Summary:

• Nepal Rastra Bank (the central bank) has amended the Foreign Investment Foreign Loan Management Bylaw, 2021, to allow Nepali IT companies to access foreign currency for making foreign investments in IT-related sectors abroad.
• This change supports the government’s move to globalize domestic enterprises, as announced in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
• Nepali IT firms that have earned foreign currency by exporting IT services in the past three fiscal years can now reinvest up to 50% of their average annual export earnings (with a cap of US$1 million) in foreign countries.
• Companies can establish sales branches or processing units overseas for semi-processed goods.
• 25% of annual income generated through exports can be reinvested abroad, but 50% of profits earned from these foreign ventures must be repatriated to Nepal.
• The amendment also introduces legal provisions recognizing “sweat equity” for Nepali professionals contributing technology, knowledge, or unique services to foreign companies.
• IT companies must submit relevant documents (registration, tax certificates, financial reports, board decisions) when applying for foreign currency and await approval within 15 working days.
• Companies investing abroad have to submit audited financial reports annually; if auditing is not mandatory in the investment country, unaudited reports suffice.
• The bylaw requires repatriation of earnings via banking channels and mandates strict legal action if foreign currency is misused.
• The definition of “technology transfer” is broadened to include agreements involving patents, trademarks, know-how, technical services, outsourcing, digital data processing, and more.
• This move is seen as crucial for expanding Nepal’s IT sector internationally and capitalizing on its growing IT service exports.

In short, the central bank is facilitating Nepali IT firms to invest overseas by easing access to foreign currency while ensuring transparency and repatriation of profits.

Archive: https://archive.md/9uIeB

Summary:
The Kathmandu District Court has overturned a previous order that had directed two online news portals, Nepalkhabar and Bizmandu, to remove articles about Santosh Narayan Shrestha, chairperson of the Securities Board Nepal (Sebon). The court dismissed Shrestha's petition seeking an injunction to prevent further reporting and to remove existing content. This ruling nullifies the earlier June 11 order that had required the websites to take down the news articles immediately and stop publishing related reports.

The initial order faced strong criticism from civil society and media groups, who saw it as a violation of press freedom guaranteed by the constitution. The Federation of Nepali Journalists also condemned the ruling for undermining free expression and journalism's role in holding public officials accountable.

Shrestha’s complaint claimed the articles contained unverified information causing reputational harm. However, with the recent decision, the news portals no longer have a legal obligation to remove the contested content, at least until further legal developments occur.

Archive: https://archive.md/YnFnH

Summary:
The Patan High Court has upheld an interim order preventing the arrest of senior journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak in connection with a video published on the YouTube channel "Tough Talk." The court ruled that there are no sufficient grounds to justify his immediate arrest based on the complaint filed by Jaiveer Singh Deuba, son of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. The complaint concerns a video titled “Jaiveer Deuba’s Money Hilton!” in which Pathak questioned Jaiveer’s alleged involvement in share transactions linked to Hilton Kathmandu.

Earlier, a single bench judge had issued an interim order instructing police not to detain Pathak. Despite this, the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police requested Pathak to present himself at the nearest police office, alleging that his video violated the Electronic Transactions Act. Pathak and his legal counsel argued that the arrest warrant was issued without sufficient legal basis, leading the High Court to maintain its order against his arrest until a final verdict is reached.

Archive: https://archive.md/YQDIM

Summary:
A preliminary geological survey has found an estimated 1.12 billion cubic metres of natural gas in Dailekh district, western Nepal. The survey was conducted by the China Geological Survey and CNPC Xibu Drilling Engineering Company through exploratory drilling at the Jaljale site. The initial findings suggest a large presence of methane gas that could potentially meet Nepal's gas demand for the next 50 years.

Drilling reached a depth of 4,013 metres, with core samples sent for laboratory testing. Chinese experts have taken rock samples back to China for further analysis to confirm the volume and quality of the gas. The final, detailed report is expected by December 2025.

Officials said this discovery opens the possibility for commercial testing and development, and further steps require intergovernmental agreements between Nepal and China. This could be a significant step towards Nepal securing domestic energy sources.

Archive: https://archive.md/VrOII

Match Summary:

• Teams: Scotland vs Nepal

• Venue: Glasgow (Clydesdale)

• Result: Nepal won by 2 wickets

• Scores:- Scotland: 97 all out (19.4 overs)- Top scorers: Michael Leask 46, Matthew Cross 15

• Best bowling: Sandeep Lamichhane 4/11

• Nepal: 98/8 (19.5 overs)- Top scorers: Kushal Bhurtel 30, Dipendra Singh Airee 14

• Best bowling: Safyaan Sharif 2/13

Key Moments:

• Scotland batted first but struggled early, losing Mark Watt in the fifth ball and five wickets by the end of the powerplay.
• Michael Leask and Matthew Cross tried to hold the innings together but couldn’t lift the total beyond 97.
• Sandeep Lamichhane was outstanding with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs.
• Nepal’s chase was tense; despite early wickets, they kept close to the target.
• Safyaan Sharif took two important wickets near the end, including Kiran Thagunna in the final over.
• Nepal needed just one run from the last two balls and got it on the penultimate delivery, scored by Lamichhane himself.

