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Local governments that failed to present their respective budgets for the fiscal year 2024/25 by June 24, as required by law, will face cuts in the fiscal equalization grants provided by the federal government.

According to the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, 39 local governments that did not present their budgets to their respective municipal or village assemblies within the stipulated time frame will see a five-point deduction in the evaluation criteria used to allocate the next fiscal year’s equalization grants.

As per the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act, all local governments are required to present their revenue and expenditure estimates for the upcoming fiscal year to their respective municipal or village assemblies by June 24 and have them approved by mid-July. However, 39 out of the 753 local units failed to present their fiscal budgets this year.

The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission evaluates the performance of local governments on a 100-point scale based on 17 indicators. Federal grants distributed among local governments are based on these indicators.

So far, 714 local units have submitted their budgets to their respective assemblies by the stipulated time frame of June 24. However, many of them have not submitted their budget details to the portal maintained on the official website of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development.

As of Sunday, only 454 local units have submitted their budget details to the portal. According to the ministry, 48 local units in Koshi and 76 in Madhesh have not uploaded their budget details to the portal. Similarly, 43 local units in Bagmati, 27 in Gandaki, 47 in Lumbini, 25 in Karnali, and 33 in Sudurpaschim provinces have yet to upload their budget details to the portal.

There are six metropolitan cities, 11 sub-metropolitan cities, 276 municipalities, and 460 rural municipalities in the country. Of these, one metropolitan city, one sub-metropolitan city, and 22 municipalities have failed to present their budget for 2025/26. Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Dharan Sub-metropolitan City failed to present their budgets within the stipulated timeframe due to disputes among elected representatives.

Most of the non-compliant municipalities are in Madhesh Province. Sixteen out of 77 municipalities in the province failed to present their budgets by the stipulated deadline of June 24. Similarly, four municipalities in Bagmati, two in Lumbini, and one each in Koshi and Karnali also failed to present their budgets. All municipalities in Gandaki and Sudurpaschim have presented their fiscal budgets.

Likewise, all rural municipalities in Koshi and Sudurpaschim provinces have presented their budgets. However, nine rural municipalities in Madhesh, two each in Lumbini and Gandaki, and one each in Bagmati and Karnali failed to present their fiscal budgets.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shekhar Koirala has expressed serious concern over changes in  the Civil Service Bill in an unauthorised way, calling it an insult to the dignity of Parliament when the Bill had already been unanimously endorsed by the House of Representatives.

Taking to social media, Koirala stated, "This is not a normal incident; it is disrespect for the sovereign Parliament." He demanded immediate action against those responsible for the alteration and urged that such change be reverted. 

The leader further stressed that the Bill should not proceed without the inclusion of a mandatory cooling-off period, underscoring the need to respect parliamentary procedures.

At least 14 people, most of them workers, died and 35 others were injured in a blast that occurred at a chemical factory in Sangareddy district of Telangana on Monday, The Indian Express reported.

It was duty hours at Sigachi Chemicals in Pashamylaram industrial estate when the blast took place, trapping dozens of workers inside, Sangareddy police said.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddyappointed a high-level committee to review and probe the mishap, and reveal its underlying causes. The five-member committee comprises Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary – Disaster Management, Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health) and Additional DGP (Fire Services).

“In addition to probing this mishap, the panel would also submit a report on ways to prevent such accidents from reoccurring,” Reddy said in a statement, according to The Indian Express.

Nepal imported goods worth Rs 434. 43 billion from India via Birgunj in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

According to Deepak Lamichhane, the Chief Customs Administrator of the Birgunj Customs Office, the majority of import and export through this border is with the neighbouring country, India.

Argentina comes in second place after India in terms of imports through this check point. 

Many goods and commodities are imported from Argentina. 

In the current fiscal year, goods and commodities worth Rs 46.74 billion have been imported from Argentina. The share of goods imported from that country is 8.27 percent.

Similarly, goods worth Rs 28.86 billion have been imported from the northern neighbour China during the same period. The share of imports from China is 1.22 percent.

In the 11 months of the current fiscal year, goods and products worth Rs 565. 42 billion  have been imported from 50 countries at the Birgunj border.

Similarly, goods and items worth Rs 91. 51 billion have been exported to foreign countries through the Birgunj border in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year. During this period, goods and items worth Rs. 86. 97 billion  have been exported to India through this border. This volume of export to India comprises 95.05 percent of total export trade volume through Birgunj customs. 

America comes in second place in terms of volume of exports through Birgunj during the same period. 

Goods and products worth Rs 2.18 billion have been exported to America, which is 2.38 percent of total exports.

Similarly, goods worth Rs 680 million have also been exported to Afghanistan through this border customs checkpoint during the same period.

The former vice president of Ecuador who was detained last year during a highly criticized police raid on Mexico’s embassy in the South American country was sentenced Monday to 13 years in prison, Associated Press reported.

