Today’s news centers on Nepal’s push for climate action as regional flooding and governance updates continue to shape national priorities.
Politics & Governance
Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to use his upcoming UN General Assembly appearance to press for climate justice, citing recent flooding impacts in Rasuwa and positioning Nepal as a driver of sustainable development. He is also expected to outline a vision for a $100 billion sustainable economy and propose Kathmandu as a venue for discussions on the Post 2030 Development Agenda. Prime Minister Balen Shah UNGA climate agenda Nepal to voice climate justice at UNGA
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has been scheduled to travel to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, with Prime Minister Balen Shah leading a broader Nepali delegation that will address the assembly on September 24. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal UNGA departure
Courts & Accountability
Nepal has recommended 13 individuals for ambassadorial posts following a public vacancy process that drew more than 4,000 applications, with several nominees identified for missions including India and China. The Ministry has not detailed the evaluation criteria or confirmed whether all selections came strictly from public applicants, leaving questions about transparency in the process. Nepal selects 13 envoys through public vacancy
Economy & Business
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, with emphasis on investment, energy, and connectivity. Wagle also thanked India for assistance during Nepal’s recent flash flood relief efforts, following earlier talks with India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on economic cooperation. FinMin Wagle meets Jaishankar
Meanwhile, the tourism sector saw momentum as Rara National Park reported more than 24,000 visitors last year, indicating continued growth in travel demand. Rara tourism rises with over 24,000 visitors
Society & Community
Heavy rainfall and landslides have disrupted transport across multiple road sections, with some routes fully blocked in areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Sankhuwasabha. Police teams are managing traffic and clearing hazards on affected routes such as the BP Highway, while other areas have switched to one-way operations. Floods and landslides affect highways
In Dhulikhel, a stalled land development project is being revived after more than two decades, aiming to move forward urban infrastructure development for families affected by the proposed scheme. The municipality says it will prioritize resolving landowner disagreements and legal complexities, including setting up a dedicated project office for coordination. Dhulikhel land development project revived
Date: September 20, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Aswin 04, 2083
Top News
1. Beyond Reparations: How Nepal Can Lead the Global Climate Agenda at UNGA (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to emphasize climate justice in his upcoming speech at the UN General Assembly, particularly in light of recent flooding in Rasuwa. He aims to position Nepal as a leader in sustainable development while advocating for climate resilience and the involvement of marginalized communities. Shah plans to outline his vision for a $100 billion sustainable economy and propose Kathmandu as the venue for discussions on the Post 2030 Development Agenda.
2. Nepal will strongly voice for climate justice at UNGA (risingnepaldaily.com)
Nepal plans to advocate vigorously for climate justice at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The country emphasizes the need for equitable solutions to climate change impacts, highlighting its commitment to addressing environmental challenges.
3. FinMin Wagle holds talks with Indian External Minister S. Jaishankar (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to discuss enhancing Nepal-India relations, focusing on investment, energy, and connectivity. Wagle expressed gratitude for India's aid during Nepal's recent flash flood relief efforts. Earlier, he also met with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss bilateral economic cooperation.
4. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal to leave for New York for UN General Assembly (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal is set to depart for New York on Sunday evening to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where he will engage in high-level meetings and bilateral discussions. Prime Minister Balen Shah will lead a 14-member Nepali delegation to the UN, scheduled to address the assembly on September 24.
5. Rara sees rise in tourists, over 24,000 visited last year (risingnepaldaily.com)
Rara National Park experienced a significant increase in tourism, with over 24,000 visitors recorded last year. This surge highlights the growing popularity of the region as a travel destination.
6. PM Shah urges Gen Z lawmakers to create jobs and lead by example (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Prime Minister Balen Shah met with Gen Z lawmakers, encouraging them to lead by example and create job opportunities in Nepal through innovative approaches. He emphasized the importance of self-reliance and urged lawmakers to conduct research and utilize technology to address challenges, rather than viewing politics as a profession. The lawmakers expressed their commitment to Shah's guidance and to fostering self-reliance within their generation.
7. Nepal selects 13 envoys through public vacancy (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Nepal's government has recommended 13 individuals for ambassadorial positions through a public vacancy process, finalized in a Cabinet meeting. The selection followed an open call by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which attracted over 4,000 applicants, and included candidates like Dr. Nishchal Nath Pandey for India and Dr. Kalyan Raj Sharma for China. The Ministry has not disclosed specific evaluation criteria or confirmed if all nominees were selected solely from public applicants.
8. बाढीपहिरोले विभिन्न राजमार्ग प्रभावित, केही सडक पूर्ण अवरुद्ध (nepalnews.com)
Heavy rainfall and landslides have disrupted traffic on various road sections in Bagmati and Koshi provinces, with some roads completely blocked. As of 6:30 AM on Sunday, roads in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Sankhuwasabha are fully closed, while some areas in Dhading are operating one-way traffic. The police are working to clear blocked roads and manage traffic in hazardous areas, including the BP Highway and sections affected by landslides in other municipalities.
9. दुई दशकदेखि रोकिएको धुलिखेल जग्गा विकास आयोजना ब्युँतिँदै (nepalnews.com)
The Dhulikhel Integrated Land Development Project, which has been stalled for over two decades, is set to resume in Dhulikhel Municipality-4. The project, affecting over 72 families and involving 272.5 ropani of land, aims to facilitate urban infrastructure development but has faced delays due to disagreements among landowners and legal complexities. The municipality is now prioritizing the resolution of these issues to advance the project, including the establishment of a separate project office and coordination with relevant authorities.
10. Six soldiers killed in roadside bomb blast in Pakistan (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Six soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb blast targeting a security forces vehicle in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Following the incident, security forces conducted operations in North Waziristan and Hangu, resulting in the deaths of ten suspected militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban. The military accused the Taliban government in Afghanistan of providing shelter to the TTP, which it has denied.
Forex
| Currency Pair | Rate (NPR) |
|---|---|
| USD → NPR | 153.7 |
| CAD → NPR | 109.8 |
| AUD → NPR | 109.51 |
| GBP → NPR | 205.5 |
| JPY → NPR | 9.73 |
Metal Prices (International)
| Metal | Price (USD/oz) | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $4378.61 | NPR 252,371.86 |
| Silver | $66.31 | NPR 3,821.94 |
Disclaimer
- Forex rates are sourced from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
- International gold and silver prices are sourced from swissquote.
- Nepal gold and silver prices are sourced from Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association.
Prices are provided for informational purposes only and may be delayed, or inaccurate.
