Crisis solution (2023) [partially commented link collection]

Since the Delhi Agreement between seven parliamentary parties and the insurgent CPN (Maoist) of 22 November 2005, the people of Nepal have been waiting in vain for the promised realisation of an inclusive democratic system. Although the then putsching monarchy was abolished and a constitution was passed in 2015 after long power struggles between the political parties, even this was the sole work of the exclusively male leaders of the three major parties, predominantly male Bahuns. The appropriate participation of all social groups, as provided for in the interim constitution of January 2007, did not take place. In this respect, the constitution of 2015 even represented in part a step backwards compared to the interim constitution.
Thus, apart from the abolition of the monarchy, not much has changed since the 1990 system. Numerous fundamental human rights continue to be disregarded. There is no inclusion of all social groups. All power and the majority of all state functions are still in the hands of male Khas Arya, especially male Bahuns.  The latter make up only 6 percent of the population, but the identification of the state and its society and culture, in short the nationalist image of the state of Nepal, is still based on the culture and partly narrow-minded, anarchic, patriarchal and socially discriminating view and thinking of this small minority. As long as this state of affairs continues and the failed generation of political leaders of all parties is not replaced by a younger generation that is inclusive, open-minded, receptive and not exclusively oriented towards personal power interests, there will be no end to the crisis situation.

31/12/2023: 21 percent of pregnant women in Karnali are children, by Govinda KC (rep), FNJ archives 58 cases of violations of press freedom in 2023 (kh), Unveiling the Tapestry of 2023 and Dawn of Hope in 2024 (kh), NC’s evaluation of government paints a picture of dissatisfaction (kh), Korea hints it may help resolve the EPS controversy in Nepal : Police officers, bureaucrat suspended for Friday’s deaths, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Congress members express worry over mounting public frustration, poor governance : On the last day of the three-day central committee meeting, a member seeks home minister’s resignation over killings of two youths in Balkumari on Friday (kp), Congress student wing demands home minister’s resignation: A group of people holding a banner of Nepal Student Union and carrying placards protest in front of the ministers’ quarters Harihar Bhawan (kp), Tensions escalate between PM Dahal and Deuba over Balkumari incident (kh), Prime Minister Dahal reassures chief ministers on police adjustment, civil service law : Madhesh Province Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav says he hopes the prime minister walks the talk this time around (kp), 19,717 quake affected in Rukum West receive first installment of assistance (kh) [Don't be in a hurry! It's only been two months since the earthquake!]

30/12/2023: Land and the Road to Dignity, by Jagat Deuja (rep) Two Korea job hopefuls barred from exam killed during protest : The same day, court rules in favour of protesters. Friday’s clashes erupted after police used force to prevent scores of protesting youths from storming the EPS Centre building, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Government decides to provide Rs 1 Million compensation for families of Balkumari incident victims (kh) [This does not make the offences undone. When will the security forces finally be obliged to use firearms for self-defence only in extreme emergencies? The brutal beating of demonstrators with wooden batons is also a crime!], 73 arrested in Balkumari incident; seven persons including security personnel injured (rep), Youths stage protest in Maitighar Mandala over killing of two youths in Balkumari (With Photos) (rep), Lalitpur CDO, SSP and Director of EPS branch relieved from duty amid failure to properly handle Balkumari protest (rep), Economic revolution only after political revolution steers country to prosperity: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai (kh), Nurturing Vital Links Of Political Stability, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)

29/12/2023: Youth set ablaze vehicle of Minister Prakash Jwala (nlt), Protester injured in Balkumari dies (nlt), Fatal clashes unfold at Balkumari : Protester succumbs to Police gunshot, many arrested (kh), Another injured protestor dies, death toll in Balkumari incident reaches two (rep), Patan High Court orders inclusion of all interested individuals in EPS Korean language examinations (kh), 22 human rights activists including Krishna Pahadi arrested during sit-in protest at Maitighar (rep), Congress central members slam party’s ministers : Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet says his plan to hire 30,000 health staff has stalled (kp), Leave it alone : By imposing a co-payment system, the government is all set to sabotage its health insurance scheme (kp), House committee directs prime minister to table civil aviation bills in Parliament at earliest : On August 2, 2021, the upper house unanimously passed two aviation bills, which had been languishing for a year and a half, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Kathmandu District Court convicts cricketer Lamichhane of rape case involving a minor (rep), SC halts govt decision to celebrate Phalgun 1 as People's War Day, grant public holiday (rep) [Why should an event be celebrated that resulted in thousands of dead, injured, tortured and disappeared people? To this day, the former perpetrators and people responsible for politics refuse to do justice for the victims! And the outcome of the insurgency is extremely poor almost 18 years after it ended.]

28/12/2023: Adding insult to injury: Nepali women, children grapple with statelessness : Many Nepali women and their children are enduring the plight of statelessness due to discriminatory politics and government officials. Misogynistic laws, procedural gaps, and the apathy of relevant authorities contribute to the suppression of their civil right to live a dignified life, by Ajabi Poudel (ae), Nepali women sexually abused abroad face hurdles returning home, by Sita Neupane (kh), Children in quake-hit areas in need of physiological counselling : Many of those orphaned in the disaster are under mental duress as they struggle to recover from the trauma, by Mashesh KC (kp), Chief Ministers of seven provinces convene in Hetauda to advocate for provincial rights (kh), Biting cold afflicts Musahar people (kh), Insured will have to bear some of the treatment cost from January 15 : Only 16 percent of Nepal’s population is covered by government’s health insurance scheme (kp), Rein in the co-ops : Tardy regulation of cooperatives is giving rise to grave social and economic problems (kp), For a victim-centric justice system : The criminal justice system exists not only to serve state interests but also to help the victims, by Nishant Pokharel (kp), Rajendra Mahato to form new political party, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep) [There can't be enough completely superfluous parties led by failed old politicians!], Issues and prospects in developing resilient infrastructure in Nepal : Nepal has the potential to generate a significant amount of clean energy by mobilizing investments and developing access roads, transmission lines, and hydromechanical infrastructure, by Govinda Raj Pokharel (nlt)

27/12/2023: Revisiting Nepal’s inclusion policy, by Ashansha Mulmi (nlt),  After a year in office, PM Dahal vows change in working style : Calls his critics pessimists. Claims the country is on the verge of a huge economic feat (kp), Prime Minister Dahal presents rosy picture of economy while the economy struggles to overcome a number of challenges (rep), Reviewing Dahal’s Annual Report Card, by Atindra Dahal (rep), Irregularities in Sudarshan and Sahara cooperatives sign of a wider problem : Continued influence of politicians with stakes in the institutions prevents stringent action against unruly cooperative promoters, say experts, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Corruption promoted by politicians and parties wherever you look!], The origins of law in Nepal : A run through the law-making process from conceptualisation to implementation, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Nepal’s economic problems are structural, by Sourav Dhungana (ae)

26/12/2023: Year of missed opportunities : Despite a promising start, PM Dahal has had a rather mediocre one year in office (kp), Dahal’s one year of leadership: More misses than hits, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), A security umbrella for Dalits : To ensure justice for the victims, we must create a neutral force of Dalits that cannot be swayed by politics, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), More than 11 thousand temporary shelters built for Jajarkot earthquake victims (kh), Big three aim to pass transitional justice bill in winter session : Leaders of Congress, UML and Maoist Centre discussed the issue on Sunday and Monday and have agreed to sit again, by Anil Giri (kp), Maintain Religious Tolerance, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), 100 Nepalis enlisted in Russian Army reportedly missing or injured: Foreign Minister Saud (kh), At least 100 Nepalis serving in Russian Army are missing, says Foreign Minister NP Saud : Minister Saud also said an estimated 200 Nepalis are serving in the Russian Army (nlt)

25/12/2023: Delay in grant distribution leaves most survivors of November 3 earthquake without secure shelters : Out of the total 35,140 households listed as eligible for a government grant in Jajarkot, only 5,203 families have built temporary shelters, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Hariharsingh Rathaur (kp), Airport fails to give sought footage to gold probe panel : Last year, Janardan Sharma got off the hook after recording of unauthorised entry into the finance ministry was erased, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Politicians and authorities do everything they can to protect prominent criminal clientele!], Private school ownership major contention in school education bill : As most MPs want them to become trusts, officials remind lawmakers of constitutional space for private institutions (kp), Federal coalitions have weakened provinces : International forces have more influence than what we generally assume. They micromanage events here, interview with CK Raut (kp), A disillusioned country : Pessimism has become defining characteristic of Nepali society, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (kp)

24/12/2023: Nepal Bar Council defies SC order to include Open University LLB graduates in exam (kh) [Lawyers normally describe this as contempt of court! But politicians are leading by example in this respect!], Russia ignores calls to stop hiring Nepalis to fight against Ukraine : Foreign ministry officials say Nepal failed to take up the matter of Nepalis’ recruitment with Russia on time, by Anil Giri (kp) [But the dishonourable Putin declared just a few days ago that no Nepalis were being recruited!], Motive Of ‘Mission 84’ Under Scanner, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Politics has only given pain to the country: Former Chief Justice Shrestha (kh)

23/12/2023: Bill stalls as time runs out for transitional justice commissions : Terms of Truth and Reconciliation, and Enforced Disappeared Persons inquiry commissions end on Jan 14, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The law will not be passed as long as people who were responsible for the crimes on the part of the insurgents or the state at the time have to decide on this!], Government has not acted responsibly, interview with Upendra Yadav (kh), Kathmandu claims 13th spot on Global Air Pollution Index: Unveiling causes, impacts, and ongoing trends (kh), NC Gen Secy warns of protests if federal government denies rights to provinces (kh), Nation in a critical hour; NC should take lead role: Sher Bdr Deuba (kh) [But definitely not under your leadership!!]

22/12/2023: Don’t be cruel : With the mindset of seeing daughters as a burden, child marriage is hard to do away with (kp), Scrutinizing Prachanda’s ‘Push Doctrine’ and Unraveling Disaster, by Arun Baral (kp), Unrest in Dhanusha as individual dies in police custody (kh), Exploitative lending practices continue to plague the poor : Around 135 loan shark victims gathered in Bardibas to protest against microfinance firms and loan sharks, by Sunita Baral (kp), RPP’s double standard plays out in Koshi Province : After announcing protests against federalism and secularism, the pro-monarchy force claims Speaker position in the province (kp), TikTok Ban: Communist Delusion and Misguided Priorities : Many argue that this move reflects a governance approach steeped in an outdated communist ideology, by Bimal Prartap Shah (rep), NC President blames electoral system for electoral alliance (rep) [Although the electoral system is supposed to guarantee inclusion and proportional representation, this is deliberately abused and circumvented by the parties and especially their leaders. Without a commitment by the parties to proportional representation in the direct election system, as already prescribed by the Interim Constitution but was never respected, adequate social inclusion cannot be achieved. Apart from this, one-party governments are becoming increasingly rare in democratic states. In Nepal today, they would be extremely unlikely even with a purely direct election system.], Contempt case registered in SC against government for its failure to enact climate change legislations (rep), Rs 50 million spent on PM Dahal's two-week tour to US and China; PM criticized for ‘unnecessary spending during economic crisis’ (rep), Quake Victims Need Instant Relief (rn), Minister Kirati’s resignation call triggers RPP protest in Kathmandu (kh) [Sudan Kirati's unsentimental statement may be criticised, but the RPP must realise that its demand for a Hindu state hurts the feelings of the non-Hindu population in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious state of Nepal in the same way!]

21/12/2023: Lawmakers propose to further revise Citizenship Act to end discrimination (kh) [Citizenship law is still extremely discriminatory against women!], Poor report card prompts Dahal to pledge urgent action : The Prime Minister’s Office reports lag in performance, with 21 ministries failing to achieve annual targets, by Anil Giri (kp), CIAA calls out ‘corruption in guise of policy decision’ : The anti-graft body calls for ending influence of interest groups in lawmaking process. It said it has provided its suggestions to the government (kp), Holier than thou : Top political leaders can’t deflect queries about their conduct with base emotional appeals (kp), Minister Kirati’s controversial statement sparks outcry in Parliamentary Committee meeting (kh), Minister Kirati clarifies controversial statement: “I respect everyone’s existence” (kh), RPP asks PM Dahal to dismiss Culture Minister Kirati over controversial statements on religion (kh), Demonstration staged demanding Culture Minister Kirati’s resignation over controversial remarks (kh) [Although the definition of the state of Nepal as "secular" is somewhat vague in its postscript, it cements the religious and cultural freedom of all religions in the country, all of which therefore are part of the Nepalese identity. The call for a Hindu state is just as unconstitutional as emphasising one of the country's smaller religions.], Parliamentary Hearing Committee endorses six nominees for Supreme Court justices : The House panel endorsed Saranga Subedi, Abdul Aziz Musalman, Mahesh Sharma Paudyal, Tek Prasad Dhungana, Sunil Pokharel and Bal Krishna Dhakal (kp) [In support of the previous comment: 14 of the 20 judges of the SC are now Bahun, 13 of whom are male. Only three of the judges are women.], What went wrong with our economy? Nepal’s overall development cannot be fully imagined until the large-scale youth migration stops, by Chandra Mani Adhikari (kp)

20/12/2023: Towards genuine gender equality in Nepal’s politics : Despite the widely acknowledged principle that societal development hinges upon the active involvement of all its members, women continually find themselves marginalized in the decision-making process, by Dipti Ghimire (nlt) [The participation of women is even greater if they come from the Dalit, Muslim, Janajati or Madheshi groups! For example, the number of Dalit women is greater than that of Bahun men! The disparity in participation is astronomical!], Unveiling Game Theory Behind Nepal’s Foreign Aid Strategy, by Nisha Jha (kh), Nationalise Ncell by 2029: House panel tells government : Prime Minister Dahal admits he, as well as other top leaders, knows Satish Lal Acharya, raising questions about political connections influencing Acharya’s share purchase deal, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Rastriya Prajatantra Party announces nationwide protest : The right-wing party aims to consolidate forces rallying against the current dispensation (kp) [An openly attempted coup against the majority interests of the population! What would change? As in the panchayat system, more Chhetri than Bahun in the power functions of the state and an authoritarian autocrat as head of state? In any case, the total dominance of male Khas Arya would remain and the rudimentary recognisable social inclusion would be reduced.] [Instead of nationwide campaigns and marches, the political parties should take care of the important issues and finally implement the only form of government suitable for a multi-ethnic state: the secular and federal republic!], We want Nepal to be a Hindu kingdom; we should not settle for just a Hindu nation: Mishra (rep) [Aiming to dismantle democratic values and social inclusion!], Ensuring Rights Of Gender Minorities, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Why the ‘US-funded’ MCC projects in Nepal must break away from the cycles of delays and cost overruns, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt)

19/12/2023: Clash of Titans: Balen’s Discontent Fuels PM Dahal’s Outrage, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Resilient Nepali youth breaks free from Russian Army to embrace new life, by Arun Baral (kh), No court for consumers : A functioning liberal economy requires a robust regulatory system to keep tabs on private investors (kp), Achilles’ heel of circular economy : The problem is that anything we recycle using black energy will still negatively affect the environment, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Violent Expression Of Frustration, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)

18/12/2023: Urgently-needed consumer courts elude Nepal, two years since verdict : The Supreme Court ordered the government to set up consumer courts in all seven provinces in February last year. Officials claim they are starting the process afresh, by Krishana Prasain (kp) [This joins the numerous cases of contempt of court on the part of various Nepalese governments! What duties does the government actually fulfil?], Govt restrictions leave women migrant workers in danger as they are forced to resort to illegal routes, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep), Nepali Congress leaders contemplate leadership change (kh), What lies ahead for Bal Krishna Khand?, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh) [He was not declared innocent, but was only released from prison on bail. It is unacceptable for people against whom legal proceedings are pending to hold responsible state and party offices! This bad habit is widespread among all parties!], Rise of new parties good for democracy but a challenge for Congress : If the government improves its performance and undertakes result-oriented initiatives, we can’t break our understanding and ditch coalition partners, interview with Pradip Paudel (kp), Ban on strikes in 25 essential services including insurance and banks (rep)

17/12/2023: Kyiv for conditional release of four Nepalis in captivity : Amid reports of hundreds of Nepalis in Russian forces, Kathmandu ramps up effort to ensure their safety, by Anil Giri (kp), Kailali man in Russian Army dies in conflict (kh), Nepal: Diplomatic Behavior in the Russia-Ukraine War, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), What is current air quality in Kathmandu? The PM2.5 concentration in Kathmandu presently stands at 14.6 times the annual air quality guideline value set by WHO (kh) Building temporary shelters for quake-displaced slows down : The earthquake-affected people have enough wood to construct temporary huts but no manpower, by Mahesh KC (kp), RPP Chairman Lingden advocates street demonstrations for the restoration of monarchy and Hindu state (kh) [Can a representative of a small minority who is out of touch with reality really exacerbate the political situation with such unconstitutional demands?], Nepal’s climate-gender nexus : Women disproportionately suffer from climate change due to their primary roles in securing food, water and fuel, by Nischal Dhungel (kp), Expenses exceed revenue targets in first five months of fiscal year, budget deficit 69 billion rupees (kh), Remittance outflows from Nepal surge by 46 percent to Rs 3.16 billion (rep) [!!], What Ails Nepali Political Parties?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Foreign investors repatriate Rs 11 billion in dividends and royalties from Nepal (rep)

16/12/2023: Society discourages Dalits from seeking legal recourse against caste-based discrimination : Most cases of caste discrimination and untouchability rarely go to the police. Such cases are usually settled in the village at the behest of local leaders, by Parbat Portel (kp), Forgotten and Freezing: Earthquake survivors stranded in tarpaulin tents as local govts await financial aid (kh) [It shows once again that politicians never fulfil their grandiose promises. Anyone who does not prioritise the welfare of citizens and the country, especially in emergencies, is not qualified for public office!], UML’s Mid-Hill East-West Campaign reaches Phidim today, identity-centric groups call for shutdown (kh), UML Chair Oli accuses ‘setting’ in release of Khand, raises concerns over Rayamaji’s detention (kh) [Yes, Mr Oli, that tastes rotten, when politicians are basically above the law, as your unpunished coup attempt of 2021 proves!], Unexpected dip puts official inflation figures in doubt : Central bank says mid-October to mid-November inflation rate dropped sharply to 5.38 percent, a 22-month low, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Chief ministers meeting this month to devise strategies : Provinces have been pressing federal government to devolve their constitutional rights (kp), Civic Maturity For Participatory Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)

15/12/2023: Dr. Govinda KC commencing ‘satyagraha’ from today (kh), Dr Govinda KC declares fast-unto-death : Despite multiple agreements, the government has not fulfilled commitments crucial to the improvement of the healthcare system and justice processes, he said (nlt), NA elections spark tug-of-war as parties vie for dominance, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Patan High Court orders Khand’s release on bail : Khand’s case was sent to a single bench after a division bench on December 1 couldn't give a unanimous decision on whether to continue his judicial custody or release him on bail, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ex-Home Minister Khand set for release, faces Money Laundering Department (kh), A father’s unyielding struggle to have son declared martyr : Surya Bahadur Sarki, 74, has been running from pillar to post seeking justice for his son, who died 33 years ago during the 1990 people’s movement, by Shiva Puri (kp), Sewa Lamsal becomes Nepal’s first female foreign secretary : She is taking charge of the foreign ministry at a time when the country is grappling with complex geopolitics and diplomacy, by Anil Giri (kp), MP Koiri acquitted in 2015 murder of police official : The Mahottari District Court, however, has slapped life imprisonment on several accused including Loktantrik Samajbadi Party’s provincial assembly member Abhiram Sharma, by Santosh Singh (kp), Nepal’s forex reserves rise to a record $12.75 billion : Economists, however, warn the piling up of foreign exchange reserves is a warning sign of a potential recession (kp), Selling Ncell, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), 33.5 kg gold smuggling case report vanishes from Prime Minister's Office! (rep), NC to claim 10 seats in National Assembly elections (kh) [This party received just 25 per cent of the vote in the last parliamentary elections and is claiming more than 50 per cent of the vacant seats in the National Assembly? That doesn't sound very democratic!], Children victimized most by climate change effects: Police (kh), The Year of Scandals, by Shristi Karki (nt) [Hopefully this is just the beginning of the unmasking of the politicians who consider themselves untouchable!]

