Nepal Budget & Taxes: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle defended Nepal’s Rs 2.124 trillion budget as realistic versus GDP, while new levies are drawing heat—VAT-linked “millionaire” lottery plans and a 3% charge on private school and hospital fees, plus an electricity consumption tax beyond 50 units, are being questioned for hitting everyday households. Education & Youth Voices: Children in Tikapur urged local leaders to fund quality education, libraries and protection from abuse, while the Karnali Daughters Conference issued a 10-point declaration pushing an end to child marriage, menstrual discrimination, and tech-facilitated violence. Culture & Film: The 6th Nepal Indigenous Film Festival opened in Kathmandu, spotlighting indigenous languages and identities through feature, short, documentary and AI-generated works. Heritage & Community: Mayors’ dialogue focused on heritage conservation, and Geruka River in Mahottari drew huge crowds for Purushottam Maas rituals. Health & Rights: A study flagged tobacco addiction even among children under 12, and Nepal’s parliament also heard fresh concerns over Tarai drinking-water shortages. Everest Stories: Sagarmatha Day coverage included Nadira Al Harthy’s Oman-to-Everest journey and renewed attention to women’s empowerment through mountaineering. Nepal-India Politics: Rabi Lamichhane’s Delhi visit follows Balen Shah’s controversial remarks, as border issues and diplomatic messaging stay in the spotlight.