "It will be effective in controlling revenue leakage and expanding the formal economy."

The government has launched the 'Taxpayer Incentive Gift Programme' to promote the culture of issuing and receiving bills (VAT bills) and to make economic transactions transparent.

On the occasion, Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, Director General of the Inland Revenue Department, said that the winners of the daily and first fortnight bumper prizes from the fiscal year starting Sawan 1 to 15 were selected through a computer system. 

According to him, the 'cryptographically secure uniform random sampling without replacement' method was used for selecting the winners. 

He stated that this method ensures every coupon has an equal chance, the same coupon cannot be selected more than once in a single draw, and the selection process is completely fair and secure.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is to issue a one-month deposit collection instrument worth Rs 60 billion through a bidding process. 

The Monetary Management Department of NRB is bidding deposit collection instruments for 31 days. 

As per the notice issued today by the central bank, the willing banks and financial institutions should participate in bidding through Online Bidding System Software till 3 pm today.

The interest rate would be determined through bidding and its principal and interest will be paid on September 7. 

One can announce a bid up to the total call amount dividing by minimum Rs 100 million to maximum Rs 100 million. 

While allocating the amount called for deposit collection, it will be allocated subsequently up to the called amount prioritizing the lowest interest rate mentioned in the bid. If the demand for the total issued amount is more than the bid with the same interest rate, it will be distributed on a Pro-rata basis. 

Only 'A', 'B' and 'C' class banks and financial institutions licensed from the NRB can participate in the bid process. 

US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday in a new but narrower attempt to curtail birthright citizenship, once again challenging a provision of the US Constitution even though the Supreme Court rejected his previous effort, Reuters reported. 

Limiting birthright citizenship has been one of the top priorities in the Republican president’s crackdown on immigration, with the ‌White House taking particular aim at what it calls “birth tourism,” in which pregnant foreigners travel to the US to give birth. 

Jordan's players and staff have received outstanding reward money for their participation in the 2025 Arab Cup, Jordan Football Association's President Prince Ali bin Hussein said on Thursday, two days after he accused FIFA of blackmail, Reuters reported. 

Prince Ali criticised FIFA President ​Gianni Infantino after he backed out of his proposal to sell a ​stake in the World Cup and found himself under pressure from ⁠confederations and national associations, saying FIFA had offered to help solve the kingdom's problems ​in exchange for his endorsement.