14/12/2023: Jajarkot earthquake victims left in limbo, by Laxman Sharma (kh), Ghuyalneta's quake survivors suffer from diarrhea (rep) [Immediately after the quake, there was intensive politician tourism with grand promises. In the meantime, only silence and inactivity prevail!], Three cheers for Nepal : Three separate cases in the past few weeks have given reason for a sceptic of patriotism to be proud of Nepal, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Robust civic space is crucial for good governance and accountability, say experts : Academicians, political leaders, youth activists,  and civil society representatives express concerns over the erosion of democratic principles and values and shrinking civic space (nlt), NC row: What’s brewing between Gagan and Shekhar Koirala?, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Koirala and Thapa patch up to up the ante against Deuba : Amid suspected fissures in faction, Gagan Thapa proposes Shekhar Koirala as the next parliamentary party leader, by Anil Giri (kp), Man dies after police fire at people protesting over unpaid salaries : Municipal staff and government school teachers were protesting outside the municipal office in Simraungadh, by Laxmi Sah (kp), Survey shows bleak picture of nutrition in Tarai : Reports high prevalence of an acute form of malnutrition, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Flip-flops Of A Leader That Cost His Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli assaulted in Dhankuta (nlt)

13/12/2023: Nepal’s Constitutional Bodies Under Scrutiny : Alleged bid by ex-administrators to please leaders while in office, by Laxman Sharma (kh), Academics stress need for accountable, people-centred policy-making process : The remarks were made during the launch of the Policy Leadership Program on Monday (kp), Kathmandu Metropolitan City bans tobacco products starting today (kh), Nepali Congress rank-and-file disillusioned by leadership, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Ferrari brains and media darlings : A new generation of Nepali leaders is becoming known as the ‘Ferrari brains’ in a fast-changing political landscape, by Anupam Bhattarai (ae), Recent hauls affirm Nepal’s image as a gold smuggling hub : Experts call for an end to impunity for protectors of smugglers and better preventive measures, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Notes on a city’s success story : Bharatpur’s high citizen participation in development should be recognised as a commendable initiative, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Is there growing opposition to republicanism and federalism in Madhesh?, by Mithilesh Yadav (rep), Women's Industrial Village in Panchkhal courts serious controversy as govt neglects FWEAN (rep), Social Safety Key To Poverty Alleviation, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn), One dies in police firing in Bara (kh), Over 5,000 victims of loan sharks see resolutions (kh), Save the Children and WWF forge collaboration to address critical link between climate change and child rights (rep)

12/12/2023: Dalit lives after Soti judgement : Unless the casteist elements of Hinduism are reformed, no amount of prison sentence will ensure human dignity, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), 62 cases of violence occurred during 16 Days of Activism against VAW: INSEC (kh), Kin of missing and disappeared in west Nepal seek closure : Thousands of civilians suffered at the hands of security forces and Maoists during the 1996-2006 insurgency, by Durgalal KC (kp), NHRC urges Karnali govt to protect quake survivors from cold (rep), Social campaigner Iih to stage 108-minute protest outside LMC office (rep), Activist E alleges breach of peaceful protest rights in Lalitpur (kh), Over 200 Nepalis may be serving in the Russian army, Prime Minister Dahal says : Dahal says the government has mobilised all mechanisms to free Bipin Joshi from Hamas captivity (kp), Nepalis trapped in Russian Army make desperate pleas for rescue (kh), UML’s Mid-Hill Highway Odyssey: Kicking up dust, missing people’s pulse (kh), Choose wise : The next set of members who enter the National Assembly will be a sign of the mindset of big parties (kp) [They will never change under the current failed leadership!], Five parties register names for National Assembly elections (rep), Stop Corporates From Bending Laws, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Former Minister Kirati and nine others arrested in Khotang (kh), Attack on Koshi Province Chief Minister as group targets vehicle (kh), Tension flares at Birgunj Metropolis as Mayor and Deputy Mayor supporters clash (kh), Visit visa trafficking cases on rise, by Ajabi Poudel (ae)

11/12/2023: Frozen in limbo: Bureaucratic delays leave quake victims shelterless, by Rajendra Karki (ae), The interconnection of human rights and disability rights, by Jalasa Sapkota (ae), Organ donation limits to ‘Only Relatives’ challenged at Supreme Court (kh) [If I remember correctly, KP Oli received a kidney from a non-related person. But the laws don't apply to top politicians anyway!], Government initiates process to amend Medical Education Act: Minister Basnet (kh), RPP for new arrangement on monarchy, not for revival of old system : Parliament could be given the power to decide the heir to the monarch, whether it will be eldest son or eldest daughter, interview with Rajendra Lingden (kp) [The monarchy has staged two coups against democracy in recent history: Mahendra in 1960 and Gyanendra in 2002/2005. 17,000 people lost their lives for the introduction of the republic. Gyanendra should be happy that he was not prosecuted and is still allowed to live in Nepal. As part of his coup, he drastically restricted civil liberties and had countless people arrested and brutally maltreated. This was definitely even worse than the current inadequate system of the failed old party leaders! In view of the demand for justice for the victims from the time of the insurgency, Gyanendra has also to take responsibility!], By the women, for the environment : Deego Nepal champions sustainability through eco-friendly products while empowering women, by Rukusha Giri (kp), Dismal Financial Inclusion in Madhesh, by Anurag Gupta (rep), Conspiracies being hatched against govt: PM Dahal (rep) [Good policies on the part of the government and the parties would silence all "conspiracies"! All politicians should be forbidden to use this word again!], Government sits for meeting with donors in view of Third Investment Summit (rn)

10/12/2023: Investing to prevent gender violence : Effective implementation of laws remains an urgent need to counter discrimination and violence, by Veronique Lorenzo  and Hanaa Singer-Hamdy (kp), Combating Gender-Based Violence in Nepal : The Significance of Engaging Men and Boys against GVB, by Neelam Dhanushe (rep), Citizens forced to struggle for rights for long: Chitra Bdr KC (kh), Asia Internet Coalition asks government to rethink Nepal’s social media policy : AIC calls for collaboration for practical, clear rules that protect the benefits of internet and keep people safe from harm (kp), Govt cannot provide money to pay contractors through non-budgetary measures: MoF. Pay our Rs 40 billion dues or we will launch nationwide protests: Contractors (rep), Private sector hails revised monetary policy for FY 2023/24, express doubt over proper implementation. Revised monetary policy can help banks reduce interest rates, most likely from next month: Bankers (rep), Hearing on case against Sandeep Lamichhane postponed (rep) [Justice denied!], Gagan Thapa urges swift resolution amidst rising governance concerns (kh)

09/12/2023: Rights watchdog’s recommendations snubbed, persistently : Amid government inaction on the recommendations, individuals flagged for action promoted and rewarded, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Oli, Deuba or Dahal, they are all the same when it comes to disregarding basic human rights!], Aspiring To A Robust National Identity, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)

08/12/2023: Bait of battlefields : At the heart of the Nepali youth’s exodus is a deep suspicion about their country’s future (kp), Ncell’s tale unraveled: Axiata’s sale or sham? (kh), Kamal Thapa proposes royalist front, suggests Durga Prasai’s inclusion (kh) [No matter how many of you are involved, you remain a small minority in the interests of an equally small minority. Nepal's politics is already terrible, don't make it worse! After being voted out as chairman of the RPP, Kamal Thapa declared himself an opponent of the monarchy. Now he suddenly wants it back?], Urban Nepali women face an invisible struggle against menstrual taboos, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep), Nabaraj BK and discrimination against Dalits : Nepal’s anti-Dalit discrimination laws are strong and progressive. However, caste discrimination is a prominent feature of social interactions. The government regularly fails to prosecute individuals who engage in it, by Cilla Khatry (ae), Mobile rule makes Nepal immobile : Confusion about new Mobile Device Management System angers visitors, by Aïsha MacDougall (nt)

07/12/2023: Rights watchdog grapples with internal feud yet again : Amid dispute over appointing secretary, commissioners trade allegations of misconduct and defamation. Spokesperson says the row will be settled soon, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Court kindles hope : The verdict on the Soti caste killings is a definitive moment for social justice (kp), Landmark verdict and societal reform, by Mim Bahadur Pariyar (ae), A look into social security of the government of Nepal : While social protection allocation has increased steadily over the years i.e. 26.71% in the fiscal year 2020/21, 19.52% in the fiscal year 2021/22, and 34.1% in the fiscal year 2022/23, the economic growth rate has remained stagnant, by Aarashi Ghimire (nlt), Senior US National Security official meets PM Dahal (kh) [??], House panel orders halt to Axiata’s Ncell sale process : Government told to conclude investigation within 30 days, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Police bust racket sending Nepali youths to serve in Russian Army; 12 arrested, by Kosh Raj Koirala (rep), Government struggles to meet revenue targets, by Mamata Thapa (ae), Why Rastriya Swatantra Party should shed its ambivalence on federalism : We should not turn back the clock and bring Nepal to a form of semi centralized system even though many stakeholders, including the RSP, are correct in pointing out the shortcomings of provinces, by Simone Galimberti (nlt)

06/12/2023: Life sentences for 24 in 2020 murder of six Dalit youths : West Rukum District Court says Nabaraj BK and his five friends’ deaths stemmed from caste-based discrimination, by Mahesh KC (kp), Sons died, justice prevailed: victims' families laud court decision on murder case, by Raju Lamichhane (rn), Jajarkot Needs You, Not Tinkune: A Plea Amidst Political Rallies : The focus must shift to preventing avoidable deaths, especially with the winter months looming, by Kiran Karkai (rep), Distribution of insurance amount to kin of earthquake dead starts in Jajarkot (rep), Hearing on writ petition against Oli govt deferred today as well (rep) [One legal decision after another concerning political processes is delayed, some of them for years. This smacks of political protectionism!], India for hiking budget for each small project in Nepal to Rs240 million : Proposal comes amid growing financial aid to Nepal from China and the US, by Anil Giri (kp), Female community health volunteers are unsung heroes : Improved health indicators in Nepal are largely credited to the over 54,000 of volunteers who have worked tirelessly for decades, by Arjun Poudel (kp), From crimson to saffron, a perilous path : The clamour for readopting ‘Hindu Rashtra’ reflects the Hindutva sweeping through India’s Hindi heartland, by CK Lal (kp), Discipline Key To Democratic Culture, by Tulasi Acharya (rn)

05/12/2023: Rukum District Court sentences 24 in Soti incident, imposes life terms held guilty for murder of six (kh) [Sentencing the Hindu mania that the fundamentalists want to reconstitute as normal!], Rukum West District Court slaps life imprisonment to 24 accused in 2020 Soti incident (rep), Earthquake victims ill-equipped to survive the cold : On Monday, the mountainous areas of Karnali province saw the first snow of the season, resulting in extremely cold conditions in the region, by Mahesh KC (kp), Court issues arrest warrants against Chand, other leaders : Prime minister says the court move adds complications in mainstreaming Chand-led group (kp) NCP announces three-day protest against arrest warrant of Gen Secy Chand (rep), Hearing of writ petition against TikTok ban put off citing lack of time (kh), Hearing on Ncell tax dispute case postponed until February 27 (kh) [???], NCELL Controversy: Government in disarray, Opposition maintains silence, by Gyanu Ghimire (kh), Exercise in futility : Touring the country won’t be enough to drum up support for big parties (kp), Different shades of migration : The exodus of skilled workers who could have made a healthy living in Nepal is also noteworthy, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp), Senior advocate seeks transparency in property confiscation issue (rep), Parties’ Mission 84 Gimmick Or Genuine Campaign?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Nepal all set to get first female foreign secretary (ae) [And they were all high-caste persons, including the lady who is now intended!], 65 percent of sexual abuse victims are minor girls, by Ajabi Poudel (ae), A challenge of Himalayan magnitude : Nepal faces the intricate task of navigating an intricate geopolitical landscape, strategically balancing the interests of India, China and the US while advancing its goals, by Upamanyu Basu and Yukta Acharya (ae)

04/12/2023: Why Hindu state now? Top political leaders should realise that Hindutva could destabilise Nepal’s delicate religious balance (kp), Defending federal democracy : From ensuring federalism to rule of law, to good governance and inclusivity, the latest constitution has everything progressive for the people. The only thing we need is to implement the constitution in a true and material sense, by Jivesh Jha (ae), Nepal remains committed to secularism: PM Dahal : Why don’t you (India) adopt Hindu nation? (kh), UML too hits the campaign trail with an eye on 2027 vote : As ruling parties are relatively quiet, opposition forces are trying to make themselves seen and boost their prospects, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Between elections, parties should shape policy in the interests of the people and the country. What shall happen in the next four years? The parties seem to see election campaigns as their primary task.], Global aid visions and local realities : We must understand that INGOs treat the symptoms but not the disease, by Subash Pandey (kp), PM Dahal indicates potential lift of TikTok ban (kh)

03/12/2023: Rabi Lamichhane acknowledges lack of inclusivity in RSP (kh) [And please also make a clear commitment to secularism and federalism if the party is to be an alternative! Both are increasingly being forgotten by the other major parties!], Durga Prasai to announce “Citizen’s Government” and “Sanatan Hindu Rastra” (kh) [As long as coup plotters are allowed to continue to operate with impunity, as they have repeatedly done in the recent past, there will always be new ones. The Hindu state would be a crime against Nepal's multi-ethnic society!], On February 17, King will light a lamp at Basantapur to mark the proclamation of Nepal as a Hindu nation: Durga Prasai (rep) [If the political parties still have a last will for democracy and social inclusion, then they will have to stop this once and for all in the interests of the people of the country!], Tiktok ban: What does it mean for the future of democracy in Nepal? Banning TikTok can be seen as another form of infringing on the right to freedom of speech, by Pragya Neupane (rep), Sixth conference of National Land Rights Forum commences (rep), Jailed in connection with Bhutanese Refugee Scam, former home minister Khand is honored by party! (rep) [How deep do Deuba and his NC want to sink? This has nothing to do with democracy, the rule of law and morality!], Gender and sexual minorities suffer abuse in foreign employment (rep)

02/12/2023: Illogical logics and raja-badies, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), NC General Secy Gagan Thapa calls for investigation of high officials’ assets post-1990 (kh), Two judges split on ex-minister Khand’s judicial custody : High Court upholds former deputy PM Rayamajhi’s custody. A third judge will decide on Khand, a former home minister, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [???], Saving pregnant women, new mothers, newborns, and elderly a challenge, Jajarkot health officials say : The home ministry has deployed experts to the earthquake-hit Jajarkot and Rukum West districts for clinical mentoring of survivors, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [Wow, only one month after the quake!], Many quake-hit children yet to rejoin school : Out of 423 schools in Jajarkot, 289 have become uninhabitable or unsafe, by Tripti Shahi (kp), Nepal's public debt surpasses Rs 57 billion in the first four months of FY 2023/24 (rep)

01/12/2023: Earthquake survivors face severe cold as govt reconstruction lags, by Laxman Sharma (kh), Strengthen Federalism For Effective Service Delivery, by Ranju Kafle (rn), In defense of the 2015 constitution : It’s time to stand up in favor of the 2015 constitution. Reversing the current course is not a solution to our current ills (ae), Rastriya Swatantra Party favours doing away with provinces : Provinces should be scrapped altogether or just one representative should represent a province, the party says, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The RSP is proving to be another male highcast party which, like the other parties, wants to control Nepal in a centralised manner. Federalism, which is more or less unwanted by all parties, could be a first important step towards better social inclusion and participation! It has therefore been one of the main demands of the non-male high-caste majority for more than 30 years. The only thing missing now is the endorsement of the Hindu state!], Nepal participates in Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination (rep), The reintroduction of the Hindu state would be tantamount to racism and discrimination!], European Commission extends its decade-long ban on Nepali airlines : Experts say Prime Minister Dahal should be held responsible this time as he has prevented two crucial civil aviation bills from becoming law, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Take concrete measures to remove Nepali airlines from EU's blacklist (rep), Senior US officials are visiting Nepal : National Security Council official Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher is arriving on Dec 6 while USAID’s Michael Schiffer is already in Kathmandu, by Anil Giri (kp) [As part of the US-Chinese power struggle, the USA continues to dredge up political influence in Nepal.], Societal stigma fuelling HIV drug discontinuation: Docs : Health ministry doesn’t know the whereabouts of hundreds of infected people, who discontinued antiretroviral drugs for months, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: High Court orders remand for eight people, including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi : Order to release Sandeep Rayamajhi and Rijal on bail (rep), Digital platforms responsible for increasing VAWG cases, by Pritam Bhattarai (rn), Long leave the King, by Alisha Sijapati (nt), Looming Crisis : Despite issuing a statement defending the present political system and asserting that there is no threat to it, Durga Prasai, a businessman and activist, is shaking up the system (sp)

30/11/2023: Analyzing monarchists’ resurgence in Nepal : A closer look at public opinion and political landscape (kh), Debate over ‘Hindu Rastra’ surfaces within Nepali Congress (kh) [No national party that wants to represent all Nepalis can even think about the Hindu state for a moment! Deuba diqualifies himself once again!], Political grandstanding takes center stage in quake-ravaged Jajarkot and Rukum West, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Winter Tragedy in Jajarkot: Three-year-old succumbs to pneumonia, sheltering under tarpaulin after earthquake (kh), Grant delay leaves earthquake victims out in the cold : Distribution of housing grants remains stalled after data on losses submitted by local authorities in Jajarkot and West Rukum is found to be inaccurate, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Rastriya Swatantra Party adopts ‘pluralistic democracy’ as its guiding principle : Analysts say the party’s political philosophy is vague and it fails to provide clear answers on its position on federalism, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Like the other major parties, the RSP is overwhelmingly dominated by male Bahuns. What is alternative about that? What about social inclusion, which can be better realised in a federal state?], Behind the euphoria of higher remittance : Had it not been for migrant workers, life would have been tough like in countries with low foreign currency reserves, by Deepak Thapa (kp), AWC objects to govt’s crackdown on Durga Prasai-led protest (rep), PM Dahal’s Dubai visit sparks chaos: 31 passengers miss flight after abrupt time shift (rep) [Royal behaviour on the part of elected representatives?], Durga Prasai set to unveil ‘civilian govt’ under his leadership (kh) [Prasai is approaching a coup! It is time for the state to put him in his place in a measured manner and, above all, to rationally dismantle his fantasies!], Ban on Nepali airlines continues (kh)

29/11/2023: Secularism and social inclusion or Hindu state and monarchy?, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), With Prasain's Campaign, Nepal's Political Landscape Heats Up, by Loknath Sangroula (rep) [The criticism of the government, the parties and all the developments since Jana Andolan II is well-founded. However, the monarchy and Hindu state were no better, if anything even worse (see previous and following linked articles). And what better alternatives do these forces have to offer apart from a return to the Middle Ages and a renewed intensification of social marginalisation?], Give Priority To Stability, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Takeaways from German federalism : With less than 10 years of experience in federalism, Nepal has much to learn from Germany, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Deliberations in Australia regarding potential new political party in Nepal, Dangol and Ghale to attend the event (kh), Govt decides to hold NA election on January 25 next year (kh), Government considering banning Snapchat, Tinder, and Telegram (kh) [Regular, well-founded information about the dangers of these media and monitoring their misuse would make more sense than restricting people's freedoms!], Seven provinces submit their demands to Prime Minister Dahal : Dahal promises a decision upon his return from the UN climate summit in the first week next month (kp), Government raises 40 percent of annual loans in first quarter : Lower-than-expected revenue collection forces Nepal to raise more debt early in the fiscal year (kp), Doctor beaten again: Medical Superintendent of Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital assaulted after death of postpartum mother : Medical superintendent Basyal being treated in ICU, hospital services stopped (rep)

28/11/2023: Takes three to tango : A two-tier federal structure will be no different to the erstwhile unitary system (kp), Cooperative federalism in Nepal and Australia : Constituent governments must cooperate to ensure the constitution’s effectiveness in dealing with national issues, by Robert French AC (kp), Pro-monarchy Bid Untimely Tune : The idea of changing this system for the sake of old one because some individuals have made mistakes lacks reasoning and backing, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Political landscape gripped by tug-of-war between republicans and monarchists (kh), Congress open to debating secularism within the party : Deuba, chief of the largest party, says secularism could be discussed, but restoration of monarchy is out of question, by Anil Giri (kp) [And a return to the Hindu state is out of the question for all those who have suffered under it in the past! The discussion only arises because of the failure of the leading politicians and parties!], Nepal : National Destiny in Disjunction, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), Arrest and investigate former King Gyanendra, if you can: RPP leader challenges NC General Secretary Thapa (rep) [Misguided and anti-national demands, arguments and behaviour must be refuted and exposed with words!], 15 people arrested including Durga Prasai's personal secretary (rep), Earthquakes and Dalit victims : Natural disasters tend to hurt minorities and poorer sections of society more, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Jajarkot Earthquake: Over 1,000 new mothers struggle in harsh conditions under Tarpaulins (kh), Nepal grapples with acute shortage of nurses : Quota for UK employment falls short (kh), Government pays Rs 3 billion to contractors, by Bishnu Pandeya (rn) [Why doesn't the government settle its dues promptly?]