Player Highlights:

• Michael Leask (Scotland): Anchored a low-scoring innings with 46 runs.
• Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal): The star bowler with 4 wickets; also scored the winning run.
• Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal): Solid start with 30 runs.
• Safyaan Sharif (Scotland): Key bowler taking 2 wickets and keeping pressure on Nepal in the final overs.

Captain's Comments (Matthew Cross):

• Acknowledged a poor batting performance.
• Proud of the team’s fight-back effort despite the early collapse.
• Mentioned the challenging pitch and conditions but expected better from the team.

What's next:

• Scotland face the Netherlands on Wednesday.
• Final match of the series is Scotland vs Nepal on Friday.
• Both teams are preparing for next month's T20 World Cup qualifiers.

Archive: https://archive.md/9wAg8

Summary:
Context:

• The conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, raising safety concerns for Nepali migrant workers in the Middle East.
• There are approximately 5,500 Nepali workers in Israel and at least a dozen in Iran.

Government Actions:

• The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security held an emergency meeting chaired by Labour Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar.
• Officials from multiple ministries (foreign affairs, home, tourism, law) and parliamentary committees assessed risks and outlined response strategies.

Key Measures:

1. Safety and Evacuation Plan:

• The government is ready to ensure safety and evacuate Nepali workers if needed.
• Diplomatic communications have been initiated with third countries like Egypt and border nations of Israel and Iran to facilitate transit and visa arrangements.
• Nepal will formally request India and China to include Nepali nationals in their evacuation efforts.

2. Travel Advisory:

• Non-essential travel to the Middle East is discouraged.
• Recruitment agencies are urged to hold off deploying new workers to high-risk areas.
• Airlines are requested to waive ticket rescheduling fees for affected workers.

3. Mental Health Support:

• The Foreign Employment Board and Social Security Fund will provide counseling services to affected workers.

4. Monitoring and Communication:

• Nepali embassies in Tel Aviv, Doha (which also covers Iran), and other diplomatic channels are actively monitoring the situation.
• The Foreign Minister is in constant contact with Nepali envoys.

Current Situation:

• No large-scale evacuation has been initiated yet.
• Most Nepali workers in Israel work in caregiving and agriculture, living in accommodations with or without bunkers.
• Many rely on public shelters when missile alerts occur.
• Nepali Ambassador in Israel confirmed that workers are following emergency protocols.

Nepal is prepared with a multi-agency approach to protect its citizens abroad and will act swiftly if the situation worsens.

Archive: https://archive.md/H1EzF

Summary:

• Context: Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on March 24, 2025, replacing Kulman Ghising. Despite receiving clear orders from the Energy Minister and the Electricity Regulatory Commission to recover billions of rupees in unpaid electricity dues from industrialists using dedicated trunk lines, Shakya has yet to take any significant action nearly three months later.

• Background: Kulman Ghising had pushed for recovery of dues and sought permission from the Electricity Regulatory Commission to disconnect power supply to factories that defaulted on payments. The commission formally instructed NEA on April 10 to start legal action against defaulters. However, by mid-June, no action had been taken according to NEA officials.

• Government Involvement: Minister Deepak Khadka directed Shakya to recover the outstanding dues immediately after his appointment. Despite this, progress remains minimal.

• Regulatory Changes: On April 11, NEA amended regulations allowing industrialists to apply for re-evaluation of their dues by depositing only 5% of outstanding dues as security (reduced from the statutory 25%). A Review Commission was formed to evaluate these applications; 46 industrialists applied, but the commission has yet to meet or make decisions.

• Disputes and Investigations: Earlier efforts to resolve tariff disputes involved forming committees and commissions, but some were annulled by the Supreme Court or delayed. The commission under Girish Chandra Lal recommended calculating tariffs based on electricity supply standards and timing.

• Financial Impact: Industrialists owe roughly Rs 8.25 billion (Rs 6.65 billion principal plus penalties), down from an initial estimate of Rs 22 billion due to adjustments based on recommendations.