Jorge Glas had been accused of misusing public funds intended for the reconstruction of two provinces affected by an earthquake in 2016. The quake devastated communities and killed hundreds of people.

Glas became vice president in 2013, during the presidency of Rafael Correa, and was removed from that position in January 2018, when he was charged in a corruption case tied to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, according to Associated Press.

Judge Mercedes Caicedo said the funds for reconstruction efforts following the earthquake were allocated to “useless, unusable and unnecessary buildings” disregarding the law, and above all, “with complete disrespect for the victims.”

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region said Monday that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it — one of four regions Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022 despite not fully controlling a single one, Associated Press reported.

If confirmed, that would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war and as recent U.S.-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from hisdemands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv on the claim made by the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, Leonid Pasechnik. In remarks to Russia’s state TV Channel One that aired Monday evening, Pasechnik said he received a report “literally two days ago” saying that “100%” of the region was now under the control of Russian forces, according to Associated Press.

The monsoon wind has its influence throughout the country at present with the monsoon low pressure trough somewhat closer to west Nepal, towards north from its average position, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said.

The weather will be generally cloudy across the country today.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning in some areas of the hilly regions of the country including Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Province, as well as in some areas of the remaining regions.

The Division stated that there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in one or two places in the Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain and snowfall in some areas of the country's high hilly and mountainous region.

Similarly, tonight it will be generally cloudy in the hilly areas of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, while the remaining areas will have partially cloudy conditions.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning in some places of the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, as well as in some areas of other regions. There is also a possibility of heavy rainfall in one or two places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces.

The Meteorological Department has stated that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain and snowfall in some areas of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for justice and fairness in the global economic and financial system. 

The PM, who is currently on an official visit to Spain to attend the United Nations (UN)'s 'Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)', made this call while delivering a statement at the FFD4 Plenary on Monday.

The following is the full text of the PM's statement:

STATEMENT by Rt. Hon. Mr. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chair of the LDCs and in National Capacity at the Plenary of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) 30 June 2025, Seville, Spain   

Distinguished Co-Chairs, Your Excellencies the Heads of State and Government, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the group of the least developed countries. 

Let me begin by expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Spain—for generous hospitality, and for warmly welcoming us into this historic and beautiful city. Excellencies, A decade ago, in Addis Ababa, the world pledged solidarity with the LDCs. 

The commitment was also echoed in the 2030 Agenda. We promised to leave no one behind and committed to uplift the furthest behind first. Ten years on, the world is making progress. Global GDP has grown—roughly from 75 trillion to 115 trillion. But inequality is rising—between and within nations. At the very moment when solidarity is most needed— Official Development Assistance is shrinking. 

Debt is suffocating the South—specifically, LDCs’ debt has tripled in the last decade. Trade is fractured. Growth is unequal. Investment remains weak, and poverty is persistent. Technology and innovation are advancing in leaps and bounds in developed countries. But the LDCs face a stark technological and digital divide—seriously hindering their economic and social progress. 

Poor and inadequate infrastructure continues to impede our potential. In global development forums, LDCs remain marginalized—their voices often unheard. Climate change strikes LDCs the hardest, although they emit less than 1 percent of greenhouse gas. After Addis Ababa— only four LDCs have graduated. 

Excellencies, 

Despite multiple challenges, LDCs are resolute to overcome them with the strength and ingenuity of their people as well as the support and solidarity of their development partners. This is also demonstrated by the 14 LDCs advancing toward graduation. 

Against this backdrop, the Sevilla Commitment we adopted today gives us a chance to change the course. It promises a renewed global financing framework for the realization of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The developing countries, particularly LDCs, strongly urge for its full implementation in good faith and high spirits. In this regard, we call for justice and fairness in the global economic and financial system. We stand for reform of global financial architecture. 

1. We urge our development partners to deliver 0.7 percent ODA commitment to developing countries; and to meet and go beyond 0.2 percent for the LDCs. 
2. We seek grants and concessional finance on fairer terms. 
3. We stand for rules-based and equitable global trading system where all countries accrue benefits.  We stand for vibrant private sectors connecting Global North and Global South through value chains bringing common prosperity to all.  We stand for a UN-led tax convention. 
4. We call for adequate climate finance that is concessional, predictable, and accessible. The Sevilla Commitment must serve as a vital catalyst for the development and progress of all the LDCs. It must also ensure a smooth, irreversible and sustainable graduation. Excellencies, Let me touch briefly upon my national context now. We are graduating from the LDC status in 2026. While our determination remains firm, we need robust support from our development partners to realize our development aspirations. Nepal is proud to have served as a co-facilitator of Sevilla Commitment—alongside Norway, Zambia, and Mexico. We thank all Member States for their trust. Excellencies, Let us implement the Sevilla agenda with urgency to overcome despair and to reignite hope: 
5. Hope for a fairer global governance system that respects all voices. 
6. Hope for partnerships built on solidarity. 
7. Hope for sensible investment in people and the planet.  
8. Hope for a better world where no country is left behind. Thank you!