27/11/2023: Provinces team up to assert power : Two weeks after their month-long ultimatum to address six-point demand, the seven internal affairs ministers prepare to renew call for police, civil service laws, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The politicians, who continue to think in centralised terms, are still deliberately preventing the establishment and development of the federal system!], Govt faces challenge as tax arrears soar to Rs 113 billion (kh), Jajarkot earthquake survivor succumbs to cold (kh), Kamal Thapa pushes for unified front to reinstate monarchy (kh) [Back to the Middle Ages against the will of 95 per cent of democratic voters?], RPP Nepal proposes forming broader national front uniting forces favoring monarchy and Hindu nation (rep) [No matter how many may unite, it will always remain a small minority without a rational perspective!], Protesters clash with police in Kathmandu’s Gaushala area during Durga Prasain’s demonstration (kh), Spectre of monarchy : It is no coincidence that most of those clamouring for monarchy are figures like Durga Prasai (kp), Pro-royalists are having their moment. Should major parties worry? Prasai’s rally in Kathmandu has bolstered and galvanized the groups that wish to bring back monarchy and Hindu statehood, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Democratic or regressive? The rulers must respect people's concerns, create decent jobs and bring tangible changes in order for the people to keep their hopes alive in the country and its democratic system, by Prerana Marasini (ae), Ignore Prasai but not elements behind the curtain : Federal lawmaker and CPN-UML standing committee member Raghuji Pant on the latest trends in Nepali politics and his party’s approach on important national issues, interview with Raghuji Pant, CPN-UML standing committee member (kp), Durga Prasai : Navigating controversial path (kh), Gaushala clash: Police use tear gas during Prasai-led protest (kh), Dahal’s Delhi ‘darshan’ : Holding the decisive votes, Dahal was the kingmaker. Delhi thought ‘they could do business’ with him, by Biswas Baral (kp), Ensure Public Ownership Of Lawmaking, by Krishna Man Pradhan (rn)

26/11/2023: 80 percent of GBV includes domestic violence in Nepal: Police (kh), Identity-based faction to counter UML’s Mid-Hill Highway Campaign (kh) [As with other parties, the national identity characteristics of the UML are male, high-caste, Hindu, historically based on the Nepal of the Shah monarchy and socially and culturally not inclusive!], Identity supporters display black flags at Yogesh Bhattarai’s residence in Taplejung (rep), Prasai’s campaign uncertain as he fails to unite monarchists : Silent on his support for Durga Prasai, former king Gyanendra Shah appears with RPP chief Lingden in Jhapa, by Anil Giri (kp) [Unconstitutional campaigns and demands like those of Durga Prasai, the RPP and Gyanendra Shah should have legal consequences!], Handling Anti-systemic Forces, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Don't Turn Clock Back, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn), Prasai-led campaign scheduled in Bhaktapur put off until further notice, cultural programs in Kathmandu today (kh), Durga Prasai withdraws habeas corpus writ petition (kh), Finance Minister pledges budget for women empowerment (rn) [As a member of the ruling patriarchal elite, you obviously don't understand that this problem cannot be solved with money. Make women fully equal and on a par with men in the constitution and laws! Involve them appropriately at all levels of public life, in politics as well as in business, in the judiciary as well as in education, in the political parties as well as in administration, etc.!], 167 cases of domestic violence registered in four months in Chitwan (rep), Agrarian country Nepal imports vegetable of Rs 11.87 billion during mid-July and mid-November (rep) [????], Dedicated ministry needed to tackle climate change: Experts, by Shree Ram Subedi (rep), Rendered homeless by Jajarkot earthquake, elderly people and children fall victim to extreme cold (rep) [Is there any responsible government and administration in Nepal?]

25/11/2023: Are major parties wary of Durga Prasai’s campaign? (kh), Prasai-led campaign to continue at Sifal following denial of permission at Tinkune (kh), Prasai confined to his Thimi house, supporters detained : He had no prior permission for demonstration, police say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), We are not being supported by people living in Kathmandu Valley: Durga Prasai (kh) [This is a coup with an announcement. The openly expressed threat against the obviously rational, democratic inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley should finally be taken seriously and have legal consequences for the agitator!], Prasai announces next phases of campaign: Demonstrations scheduled for Sallaghari and Basantapur (kh) [Prasai's demands and goals are for the most part completely unconstitutional and an affront to the vast majority of Nepal's population - Dalit, Janajati, Madheshi, Muslim and women in general - who continue to suffer the consequences of Hindu state and monarchy since the ruling elite continues to be recruited primarily from the same patriarchal social group.], Former King Gyanendra unveils statue of King Prithivi Narayan Shah in Birtamod (with photos) (kh) [The nexus of top politicians, political parties, corrupt elements, ex-monarch and Hindu statesmen seems to be unfathomable!], Gagan Thapa affirms people’s republic as the optimal system (kh), Quake-hit families of migrant workers struggle for survival : Migrant workers from quake-affected areas in Jajarkot have not been able to return to India to earn money pushing them into dire financial straits, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), Nepal's Inconstant Neighborhood Policy : There is widespread perception that Nepal is on track to losing credibility with both the neighbors, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep)

24/11/2023: Towards inclusive democracy : Institutions should help in navigating the transformative potential of the constitution, by Ananda Mohan Bhattarai (kp), Street politics : Anti-establishmentarians take to the streets hoping to tap on discontent among Nepalis, by Shristi Karki (nt), Prasai’s protest, UML demo see no major incidents : Authorities estimate pro-monarchy demonstration was smaller than expected. UML wings gather at Tinkune, by Anil Giri (kp), DAO denies permission for Prasai’s Tinkune demonstration (kh), Durga Prasai accuses DAO of last-minute reversal on demonstration permission (kh), Govt deploys police around Durga Prasai’s Bhaktapur residence (kh), Shahi Yuva Shakti Chairman and four others arrested from Tinkune (kh), Administration on high alert as Prasai group’s demonstration in Tinkune is expected to be tense (rep), Durga Prasai provokes crowd for violence (ae), Former King Shah to visit Jhapa today; 8,000 motorbikes to escort him (rep) [This completely irresponsible and anti-national behaviour, especially in the current situation, must be described as "pouring oil on the fire"! Politicians like Oli, Dahal and Deuba, who consider themselves indispensable, are certainly mainly to blame for this development. But resist the beginnings!]. Pro- and anti-republican demonstrations unfold in Kathmandu as dissatisfaction mounts against govt (rep), SC receives writ seeking relief for Durga Prasai’s detention (kh), Message of Durga Prasai's Rally (rep), RPP Chairman issues stark warning as govt detains Durga Prasai’s supporters (kh), Police arrest scores of Prasai’s protesters from Tinkune : Riot police deployed outside the businessman’s private residence in Thimi, Bhaktapur (kp), Police arrest people in national attire taking them for Durga Prasai’s supporter (kh) [This sounds perverse, but by the way, in a multiethnic and multicultural state like Nepal, the traditional dress of a single group must never be declared the national dress! This is discriminatory towards all other social groups!], Top court issues show cause notice in presidential pardons : A single bench of Justice Prakash Dhungana seeks the reasons for commuting remaining terms of three convicted of murder of eight policemen and a toddler in Tikapur incident (kp), Parliamentary committee calls for complaints against six SC justice nominees (kh) [Five of them are already disqualified because of their ethnicity, as nine of the 14 sitting judges are Bahun; there are also only two women! What kind of social inclusion practice is this?], Trade deficit exceeds 460 billion in first quarter of current fiscal year (kh), International conference on federalism: Takeaways for Nepal : Federalism should be a tool for creating inclusive policies around the nation and not just an end to itself, by Simone Galimberti (nlt)

23/11/2023: Experts blame centralized mindsets and bureaucracy for poor implementation of federalism : They attributed the failure of the federal system to deliver as per the people’s expectations to the centralist mindset of the politicians as well as the bureaucrats (nlt) [None of the so-called leading politicians really stands for federalism and social inclusion. They are all centralist high-caste men who continue to identify Nepal exclusively with their own culture and mindset and disregard the multi-ethnicity and diversity of Nepal's cultures!], Is it a peace process? Though peace is an end in itself, it was also treated as a means in the war-torn Nepal, by Birendra P Mishra (kp), Earthquake-hit Salyan schools running classes out in the cold : Schools still not priority for local authorities as they are busy caring for displaced people, by Biplab Maharjan (kp), Health ministry seeks food aid from WFP and UNICEF for distribution in quake-hit districts : Officials warn of high risk of malnutrition among children under five, new mothers and pregnant women in the affected areas (kp), Half-empty economic cup : If the prime minister wants to pep up the economy, he should start by correcting his own inconsistencies (kp), Police employ jammer vehicle amidst demonstrations in Kathmandu disrupting mobile networksb (kh) [The government is becoming more and more authoritarian! Restrictions on fundamental rights should only be made with the utmost caution!], Leaders ‘not to spare’ foes of republican order : “Any attempt to overthrow the federal democratic republican polity will have serious consequences” (ae) [This is gratifying, but you should first implement democracy, federalism and republic properly before you can preserve them. So far, we have to speak of an oligarchy of of centralized, high-caste men!], How did Durga Prasai get this far? (ae), Durga Prasain’s activities, statements against law (ae), Supporters of Yuwa Sangh and Durga Prasai-led group pelt stones at each other in Balkhu, situation under control now (kp), Balkhu area tense as Prasai-led group attempts to move towards prohibited areas (kp), Police fire half a dozen tear gas shells and water cannons in Balkhu to disperse the crowd, by Ishwari Subedi (rep), Police fire 159 tear gas shells, 5 rubber bullets in Balkhu protest (kh), Durga Prasai’s supporters to demonstrate in Tinkune from Friday (kh), Durga Prasai refutes reports of Kathmandu strike on Friday : Plans peaceful demonstration in Tinkune (kh)

22/11/2023: 17 years—and counting : Beyond the paraphernalia of the peace lie deep wounds of the war that are yet to be healed (kp), Council ignores hierarchy as it picks six Supreme Court justices : Officials report 'pressure' to make appointments such that lawyers cannot be chief justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Especially in disregard of the urgent need for social inclusion!], SC urges action against political corruption in broker license distribution (kh), Nepal Police warns against VPN use for banned TikTok (kh) [This proves the delusion and incompetence of the Nepalese government. VPN is extremely important for the cyber security of internet users. Should it be banned now, too?], A traffic jam in Jaleshwar : At least in Madhesh, federalism has little to do with better governance and faster development, by CK Lal (kp), Teasing us could result in dire circumstances: Durga Prasai (kh) [This radical leader of a minority threatens to return the multi-ethnic and multicultural country to the Middle Ages!], Government shows caution ahead of Prasai’s planned demonstration : Kathmandu and Lalitpur declare no-go areas. CPN-UML and Durga Prasai shown different venues to stage protests (kp), Resolving citizens’ dissatisfaction a must for strengthening system: Gagan Thapa (kh), Durga Prasai vows to liberate debtors as PM Dahal warns of taking action against loan defaulters (rep), Cold-related ailments have claimed several lives in Jajarkot after the November 3 earthquake : Thousands of people including many new mothers have been forced to take shelter under makeshift plastic tents amid the growing winter cold, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Prime Minister Dahal, Finance Minister Mahat ‘sitting on their hands’ as the economy falters : It was only on Tuesday the prime minister invited the private sector and experts to discuss the economy, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Three local units in Mustang call for removal of their areas from list of prohibited zones (rep) [Why not declare Baluwatar and Singha Darbar as prohibited zones for politicians instead?], CPN (Maoist Center) and Nepal Samajwadi Party set to unify forming CPN (Socialist) (rep)

21/11/2023: Peace deal into 17th year, yet no justice for victims : Thousands of victims of Nepal’s Maoist insurgency that ended in 2006 are still awaiting closure, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Where does Nepal stand 17 years after a landmark peace deal?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), 17 years after the CPA, justice eludes victims in Nepal (kh), Conflict-affected communities demand passage of bill to amend transitional justice act (kh), NHRC urges govt. to conclude transitional justice process soon (kh), Urgent measures considered as govt seeks solutions amid lingering economic crisis (kh), Out in the cold : Authorities must act fast to avoid more deaths and hardship in the quake-affected areas (kp), Quake survivor’s family loses infant to pneumonia (kh), Free speech advocates decry social media directive saying it oversteps Electronic Transactions Act : Government on Monday released the full text of the directive issued on November 10 (kp), Ministry sees no legal difficulty in redirecting pork barrel fund for quake victims : In August, the Supreme Court had halted the implementation of the controversial programme (kp) [Perhaps the government should enquire in Germany: There, a similar procedure has just been ruled undemocratic and unconstitutional by the supreme court.], Maitighar-Baneshwor area declared off-limits for protests : The move comes days before Durga Prasain and Mahesh Basnet’s planned protests, by Pratik Ghimire (ae), Debt centralism vs federalism : Local levels having to raise loans is obvious as they are directly responsible for public services, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Keep Vigil On Unconstitutional Moves, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), No review on fuel prices as auto pricing fails : On October 1, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ordered the cancellation of the increased price of cooking gas, rendering the auto pricing mechanism defunct, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Nepal needs a truly national foreign policy, by Durga Lamichhane (ae), Judicial Council recommends six names for appointment as Supreme Court judges (kh) [The names suggest that 85 per cent of the Nepalis are Bahun. Or how is this to be understood in terms of the prescribed social inclusion? The high-caste Hindu state fanatics will be delighted!], SC judges’ recommendations reflect political power sharing : Chief Justice opposes PM Dahal's and Deuba's choices, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh) [So much for independent jurisdiction!], SC issues show cause order against government on TikTok ban (rep)

20/11/2023: 17 years after Comprehensive Peace Accord, conflict survivors still yearning for justice (rep), Rule of law, transparency and participation in Nepal, by Krishna Man Pradhan (ae), Two weeks on, earthquake-displaced people are shivering under flimsy tents : Various health complications triggered by cold are stalking the camps of the displaced, by Tripti Shahi (kp), Authorities not to allow concurrent programs by Yuwa Sangh and Durga Prasai at same venue (kh), SC delays initial hearing on TikTok ban writ due to time constraints, by Raghab Sharma (kh), Stooping too low? We have bridged the digital divide, but the knowledge divide on digital media use is widening, by Dharma Adhikari (kp), Preparation on for resuming school operations in quake-affected areas after constructing temporary structures (rep), What are legal measures in place to ensure child protection in Nepal? (rep)

19/11/2023: Upcoming UML-Durga Prasai showdown puts government on security alert : In a love-hate with the main opposition, Prasai is rallying people behind his cause of restoring monarchy, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Lapsephedi clashes snapshot of hassles in building power lines : At least three police personnel were injured as locals hurled stones and over a dozen people allegedly behind the attack were held, Kathmandu district administration says, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Patchy relief: Lessons from Jajarkot : The question is how quickly and effectively emergency support reaches those in need, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), The cost of banning TikTok : Policymakers should focus on regulating content rather than imposing blanket bans, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), Dr KC warns of launching  a fresh fast-unto-death protest from December 15 (rep)

18/11/2023: Antimicrobial resistance in Nepal reaching alarming levels, say experts : Widespread use of antibiotics, especially in livestock and poultry farming, has also been named a potential driver, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Cold taking its toll on quake-displaced in Karnali : Children, new mothers, elderly people and patients of chronic illnesses are the hardest hit. Five displaced persons died in Jajarkot over past eight days, by Krishna Prasad Gautam,. Mahesh KC and Biplab Maharjan (kp), Bringing Informal Polity Into Constitutional Domain, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Govt collects Rs 152.80 million to help Jajarkot earthquake victims while those sufferring struggle to get relief (rep)

17/11/2023: TikTok expresses concern as debate over its ban rages on : Government seems determined to impose the ban. Critics say the platform should be better regulated, not banned, by Anil Giri (kp), TikTok ban faces legal firestorm at SC, Preliminary hearing on November 20 (kh), Playing with fire : As local units are short of firefighting equipment, we are at a perennial risk of loss of life and property (kp), Financing large hydro : The government must act as an enabler instead of borrowing to build hydro power plants, by Bishal Thapa (kp), How a provincial government squandered tax money : More than Rs330 million in taxpayer money allocated for the construction of cold storage facilities in Lumbini Province has gone to waste, by Ghanshyam Gautam (kp), Growing a Green Economy, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), What is Nepal’s agenda for COP 28? (rep)

16/11/2023: Dalit community comes forward for culture conservation (rep), Commercial banks decrease interest rates (kh), Unraveling the culture and politics of Tiktok : The ban on TikTok poses a challenge and jeopardizes the individual freedoms that the democratic system aims to protect. It might just open a Pandora’s box that we may not want to travel down the path it opens, by Alok K Bohara (nlt)

15/11/2023: Y-o-Y Consumer Price Inflation surges in Ktm Valley and Mountain region: NRB (rep)

14/11/2023: Did political consensus drive the govt’s ban on TikTok in Nepal? (kh), Ban on TikTok is violation of constitutional freedom: Stakeholders (kh), PM Dahal justifies TikTok ban as measure to tackle social chaos (kh), Nepal Sambat, Mha Puja being observed today (kh), President dubs Nepal Sambat as ‘original calendar’ of Nepal (kh) [And why do you continue to use an Indian one?], Sakhwa’s role in social justice history memorable: PM Dahal (kh) [Nepal Sambat is a historical fact, but Sakhwa is a myth, Mr. Dahal!], KMC urges adoption of Nepal Sambat as national calendar (rep)

13/11/2023: Korala border in Mustang to open today after four years of closure (kh), Medical Education Act will be amended: Health Minister Basnet (kh), Govt decides to shut down TikTok in Nepal (kh), UML’s continued backing keeps Koshi coalition government afloat : We prioritise stability over other considerations, says UML chief whip (kp), Relief for the resourceful : At least the most egregious misuse of relief material must be probed and the guilty punished (kp), Climate change and false hope : Narrowing climate change to hope leads to the denial of the sickening and sinking emotions that the landscapes are already experiencing, by Saumya Pandey (kp), No new entity needed for reconstruction : One year is not enough. We need at least two years to rebuild damaged structures, interview with Thira Lal Bhusal (kp), Senior citizens in wait for effective implementation of Senior Citizens Act (rep)

12/11/2023: Chinese ‘regional approach’ apparent in Tibet delegation’s Gandaki outreach : As the region bordering Nepal, Beijing assigns Tibet to work with Kathmandu on BRI projects, observers say, by Anil Giri (kp), Why Jajarkot earthquake is just a warning sign : As tectonic pressure builds, quakes are unavoidable. More dangerous are poor structures and unpreparedness, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal’s debt grows by Rs41 billion in the first quarter : International Monetary Fund suggests Nepal continue borrowing foreign loans at concessional terms (kp), The façade of Shital Niwas : Will President Paudel violate constitutional provisions if they are contrary to Cabinet recommendations?, by Semanta Dahal (kp), Melting glaciers: Nepal in climate hot spot, by Indira Aryal (rn)

11/11/2023: PM vows to lead new movement for good governance, prosperity (kh) [The beginning of such a movement should be the immediate withdrawal of Dahal, Oli, Deuba and similarly failed politicians from politics in order to give Nepal a chance for renewal!], Inner-party Democracy Ends Mass Alienation, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Triple whammy: Earthquake, death and now the biting cold : Two earthquake survivors in western Nepal died of cold-related ailments. Biting cold is causing more hardship, especially for the elderly and children (nlt)

10/11/2023: Survivors of last month’s Bajhang earthquake are still living in tents : Around 35 homes in Kuchgaun of Thalara in the district were destroyed in a magnitude 6.3 earthquake on October 3. The displaced say the government has provided no help, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp) [Statements by politicians are smoke and mirrors! They never stick to what they say afterwards!], Expert panel urges government to launch immunisation drive in earthquake-hit districts : Health ministry officials say children in the districts will be given an additional dose each of measles-rubella and polio vaccines, by Arjun Poudel (kp), All-party team from Madhesh memos prime minister on provincial powers : Leaders from other provinces throw their weight behind Madhes as it wrestles Singha Durbar for authority (kp), Provinces against centre : Kathmandu should refrain from encroaching on the jurisdiction of subnational governments (kp), Need for Judicial Reforms for Accountability and Efficiency, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), This System Will Not Improve Even If ‘Top Leaders’ Retire, by Rabindra Mishra (rep) [In addition to some rational criticism of Nepal's political situation, this originally "alternative" again calls for a return to monarchy, Hindu state and a reformed 1990s system. Monarchy and Hindu state are responsible for the basic evils of modern Nepal and the 1990 system was similarly abused by the party politicians as the present one. And why should Nepal return to an institution that has repeatedly committed coups? It would make more sense to exclude those responsible for the failure of the 2015 system, to fundamentally reform and implement the latter system in a socially inclusive manner and, above all, to democratise the political parties and the electoral system!], Loktantra’s Moral Turpitude, by Dipak Gyawali (sp) [Dipak's criticism of the current political system as abused by so-called top politicians is fundamentally correct. However, the Hindu state is not a solution, as Nepal is a multicultural state. And the monarchy was no better than today's politicians: several coups, suppression of civil liberties, excessive enrichment at the expense of the people, lack of political stability with constantly changing governments, marginalisation of large sections of the population, extremely centralist orientation of the state, etc. What's the difference? ], Reasons Behind Low Capital Spending, by Chandra Mani Adhikari (rn), Nepali Women In Changed Media Landscape, by Tulasi Acharya (rn), Belt And Road: No Belt, No Road – The Stalled Journey In Nepal, by Bipin Adhikari (sp)

09/11/2023: Provinces rise up against Kathmandu over denied powers : Besides moving court, Madhesh issues 30-day ultimatum demanding speedy adjustment of police personnel, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Oli, Dahal and Deuba are in favour of the republic but still prefer everything under the control of the national level and are therefore responsible for the post-2015 dilemma. The small but diehard RPP wants to abolish federalism and secularism and go back to the Hindu state under the leadership of the failed monarchy. This is all unconstitutional!], Pro-republic leaders stress vigilance in safeguarding republicanism (kh), SC to begin hearing writ against release of Resham Chaudhary today (kh), Earthquake-displaced are falling sick due to poor living conditions and cold : Drinking water is a big concern. They complain that the relief materials provided by the government are not enough, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp), No quake relief for outsiders, by Hemanta Joshi (ae), Justices and justice : Delayed justice is becoming the norm as the case-load of the Supreme Court continues to increase (kp), Assessing clemency laws, by Jivesh Jha (ae), Youth Exodus Darkens Country’s Future, by Bishnu P Gautam (rn), Vested Interests Penetrate Policies, by Mukti Rijal (rn)

