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The weather today will remain partly cloudy in the hilly and mountainous regions and mainly fair in the remaining areas of the country.

Light rain and snowfall are possible at one or two places of the hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, according to the Weather Forecasting Division.

The meteorological analysis by the Division states that there is currently no significant effect of the weather system across the country.

The Madhes Provincial Assembly has removed Speaker Ram Chandra Mandal from his position after a motion citing “conduct inconsistent with the dignity of the office” was passed with a two-thirds majority on Wednesday. The assembly discussed the proposal in its meeting and endorsed it through a division of votes.

Deputy speaker Babita Kumari Raut announced Mandal’s dismissal, stating that 76 members voted in favor of the motion. A total of 78 provincial lawmakers were present.

A stunning bicycle kick and two stoppage-time goals sealed Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait. Austria needed a late equalizer to also make it back to soccer’s showcase event for the first time since 1998, while top-ranked Spain clinched its spot after equaling Italy’s 31-match unbeaten record in competitive games in Europe.

Belgium and Switzerland also secured their places for the 2026 World Cup as European qualifying finished Tuesday. Five automatic spots were still available in Europe. Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C, with Scott McTominay scoring a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into the match, sending the Hampden Park crowd into raptures.

A draw would have given Denmark the group win and the Danes were in good position after Patrick Dorgu equalized in the 82nd, but Kieran Tierney put the hosts ahead again three minutes into added time. Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line.

“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how this is the opportunity we’ve waited for. What a night, eh?” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “This was the chance, one game. This was like a playoff final. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step and it’s always the hardest.”

Denmark, which saw Rasmus Kristensen sent off in the 62nd, finished second in the group, two points behind Scotland. A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly, while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.

Nepali narrative film Lokanti, produced under the banner of Krishan Films, is set to hit cinema halls across the country simultaneously from Friday, Dec 12. Along with the announcement of its release date, the makers have also unveiled the film’s first-look poster. Directed by Ranjit Rana, Lokanti is presented as a complete family drama, placing themes of family, love, struggle, peace, and subtle social conflicts at its core.

Actor Yasraj Garach plays the lead role in the film, which has been shot in the natural and authentic locations of Kavre district. The movie aims to highlight the social sensitivities embedded within a family love story.

Produced by Santosh Neupane, the film features actress and model Richa Thapa opposite Garach. Other key cast members include Bimala Limbu, Kumar Neupane, Bikash Adhikari, Daman Rupakheti, and Govinda Prabhat. The film also marks the acting debut of Kumar Neupane and Bikash Adhikari, both of whom have expressed excitement about their first venture.

The music is composed by Bikash Chaudhary, while Ronish Tamang has handled the cinematography. Rooted in Nepali culture, Lokanti promises audiences a fresh blend of emotion and social storytelling.

Sudurpashchim Royals clinched a 29-run victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the fourth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Wednesday.

Batting first after Kathmandu elected to field, Sudurpashchim were bowled out for 147 runs in 20 overs. The innings got off to a shaky start with three wickets falling for just four runs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee steadied the innings with 39 off 30 balls, while Harmeet Singh produced a blistering 53 from 20 deliveries, including six sixes, to lift the total.

Kathmandu’s skipper Karan KC led the bowling attack with four wickets for 30 runs. Rashid Khan and Milind Kumar picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Kathmandu managed only 118 runs in 16.5 overs. Despite a solid start from opener Aakash Tripathi, who scored 34 off 30 balls, the team struggled to build partnerships. John Simpson contributed 24, but regular wickets derailed the chase.

Sudurpashchim’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Harmeet Singh, Scott Kuggeleijn and Hemant Dhami taking two wickets each. Kathmandu collapsed from 96-5 to 118 all out, falling short of the target by 29 runs.

The Nepal Premier League continues on Thursday with Chitwan Rhinos set to face Lumbini Lions in Kirtipur.

