Gold being traded at Rs 195, 200 per tola on Monday
The gold is being traded at Rs 195, 200 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 2, 170 per tola today.
Israel starts 'rescue' flights as airlines reroute across Middle East
Israel briefly reopened its airspace on Sunday and is expanding flight operations on Monday, aiming to help tens of thousands of travellers stranded by widespread cancellations across the Middle East after the U.S. attacked Iran, Reuters reported.
An organisation that monitors flight risks warned on Sunday that U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed due to war, the Middle East has become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia, but flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed empty space over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. Airlines have chosen routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if these mean higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times, according to Reuters.
Iran issues stark warning to Trump 'the gambler': We will end this war
Iran said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called U.S. President Donald Trump a "gambler" for joining Israel's military campaign against the Islamic Republic, Reuters reported.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said the U.S. should expect heavy consequences for its actions.
"Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said in English at the end of a recorded video statement.
Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced for Tehran's response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites over the weekend, which Trump suggested could lead to the overthrow of the Iranian government, according to Reuters.
Bhaktapur Municipality announces budget of Rs 2.47 billion with prime focus on education
Bhaktapur, the historic and smallest municipality in Nepal, has announced a budget of Rs 2.473 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget was presented today at the 18th Municipal Assembly by Deputy Speaker of the Municipality, Rajani Joshi.
Bhaktapur Municipality, which spans just 6.88 square kilometers, lies within Bhaktapur District, Nepal’s, covering an area of 119 square kilometers.
In recognition of Bhaktapur’s cultural and historical significance, the local government has allocated the budget across various sectors with a strong emphasis on education, health and heritage preservation.
Of the total budget, Rs 1.52 billion (61.67%) has been allocated towards current expenditures while Rs 804.8 million (32.54%) has been set aside for capital expenditures.
Similarly, Rs 143 million (5.78%) has been allocated under financial management.
Among the budget key priorities, the education sector has received the highest priority, with Rs 544 million (21.85%) of the total budget earmarked for its development.
According to the local representative, this reflects the sentiments of the locals.
To enhance local healthcare services, Rs 50 million has been allocated for the enhancement of Khwopa Hospital and Rs 7.5 million has been set aside for the construction of the Khanchapukhu Health Post.
In line with Bhaktapur’s identity as a city of living heritage, Rs 3.75 million has been allocated for the enhancement of local ghats (cremation grounds), Rs 30 million has been designated for the reconstruction of Thanthu Palace and Rs 10.6 million has been allocated for the restoration of a local religious site.
She said that the budget reflects the municipality’s commitment to preserving its rich heritage while investing in education and healthcare for sustainable development.
Tea exports increase by 40 percent via Mechi Customs Office
Export of tea has increased by 40.50 percent in the 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.
According to the Mechi Customs Office, tea worth Rs 3. 86 billion has been exported until the month of Ashad (Mid-June).
During the 11 months of the current fiscal year, 14,463.33 metric tonnes of tea has been exported, as informed by Ishwar Kumar Humagain, the information officer at the Mechi Customs Office.
In the fiscal year 2024/25, tea worth Rs 2. 75 billion was exported.
According to the office's statistics, cardamom exports have decreased by 3.80 percent until the end of the month of Jestha (Mid-June) in the current fiscal year. In the 11 months of the current fiscal year, cardamom exports are worth Rs 7. 18 billion have been recorded.
In the last fiscal year, cardamom worth Rs. 7 billion 452 million was exported during the same period.
The main exported items include veneer sheets at 67 percent, iron sheets at 9.6 percent, plywood at 11.60 percent, and molasses which saw a 400.50 percent increase in exports, the Office said.
Similarly, export of cement clinker decreased by 12.60 percent, ginger by 59.70 percent, Amriso (broom grass) by 15.2 percent, and Chhurpi (traditional hardened yak cheese) by 7.7 percent.
In the current fiscal year's 11 months, goods worth Rs 23. 28 billion have been exported through the Mechi customs.
Pokhara metropolis unveils budget of Rs 8.35 billion
The Pokhara Metropolitan City has unveiled its annual budget of Rs 8.35 billion for the fiscal year 2025/26.
Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung presented the budget in the 17th municipal assembly of the metropolitan city on Sunday.
The budget has estimated the revenue of Rs 3.13 billion from federal conditional grants, Rs Rs 330.08 million from federal revenue sharing, Rs 528.7 million from federal equalization grant, Rs 0.815 million from province equalization grant.
Deputy Mayor Gurung informed that the internal revenue is estimated to be Rs 5.22 billion. The metropolis is expected to receive Rs 1.1 billion from local revenue sharing and Rs 32.8 million from province revenue sharing.
Among the key priorities of the budget include green, resilient and sustainable infrastructure development, and tourism promotion, the budget proposal stated.
It has also laid emphasis on environment protection, preservation, solid waste management, inclusive, balanced and equitable development, institutional development, good governance promotion and quality service delivery.
Iran weighs retaliation against U.S. for strikes on nuclear sites
Iran and Israel traded air and missile strikes as the world braced on Monday for Tehran's response to the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites and U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea of regime change in the Islamic republic, Reuters reported.
Iran vowed to defend itself on Sunday, a day after the U.S. joined Israel in the biggest Western military action against the country since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, despite calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy from around the world.
Commercial satellite imagery indicated the U.S. attack on Saturday on Iran’s subterranean Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged or destroyed the deeply buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but the status of the site remained unconfirmed, experts said, according to Reuters.
In his latest social media comments on the U.S. strikes, Trump said "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran."
US asks China to stop Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes, BBC reported.
His comments came after Iran's state-run Press TV reported that parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait but added that the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council.
Any disruption to the supply of oil would have profound consequences for the economy. China in particular is the world's largest buyer of Iranian oil and has a close relationship with Tehran, according to BBC.
Oil prices surged following the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites, with the price of the benchmark Brent crude reaching its highest level in five months.