08/11/2023: Experts warn of mental health problems in quake-hit areas : Study showed 34 percent rise in anxiety, 20 percent jump in alcohol use and 11 percent increase in suicidal thoughts, by Arjun Poudel (kp), CARE Nepal draws attention to GBV, disease outbreak post earthquake in Jajarkot, pledges psychological counseling (rep), Disaster and disease : Preventing the quake-affected from falling ill is a top priority and a challenge for local authorities (kp), Jajarkot: Lessons learnt and not : The government must discourage disaster tourism for domestic and international do-gooders, by CK Lal (kp), The perils of fragile institutions : How can Nepal cultivate institutional frameworks that stand the test of time?, by Rajib Neupane (kp), Misjudging Politics as Service, by Atindra Dahal (rep)

07/11/2023: State of unpreparedness : The Jajarkot quake proved the rationale of federalism with generously devolved power to local governments, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Jajarkot and Rukum West earthquake kills more than 80 children with another 5,000 left homeless in freezing conditions (nlt), Jajarkot earthquake: 35,000 families left homeless (kh), 1.3m exposed to earthquake: UN (ae), State failing thousands of quake survivors (ae), Aid dispersal begins in quake-hit areas : But victims in several far-flung villages away from roads are yet to receive any assistance, by Harihar Singh Rathore (kp), Quake victims tell president they are yet to get relief, by Nagendra Upadhyaya (rep), Government mulls two approaches for quake reconstruction : The options include amending existing laws, policies related to reconstruction, or setting up a new body, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal among the lowest in South Asia in HDI : With the HDI value of 0.602, the republic stands second lowest in per capita income in the region, with only Afghanistan ranking lower, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Air quality reaches ‘unhealthy’ levels in Kathmandu Valley, sparking public health concerns : Kathmandu ranked seventh most-polluted city in the world with PM2.5 levels soaring to 154 micrograms per cubic metre on Monday morning, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Saving the Nation in Peril, by Niranjan Mani Dixit (rep) [Despite all the well-founded criticism of the politics of recent decades, especially of the so-called top politicians of the political parties who have completely failed and harmed the state, the author is wrong in his condemnation of federalism and his call for a return to the non-inclusive Hindu state of the former Shah monarchy! The Hindu monarchy is anachronistic, is largely to blame for the problems of modern Nepal and does not fit in with modern times. Moreover, Hinduism and the culture of the Khas Arya are only partial aspects of a much more diversified Nepalese identity!], Nepal government, donors agree to scale up GRID (ae)

06/11/2023: Nepal loses its say in international forums if NHRC is downgraded : Former Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma, who also led the National Human Rights Commission, on a legion of issues related to presidential pardon and the constitutional rights watchdog, interview with Anup Raj Sharma (kp), Quake survivors await aid amid essential shortages : ‘It’s unbearably cold outside and none of us had any sleep since Friday night,’ says a resident of Chiuritol in Jajarkot, by Krishna Prasad Gautam, Mahesh KC and Biplab Maharjan (kp), After the quake : The problem is not a paucity of relief material but quickly getting them to all the places they are needed (kp), Experts blame government neglect for higher losses in ‘moderate’ Jajarkot earthquake : Had we worked towards improving the buildings by learning from past earthquakes, the extent of loss could have been reduced, says seismologist, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Prioritise Quake Safety Measures, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Preventing disease outbreaks a challenge in the quake’s wake : At least 157 people died, hundreds were injured and thousands displaced in the M6.4 earthquake that rocked Jajarkot and West Rukum of Karnali Province on Friday night, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Awaiting relief from a quaking state (ae), President Paudel postpones Europe trip (kh), Climate change and Nepal’s cryosphere, by Mohan B Chand and Lakshman Lama (ae)

05/11/2023: Earthquake wreaks havoc in Jajarkot, Rukum West : As of Saturday night, 157 were confirmed killed and 375 injured in the quake with the epicentre at Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Mahesh KC (kp), UN chief puts a spotlight on Nepal’s climate crisis : The points raised by Antonio Guterres amplify the climate concerns of the country that has little contribution to global warming, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Brain Drain : A Concerning Trend in Nepal, by Krishna Verma (rep), Controversy surrounds President Paudel's visit to France during earthquake crisis (rep), Litmus Test Of Nepal’s Diplomacy, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)

04/11/2023: Scores dead as 6.4M earthquake jolts west Nepal : Over 250 casualties have been confirmed in the quake that occurred late on Friday. Prime Minister Dahal directs for immediate rescue and relief (kp), Koshi Province Cabinet Expansion: UML quits Koshi govt (kh), Nepal's elusive peace process and Guterres’ initiative, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (rep), Governance Efficacy Vital For Functional State, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)

03/11/2023: Cabinet, President face setback as top court overturns disputed pardon : Supreme Court says decision to forgive murder convict Yograj Dhakal was constitutionally and legally flawed, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is justice, quite the opposite of what Dahal, Deuba and Oli are constantly blathering about!], SC nixes prez pardon granted to convict Regal, by Sabitri Dhakal (ae), CIAA issues directive to govt for effective project management (kh), CIAA directs all governments not to allocate funds for half-baked projects : Warns public officials of action if they disburse budget by abusing their authority (kp), Making Nepali media child friendly : Newsrooms must uphold strong editorial practices that promote children’s issues, by Ayush Joshi and Arun Rai (kp)

02/11/2023: Rights watchdog retains ‘A’ status—for now : Global alliance of rights organisations says it made the decision in view of pending court hearings on disputed appointments, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [So again only temporarily, because the attitude of the politicians is still unchanged!], NHRC retains ‘A’ status with riders attached (ae), Prime Minister Dahal says parties close to deal on transitional justice : ‘We are on the same page on the issue,’ says Oli, after meeting Dahal and Deuba (kp) [So, three failed politicians sit down together and believe that they can bring justice to the victims after such a long time, without involving the latter in the solution! And the three of them bear at least partly the responsibility for the crimes of that time! They will be endeavored with priority to come finely from the matter!], Mounting internal debt puts Nepal’s economy in a tight spot (kh), Prisoner pardoned by President arrested for extortion : The accused, with a lengthy criminal history, had served four and a half years in prison before being pardoned by President Paudel on Republic Day, by Ramesh Kumar Paudel (kp) [What is the background for pardoning convicted criminals? Always a political one?], SC overturns President’s decision to provide amnesty to Regal : Orders Regal's immediate arrest (kh), Yograj Dhakal “Regal” arrested (kh), Ensure justice to journalists : Nepal has failed to acknowledge and commit to implementing the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, by Taranath Dahal and Nanu Maiya Khadka (kp), Parliament session ending today (kh), Parliament spent about 6 crores in 6 months to formulate only one law: Lamichhane (kh), UML lambasts government’s ‘ineffectiveness’ in Parliament (kp) [Yet it was the UML that drove the ineffectiveness of parliamentary work with its weeks-long blockade!]

01/11/2023: NHRC's 'A' category ranking to remain unchanged (rep), PM Dahal discusses Transitional Justice Bill with Deuba and Oli (kh) [Without the participation of representatives of the victims, discussions of those responsible in the conflict at that time are completely pointless! Not only Dahal, but especially Deuba bear a great responsibility for the escalation of the conflict at that time!], UN ready to support Nepal’s TJ process, by Antonio Guterres (ae), In Parliament, UN chief stresses victim-centric transitional justice : Antonio Guterres says Nepal needs more support to tackle impacts of climate change, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [And why did he not talk to representatives of the victims?], Do something, anything : Leaders of the movement for federalism are in power, but its implementation is lacking, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), As harvesting season starts, so does open burning : The growing use of combine harvesters in the Tarai region also fuels the open burning of agriculture residue, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Towards an inclusive health system : We need to create people-centred health systems by fostering dialogue and effective community engagement, by Jhabindra Bhandari (kp), Refugees Bring Opportunities, Too, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Judicial committees need more teeth, by Krishna Man Pradhan (ae)

31/10/2023: Who will save NHRC?, by Ram Dayal Rakesh (ae), Members of conflict victims police family urge the UN chief to heed their plights : ‘When individuals involved in acts of murder, looting, and terrorism hold positions within the government, the prospect of justice for the victims and their families appears to be an unattainable dream’ (nlt), Citizens caution UN Secretary-General to ‘spoilers’ of peace process : ‘While you did meet the two erstwhile warring sides, you were not able to meet the victims of conflict even though representatives of five organizations had submitted a letter on the morning of 30 October seeking an appointment (nlt) [see official statement], Federalism-related disputes pile up at Supreme Court : Six cases are sub judice and now Bagmati seeks repeal of Urban Area Public Transport (Management) Authority Act, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Guterres issues urgent plea on climate: Stop this madness : Pledges to present the concerns of affected Nepali communities at next month’s UN climate conference, by Anil Giri (kp), Locals look to UN chief Guterres to initiate conversation on saving Annapurna Base Camp : Soil erosion triggered by the South Annapurna glacier melt has put lives and businesses at risk of landslides and avalanches, by Deepak Pariyar (kp), Heed the chief : The UN head made a vital call to consider global practices, Nepali justice system and victims’ voices (kp), Civil society network hails Guterres's visit to Nepal : Urge to prioritize mountain agenda in global climate negotiations (rep), Govt grants fail to benefit targeted groups (rep), Peace founded on inclusion, empowerment, and justice will last longer: PM Dahal (kh) [What an unrealistic statement! The claim of social inclusion alone has no basis. Nepal remains a patriarchal Khas Arya state. Other social groups are almost not involved, Mr. Dahal! And this contradicts all your statements from the time of the insurgency, whose crimes remain unpunished even more than 17 years after its end!], Judicial System Awaits Reforms, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Over 25 per cent Nepali households in debt: NSO (ht)

30/10/2023: Conflict victims draw UN chief’s attention to their plight : Seek to meet visiting secretary general in person. Successive governments have remained reluctant to make good on the promises made in the 2006 peace accord, they say, by Binod Ghimire (kp), ‘TJ process should meet international standards’ (ae), A ‘Nepali’ peace process : The success of the transitional justice process lies in the action of the House committee, by Charan Prasai (kp), United Nations chief calls for justice for insurgency victims : Vows support for peace process while stressing adherence to international standards, by Anil Giri (kp), Concluding peace process in focus as leaders meet Guterres : UML chief Oli accuses Prime Minister Dahal of delaying the peace process with his decision to ‘glorify violence’ (kp), Speaker Ghimire discusses peace process with Guterres, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Natural disasters prompt mass exodus from villages : Many settlements in Baglung district in western Nepal have been grappling with outmigration after recurring landslides and floods in recent years, by Prakash Baral (kp), The vote against Israel : Having faced multiple blockades, Nepal cannot be indifferent to the plight of the people of Gaza (kp), Churning Ideals Into Reality: The UN Underpins Hope, by Deepak Dhital (rn), Building Political Culture (rn), Lawmaker Ansari slams nepotism, favouritism in nominations of election candidates (ht) [This was already the intention of the so-called top politicians when they drafted the constitution! The elitism of male Khas Arya politicians was to continue!], Bagmati govt files writ against federal govt (kh)

29/10/2023: Human Rights Commission requests global alliance to save its ‘A’ status : The umbrella body of human rights institutions from 127 countries is expected to make the decision within a week (kp), TJ process must meet int'l standards, SC's rulings and needs of victims: UN Secretary-General Gutterres (rep), UN Secretary-General to engage in high-level meetings today (kh), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Kathmandu : The visit of the UN chief is watched with interest in Kathmandu because the transitional justice process, vital part of peace process of which the UN was also a stakeholder, remains in limbo for years (nlt), UN Secretary General Guterres arrives on four-day visit : His itinerary includes visiting Lumbini, Annapurna Base Camp and Everest region besides engagements in Kathmandu, by Anil Giri (kp), Churning ideals into reality the United Nations underpins hope, by Deepak Dhital (rn), Big festivals in post-political times : Festivals directly touch the lives of the people and lay bare their living conditions, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Ethics in utilising public purse : Nepal’s legal and institutional frameworks can yield expected results only with ethical approaches, by Hari Sharma (kp), Israel-Hamas War and Nepal, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Nepali peacekeeping army injured in Lebanon (rn), Maoist Chairman Prachanda ‘disrupting’ Nepal’s peace process, UML Chair Oli tells Guterres (kh) [Yes and Oli repeatedly supported him in this, grossly damaged democracy and the constitution and is the main responsible for the bad reputation of the NHRC!]

28/10/2023: UML mulls Koshi exit over Karki’s Cabinet expansion plans : The chief minister reportedly also wants to appoint ministers from Maoist Centre and CPN (Unified Socialist), by Binod Ghimire (kp), UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is arriving on Sunday : He will address a joint session of parliament and meet communities affected by climate change in the Himalayas (kp), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arriving in Nepal on a four-day official visit (rep), Accountable Governance For Shared Prosperity, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepal supports UN resolution calling for immediate ‘humanitarian truce’ in Israel-Hamas war (kp), Israel expresses displeasure as Nepal votes for a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce (rep)

27/10/2023: Future of NHRC : It is useless to have a rights body when the govt does not implement its recommendations (ht) ‘The UN Secretary-General should encourage expedited reforms and a diligent search for solutions to Nepal’s peace process’, interview with Tika Prasad Dhakal (nlt), Koshi Province CM Karki’s effort to form coalition govt in Koshi draws UML’s warning to exit (kh) [As long as the provinces remain under the direct influence and control of the national level, federalism has no chance!], Koshi chaos: Demurring the effectiveness of federalism. The political turbulence in Koshi Province serves as a cautionary statement for Nepal's federalism, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), A Cautious Welcome to the UN Secretary-General, and a Reference Brief, by Kanak Mani Dixit (rep)

26/10/2023: Disgust with old parties laid ground for new alternative forces: Former PM Dr. Bhattarai (kh)

25/10/2023: DPM Shrestha returns home after recovery (rep)

24/10/2023: Govt explores int'l markets for dairy products amidst sales challenges (rep), Mounting delays in driver's license printing pose frustration for applicants (rep)

23/10/2023: DPM Shrestha discharged from hospital (rep) Kathmandu Valley wears a deserted look as population thins out in Dashain (rep), NRNA leadership dispute: Disgruntled RK Sharma calls for re-vote, challenges elected President Badri KC (kh), Lawmakers must fulfill promises and commitments made during election: Khatun (kh)

22/10/2023: Earthquake jolts Kathmandu (kh), 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Kathmandu Valley : National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre records tremor at 7:39 am, Four earthquakes hit Dhading (kp), Dhading CDO reports landslides and fallen trees following earthquake (rep), Earthquake completely destroys 20 houses and damages 75 other houses in Dhading (rep), Multiple earthquakes shake Kathmandu and surrounding areas on Sunday (kh), An aftershock of the Gorkha earthquake, not a new event: Seismologist Bhattarai (rep), Koshi political row : Rough Road Ahead For New CM, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Shahi calls for electoral reforms, intervention in education system, by Narayan Neupane (rn)

21/10/2023: President Paudel to embark on European tour starting Nov 8 (kh), Now Chief Justice, Nepal Army head visiting China : Chief Justice will go to Xinjiang, army chief will attend Beijing-Xiangshan Forum, a security dialogue platform, by Anil Giri (kp) [???], Govt urges to address concerns surrounding NHRC (rep) [But this is an extremely late response, isn't it, just two days before the GANHRI decision!], NHRC in danger of being downgraded (ht), The Centrality Of The Just Order : Ethical conduct of leaders and the educated public can give hope for people to live peacefully under the shared sovereignty, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), UN Secy General Guterres to address joint house session, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Economic Renewal: The Time Is Now for Privatizing Public Enterprises, by Sindhuj Thapa (rep)

20/10/2023: Losing faith in the system : The state of politics and bureaucracy in Nepal demands urgent attention and reform, by Tulasi Acharya (kp), FNJ Kantipur chapter denounces participation of a political leader in protest : The chapter says that it always stands for working journalists and is determined in its mission to promote their cause (kp), Save or celebrate? People don’t have much money to spend this Dashain. But can they at least be optimistic of a better tomorrow? (kp), We are keen to ensure that transitional justice is served for the conflict victims, interview with EU Envoy to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo (rep), Poll candidates : The issue is one of integrity of those contesting the three tiers of elections (ht), We demand answers, by Sanat Neupane (ae), Complaints on violation of journalist code of conduct on the rise (ae), Nepal for the Nepalis (ae), Remittonomics and conflict : The fragility of Nepal’s economy is once more highlighted by the conflict in West Asia, by Sonia Awale (nt), Kosi now, Kathmandu next? Will Pushpa Kamal Dahal keep his promise to hand over prime ministership to Sher Bahadur Deuba, or will he do an Oli? (nt)

19/10/2023: The Unequal Balance of Power : Kathmandu's Dual Standard on Rule Enforcement, by Nabraj Lama (rep), Govt decides to draft a bill to regulate NHRC (rep), CIAA recommends barring indicted people from election, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Messy politics and a way out, by Jagadish Dahal (ae), Dahal’s China visit and Nepal’s foreign policy, by Prakriti Adhikari (ae), Lawmaker Bhattarai stresses need of awareness about legislative roles of parliament (kh)

18/10/2023: So many entities, so little work : There are many intergovernmental bodies, but their impact appears to be negligible, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Data vulnerability in Nepal : Legal safeguards are essential to ensuring ethical data handling by domestic and foreign entities, by Newal Chaudhary (kp), Semiotics Of The Term 'Cheli' By relegating women to subservient roles through language, the society inadvertently fosters a culture of inequality, by Tulasi Acharya (rn), Falsehood follows floods and landslides in Nepal (kh), Status quo remains in parliament: Lawmaker Rai (kh), Inflation is driving cost of living, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Chief Minister of Koshi Province Karki secures vote of confidence (kh), Koshi CM Karki secures vote of confidence; all parties but RPP vote for him (rep), Karnali has annual 19,116 metric tons food grain deficit (kh)

17/10/2023: Citizenship for NRNs: Nepal PM makes it official : NRN citizenships allow Nepali diaspora the economic, social and cultural rights. NRNs can apply for such certificates from all of 77 districts of the country (nlt), Citizenship for NRNs: PM Dahal claims credit for making it possible : The PM also said that many issues related to the NRNs have been addressed through the government's policies and programs and the budget (nlt), Global index shows ‘moderate level of hunger’ in Nepal. Ranks 69th : Experts say people have started spending less on food as their incomes have stagnated, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Dashain and the Dalits : All their services notwithstanding, Dalits are still forbidden from entering Durga temples, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), NC-UML govt. in Koshi : Challenge To Ruling Coalition, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), SC orders distribution of constitution, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [Hopefully, at least the politicians will then realise their often unconstitutional behaviour!], NC’s Koirala ramps up pressure on Deuba-Dahal partnership, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Chhaupadi still persists in remote Achham, by Gita Kunwar (ae), EC removes Mayor Rinakumari Sah from office for leaving UML (kh) [Once again, this shows the short-sightedness of the PPA. The mentioned paragraphs have their justification with regard to politicians who were elected to the House of Representatives or the Provincial Assemblies via the party lists. All directly elected persons, and this applies to all politicians at the local level, were elected in person directly by the people. Party affiliation plays only a subordinate role. But the patriarchy can rejoice that one of the very few directly elected women mayors has been ousted.]

16/10/2023: What next in Koshi? The onus is on new CM and top leaders of main parties to ensure the government stays the course (kp), Maoist Center to give vote of confidence to Chief Minister Karki (kh), Humor and satire in Koshi province (ae), PM accuses UML of attempting to create rift in ruling coalition partners (ht), Dialogue on Divorce in Nepal, by Abin Ojha (rep), Way too young: All girls must enjoy their full childhood, by Bashir Najeeb (ht), Democracy : A multifaceted reality in Nepal, by Saadesh Mani Pokharel (ae), Will there be emergence of effective leadership in Nepal?, by Pradyuman Pokharel (ae)

15/10/2023: CRN-2023: 71.7 percent perceive political leaders' roles in corruption (rep) [see report by Alternative Foundation], Empower Rural Women For Prosperity, by Govinda Prasad Sharma and Patricia Fernandez Pacheco (rn), Idea behind family bench in courts : Two dedicated benches at Kathmandu district court hear civil cases related to women, fast-track justice delivery, by Binod Ghimire (kp), NC leader Koirala expresses dismay over NA Brigadier General Adhikari’s tenure extension (kh), MPs should be given assignment: Lawmaker Jha (kh), Auditor of judges : Never forget that judiciary without accountability can be a threat to an independent judiciary, by Semanta Dahal (kp), Ending violence against doctors : Violent acts undermine the healthcare system and jeopardise the well-being of the individuals involved, by Divya Rana (kp), New govt formed in Koshi to avoid mid-term election: CM Karki (kp)

14/10/2023: Congress quarrel in Koshi causes cracks in coalition : Maoist chief whip counters as Congress lawmaker in federal parliament demanded formation of a Congress-led government (kp), NC leader Karki appointed Koshi Province Chief Minister (kh), Prime Minister Dahal, NC President Deuba, and Leader Shekhar Koirala sign crucial agreement (kh), Dr. Koirala firmly commits to ruling alliance (kh), Kedar Karki’s govt in Koshi Province is a coalition govt: PM Dahal (kh), Koshi Province NC dispute: Province PP leader Thapa resigns (kh), Uproar in Nepal over Modi’s Kalapani visit : Indian PM breached diplomatic norm visiting Nepali territory without notice: Lawmakers (kp), Conflict victims’ appeal says what’s wrong with govt approach to transitional justice (ht), Royalist groups organize motorcycle rally calling for restoration of monarchy (kh) [Already in the past, the autocratic monarchy could not effectively address the state of affairs in the country. Rather, it was responsible for many of the undesirable developments. What is this medieval institution supposed to achieve in today's world, even without a family perspective for the future? It is not democracy that is failing today, but the so-called political leaders and their parties!]