Nepal is seeing an increasing flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), bringing both opportunities and challenges to the country’s economy. FDI occurs when individuals, companies, or investors from other countries put money into Nepalese businesses. This could mean building factories, opening hotels, setting up IT companies, or purchasing shares in existing enterprises.

Unlike simple trade, FDI means that foreign investors become a part of Nepal’s economy, contributing not only money but also skills, technology, and know-how. Over the past few years, the Nepalese government has worked to create a favorable environment for investors by simplifying laws, streamlining approval processes, and offering incentives in priority sectors. These measures are intended to encourage investment across agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, energy, and technology. FDI plays a critical role in Nepal’s development because it brings much-needed capital for growth, generates employment, transfers technology, and strengthens the country’s global economic connections.

Recent data through Sept 2025 highlights a promising trend for Nepal. During the first two months of the fiscal year, Nepal secured Rs 33.09bn in FDI commitments across 236 projects, including 225 small-scale, four medium-scale, and seven large-scale industries. The agriculture sector accounted for the highest value of commitments, with Rs 21.598bn pledged for nine projects. Tourism followed with Rs 6.692bn for 79 projects, while manufacturing, services, and energy sectors received Rs 1.24bn, Rs 2.815bn, and Rs 182.55m, respectively. Additionally, the Information Technology sector secured Rs 562.754m across 120 projects. These investments are expected to generate employment for thousands of Nepalis, provide new opportunities for local businesses to partner with foreign investors, and bring in advanced technologies and modern business practices.

Since the establishment of the Department of Industry, Nepal has approved 7,475 projects with total FDI commitments amounting to Rs 684.51bn. Despite the strong commitments, only a portion of this promised investment has been realized, with net FDI inflows for fiscal year 2023/24 totaling Rs 8.4bn, marking a 36.1 percent increase from the previous year. The total FDI stock in Nepal as of mid-2024 reached Rs 333bn, with the service sector holding the largest share at 40.5 percent, followed by industry and manufacturing at 29 percent each. Investors originate from around 60 countries, with India, China, Singapore, Ireland, and South Korea topping the list, while Bagmati Province continues to receive the highest concentration of investments, accounting for 62 percent of total FDI stock.

Several reforms and government initiatives have contributed to this upward trend in investment. Legal changes have simplified procedures for investors, including the introduction of an automatic approval route for certain projects, allowing investors to receive faster approval without multiple layers of bureaucracy. Foreign investors can now invest through registered venture capital or specialized funds, while some restrictions remain in certain agricultural sectors, such as dairy or vegetable production, unless projects focus on exports.

The Department of Industry has also improved visa arrangements for investors, their representatives, and family members, making Nepal a more welcoming destination for foreign capital. Faster approval processes reduce delays and costs, encouraging investors to launch projects promptly. The government’s support, combined with sector-specific incentives and reforms, has improved Nepal’s appeal as an investment destination and fostered confidence among international companies looking to participate in the country’s economic growth.

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain in ensuring that FDI commitments translate into actual investments. Historically, only about 31.9 percent of approved projects are realized due to delays in project implementation, long setup times, or changes in investor priorities. Weak infrastructure, including limited access to reliable electricity, water, and transport networks, continues to impede large-scale projects, particularly in less developed regions. Governance and risk management remain concerns for investors, as corruption, bureaucratic delays, and uncertainties about property rights can affect the safety of capital and the return on investment.

Long-term projects, such as hydropower plants, industrial complexes, and large-scale tourism initiatives, require stability, robust regulatory frameworks, and efficient administration. Furthermore, foreign investors often need guidance on repatriation of profits and management of financial obligations to avoid excessive debt accumulation. These factors highlight the importance of addressing institutional weaknesses, upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring transparent and predictable legal processes.