• Current Status: Despite informal reports of partial payments by industrialists, no official written confirmation has been made by NEA or the Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Archive: https://archive.md/Do4Pn

Summary:

• Shrinarayan Singh Rajput, 84, father of a victim injured in a blast in Rautahat in 2008, is demanding justice for his son.
• On the eve of Nepal’s first Constituent Assembly elections in April 2008, a blast injured several individuals in Rajpur Municipality (formerly Rajpur Phardawa VDC).
• Nepali Congress leader and former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam and 10 others were accused in 2019 of masterminding the attack, which included attempts to kill the injured by burning them alive in a brick kiln.
• Despite complaints and a Supreme Court directive to arrest and investigate Alam and his associates, successive governments failed to act promptly.
• In 2019, Alam was arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment by Rautahat District Court in April 2024.
• However, the Janakpur High Court overturned the verdict in May 2025, acquitting Alam due to lack of evidence and even denying that the blast occurred.
• Rajput is shocked by the High Court’s ruling and has filed a complaint with the Judicial Council demanding action against the judges who passed the verdict.
• Supporters believe the Attorney General’s Office will appeal the High Court decision to the Supreme Court.
• Rajput remains determined to fight till his last breath to get justice for his son.

Archive: https://archive.md/WYrUo

Summary:

• Around 5,500 Nepali nationals live and work in Israel, and about a dozen in Iran. Despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, all Nepalis in these countries are reported safe.
• Nepal’s ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, confirmed that Nepalis in Israel are taking precautions such as rushing to bunkers within 90 seconds of missile sirens. Fighting mainly happens at night, and Nepalis have adapted to living under these conditions.
• No Nepali has requested evacuation so far, so the embassy has not initiated rescue efforts but is ready to assist if needed.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed ambassadors to stay in regular contact with Nepali communities, providing updated security information.
• In Iran, 11 Nepalis are safe outside jail, while five Nepalis are currently imprisoned for traveling through another country. Rescue efforts for those jailed are on hold due to the war.
• The Nepalese government is actively coordinating and prioritizing the safety of its citizens abroad amid the Israel-Iran conflict.

Archive: https://archive.md/zv59y

Summary:
India briefly closes Nepal-India border bridge in Darchula without prior notice

• On Monday, Indian authorities unilaterally closed the footbridge at the Nepal-India border in Darchula for about two hours starting at 11:06 AM, cutting off a key cross-border access point.
• The closure was done without any prior official communication or written notice to Nepali authorities.
• The Chief District Officer of Darchula, Anil Paudel, stated that informal talks had assured the bridge would remain open, but Indian security forces closed it under pressure from local Indian populations.
• The closure is linked to a recent murder incident. On June 7, Kamlesh Lanu was stabbed to death in Dharchula Bazar on the Indian side opposite Nepal’s Khalanga.
• Indian locals across the bridge demanded the arrest of the murder suspects and declared a shutdown of the market until the suspects are arrested.
• Several organizations submitted a memorandum to Indian authorities demanding the arrest of those involved. The victim’s family has filed an FIR against three suspects believed to have crossed into Nepal.
• The incident exposed vulnerabilities in Nepal’s border administration as the closure stranded Nepali citizens in India and prevented Indian nationals from returning to Nepal.
• Border bridges are intended to facilitate smooth cross-border movement through cooperation, but recent events have caused disruptions.

Archive: https://archive.md/d5bf4

Summary:
Sunmaya Budha, a 26-year-old ultra-marathon runner from Nepal’s Jumla district, has quickly become a leading figure in women’s trail running. Despite visa delays that had her travel nearly 3,000 km to reach Hong Kong for the January 100km Sai Kung Peninsula race, she not only competed but won, breaking the previous women’s record with a time of 11:11:47. She followed this with a win in the 60km Chengdu Trail Race in Italy shortly after.

Budha’s journey is marked by overcoming social challenges, including rebelling against a teen marriage tradition common in her remote Nepal village, pursuing her passion for running instead. She ranks as Nepal’s fastest female ultra-marathoner and is among the top female trail runners globally in her age group.

In 2023 alone, she raced six or seven times in Hong Kong, winning multiple events like the North Face 100 Ultra Trail Challenge, Lantau 50, and TransLantau 50k races. Experts have long predicted her rise to the top of the sport, with some calling her a “silent killer” on the trails due to her calm yet fierce racing style.

Her successes have attracted sponsorships from major brands such as North Face Adventure Team and Kailas, providing essential support for her training and career growth. Her agent describes these deals as life-changing opportunities, highlighting her growing influence in ultra-marathon running.

Archive: https://archive.md/tOe4O

Summary:
The European Commission updated its list of high-risk third countries with significant deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) systems. This update aims to strengthen the EU’s financial system protection by requiring EU entities to apply enhanced vigilance when dealing with transactions involving these countries.

Key points:

• Newly added high-risk countries: Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Venezuela.
• Countries removed (delisted) from the list: Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, United Arab Emirates.
• The update aligns with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of “Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring” as the EU is a founding FATF member.
• The Commission conducted a thorough technical assessment based on well-defined criteria, including FATF data, bilateral talks, and on-site visits.
• The update is mandated by Article 9 of the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive and takes legal form through a delegated regulation subject to approval by the European Parliament and Council.

This measure reflects the EU’s ongoing commitment to enforcing global AML/CFT standards and cooperating internationally to combat financial crime.

Archive: https://archive.md/sV9OR