13/10/2023: Police arrest 16 HURPES protesters demanding justice (kh), Procedure ready to register names of Nepalis abroad in voter list (kh), Rift in Congress over fielding Koshi chief minister candidate : Congress’ Kedar Karki, with backing of UML and 8 party members, challenges bid of coalition candidate Angbo, by Deo Narayan Sah (kp), Koshi Province Chief in legal bind as deadline to appoint Chief Minister looms (kh), People not well-informed on role of lawmakers: Lawmaker Majhi (kh), New twist in Koshi chief ministerial fray (ht), PM Dahal gestures to retreat from Koshi CM race provided NC finds consensus candidate (kh) [Once again, this is a provincial issue and not the responsibility of national party elites who only care about their power constellations and have no concept of federalism!], House session being prorogued today : The session stretched for 5 months and did nothing more than passing budget bills and making anti-usuary law (kp), MCC transmission line tender set for cancellation as negotiations fail (kh), Dahal vows sweeping economic reforms : Experts blame low demand, falling public confidence and high interest rates for the slump, by Subin Adhikari (kp), DPM Shrestha to participate in BRI event in Beijing : Nepali delegation will leave for China on Monday, by Anil Giri (kp), Nonalignment or Multi-alignments : Non-alignment does not imply indifference to the day's pressing issues or to remain neutral or voiceless, by Rajaram Bartaula (rep), Jeopardising judiciary : Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs under scrutiny, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Education Bill attempts to shrink local levels power: NARMIN (kh), Terrible Times To Continue, by Tilak Rawal (sp)

12/10/2023: Bureaucratic Resistance on Nepal’s Path to Federalism, by Niyati Shrestha (rep), Civic Participation Cures Democratic Deficit, by Mukti Rijal (rn),  House scrambles to revise anti-money laundering laws as grey-listing looms : Urgent need to address concerns pointed out by Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [see Mutual Evaluation Report by APG], Complaints related to federal affairs top the CIAA list (ht), Remittance is keeping the Nepali economy afloat, by Kamal Raj Dhungel (ae), Indian Prime Minister Modi visits Kalapani region, Nepal uninformed (rep) [How about PK Dahal also visiting Kalapani?], Chiefs of all three security agencies on foreign tour as the country sees renewed security challenges, by Tapendra Karki (rep)

11/10/2023: No consensus on proposed revisions to transitional justice law : After five months of talks, parliamentary subcommittee tosses unresolved issues back to top leaders. The Supreme Court had ordered revision of the disputed law eight years ago, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Of all things, back to those incompetent politicians who have completely opposite interests, since they were in charge on both sides of the conflict at the time!], Countering the political theology of Hindutva : The accommodative Hindu way of life has become the Hindutva strain of European fascism, by CK Lal (kp), Muddled message : Few of our state officials seem to have internalised the need for good crisis-time communication (kp), UML Chair Oli dubs PM Dahal-led govt a complete failure (kh) [Without any doubt, all post-2015 governments led by Oli, Deuba and Dahal were complete failures because these three politicians are not fit to lead Nepal in such difficult times!], Tibet border reopening provides relief to Nepal villagers : The Nepal-China border point at Lapchi in Dolakha has reopened for the residents of Lapchi to trade in Tibetan markets, by Kedar Shiwakoti (kp), Why we need value-based education : A robust moral foundation in early education helps combat corruption in Nepal, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (kp), Private schools and colleges: They also have a societal mission, by Simone Galimberti (ht), Trade Deficit's Present and Future Situation in Nepal, by Prajwal Chand (rep), Women's rights activists hold protest at Maitighar, demanding re-imprisonment of Regal (rep), Presidential pardons and their impact on victims and society: A call for justice, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep), Local level employees' protest intensifies (ht)

10/10/2023: Rupee slide raises debt repayment costs : If Nepal settles all of its foreign loans now, it will incur a loss of nearly Rs60 billion, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Emboldened anti-private sector narrative : This is mainly the work of influential political parties, particularly the Marxist variety, by Achyut Wagle (kp), The Education Bill ignores the Constitution, by Durga Prasad Khanal (rep), Check Alarming Exodus Of Nepalis, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Demo against prez pardon for criminals (ae), What is the current state of Nepali economy?, by Sabika Shrestha (ae), New hope for victims: Proposed amendment allows complaints for sexual violence during conflict (kh), UN Secretary General Guterres postpones his visit to Nepal (rep), Technology can revolutionize Nepal’s justice system. Here is how : As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools offer many opportunities to reconfigure judicial activities, it is high time for Nepal to harness the potential of the tools, by Neera Giri (nlt), NHRC demands accessible treatment of mental issue (kh)

09/10/2023: The Iih movement and beyond : Extra-party protests are likely to be popular if conventional parties’ roles become less credible, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), HURPES Nepal protests in front of the President’s office (kh), I am impressed by how Nepal’s federal system is evolving, interview with Milton Dick, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives (kp) [What impressive evolution is he talking about?], Are Left parties contemplating reunification amid political shifts? (kh) [Two authoritarian autocrats are never able to deliver the policies people need!], Widow struggles to raise three sons after losing husband, by Prem Raj Simkhada (rn), Five Nepali students trapped in missile-stricken Israeli bunker beg call for rescue (with video) (kh), Govt. to provide Rs one million compensation to families of Nepali students who lost their lives in Israel attack (kh), SC establishes dedicated bench for family dispute cases : Chief Justice Shrestha inaugurates initiative (kh)

08/10/2023: Fourth Koshi government falls apart within a year : Hikmat Karki was running a minority government but stepped down, seeing no way of getting a vote of confidence, by Binod Ghimire (kp), The Young, the Old, and the Dependent : We have a demographic time bomb and a dependency sword hanging over our heads, by Mukesh Khanal (rep), Ensure Justice To Chetan's Widow, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), 10 Nepalis killed, one still missing as Hamas terrorist group attacks Israel (nlt), 10 Nepali nationals feared killed in Hamas’ attack in Israel (rep), 10 Nepalis confirmed dead in Hamas attack on Israel (kh)

07/10/2023: Conflict victims ask UN chief to push for transitional justice : Say they are sceptical of PM’s commitment to justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp), End practice of protesting by disrupting parliament: lawmaker Neupane (kh), Labour, Poverty Alleviation And Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), NHRC faces alarming decline in standards, by Govinda Luitel (rep), Koshi Chief Minister Karki resigns due to lack of majority support in Provincial Assembly (rep), NC and Maoist Center vie for leadership in new Koshi govt (kh) [Finally, put an end to these senseless power games. The citizens of this province have a right to a stable government and such a government can only be achieved through new elections! The pathetic behaviour of the parties is nothing but criminal!]

06/10/2023: Battling the court backlogs : The judiciary’s failure to deliver justice promptly is tantamount to denying justice altogether, by Udayan Regmi (kp), Un-Regal justice : The pardon of a murder convict hints at how little our political class cares about people’s concerns (kp), Amnesty for adults! Why are children in correctional facilities not given an exemption?, by Safalta Bhandari (rep), Supreme Court demands original documents related to decision of paroling ‘Rigal’ : Bharati Manandhar, the spouse of Chetan Manandhar, whom Rigal had murdered in Banke, is in hunger strike demanding justice (nlt), Supreme Court seeks explanation for pardon granted to murder convict : President on the Constitution Day had commuted the jail terms of 670 convicts, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Curfew reimposed in Nepalgunj amid Hindu-Muslim dispute (kh), Police take to five rounds of aerial fire amidst violent clash in Kalyanpur, Siraha (kh), RPP Chairman Lingden sparks controversy referring to Gyanendra Shah as a King (kh) [This is proof of the true attitude of Lingden and his small anti-democratic and unconstitutionally oriented party!], Nepal-China border reopening brings joy to northern Gorkha : The Gorkha district administration started providing China entry permits to the residents of Chumnubri Rural Municipality from Wednesday onwards, by Hariram Upreti (kp), Street smart business : A well thought-out regulatory mechanism for street vendors is the need of the hour, by Roshee Lamichhane (kp), End Entrenched Social Inequality : Merely demanding the rights be granted and forgetting the responsibilities cannot achieve the goals of social equality, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Patan High Court refuses to register same sex marriage, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), State malfunction, by Kunda Dixit (nt)

05/10/2023: HoR members urge all to be serious about maintaining social, religious harmony (kh), Nip it now : The frequency of communal violence points to a systematic attempt at inciting social discord (kp), Nepalgunj curfew extended for 2nd day : District administration requests one and all to help maintain religious and social harmony, by Rupa Gahatraj (kp), UN chief coming to Nepal on 4-day visit : The main agenda of his trip starting October 14 is climate change and ways to mitigate its effects on livelihoods, by Anil Giri (kp), Between the Giants: Nepal’s Geopolitical Significance for US Interests in South Asia, by Nabraj Lama (rep), Delivery Matters Most For People, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Full proportional system of elections : The best solution to people's dissatisfaction, by Bhrikesh Chandra Lal (ht) [This is exactly the system that the Maoists had demanded before the 2008 elections. Unfortunately, like so many other goals, they have long since lost sight of this themselves!], Maintaining peace and harmony, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)

04/10/2023: Curfew continues in Nepalgunj (kh), As NHRC downgrade date approaches, pressure builds on office bearers to quit : A meeting of GANHRI later this month is set to downgrade the commission to ‘B’ category, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Sensible education policy needed : Eight years post-constitution, our education system still lacks federalism-friendly practices, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Doctor bashing trend on the rise : A concerning issue to be addressed, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht)