Corporate law firm in Nepal have emerged as vital partners in supporting foreign investors. These firms provide comprehensive legal guidance on FDI regulations, company registration, tax obligations, and compliance requirements. They assist investors in setting up businesses, whether as joint ventures with local partners or as wholly foreign-owned entities.

Legal experts also draft and negotiate complex agreements, including Share Subscription Agreements, Share Purchase Agreements, and Technology Transfer Agreements. Law firms support investors in obtaining regulatory approvals, managing visas, and resolving disputes, ensuring contractual rights are protected. By advising on finance structures, dividend repatriation, and ongoing compliance, corporate law firms reduce risk and improve the likelihood of successful long-term investment.

With the right legal and regulatory support, combined with continued reforms and government incentives, Nepal has the potential to leverage FDI as a powerful engine for sustainable economic growth, regional development, employment generation, and technological advancement, ultimately benefiting the country’s economy and its citizens.

Prabin Kumar Yadav

Kathmandu School of Law

The government has missed its revenue target for the first four months of the current fiscal year, collecting just 77.49 percent of the planned amount. The government has set a target to raise Rs 1,480bn in fiscal year 2025/26 which began in mid-July. However, revenue collection by the end of the first four months stood at Rs 329.51bn, significantly below the target for the period. The government had aimed to mobilize Rs 425.23bn by mid-November.

The shortfall is particularly stark for the fourth month (mid-October to mid-November). Total collection during the period stood at Rs 78.33bn against the targeted Rs 103.7bn. Total revenue collection over the first four months of the current fiscal year, however, was marginally up compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. According to the finance ministry, total revenue collection in these four months was up 6.53 percent compared to the same period of the last fiscal year when the government mobilized Rs 329.02bn.

Breakdown of the revenue data shows that customs duty remained the largest contributor to the government revenue. But mid-November, the government collected Rs 74.59bn from customs duty. Of this, imports generated Rs 60bn, exports brought in Rs 660 million, while infrastructure tax amounted to Rs 5.66bn. Other customs-related income included Rs 240 million in miscellaneous revenue, Rs 2.45bn in agriculture reform fees, Rs 3.75bn in road maintenance charges, and Rs 1.76bn in road construction and upgrade fees.

Value Added Tax (VAT) remained the government’s largest single revenue source in the revenue period, generating Rs 101.71bn in the first four months. VAT from domestic production, sales and services contributed Rs 44.92bn, while VAT from imports reached Rs 62.19bn. Excise collection reached Rs 62bn during the period. The government also mobilized Rs 2bn from education service fees and Rs 61.15bn in income tax. Non-tax revenue stood at Rs 1.27bn.

Despite the slight year-on-year growth, the inability to meet periodic targets has raised concerns about the government’s ability to achieve its ambitious annual revenue goal. Officials say sluggish imports, subdued economic activity and lower consumption continue to weigh on revenue performance.

The government missed its revenue target by nearly 17 percent in the previous fiscal year as well. Of the Rs 1,419bn it had aimed to collect, only Rs 1,178bn was raised, underscoring a continuing trend of underperformance in revenue mobilization.

The government has failed to meet targets on spending fronts as well. According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office, government spending over the first four months of 2025/26 remained sluggish, with capital expenditure performing especially poorly. Of the total Rs 407.88bn allocated for capital spending this fiscal year, only Rs 25.62bn—just 6.28 percent of the target—had been utilized during the review period. 

Overall treasury expenditure reached Rs 470.10bn, or 23.93 percent of the annual allocation. Recurrent spending stood at Rs 321.89bn, equivalent to 27.26 percent of the target, while financing expenditure, which is used to service public debt, amounted to Rs 122.58bn, or 32.67 percent of the target. The government met 81.87 percent of its spending targets in the previous fiscal year.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has called an all-party meeting on Wednesday.

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the meeting has been called for 4 pm at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today to discuss the current government's priorities.

The interim government, headed by Prime Minister Karki, is committed to ensuring the successful conduct of the House of Representatives election set for March 5.