Nepal-China Diplomacy for Investment: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal arrived in Beijing for a four-day visit, set for talks with Wang Yi and meetings with Chinese business leaders, with an embassy investment conference aimed at pulling in foreign capital into Nepal. Kathmandu Smart City Push: Kathmandu Metropolitan City unveiled its FY 2083/84 policy, including automating record management and decision-making, setting rent and business tax rates by purpose and location, managing waste in 7 clusters, and offering concessional youth loans for entrepreneurship. Disaster-Resilience Plan: KMC also plans to make all buildings disaster resilient within five years via risk surveys, strengthening and maintenance, plus concessional insurance for public and private structures. Fraud Crackdown: Two people were arrested in Kathmandu for online mobile sale fraud after victims paid for “cheap” iPhones via QR/mobile banking and were blocked. Food & Agriculture Pressure: Nepal’s food and other crop production fell 6.76% in the first half of FY 2025/26, reversing last year’s growth. Tea Export Shock: Ilam tea factories may shut from June 15 as India’s stricter tea import testing rules leave large volumes stuck awaiting clearance. Forex Update: NRB set USD buying at Rs 151.88 and selling at Rs 152.48. Regional Outlook: The World Bank expects South Asia growth to soften to 6.3% in 2026 amid conflict-driven energy and remittance disruptions. Infrastructure & Connectivity: BP Highway’s flood-damaged Bhakundebesi–Nepalethok section is targeted to reopen for traffic by mid-July, while Nepal-India railway progress was reviewed in Kathmandu. Tourism Boost: Two-day weekly holiday is credited with higher hotel occupancy and domestic travel across major destinations.