03/10/2023: Earthquake tremors felt twice in Sudurpaschim (rep), Unconscious bias : Politicians fail to recognise the capabilities of people from traditionally oppressed groups, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Gagan Thapa’s proposal to recall Congress ministers sparks fresh intra-party debate : The party has nine ministers in the government. The proposal is yet to be officially discussed in the Congress, by Anil Giri (kp), Commissioned to fail? People doubt the new panel formed to investigate gold smuggling can do its job well (kp), Two-way trade through Tatopani remains a mirage : Nepali traders say they are not allowed to sell their goods in Chinese cities even though the border has been reopened, by Anish Tiwari (kp) [Dahal's one-week visit to China has really been very successful!], China wants Nepal to implement agreements: Prof Dr Jha (rep), Incumbent government irresponsible and arbitrary: UML Chair Oli (kh [While this is true, people are wondering where the difference is from the former Oli government, especially in 2020 and 2021!], Govt crafting laws by bypassing parliament raises concern (rep), Indefinite curfew imposed in Nepalgunj (kh), Doctor-Civilian Conflict On Rise, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Environmental defenders at risk, journalists targeted and concerns around new cyber security policy: CIVICUS report (kh) [see CIVICUS reports on Nepal]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/10/2023: RSP leaders seek President’s attention to reconsider immunity granted to murder convict (kh), Breaking with conventions : This spontaneous in-party challenge to Oli’s one-man show is something to be celebrated (kp) [All domineering autocrats fall sooner or later and this is also true for Oli! This is the superiority of democracy!], Constitution became more of a political than constitutional document, interview with Nilamber Acharya, Nepal’s former envoy to India, who was involved in drafting two of Nepal’s most recent constitutions, on eight years of constitution implementation and the prime minister’s recent foreign visits (kp), Tertiary Education at a Crossroads in Nepal : The youth with a clear purpose in life find it hard to fulfill their dreams in Nepal, by Augustine Thomas (rep), Emergence of Global South and Nepal, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/10/2023: Role of the MPs not clear to the public: MP Parajuli (kh) [For the public it looks like this: The incompetent so-called top politicians only use the MPs as a tool to enforce their power-oriented policies!], PM Dahal convenes seven-party meeting (kh), RSP ‘boycotts’ PM Dahal’s all-party meeting over market price hike (kh), Ruling coalition and main opposition UML inch closer on high level committee to probe gold smuggling (kh) [Political parties, whose high-ranking politicians seem to be involved, are not suited to solve this crime. This is the responsibility of the CIB and the courts!], Govt establishes high-level inquiry commission led by Judge Dilliram Acharya to probe gold smuggling (kh), Rising doctor-patient tensions threaten Nepal’s healthcare : Agitating resident doctors agree to resume services following a six-point agreement with the government, by Arjun Poudel (kp), KMC doctors assaulted within 24 hours of govt-medical professionals agreement (rep), Doctors beaten up in KMC hospital, two arrested (kh), Has Nepal lost interest in the cross-border railway network with China? (rep), Climate change finds no mention in 16th Periodic Plan despite urgent concerns, by Shree Ram Subedi (rep), Nepal's industries depend on foreign workers: Experts (rep 01/10/2023) [How about the targeted education of young Nepalis instead of sending them into labour migration?]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/09/2023: PM Dahal tours on as Nepalis tackle crises : Ruling, opposition leaders consider prime minister’s long absence inappropriate, as country is under economic pressure, by Anil Giri (kp), Poor development spending means low foreign loan uptake : Nepal met 50 percent of its foreign loan target in the fiscal year 2022-23, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Political Science Nurtures Democratic Praxis, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepal’s health system transformation is a moral imperative : Our leaders must prioritize healthcare as a fundamental component of our nation's development and commit to the necessary reforms, by Saugat Pratap KC (nlt), Talks between govt and agitating doctors positive, doctors withdraw protest programs (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/09/2023: Crimson, saffron and green : An ideological vacuum is turning the Madhes into fertile ground for the religious right, by Chandra Kishore (nt), New bill aims to make lawmaking more consultative : Government move comes amid strong protests that forced revisions to some contested pieces of legislation, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Govt and agitating teachers reach agreement; teachers withdraw protest programs (kh), National Human Rights Commission concerned over attack on doctors : Urges government and other stakeholders to create an environment for uninterrupted delivery of health services (kp), Strained ties : The breakdown of the doctor-patient bond of trust could have devastating consequences (kp), 'It's always doctors that are targeted', by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Protect Rights Of Old Persons, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn), Water sources are disappearing at an alarming rate, by Nitu Ghale (ae), Dahal’s attempt at keeping three major powers happy, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Nepal’s SDG progress at risk: Stakeholders warn of 60% target shortfall by 2030 (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/09/2023: Government inaction fuelling economic crisis and social discord, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Stringent law fails to stop assaults on doctors : Thousands of patients suffered, as resident doctors shunned services on Wednesday, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Nepal’s debt servicing cost rose by over 80 percent last fiscal year : Allocated amount for debt servicing in current fiscal is more than the capital spending allocation, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Dahal in China : The PM did not compromise on Nepal’s core interests. But he didn’t secure major concessions either (kp), Evidence-based policymaking in Nepal : Many developing countries have yet to enhance their policy formulation and implementation capacity, by Hari Sharma (kp), Flawed Legislative Process Irks Teachers, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [No right to information, no democratic procedures, only authoritarian decisions by supposedly democratic politicians based on internal agreements! This is how the rule of law works in Nepal, presumably as a legacy of the former absolutist monarchy!], Speakers call for increasing people's access to RTI (rn), SC orders demolition of all structures within 65 metres from Phewa Lake (ht) [Including the former royal palace, right on the shore?], SC's concern : The SC must pursue with the interrogation of Nepal and Bhattarai to learn the truth (ht), RSP Chair Lamichhane criticizes President Paudel for releasing party-fostered criminals (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/09/2023: PM’s visit: No breakthrough, no notable gains, say observers : Nepal shifts from ‘one-China policy’ to ‘one-China principle’, by Anil Giri (kp), Villagers unhappy after park takes priority over road : Sisne rural municipality built Rs40 million martyr memorial park in the village, which villagers say does not serve any practical purpose, by Mashesh KC (kp), National Assembly meeting deferred for lack of business : The federal parliament remains unproductive even as the country needs dozens of new Acts or amendments to the existing Acts as per the constitution (kp), Court issues show cause for not prosecuting ex-PMs in land scam : Supreme Court Justice Binod Sharma issued the notice to the government on Tuesday (kp), Ensure reproductive right : The government’s apathy to providing quality health services puts the achievements thus far at risk (kp), Relief teachers block streets in Baneshwor after Police intervention in protest (kh), NHRC calls for urgent action to address Activist E’s health crisis during ‘standing’ protest (kh), Partisan politics and the Non-Resident Nepali Association, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/09/2023: SC issues show cause order for not filing case against former PM duo Nepal and Bhattarai (kh), Assessing the outcomes of PM Dahal’s official visit to Beijing, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Nepal and China sign 12-point agreement : Joint Statement between Nepal and the People's Republic of China (Full text) (kh), Nepal, China sign 12 agreements, but none under BRI : Nepali embassy says Dahal and his Chinese counterpart ‘comprehensively’ reviewed the state of bilateral relations, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepal and China issue joint statement strengthening bilateral ties and multifaceted cooperation (rep), Taking care of Nepal’s elderly : Despite improving financial well-being, health complexities among the elderly remain, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (kp), Elderly beneficiaries of social security allowance rose by 300,000 last fiscal : Mounting cost raises concern about scheme’s sustainability, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Calls grow for regulating street vending amid ban and protests : It is not wrong to take action against irregularity, but it should be done with proper planning and study, says urban planner Suman Meher Shrestha (kp), Anti-federal moves in education : The outdated Education Act 1971 is still in force, albeit with dozens of amendments, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Key Provisions In School Education Bill, by Uttam Maharjan (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25//09/2023: Blaming politicians: The hypocrisy of democracy, by Prabin Kumar Yadav (ae), Government increases women’s reservation to 50 percent in civil service seats (kh), Nepal seeks to sidestep China’s GSI request : Talking to Kantipur in New York, Dahal had categorically denied chances of Nepal joining a security-related alliance, by Anil Giri (kp), In remote Mugu, children walk four hours to school : Parents say children return home tired. Their Kalika Secondary School in Libru is ill-equipped and understaffed with just 11 teachers for 300 students, by Raj Bahadur Shahi (kp), Sympathy or lack of proof?, by Prerana Marasini (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/09/2023: Refusing to grant citizenship in name of mother is unconstitutional: SC (rep), Teachers and doctors voice discontents through protests, by Nayak Paudel (rn), Dissolution of federalism, reinstatement of Hindu state raised in NC CWC meeting (kh) [It is frightening to observe how the once democratic Nepali Congress is obviously turning into a right-wing populist and Hindu fundamentalist party, which no longer wants to represent the interests of all people in the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural state of Nepal!! The alternative to the federal state would be at best a centralist state, which Nepal continues to be thanks to the anti-federal sentiments of the high-caste male state elite, but not a Hindu state!], Govt ‘serious’ about incidents related to communal and religious disturbances, says Home Minister (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/09/2023: Teachers end protest after six-point deal : Those under relief quota, however, reject the agreement and plan to continue the Kathmandu-centric agitation, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Violent incidents at juvenile centres expose managerial lapses : Rights advocates call for effective measures not to let deadly clashes occur again, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Improve Women's Role In Decision-making, by Jeewan Rimal (rn), Build Peace Edifice For Social Justice, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/09/2023: Completing remaining task of transitional justice is Nepal’s top agenda: PM Dahal (kh) [For 17 years? This sounds more like disinterest than top agenda! Many of Dahal's other statements to the UN are not true either!], One dead, 10 injured as clash erupts in in Banke juvenile correction home (kh), 7 million students deprived of right to education, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Mind children's right as you fight for yours, teachers told (ht), Competing demands make it hard to end teachers’ strike : As local governments claim oversight of schools, teachers fear it will harm their prospects, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Agitating teachers call off protests, reach 7-point agreement with govt (kh), Balancing the dragon and the elephant : Nepal needs support from all donor countries and partners for sustained growth, by Pragya Ghimire (kp), Govt grants general amnesty to 7,000 prisoners over five years, by Smriti Dungana (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/09/2023: Shooting their mouths off : Those with a public presence have a greater responsibility in their choice of words, by Deepak Thapa (kp), With PM away, transitional justice bill loses momentum : Efforts to finalise the amendment bill have stalled as it could not be passed before Dahal’s trip to New York, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The draft is inadequate and unsatisfactory anyway!], ADB slashes growth forecast on low demand, high interest rates : The Nepali economy is projected to grow by 4.3 percent in the current fiscal, down from the earlier forecast of 5 percent, by Sangam Prasain (kp), MPs are legislators devoted to country and people, Ghartimagar (rn) [The party leaders see it quite differently. They expect absolute allegiance with regard to their policies. This was already the case when the constitution was adopted!], 'Constitution should be amended to address people's grievances', by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), 'Constitution, a document of compromise' (ht), Nepotism within state-sponsored corruption: Contradicting Wilson's Theory of Altruism, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Delay in passing Federal Civil Service Bill poses challenge in implementing federalism (rep), Deuba under pressure to pull out of coalition, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Population and sustainable development : In a space of 30 years, there has been remarkable progress in the health and population sector, by Jhabindra Bhandari (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/09/2023: Constitution Day being observed today (kh), Non-implementation of fundamental rights shows parties’ weakness: Former Speaker Dhungana (kh), Calls for constitutional reform intensify : In 8 years, parties have shown little commitment to safeguarding charter, say observers, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Our constitution, our guide : Only through collective efforts can we realise the full potential of the hard-won federal system, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Constitution Bolsters Democratic Fabrics, by Jivesh Jha (rn) [Does this constitution really represent the will and ambitions of the people or is it not rather a work of the traditional high-caste male party elites who prevented any criticism and discussion by the elected representatives when it was adopted?], Who failed: Constitution or political parties?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Need for Transformative Constitutionalism, by Kalyan Shrestha (kh), Teachers to strike nationwide, 7 million students to be hit : They are unhappy with a federal bill’s provisions allowing local units to recruit, transfer and promote teachers, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Man arrested on charge of murdering wife over dowry : The couple was married 21 months ago and have an 11-month-old son, by Binod Bhandari (kp), Awakening Nepal: A Stark Warning, by Prem Lamichhane (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/09/2023: PM Dahal seeks UN assistance for completing Nepal’s Transitional Justice process (kh), Students from remote Baitadi village brave river to reach school every day : Around 40 students from ward 6 of Sagada village wade through the Nwaghari river to reach Ganesh Secondary School, by Basanta Pratap Singh (kp), Caste in the diaspora : In this age of international migration, caste has become a worldwide phenomenon, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Erosion of Professional Ethics : In the grand chessboard of politics, are the people still paramount, or have they become mere pawns in a larger power play?, by Nabraj Lama (rep), Proposed amendments to unregistered Acts spark controversy amid lawmakers’ negligence (rep), Curb Scourge Of Human Trafficking, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Is KMC Mayor Shah turning out a polarising figure, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/09/2023: Parliamentarians’ role has been ‘paralyzed’: MP Santosh Pariyar (kh) [Thanks to the authoritarian and anti-democratic party leaders! Special mention should be made of Oli, Dahal and Deuba!], Thousands of patients suffer due to doctors’ strike : Medical professionals to resume duty after an agreement with the government on Sunday evening, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Timely electoral law : It would be prudent for the ministries to quickly forward election bills to the legislature (kp), Disjointed climate planning : Building roads haphazardly in the hills has led to erosion and landslides during the monsoon, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), Teachers to shut schools, stage nationwide protest against School Education Bill, 2023, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/09/2023: Dahal to seek global community’s nod to Nepal peace process : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will carry a long wish list to China after the conclusion of his New York visit, by Anil Giri (kp) [It is hard to imagine that this will be met with success!], Map politics in South Asia : The bilateral agreement on the trilateral junction of Lipulekh is a case in point, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), An open letter to PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal on three corruption scandals and one ‘mega-scandal’, Nilamber Acharya, Suryanath Upadhyay, Surya Prasad Shrestha, Sushil Pyakurel and Kanak Mani Dixit write to Nepal’s prime minister urging him to take up corruption scandals with utmost seriousness (nlt), Nepal’s Foreign Policy in the Making of the New World Order, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), President’s Office seeks grounds from Home Ministry for pardoning 34 individuals on Constitution Day (kh), What’s the controversy surrounding the new education bill? The bill must be passed by both chambers of Parliament before it becomes law and replaces the Education Act-1971, by Binod Ghimre (kp), Religious leaders, priests and faith healers mobilised to end child marriage in Kalikot : Although Nepal abolished child marriage in 1963, the practice is still rampant, especially in rural parts of the country, by Tularam Pandey (kp), Police accused of leaking sensitive information amid ongoing criminal investigations, by Arun Bam (rep), Human trafficking: Over 1,600 persons rescued in five years (rep), Police rescue 1,679 victims of human trafficking in last five years (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/09/2023: Old folks lonely but happy in empty mountain villages : The old generation is glad to see their migrant children are getting a better life than they had, and sending some money back home from time to time, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Tibet border closure hits livelihoods of Nepalis in mountain villages : Besides trade, the seasonal employment from which Nepalis in outlying villages of Bajhang earned their living has been hugely affected, by Basant Pratap Singh (kp), Will Nepal and India conclude Pancheshwar project report this time? Experts from the two countries are scheduled to meet on September 29-30. The mega project has been under discussion for over over three decades now., by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Poll body fears delay in new law's passage may block reform : The draft bill has been at the Home Ministry for more than two months which shows that it is reluctant to expedite discussions on the bill that takes years to get through both Houses of the Federal Parliament, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Government and opposition parties obviously see their non-inclusive, unconstitutional and corrupt electoral practices in danger with electoral reform!], Birth registration pending for 26,000 children in Karnali (kh) [This means denial of children's basic rights!], Ethical Business Vital For Justice And Peace, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/09/2023: Constitution has ensured children’s right as fundamental (kh), Mixed bag : The new Education Bill still leaves space for a tussle between the federal and local governments (kp), Juvenile delinquency: Legal and practical gaps : Some children are held for crimes they did not even commit, and they do not know how to get out, by Shailu Sharma and Sadikshya Nepal (kp), SC issued mandamus to resolve ‘juvenile cases’ within 120 days, bny Bhasa Sharma (rep), Judicial Council recommends names of 27 candidates for appointment as judges in high courts (With List) (rep) [Not a single woman and predominantly male Bahuns! Welcome to socially inclusive Nepal!], Poll Reform Bill To Enhance Inclusion, by Liladhar Upadhyaya (rn) [In absolutely no public sector is social inclusion even rudimentarily practised!], PM Dahal set to sign BRI Project raising debt concerns (kh), Women's participation in decision-making level pathetic (rep), Implement the constitution in true sense : It would have been better had the CA members given due respect to the things which could be crucial in bringing Madhesis and Pahadis together , by Jivesh Jha (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/09/2023: Watch and shoot: How should Nepal navigate complex India-China-US geopolitics? We must exercise caution and adopt a neutral but flexible approach in developing relations across the entire spectrum by keeping all options open, by Gaurav Shamsher Rana (nlt), Deaths of inmates in Sankhuwasabha: 15 remanded to custody for further investigations (kh), Thapa insists on 33 percent women participation in government (kh) [Article 38 (4) of the Constitution already prescribes adequate proportional participation in all state structures and bodies as a fundamental right of women. The ruling male Khas Arya rulers were instrumental in formulating the constitution, but since then they have taken very little interest in it!], Fighting a straw man : Prime Minister Dahal, as always, is on the lookout for a non-existent class enemy (kp), Global arms control and Nepal : Given our hopeless situation in arms manufacturing, our best bet is on their control, by Hitesh Kumar Bhattarai (kp), Rethinking Tribute Beyond Public Holidays (rep), Students unable to learn about Nepal's new political map, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep), Perils Of Power-centric Politics, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Food crisis looms large in Nepal, by Sabitri Dhakal (ae), Alarming stats: 34% of women in Nepal in anemia crisis, posing challenges to MDGs (rep), SC orders government to regulate Nepal-India open border (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/09/2023: Flying away from the nest : Governance falls in the hands of regressive forces when the engines of change exit the system, by CK Lal (kp), Underprivileged receive ID cards, but remain deprived of privileges, by Govinda Luitel (rep), Right to health: Some suggestions, by Simone Galimberti (ht), Nembang’s absence adds to transitional justice worries : Lawmakers on the House panel say the former Speaker had been instrumental in finalising the amendment bill, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Free education, midday meal keeping students in schools : Despite the constitution’s pledge, government schools in Nepal fail to guarantee free education, forcing students from poor backgrounds to drop out, by Anish Tiwari (kp), Socialist Front wants Koshi name changed : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal draws flak for encouraging street protests, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [According to the constitution, the naming of the provinces was a matter for the provincial assemblies. Many problems arise because the male Khas Arya elite at the national level constantly interfere in matters that do not concern them at all! This includes avoiding ethnic or historical references in the names of the provinces!], Landfill victims warn they will obstruct waste disposal again if their demands aren’t met : Over the past 18 years, authorities have reached 175 agreements with the locals but they have all been breached, by Anup Ojha (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/09/2023: Caste-based discrimination rife in Doti : Dalit rights activists say non-Dalits refuse to interact with them, extend services, rent rooms or even sell them milk, by Mohan Shahi (kp), Budget cut hampers treatment of moderately acute malnourished children : The cuts in the budget for healthcare programmes have put Nepal’s ambition to meet the SDGs on the line, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Federalism vs centralised planning : Nepal's precarious socio-economic standing is the result of a highly centralised planning process, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Putting an end to the reckless rhetoric of politicians, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/09/2023: Power vs rights of indigenous people : Respecting the rights of indigenous people in the hydro power sector in Nepal is not just about compliance but power relations, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Elusive peace process : The ongoing peace process will not conclude without giving justice to the conflict victims (ht), Insurgency victims from security forces implore UN for justice : Say they feel discriminated against by both the Nepali state and the United Nations, by Binod Ghimire (kp), We cannot escape great power politics but we can leverage it for our benefit , interview with Nishchal N Pandey, director of Centre for South Asian Studies (kp), Sunk cost fallacy in politics: Alternative voices being marginalised, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/09/2023: Adjudicate cases of children in conflict with law within 120 days: SC, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Former security personnel of Nepal write to the UN rapporteurs over TRC bill : The organization of the families of security personnel who were the victims of the armed conflict has asked for provisions to address incidents involving unarmed and non-uniformed security personnel who were killed or injured during the conflict (nlt) [The victims came from among the security forces, the Maoist insurgents and, above all, from civil society, which constantly felt threatened by both parties to the conflict. They and their families need justice at last!], Budget delays at the local level: Reasons and repercussions : Kanchanrup in Saptari has money in its treasury but no authorisation to spend even for dengue control, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Prime minister says thousands of land grab cases will be probed : Statement comes amid suspicions the Cabinet is trying to save coalition leaders alleged in scams from prosecution (kp) [???], Nepal's Development Aspirations and the Road to Net-Zero Emissions by 2045, by Subash Pandey (rep), What ails Nepal’s health? What should be done to cure it?, by Gagan Thapa (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/09/2023: Unknown group attacks police, loots weapons and ammunition in Sunsari (kh), Attack on Congress leader and mayor’s outburst alarm traditional parties : Public frustration high due to lack of delivery, experts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Call for Restraint to Deepen Nepal-China Ties, by Pramod Jaiswal (rep), In Pictures: Solidarity march held in Kathmandu against cow slaughter, by Rajib Khatri (rep) [But respect and tolerance are not a one-way road! The call for a return to the Hindu state hurts the values and feelings of all those people in the multi-religious state, some of whom suffer great disadvantages by linking the state to the values and practices of the Hindu religion!], Prohibitory order imposed in Malangwa as tensions surge following clash during Krishna Janmashtami idol immersion (rep), Curfew imposed in Sarlahi amid rising tensions (kh), Communication Of Critical Mass For Peace, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/09/2023: Patriarchal Nepal sees steep rise in female-headed households : Agriculture Census 2021-22 report, released on Thursday by National Statistics Office, shows 32.4 percent, or 1.33 million, households in the country are headed by women, by Sangam Prasain (kp) [This is far from being a reason for the ruling machos to grant women equal rights and participation!], Supreme Court orders Hikmat Karki be appointed Koshi chief minister : Declares Uddhav Thapa-led governments unconstitutional twice in six weeks, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Oli government never informed nations about new map, says Saud : Both Oli and his foreign minister Gyawali assert that they had notified foreign countries about the map, by Anil Giri (kp) [It will take more than factual communication if other nations are to understand and accept the new map!], Prime minister wants transitional justice bill endorsed before his US visit : Sub-panel of Law and Human Rights Committee will start detailed discussions on the bill tomorrow. Leaders expect some consensus among major parties today, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Why? In its planned form, the law still does not meet international legal standards!], Battle Against Casteism, by Bini Dahal (rn), NA meeting adjourned indefinitely : Upper House adjourned after getting no business (kh) [Nothing to do, although an enormous number of laws urgently need to be passed? Once again, the destruction of parliamentary democracy by the so-called top politicians is evident!], Push factors driving Nepalis out : There are fewer incentives for young Nepalis to stay home, by Ramesh Kumar (nt), Saraswati casts net wide for justice : A Dalit activist from Nepal gets global recognition for her struggle against systemic discrimination, by Dhanu Bishwakarma (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/09/2023: House lacks business even as constitution needs dozens of laws : Only 111 laws among the 151 necessary to implement the statute are in place, upper chamber study shows, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Congress leader injured in khukuri-attack in Kathmandu : Police have arrested the alleged assailant, Shyam Sapkota, who styled himself as a pro-royalist and anti-MCC activist, by Anup Ojha (kp), Poor then, poor now : Now is perhaps not the right time to go to China with a begging bowl in hand, by Deepak Thapa (kp), SC revokes Koshi CM Thapa’s post, directs to appoint UML’s Karki as CM (kh), SC directs Koshi Chief to appoint UML leader Karki as CM within 48 hours (kh), Door opens to NRNs for Nepali citizenship, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Controversies surface in Kathmandu on the eve of Nepal PM’s China visit : New Chinese map and Chinese ambassador's statement on India's policies on Nepal have become the subject of controversies in Kathmandu (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/09/2023: Govt inhumanity in Central Jail: Overcrowding and dilapidated buildings increase risks to inmates, by Govinda Luitel (rep), BRI and Nepal’s equidistance foreign policy, by Devesh Jha (kh), Ruling parties reignite MCC dispute : Leftist parties doubt whether the US has endorsed 12-point interpretation of MCC pact, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Nepal’s long transition to federalism raises question about its relevance, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Learning from Swiss federalism : It’s important to recognise that Nepal’s approach to federalism should be unique to itself, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Towards clean air in Nepal : Air pollution reduces productivity and degrades lifestyle with tangible economic consequences, by Faris Hadad-Zervos and Dina Umali-Deininger (kp), Youth attacks NC Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav with Khukuri at Reporters Club (rep) [A 47-year-old man is definitely no longer a youth!], NC leader Yadav attacked after his criticism of Chinese Ambassador’s undiplomatic statement (kh), Parliament urged to prioritize climate justice (rep), Debunking Brain-drain Debate, by Atindra Dahal (rep), Land mafias usurp Banara locals’ settlement, by Raj Karan Mahato (ae), Joint training between Nepali and US forces (kh) [????]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/09/2023: Transitional justice remains elusive despite government’s repeated pledges : The current bill shields perpetrators and needs to be amended, allege experts (kp) [Only a completely new and socially inclusive generation of politicians, free of involvement from that time, can bring the peace process to a conclusion!], JSP leaders see Gaur probe talk as tactic to rein in party : If the government reopens Gaur files, ‘Dahal will be digging his own grave,’ warns a Janata Samajbadi Party leader, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Innocent politicians don't have to worry at all! But this way they make themselves suspicious. Political threats to prevent the investigation of crimes do not fit at all into a constitutional state!], National Assembly instructs government to make crucial laws : Only 111 laws out of 151 needed to implement the federal constitution have been enacted so far, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Get your priorities right : Instead of listing his achievements, the prime minister should set his administration’s priorities right (kp), Dalit politics: Identity or rights? There is a lack of awareness among youths that the term Dalit is not the same as untouchable, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Why Nepali students can’t wait to go abroad : Lack of jobs due to political instability and growing corruption have driven thousands of youths to seek their future overseas, experts say, by Subin Adhikari (kp), Residential homes handed over to 80 poor households (kh), Dengue transmission continues unchecked in Dharan : Around 150 people were diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease on a daily basis until August third week, according to health officials , by Pradeep Menyangbo (kp) [Neglect of duty by national and provincial governments?], China, India and Nepal border dispute: Political in the time of trade supremacy, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/09/2023: Custodial deaths go on as perpetrators are left unpunished : Advocacy Forum’s 2022 report documents 39 deaths since 2018 when the new Penal Code came into force, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [see 2022 report by Advocacy Forum; see INSEC study (in Nepali)], Drunk with power : Kathmandu Mayor’s wayward acts have diluted the hopes of alternative politics from young leaders (kp), Land equity for food security : Food insecurity will continue to rise if the government fails to protect agricultural land, by Jagat Deuja (kp), Securing food for remote districts (ae), PM Dahal pledges to address concerns of conflict victims (kh) [And why do you continue to refuse to align the TRC Act with standard international human rights statutes?], Malnutrition : Prevention of malnutrition is not possible for most disadvantaged families and communities (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/09/2023: Why proposed revisions to Criminal Code have courted controversy : Critics say withdrawing cases from all tiers of court is an encroachment on the judiciary’s authority, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Govt to observe Constitution Day for three days (kh) [Why such an effort for a constitution that has not been properly implemented until today and has been repeatedly misused by the top politicians and parties to push their political interests? The social inclusion promised by all parties in 2006 is insufficiently anchored in the constitution and is completely disregarded by the parties!], Litmus Test Of Socialist Front : If the Front is confined itself in displaying only numerical muscle in the House, it is unlikely to create impact and justify its relevance in national politics., by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/09/2023: Fundamental shift in Nepal’s foreign policy imperative, by Arun Kumar Subedi (kh), People are enraged and restless: Gagan Thapa (kh), Parties discuss setting up special panel for implementing federalism : Measures suggested by several committees and studies in the past for streamlining federal administration have yet to be adopted fully, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), ‘Shattered Silence’ : Analysing Nepal’s Legal Landscape in light of recent court ruling, by Aditya Raut (rep), Geopolitical Rivalry in World Order: Lesson for Nepal, by Naren Khatiwada (rep), Virtuous State Must For Public Security, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Nepal faces dual burden of malnutrition, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/09/2023: Women need de jure, de facto rights to end discrimination (ht), Biplav-led CPN announces protest programs against MCC (kh), China urged to use Nepal’s official map : Kathmandu mayor cancels visit in protest. Government to communicate with China before making its stance public, by Anil Giri (kp), Dr Govinda KC announces fast-unto-death from Sept 15 if demands remain unmet (rep), The outcasts : Nepalis at the grassroots for whom grassroots democracy has not delivered, by Chandra Kishore (nt), Faith in tolerance : Diversity is the basis of our national unity. Freedom of religion also means respecting the faith of others, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

