Tea Export Shock: FNCCI urges Nepal to launch immediate diplomacy with India after new Tea Board SOPs and mandatory quality testing slowed shipments, with test reports taking 20–25 days and failed consignments facing destruction—hurting a sector worth Rs 12–14bn and employing 60,000+ workers. Budget Reality Check: Analysts say Nepal’s 2026/27 budget cuts capital spending share to 20.3% (Rs 431.1bn), while spending capacity remains weak—raising doubts on infrastructure delivery. Roads & Materials: Araniko Highway upgrade paving is delayed for two months due to bitumen shortages, leaving a 1.5km rocky stretch pending. Tourism Security Tech: Immigration rolls out the Foreign National Management Information System (FNMIS) to track foreign nationals’ stay and movement, linking tourism growth with tighter security. Energy & Industry: Govt says it’s prioritizing restarting closed/sick state industries and is evaluating assets/liabilities of seven firms; it also flags progress on petroleum pipelines and storage. Monsoon Risk: Monsoon arrival is delayed again as El Niño strengthens; forecasts point to below-average rainfall but higher chances of intense bursts, raising flood/landslide and drought risks. Hydropower Safety: Engineers discuss spillway design needs for extreme floods as Nepal targets 30,000MW over the decade. Market Pulse: NEPSE closed at 2,705.53 with marginal gains and turnover down to Rs 3.63bn.