31/08/2023: NHRC urges govt to make public whereabouts of missing ones (kh), All religions and cultures get equal opportunity in democracy: Deuba (kh) [This then clearly means that the state of Nepal, dominated by male Khas Arya, especially Bahun, is not a democracy!], Elusive justice : A TRC Act in line with international standards will surely rope in many high-profile people (ht) [This is the reason why the non-inclusive ruling male high-caste elite wants to prevent such a law by hook or by crook!], Reimagining Nepal’s Global Role: Unveiling Unexplored Potentials, by Sishir Khanal (kh), Neighbours snub Nepal’s new map : Both India and China have refused to recognise the map that Nepal’s Parliament unanimously passed in 2020, by Anil Giri (kp), Kathmandu Mayor Balen cancels China visit over map discrepancy (kh), 40 laws needed to enforce constitution still lacking : In eight years, provincial and local governments unable to pass essential laws for lack of corresponding federal Acts, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Make it work : Rather than argue over the MCC’s ‘hidden agenda’, the focus should be on its timely implementation (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/08/2023: 17 years since peace accord, enforced disappearance victims still await justice : No progress has been made to deliver justice even as the Maosts have led the government four times since the accord, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The governing parties and also the most opposition parties are clearly against justice for the victims and their families of that time!], Justice, disappeared : Solving insurgency-era cases is not just a national urgency but also a global human rights responsibility (kp), Rights body urges govt to ensure truth, justice, and reparations for families of enforced disappearance victims (rep), Conflict victims awaiting justice for decades, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Surviving a dangerous neighbourhood : Blowing with the ill winds since 2014, the spectre of ‘neo-Hindutva’ has begun to haunt Nepal, by CK Lal (kp), Assessing Nepal’s Future Conflict Trends, by Rajendra Bahadur Singh (rep), Nepal’s declaration on MCC compact gets US nod : Some ruling party leaders and fringe parties have started speaking against the compact again, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Toxic air shaving around five years off Nepalis’ lives, report shows : Nepal is world’s third most polluted country—behind India and Bangladesh—based on satellite-derived PM2.5 data, by Arjun Poudel (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/08/2023: Lawmakers’ concerns arise over Prime Minister’s daughter’s participation in High-Level meetings (kh), Election Commission calls for speedy passage of ‘No Vote’ provision : If 51 percent of voters opt ‘No Vote’, the election becomes invalid and rejected candidates can’t run next time, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Election Commission proposes NOTA, suffrage right for Nepali citizens employed abroad, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Coalition for corruption : Power equations may change, but the unfair practices of the political syndicates perhaps won't, by Mohan Guragain (kp), BRICS+six and beyond : Admitting undemocratic countries to the group will only augment China’s strategic interests, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Residences built for province chiefs and CMs in Kathmandu against federalism: Experts, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep) [This is another proof that the thinking of politicians continues to be centrist and not federalist!], Lawmaker Dhakal urges PM Dahal to address Ganga Maya Adhikari’s demand (rep), Conflict victims to organise candle vigil (ht), Religious Harmony Key To Peace, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [Provocative acts of this kind are reprehensible, but they happen from both sides. Things that violate the values of the Khas Arya are always loudly denounced. But what about the brutal but usually unpunished crimes against Dalits, mostly perpetrated by Khas Arya? One of the biggest provocations in terms of cultural diversity and tolerance, for example, is the demand for a return to the Hindu state by radical Khas Arya. Such a demand, as put forward especially by the extremist RPP, deeply offends Janajatis, Dalits, Muslims and also women in general, i.e. probably more than half of the population! Tolerance and harmony remain a beautiful dream as long as the state and the national identity are exclusively oriented towards the values of the male Khas Arya!], Head on collision of judiciary and executive: A perennial problem in Nepal, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/08/2023: Coalition offers House panel chair to RPP eyeing support in Koshi Province : Rastriya Prajatantra Party leaders, however, reckon they deserve to lead a committee based on their own strength, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [In the supposedly federal state of Nepal, all strings continue to be pulled by the national level!], Good riddance : Supreme Court order on pork barrel funds is a major step towards curbing corruption (kp), Missions impossible : Nepali politics is so volatile that it is hard to predict what will happen in six months, much less four years, by Biswas Baral (kp), Nepal entangling in complex web of India-China-US trilateral conflict: Dr. Bhattarai (kh), Post goes viral with misleading claim it shows rally in Dharan (kh), President Poudel appoints ambassadors to France, UAE and Kuwait (rep) [Thank God, all male Khas Arya. After all, social non-inclusion must be preserved!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/08/2023: Lalita Niwas land grab: Case filed against fraudulence, organized crime charges dismissed (kh), What does the MCC Nepal compact’s imminent entry into force entail? Political challenges are less pronounced but issues of land acquisition and right of way may still create hurdles, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Dharan peaceful amid fear of ethnic, religious violence : Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and National Human Rights Commission appeal for communal harmony, by Pradeep Menyangbo (kp), Lawmakers file candidacy for leadership of 10 parliamentary committees (With names) (kh) [These proposals reflect not only nepotism, but above all insufficient social inclusion among MPs!], Nominations of 11 people registered for chairmanship of 10 committees under HoR (rep), Federalizing Education and Mitigating Political Influence in Nepali Academia, by Alok K Bohara (rep) [!!!], Melamchi Project: A Spectacle of Nepal's Flawed Development Model (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/05/2023: Government’s cybersecurity policy criticised for National Internet Gateway plan : Experts are concerned that it may curtail the right to privacy and freedom of expression in Nepal, by Anup Ojha (kp), Former Maoists in UML are a frustrated lot : Many of them have gradually faded into the background, and say they are in a wait-and-see mode, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Given the character of the authoritarian party leader, this was to be expected.], Public Power Vital For Democratic Realm, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), SC order on pork barrel fund irks NC, UML, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [This shows where corrupt thinking and acting is at home!], Democracy, Capitalism, and the Path to Social Equilibrium : Who are the beneficiaries of this new-founded political system in the small Himalayan nation?, by Amrit Poudel (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/08/2023: Court rules new Koshi Cabinet also unconstitutional : In its interim ruling, Supreme Court orders provincial government not to make important decisions, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Bundling of many legal amendments in a single bill raises question of intent : Governments with hidden motives do so to evade close scrutiny by lawmakers, says National Assembly member, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [!!], MPs criticise court order on constituency development fund : Constitutional experts, however, disagree with the lawmakers’ criticism, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), All what I did is lawful: Oli defends his past moves (rep) [The opposite is true! KP Oli's political actions are paved with lies and violations of the law, as the SC has also repeatedly attested. His current statement is open contempt of court!], A case against high level gold smuggling probe panel : Historically, reports presented by such probe panels have been hidden from the public eye, and their recommendations conspicuously unheeded, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Nepal Eligible To Be OGP Member, by Mahendra Man Gurung (rn) [Transparency, accountability and participation are still not realised for large parts of Nepali society!], DPM Khadka calls for caution against those disturbing social harmony (kh) [Social harmony is endangered by all those who deny the multi-ethnicity, multi-religion and diversity of cultures of the country, who refuse proper inclusion of all sections of society and who identify the country exclusively with Hinduism and the language and culture of the (male) Khas Arya!], LeT-linked Nepali Islamic Organization Expanding Madrassas in Nepal (kh) [??]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/08/2023: Girls’ ratio to boys markedly low in big cities and districts bordering India : Widening gap between their numbers could create gender imbalance in long run, by Arjun Poudel (kp), No Law, No Justice, No government for conflict victims, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Conflict victims urge parliament to revise Transitional Justice Bill (rep), Seven NC leaders voice concerns over transfer of police officers spearheading investigation (kh), Court blocks pork barrel fund both in centre and provinces : Interim order questions if lawmakers doing the work of the executive would undermine separation of powers principle, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), SC issues interim order to Koshi govt not to take decisions of long-term importance (kh), US lawmakers, MCC vice-president coming to Nepal next week : Congressional delegation’s visit unrelated to MCC compact’s entry into force, officials say, by Anil Giri (kp) [Unabated attempts of political influence?!], Is Nepal the winner of globalization?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), ‘There is possibility of unification between Bibeksheel Sajha party and RSP’ (rep), Recall Exercise Should Involve Voters, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/08/2023: Rights defenders stress amendment of TJ Bill (ht), Ex-ministers among 238 on CIB list for land scam prosecution : Ex-prime ministers Nepal and Bhattarai spared in police report on Lalita Niwas probe submitted to district attorney, by Prithvi Man Shrestha and Anup Ojha (kp) [It is a big step that politicians of the second level are prosecuted for their potential crimes, but those of the top level continue to enjoy the protection of those currently in power, who only change within the circle of the top level anyway. Otherwise, it could be that the top brass of politicians will soon disappear from the scene altogether!], Mere formality? A fair probe demands that everyone involved in the Lalita Niwas scam be investigated impartially (ht), CIB recommends legal action against 238 individuals, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Rubber stamp parliament : Major parties continue culture of obstructing parliamentary proceedings, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), House resumption delayed as UML unhappy with gold probe conditions : UML leader Nembang says a deal is expected today after Dahal and Oli resolve differences, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Parties agree to form probe commission to investigate gold smuggling cases (rep), Political parties agree to resolve Parliament impasse (kh) [The blocking of legislative processes to enforce political interests is a serious crime and should have legal consequences if Nepal is not to degenerate into a banana republic!], HoR meeting resumes as UML lifts obstruction after 28 days (rep), Unbundling federalism : Higher levels of government are undermining the constitutional roles of the lower levels, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), SC issues interim order halting for Constituency Infrastructure Development Fund (kh) [Another issue of political corruption finally stopped!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English: morning, evening) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/08/2023: Degrees of Dalitness : It is a fallacy to think that the Dalits are the only community facing caste discrimination, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Rule for the commoners, relief for the leaders: Height of discrimination, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht) [In reality, the constitution was drafted by the top politicians of the major parties, i.e. by those people who constantly disregard it to this day!], Govt to form High-Level Committee to investigate gold smuggling (kh), Anti-Corruption Drive Will It Reach Logical End?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), UML to refrain from attending President Paudel’s all-party meeting (kh) [The anti-democrat Oli obviously prefers to continue his undemocratic activities!], I have no intention to engage in political activism: President Paudel (kh), Strongest hint yet two ex-PMs will be spared in land scam : Instead of grilling as suspects, CIB recorded statements of Nepal and Bhattarai as government witnesses, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Koshi Chief Minister Thapa passes floor test using questionable means : Whether someone who chairs the assembly can vote has surfaced as a point of contention between political parties, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Hitting a new low : The government formation process in Koshi province showed the ugliest side of national politics (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/08/2023: Caste system and religious conversion in Nepal, by Sushant Nepali (rep), Soft state syndrome: Precursor to state failure, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Criminal intent : The decision to transfer top cops probing corruption scams is aimed at protecting corrupt leaders (kp) [Whoever orders such transfers in the current stuation should also be convicted of political corruption!], Corruption blamed for plunge in foreign investments in Nepal : Capital inflow fell by 67.88 percent to Rs5.96 billion in the past fiscal year, according to Nepal Rastra Bank, by Krishana Prasain (kp), No progress in ending obstruction of Parliament : Ruling coalition and the opposition UML have yet to sit for talks. Main opposition adamant on its demand for high-level inquiry into gold smuggling, by Anil Giri (kp), Street vendors up in arms against KMC’s indifference : Officials say they have selected three places for vendors to run their businesses, but would reveal them only after an agreement with residents, by Anup Ojha (kp), Our democracy will function only if communists are democratised : Daman Nath Dhungana, speaker of the first Parliament elected after the 1990 political change, on latest parliamentary obstructions and the failure of the political parties to act responsibly to make Nepal’s legislative process functional, interview with Daman Nath Dhungana (kp) [This is correct, but it is not only the communist parties that lack democratic structures and attitudes!], CAAN’s anti-press freedom move draws criticisms : There is a constitutional and legal provision enabling responses to media reports. If such responses are not published, individuals can lodge complaints with the Press Council Nepal, by Pratik Ghimire (ae), CAAN should come clean (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/08/2023: Transfer of top cops probing refugee scam rings alarm bells : Prime minister presented proposal and passed it despite DPM Shrestha’s objections, home ministry official says, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is what the so-called top politicians mean by ruthlessly clearing up corruption!], Strengthening Nepali think tanks : They have been limited by governance, incentive and efficiency-related issues, by Sushav Niraula (kp), The impending NHRC downgrade : What to make of the imminent slide and how to bring the National Human Rights Commission back from the brink (kp) [Thank you KP Oli, you really are the greatest!], NC General Secretary Thapa objects to exclusion of statements in Lalita Niwas Case (kh), HOR meeting adjourned till August 22 (kh) [The destruction of democratic structures and values is a top priority for KP Oli!], Nembang justifies House obstruction : 'Not allowed but it's necessary to get government to meet demands' (ht) [What a poor testimony for a supposedly leading jurist of Nepal  and a blindly rabid follower of Oli!], Chief whips’ meeting fails to forge consensus, parliamentary deadlock continues (rep), Parties appear keen to attract youths to politics but can they? The emergence of new political forces and the declining popularity of the traditional parties among youths have triggered such a move, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [At least the youth is fed up with the current "top politicians"!], Political question, Your Honour! Many constitutional disputes presented before the Supreme Court show political and legal character, by Semanta Dahal (kp), The Elephant in the Room, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Lame Defense Of House Dissolution, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/08/2023: Legality of transitional justice bodies comes under question : Parliament was not informed about July 4 decision to extend the bodies’ tenure within 30 days, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Holes in government’s anti-corruption drive : Prime minister and Maoist leaders say pressure coming from fellow leaders and coalition, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Govt cannot ignore issues raised in parliament: UML Chief Whip Bartaula (kh) [This is correct! But why did KP Oli repeatedly disregard the opinion of parliament in 2020/21, for example in the vote of no confidence against him? Twice he tried to muzzle the parliament in an unconstitutional way then, just as he is not letting the parliament do its job at all now! In any case, he who sits in a glass house should not throw stones!], Reformist Politics Faces Multiple Crises, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/08/2023: Two inmates tortured to death: Probe report, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Victims of Doramba incident still deprived of justice (ht), Court rules pardon in criminal cases under political cover illegal : The ruling would be considered while passing verdicts in petitions challenging presidential pardons, say experts, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Granting amnesty to those guilty in criminal cases unconstitutional: SC, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), Unlawful pardon : The full text of the top court on the Tikapur carnage says Resham's pardon was unlawful (ht), Ex-PM warns of fresh conflict if courts handle conflict-era cases : Baburam Bhattarai said only transitional bodies should resolve insurgency-related issues (kp) [Crimes from the time of the insurgency must be judged by courts and not by political commissions appointed by politicians who have proven for 17 years that they have no interest at all in justice for the victims!], Anti-corruption drive rattles political parties, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Not playing their part : There is a lack of effort in clearing the now three-week-long House obstruction (kp), Nepalis in the Russian Army want to quit : They call home from the battlefront to say they were not trained, and have not got the salaries promised, by Bhadra Sharma (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/08/2023: TRC and CIEDP remain without office-bearers for a year, by Bhasa Sharma (rep) [This reflects the political will of the rulers in Nepal!], Full text of SC verdict damns Resham Chaudhary, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), SC questions President’s amnesty for Resham Chaudhary in Tikapur incident (kh), Violence against women in politics : By breaking down barriers and fostering an enabling environment, women can take their rightful place as catalysts for change in various fields, including in politics and decision-making, by Kabita Pandey (ae), Former President : Bhandari’s “activism” sparks a wave of discussions (kh), Maoist Centre seeks suggestions from experts to help improve country’s economic situation (kh), Government eyes on internet monitoring : On path to becoming a surveillance state, by Santosh Sigdel (ae), Government’s cybersecurity policy raises privacy and implementation concerns : National Cyber Security Policy has some features that will potentially harm internet ecosystem and digital rights, by Anup Ojha (kp), No progress in ending obstruction of Parliament : Ruling coalition and the opposition UML have yet to sit for talks. Main opposition adamant on its demand for high-level inquiry into gold smuggling, by Anil Giri (kp) [Anyone who prevents the elected representatives of the people from fulfilling their duties in order to enforce political demands is not a democrat! Such an offense should have legal consequences!], Opposition’s absurdity : If the government is hamstrung on one pretext or another, people’s faith in the system starts eroding, by Lok Raj Baral (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/08/2023: How much corruption is too much? Corruption at the highest echelons of government is nothing new in Nepal, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Chinese army team arriving in Kathmandu (kh), Deuba sparks debate as he suggests lifting gold import limits : Congress chief and ex-prime minister says smuggling can be controlled by allowing more gold to come in legally, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [???], Nepal’s Diplomatic Acumen On Test, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn),  Curb inflation, uphold the Charter : The governments’ failure to guarantee fundamental rights by curbing inflation and by providing jobs can make way for anarchy, by Jivesh Jha (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/08/2023: Marginalised communities struggling to obtain citizenship cards : The ward offices refuse to provide recommendation resulting in minorities being deprived of rights, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), Parliamentarism in the swamps : A handful of top leaders of major parties decide every national issue in closed-door meetings, by Achyut Wagle (kp) [This is what the so-called political leaders mean by democracy!], Towards open governance and civic participation : There is a long way to go for Nepal to build integrity in state institutions and eradicate corruption, by Narayan Adhikari and Blair Glencorse (kp), Illegal abortions continue killing women : Nepal legalised abortion in 2002. Every year about 100,000 women undergo the procedure at government-authorised clinics, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Golden defiance: Mahara stays unbowed amid alleged gold smuggling link, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Coalition partners drop Gaur massacre probe plan to avoid antagonising Upendra Yadav : They refuse the main opposition’s demand to form a high-level probe panel to investigate the gold haul and decide to make the ongoing investigation of CIB more effective, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Crimes that do not suit political interests are not investigated, no matter if the SC demands it and the PM has loudly proclaimed it. What does PK Dahal care about his yesterday's chatter?], Congress and UML still far apart on high-level gold probe : Coalition tasks CIB, but UML insists on setting up elite panel, by Anil Giri (kp) [The decision on this investigation must not be in the hands of politicians and parties who may be involved in the crime or want to gain their personal advantages from it!], Madhesh struggles with rising cases of missing children : Lack of study and authorities’ inaction hamper efforts to tackle the problem. Number of missing female children is higher than males, rescue group says, by Shiva Puri (kp), Janamat begins its ‘right to recall’ practice : +Voting to determine the performance of the elected representatives starts from 22 different polling stations. The practice, however, is not recognised by Nepal’s laws, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/08/2023:  Janamat Party joins government, Anita Devi sworn in (kh), Congress dissidents join UML to demand high-level gold probe : Some experts, however, fear if such a panel doesn’t have honest professionals, police investigation could be derailed, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Congress MPs criticise government for Sharma’s arrest, Lama’s appointment : Nepali Congress lawmakers convened in the Capital for their parliamentary party meeting on Sunday (kp), Forget 2022: Parties hope to do well in 2027 : Janamat Party is buoyed by its performance in the last polls while two other old regional forces are too enmeshed in power politics to focus on the next elections, analysts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [For this to happen, the entire failed generation of so-called "political leaders" would have to take a united leave from politics. They are anti-democratic, socially non-inclusive, constantly abuse the constitution and laws to protect their personal power interests, and some of them are suspiciously close to crime and corruption!], UML persists in blocking House Proceedings: HoR meeting deferred until September 20 (kh) [Whether the demands are justified or not, parliamentary democracy is not for the politicians and parties, but for the people. Those who refuse to represent the people in parliament, for which he or she was elected, do not deserve to be MPs any longer!], Stop Making House Hostage Of Indecision, by Ballav Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/08/2023: National Human Rights Commission seeks political support to retain its ‘A’ status : Only the country whose human rights commission has the coveted grade can express its views in deliberations at the United Nations Human Rights Council and take part in voting on any of its decisions (kp), Rage against Pokhara Mayor after King Prithvi’s image removed : Pokhara Metropolitan City is said to have removed the image Saturday midnight amid opposition from other leaders (nlt) [Nepal must finally learn to accept its history. The monarchy now belongs to the past, but it is a historical fact, as is the importance of the ethnic past (see Province 1) and the continuing oppression and exclusion of Dalits, Janajatis, Madheshis, Muslims and women in general. The statue of Prithvi Narayan should remind us of his importance for the unification of Nepal, but also of his inglorious responsibility for the social discriminations in Nepal today!], 100 kg gold enters Nepal illegally every day: KP Oli (kh) [Three tonnes of illegally imported gold every month? Only an insider can know that! KP Oli should be legally questioned immediately! If his claim is a lie once more, he is also liable to prosecution!], Dahal preparing to recall a Maoist minister to bring Janamat Party back to the Cabinet : The prime minister is discussing with some of his party ministers to vacate a seat for Anita Devi Sah, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Maoist Center decides to recall Minister Modi to vacate seat for Janamat party (kh), Why a hue and cry over Education Bill? Proposed rules aside, politicians are unlikely to go against interests of private schools that fund them, say experts, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Farms turn into housing as irrigation is delayed : It may take another 10 years before the schemes in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur are ready, experts say, by Rupa Gahatraj, Kamal Panthi, Chitrang Thapa and Bhawani Bhatta (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/08/2023: Debunking Foreign Policy Fallacies, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Reshaping Nepal's Economic Landscape, by Arun Dahal Khatri (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/08/2023: Nepal and International Humanitarian Law : The government should identify legal and operational gaps and address them on time, by Krishna Chandra Chalisey (kp), The Question of Legacy : What Will Nepal's Current Leaders Leave for the New Generation?, by Nabraj Lama (rep) [Hopefully the realisation that they need to do everything differently/better!], President Paudel’s concerns shine light on national issues (kh), As Maoists discuss leadership change, some espy chance : Pun, Sharma hope to succeed Dahal. Another claimant is Shrestha. Chand could make an entry as Dahal’s favourite, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Beyond Balen and Rabi : Can the political messiahs lead their disillusioned flock to the promised land?, by Bishal Thapa (kp), NC lawmakers criticize govt for displaying a biased attitude (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/08/2023: Dalit students at a disadvantage in under-resourced community schools : Most villages in Kaski are emptying out due to outmigration with only impoverished Dalits left behind. With no other option, their children go to schools riddled with problems, by Deepak Pariyar (kp), A rethink on women’s representation : The fundamental goal of representation of women in politics is that “women bring to politics a different set of values, experiences and expertise”, by Pradikshya KC (ae), Nepal non-committal to UN on revising transitional justice amendment bill : Four United Nations special rapporteurs had sought clarification from the government on five issues, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Deal with kin of Gaur victims puts coalition at risk : 27 Maoists died in a clash with cadres of Upendra Yadav’s Madheshi Janadhikar Forum in March 2007 in Rautahat, by Anil Giri (kp), UML’s disruptive ways : The party seems to consider House disturbance the only effective way to communicate its message (kp) [This action is based on KP Oli's anti-democratic philosophy of power, similar to the parliamentary dissolutions of 2020/21 and the refusal to accept his ouster then!!], NC lawmaker MP Sunil Sharma arrested from Golfutar (kh), Concerns grow at home as Nepali nationals join foreign armed forces without govt permission (rep), Vital Clues For Rastriya Swatantra Party, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Major parties head to grassroots, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/08/2023: Joint movement of indigenous nationalities essential to safeguard achievements, say activists : Recent struggle indicates that indigenous nationalities are dissatisfied and angry but they also have no collective way to channel their frustration. Activists say the movement against the ‘Koshi’ name could inspire more groups, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Janamat Party expresses solidarity with the demands of indigenous groups (rep), Ruckus in a riven House, by Devendra Gautam (ae), UML continues to obstruct House over gold smuggling : Main opposition says it suspects involvement of prime minister and home minister, and CIB won’t grill them, by Binod Ghimire (kp), UML continues obstruction of Lower House (ht), CPN-UML likely to disrupt today’s HoR meeting as well (kh), HoR meeting adjourned due to UML’s obstruction (kh), House obstruction : Frequent obstruction of the House defeats the very purpose of the legislature (ht), Upper House meeting: Lawmakers against making parliament hostage of indecision (rep) [KP Oli's misuse of parliament is a fundamental crime, which I hope voters will remember at the next general election! Why vote for a party that prevents the work of parliament?], Lalita Niwas land grab scam : Master plan for PM's residence expansion was made during PM Dahal’s tenure, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Vulnerable youths, vulnerable nation : The youth's desire to join foreign forces emanates from the Nepali state's failure to provide ample jobs to its growing young population (Part I), by Binoj Basnyat (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/08/2023: Lessons from Manipur : The Nepal government too is notorious for ignoring ethnic, caste and communal grievances, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Many benefits, some risks in latest verdict of Supreme Court : There is a tradition of taking controversial proposals to the Cabinet so that the CIAA would not investigate them, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Political parties struggle to curb cadres’ social media activity : Attempts to discourage open discussions won’t help democracy, in view of experts, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Too early or too late? Political parties have embarked on election campaigns. People won’t be easily fooled (kp), A tale of two CC meetings: Striking similarities and dissimilarities, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Home ministry signs five-point pact with Gaur Massacre Victims' Struggle Committee (rep), EPG Report Shelved Indefinitely, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/08/2023: Incompetent lawmakers: Wasting valuable time of the nation, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), The Gaur injustice : Pushpa Kamal Dahal and co exemplify real or imaginary revolutionaries becoming co-opted by the state (kp), Top leaders fail to reach an agreement on ending Parliament obstruction (kh) [For these so-called top politicians, parliament is an unwelcome institution that they are only too happy to abuse for their power struggles!], 7 months since first House meeting, mini parliaments still headless : Of the 16 committees, 12 are without chairpersons (kp), Court clears way for probing ex-PMs in Lalita Niwas scam : Landmark verdict allows police to investigate former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Probe top layer of pyramid, SC tells investigators, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Lalita Niwas land grab: District court issues arrest warrant against four former ministers : The court order paves the way for Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to arrest these former ministers and speed up the investigation process (nlt), Arrest warrant issued against four former ministers including NC leader Gachchhadar, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Anticipating a close contest, political parties already preparing for 2027 polls : Traditional parties saw a drop in their vote share in recent polls, raising concerns and warranting course correction, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [?? Elections without fundamental reforms aimed at real social inclusion and the exclusion of failed over-aged male Khas Arya politicians make no sense!], Controversial former lawmaker Lharkyal Lama appointed vice-chairman of Lumbini Development Fund : The Maoist Centre leader had earlier been charged with several crimes, including possession of illegal firearms, accumulating disproportionate property, and possession of dual citizenship and passport (kp) [The proximity of political parties to crime continues unabated!], Govt provided around Rs 27.5 million in financial aid in two months : Misuse of government’ funds in the name of financial aid, by Tapendra Karki (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/08/2023: Miffed by New Delhi’s constant demurral, stakeholders in Kathmandu press for making EPG report public, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), Dahal shows double standards in Gaur massacre probe : On March 21, 2007, as many as 27 Maoist party workers were brutally killed, with 115 more injured in the incident, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Let them eat rice : Nepal does not grow enough rice to feed its population, and without imports from India, the shortfall will be acute. Nepal used to sell rice. Now it can’t do without buying it, by Sangam Prasain (kp), SC directs investigation of former Prime Ministers in Lalita Niwas Land Grab Case (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/08/2023: Conflict victims and rights activists are sceptical about government’s intentions : Stakeholders stage sit-in as parliamentary panel works to finalise a disputed bill on transitional justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp), PM Dahal initiates negotiations with Gaur Massacre Victims’ families (kh) [They need justice and not the unjust pardon of convicted offenders for purely political reasons!], Calls grow louder for making EPG report public, one way or the other : Nepal members of the panel and former foreign ministers even advise taking the suggestions to Parliament (kp), Holding Multinational Companies Accountable, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/08/2023: Internal democracy: Anti-dote to tyranny (ae), Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha nominated for chief justice : Shrestha will have 14 months to lead the judiciary before he retires, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Calls grow at Maoist central committee meeting to book its corrupt leaders : Party’s downfall was inevitable due to the disconnect between its ideology and actions, says Lekhnath Neupane, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Parliamentary Hearing Committee endorses names of six ambassadorial nominees : The President will now appoint the diplomats to their positions in the designated countries (kp) [Nothing against the nominees personally, but what about the lack of social inclusion?], Growing aversion towards federalism in Nepal, by Ganesh Mandal (rep) [Federalism could be good in view of the social and cultural diversity as well as the regionally very different levels of development and social participation. But most top politicians and their parties have so far prevented or abused the federal approaches.], Politicians and land mafia join hands to encroach Pokhara lakes : Despite court orders to conserve the natural water bodies in the lake city, the government remains indifferent, turning a blind eye as political elites and individuals persistently seize public land to erect concrete structures, by Smita Adhikari (ae), Conflict victims urge govt’s attention on Transitional Justice Laws (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/08/2023: Democracy as arithmetic : From the centre to the provinces, political parties have turned democracy into a mindless race for power (kp) [There is nothing to add to this shocking analysis.], Gaur massacre victims threaten to stage protest in Kathmandu (rep), Congress top leaders against prosecution in ‘non-cruel’ murder : Party takes a stance against demands of conflict victims that there must be no amnesty for serious rights violations, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Sher Bahadur Deuba and his NC are strictly against justice for victims! Every murder is cruel, both for those directly involved as well as for their families and friends! Human rights defenders are stunned!], Maoists seek probe into leaders’ assets : Prime Minster Dahal smug about government’s achievements, vows to continue anti-corruption drive. Leaders accused of nepotism in hiring personal secretaries. Maoist Centre abruptly cancels livestream plan for its Central Committee meeting, by Anil Giri (kp), Constitutional Council meeting recommends Shrestha as new Chief Justice (rep),  Politicians and land mafia join hands to encroach Pokhara lakes : Despite court orders to conserve the natural water bodies in the lake city, the government remains indifferent, turning a blind eye as political elites and individuals persistently seize public land to erect concrete structures, by Smita Adhikari (ae), It’s time to talk about electoral reforms, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/08/2023: BRI shatters Nepal’s hope to graduate from LDC status, by Shriman Narayan (kh), Maoist Center set to expand Central Committee, embracing inclusivity (kh) [Social inclusion must take place to the same extent at all levels of the party. Otherwise, one cannot speak of such inclusion. Especially at the upper levels of the party, as with all parties, the proportion of male khas aryas is overwhelming. For example, at the top party level, there should be at most one male Bahun. The CPN (MC) is still worlds away from this!], Panel to question minister on lack of inclusiveness in envoy nominations : Parliamentary hearing committee is set to meet today, by Anil Giri (kp), Inclusive approach embraced in all appointments, including ambassadorial posts: Foreign Minister (rep) [Brazen lies against all facts! If the Minister's count is correct, 8 ambassadors alone are from among the Khas Arya he did not name. Now 6 more male Khas Arya are to be added. How stupid does this man think the people of Nepal are?], Constitutional Council strays off the agenda, fails to nominate chief justice : Members discussed package deal on constitutional body vacancies, deputy Speaker says, by Binod Ghimire (kp), CC must act fast : The entire Judiciary is being weakened to serve the vested interest of the executive (ht), Contractors hit streets seeking payments : Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal says government owes them Rs50 billion in dues from last fiscal year, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Mayor's Ultimatum Belief: Defiant or Questionable Approach to Governance?, by Khusbu Oli (rep), Govt attempts to curtail citizens' right to privacy under the guise of crime control (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/08/2023: Parties agree to ensure smooth operation of parliament (kh), HoR Meeting postponed until August 7 (kh) [But KP Oli continues his antidemocratic procedure!], Maoists, UML engage in tug of war on forming panel to probe gold haul : While the UML demands a high-level panel to investigate the gold smuggling case, the government says that could affect the ongoing probe, by Tika R Pradhan  (kp), Constitutional Council meeting adjourns without Chief Justice recommendation (kh), Appoint CJ pronto: NHRC (ht), Fear of food crisis as multiple problems hit paddy production : Lumpy skin, low monsoon rainfall and slow transplantation have raised possibility of a reduced harvest, experts say, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Most of Tarai is reeling under unusual mid-monsoon drought : Experts say the reactive approach of the authorities does not help in mitigating the risks of loss and damage, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Rice for thought : Coming months will be challenging for farmers, consumers and national economy as a whole (kp), Nepali youth joining Russian Army raises concerns; Foreign Ministry clarifies stand (kp), Message of the CC meeting of NC: Heading for a disaster in the next election, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Will this ruling coalition last?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [It would be the first time in democratic Nepal. Oli, Dahal and Deuba are a sure guarantee that this will not happen!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

31/07/2023: Constitutional Council meeting taking place tomorrow : Meeting expected to recommend next Chief Justice (kh), Prime minister calls Constitutional Council meeting after talks with Oli : There was no deal yet on ending the House disruption, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The legislature in Nepal is primarily abused by the top politicians for their power games!], Koshi govt formation: PM Dahal considers Speaker’s resignation as last resort (kh) [Political decisions in the provinces remain firmly in the hands of the central party leaders. This is called federalism in Nepal!], Have wings, won’t fly : Sister wings of political parties became recruitment centres for cadres than bodies for collective bargaining (kp), State of impunity wrecking our university system : There is a criminal gang that benefits by extorting the university. They work for the mafia in education, interview with Prem Chalaune, assistant professor at the Department of Sociology of Tribhuvan University (kp) [Once again political parties have their fingers in the pie and cover up crime!],
Supreme Court issues short-term interim order not to levy VAT on air tickets : The apex court has summoned both parties for discussion and has also asked the government to furnish a written clarification (kp), High Court orders EC not to implement decision to fine candidate Rs 15,000 (kh), Irregularities in 'free visa, free ticket' provisions : NHRC report suggests that human trafficking in the guise of foreign employment is rampant (ht), US annual reports tell a lot about America’s view of Nepal, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), A new US report questions investment climate in Nepal (ae), US points to corruption and political uncertainty as major obstacles to foreign investment in Nepal : Acknowledging that Nepal has ample investment opportunities, the 2023 Investment Climate Statements on Nepal released by the US Department of State mention several flaws plaguing investment climate (nlt) [see US report]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/07/2023: Ruling coalition exploring possibilities to form govt in Koshi Province (kh) [In a federal state, the coalition form of the central level does not necessarily have to be transferred to the provincial level. In any case, the decision lies primarily with the provincial politicians! Otherwise, the federal state makes no sense!], Top leaders agree to convene Constitutional Council meeting (kh) [The convening of the Constitutional Council should be automated and not left to authoritarian decisions by top politicians!], Nepali Congress leaders’ call for review of proportional election system creates buzz : Provision misused since its introduction as leaders handpick candidates close to them, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The problem is the undemocratic and unconstitutional behaviour of the top politicians of all parties in nominating candidates for both the FPTP and PR systems. Here, a change in the law on political parties is urgently needed. Only the representative electoral system reflects the strength of a party. The direct election system in its present form is misused solely to ensure the dominance of the Khas Arya minority males.  The promised socially inclusive state would be finally discarded.]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/07/2023: NC abides by SC verdict on Koshi Province: Prakash Man Singh (kh) [Rulings of the Supreme Court are binding law for everyone! This statement is therefore completely superfluous!], Anyone involved in corruption regardless of their family or party affiliation won't be spared: DPM Shrestha (rep) [Unfortunately, real politics continues to look completely different!], Activists stage peaceful protest against KMC’s way of managing street vendors (Photo Feature) (rep), Nepal’s nurse flight : If nurse salaries and work conditions do not improve, we will have to ask why nurses stay, rather than why they leave (nt), Why are the property details of the prime minister and ministers kept secret? (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/07/2023: Caste-based discrimination persists despite being outlawed in Nepali society : Dalit activists say lax legal provisions pose a significant challenge to swift justice delivery for cases of discrimination, by Rupa Gahatraj (kp), Supreme Court unseats Koshi Chief Minister Thapa : A three-judge bench, however, refuses to reinstate UML parliamentary party leader Karki as the chief minister, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The SC feels compelled to take such decisions because the executive anf the political parties constantly flout law and order. The decisions on KP Oli and U. Thapa are just outstanding examples among many!], Courts thwart Cabinet bid to protect assailants : TU teacher Prem Chalaune was brutally attacked by Congress-affiliated students three years ago and the case is still sub judice, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Victims of neglect : The government must first recognise the declining mental health of its citizens as a healthcare crisis (kp), Climate change adds to children’s woes : Climate-induced disasters hinder their access to health, education, nutrition and protection, by Richa Gurung (kp), Delays of Nepal-bound freight trains worry traders : Indian Railways now takes 25 days to transport containers from Visakhapatnam to Birgunj, compared to four to five days previously, by Shankar Acharya (kp), The Golden Triangle, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Melamchi Flood Victims : Waiting For Help Even After 2 Years, by Indira Aryal (rn), Stop Relying On Donors For Development, by Umesh Puri (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/07/2023: SC orders start of another govt formation process in Koshi Province (rep), Supreme Court orders formation of new government in Koshi within seven days : A full bench of the court deemed the government led by Uddhav Thapa unconstitutional as the Speaker had supported the government formation (nlt), Experts raise concerns over rapid spread of BJP-led Hindutva politics in Nepal (rep), Rising Intolerance against Dalits in Nepal, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Musahar children deprived of education for lack of birth certificates, by Shambhu Yadav (ae), Marrying an underage girl is child marriage, not kidnapping and hostage-taking: Supreme Court, by Bhasa Sharma (rep), Financing corruption : Costly electoral campaigns contribute to corruption, as winners make every effort to recover expenses (kp) [All this covered and tolerated by the oh so anti-corruption minded party leaders!], Lower house heats up over gold scam : House of Representatives meeting has been postponed till July 31 following the CPN-UML’s obstructions, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Upper Dolpa residents struggle to make ends meet as Tibet border remains shut : Locals of Dolpobuddha, Sheyphoksundo, and Chharkatangsong pay a hefty price for goods transported on mules, by Tripti Shahi (kp) [China is really proving to be a good and benevolent friend to the Nepali people!], Monitoring monetary policy : Taming inflation will require a coordinated approach between monetary and fiscal policies, by Nischal Dhungel (kp), Delay in investigation of Maoist cantonment scam raises concerns (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/07/2023: Political indecision results in severe shortage of judges : Supreme Court set to be without nearly a third of justices. Fifty judges’ positions are vacant in seven high courts, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [With such a competent and stable government, the judiciary is completely superfluous!], Much talk, little action : Most points in the Inter-Provincial Council decisions have not been implemented, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp) [Nepal's top politicians neither understand nor even want federalism!], Amending the TRC Act : The Truth & Reconciliation Act and the Amendment Bill fare better compared to other jurisdictions, by Bipin Adhikari (kp), Why are parties failing Nepal? Nepal is dealing with a number of social and economic issues that may affect its growth and people’s well-being, by DB Sunar (ae), Advocacy Forum urges justice for Nirmala Pant (kh), Nirmala murder case remains a mystery even after five years, by Dil Bahadur Chhatyal and Puspalal Joshi (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/07/2023: Is Nepal a failed state? The country has not been able to create minimum economic opportunities for its bulging youth population, by Chandra Dev Bhatta (kp), Caste killing progress : Nepali Sarkis could have created luxury leather goods and become another Louis Vuitton, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Missing heads : The thematic committees can take up specific issues, conduct studies and offer solutions (kp), Import ban nearly suffocated Nepali economy, experts say : Revenue plunged sharply and government was forced to downsize the budget in mid-term review for lack of cash, by Sangam Prasain and Krishana Prasain (kp), Prime Minister Dahal denies using children during Maoist insurgency : He was responding to a Supreme Court order seeking clarification in connection with a writ petition, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Thapa and Sharma face backlash at CWC meeting, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/07/2023: Agreement on smooth lawmaking falls through before it takes effect : National Assembly vice-chair disowns the deal citing that the agreement had been tweaked without notice, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Revising electoral system : A change in the country’s electoral system cannot be decided in closed-door meetings of political parties (kp), Leaving No One Behind: The Path to Disability Inclusive Development, by Jalasa Sapkota (rep), Controversial businessman Deepak Malhotra’s company has access to CCTV cameras at TIA!, by Tapendra Karki (rep), Objectionable questions and options in book results in public outrage (photo feature) (rep), Of garbage and gold: Government has hard time managing both, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/07/2023: A university professor was brutally attacked by student union members. Political parties made all-out efforts to deny him justice, by Abhyudaya Upreti (nlt) [Nepal's politicians stand for the perpetuation of the unjust state!], Behind the prolonged absence of heads of House committees : The committees are tasked with holding particular government agencies to account but for a lack of leadership, they have been ineffective, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Belt, road and roundabout : China’s statement that Pokhara airport is under the BRI has legitimate justifications, by Semanta Dahal (kp), Needed: A prudent monetary policy. But it will not be able to singlehandedly address the deep-rooted structural problem of the economy, by Nishant Khanal (kp), High level CPC delegation visiting Nepal (rep), Supreme Court rules commuting Koirala's sentence was wrong, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Speakers, deputy-speakers stand united against undue interference of the central government in parliamentary affairs (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/07/2023: Shifting Roles Of Civil Society, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn) Gold smuggling via international airport hints at big collusion : The Department of Revenue Investigation has started its own probe but police have yet to join the effort, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Tribhuvan int’l gold port :  The latest bust shows Nepal remains a transit state for trans-national gold smuggling (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/07/2023: NHRC opposes govt bill offering amnesty to culprits of criminal offenses (kh), Combating money laundering in Nepal, by Anil Karki (rep), Empower Marginalised Communities, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Inconvenient truths : Instead of making things easy for its citizens, the Nepali state excels at putting up obstacles every step of the way (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/07/2023: Nepal is still unfriendly to its queer citizens : Queerphobia is not visible because queerness is not a topic of consideration, let alone conversation, by Birat Bijay Ojha (kp), Civic Competence Fortifies Democracy, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/07/2023: Queer Rights in Nepal, by Durga Prasad Khanal (rep), Ensuring Justice To Usury Victims, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Nepal’s Relative Geopolitical Strength, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Restructuring the security sector : Wagle must be thanked for touching the tail of the tiger despite the attendant risks, by CK Lal (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/07/2023: Under JSP pressure, usury bill tweaked to heed lenders’ issues : Bill is still strong despite changes, says inquiry panel chair, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Locals in Nuwakot and Dhading stop garbage trucks over ‘broken promises’ : KMC says it has done its bit, accuses federal government of indifference. Supreme Court orders swift disposal, by Anup Ojha (kp), Narrow Indian lens : India wants to ensure there is no Chinese involvement, however tangential, in hydropower projects (kp) [Is Nepal allowed to make its own decisions at all? India and the USA do not want Nepal to cooperate with China, the latter not with India and the USA. Nepal is increasingly and ruthlessly becoming the plaything of the great powers!], Revving up diplomacy: China unleashes fleet of vehicles as gift to Federal Parliament (kh), Experts advise Nepal to stick to its non-alignment policy : We should not deviate from our foreign policy in the name of supporting the big powers, says former foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali, by Anil Giri (kp), Failing on money laundering : For the last 15 years, Nepal has faced the constant risk of slipping into the FTAF’s grey or black list, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Ex-Speaker Mahara father-son duo ‘embroiled’ in gold smuggling network!, by Tapendra Karki (rep), RPP playing Hindu card to fulfil its agenda, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/07/2023: Old ways of old parties : A large section of society is fed up with the same-old faces in leadership for decades (kp) [!!!], Political influence on judiciary: Legislature on brink of collapse, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Why is Nepal a fragile state?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Impunity by law: Government bent on amending law to withdraw criminal cases against political parties and groups : This is not the first time the government has tried to ram a faulty legal provision to withdraw criminal cases against political parties, groups, leaders and cadres (nlt), Government brings controversial bill to withdraw cases sub judice in court : Experts say bill gives unrestrained discretionary power to the government to drop charges without court’s consent, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Intending to prevent justice for victims as well as prosecuting politicians?], Bill criminalising usurious lending passes lower house : It replaces a similar ordinance that expired on July 5, by Binod Ghimire (kp), India puts up new hurdle to importing electricity from Nepal : New Delhi has asked for financial closure details of projects whose approval process has remained pending for months, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), An answer to food insecurity : Reclaiming land has traditionally been a way of adapting to the fury of nature, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp), ‘Parties in Socialist Front know parliamentary system doesn’t work’, interview with Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (kp) [It is the political parties and their leaders, including those of the Socialist Front, who are responsible for the failure of parliamentary democracy in Nepal!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/07/2023: Nepali media and the message : Seeking to give a cogent picture of the chaos has become the media’s responsibility, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Local approaches to ending landlessness : Many commissions were formed in the past to resolve the issue, but none could offer a reasonable solution, by Jagat Deuja (kp), Cabinet picks envoys for six missions (kp) [Of course, six male Khas Arya, who else?], “Nepal government should consider providing residency cards to the Bhutanese who are yet to be resettled”, interview with DB Rai, President, Global Bhutanese Organization-GBO (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/07/2023: A troubling nexus between crime and politics, by Devendra J. Subedi (rep), Emboldened loan sharks ignoring calls for compromise : An ordinance that was introduced to criminalise usurious lending expired last week after House failed to replace it, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Responsible are especially KP Oli and other politicians who are only interested in their own power, whatever they may now declare on this!], Changing Nature Of Civic Space, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/07/2023: Creating Secure Future For Nepali Youths : Importantly, intolerance, hollow promises, the sale of dreams, double standards, nepotism, and favouritism have plagued Nepal's politics, by Narayan Prasad Ghimire (rn), Addressing Population Issues : A Call For Gender Equality, by Ramesh Kumar KC (rn), Get Tough With The Corrupt : In fact, corruption at high places is destroying the nation and making the people of this impoverished nation poorer, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn), UML volte-face on PM’s resignation sparks speculations : Trust deficit between parties, ongoing corruption probe and even foreign hand suspected as possible reason, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Bulldozing not the solution : The government must bring policies to address the needs of the citizens without homes, by Nirajan Thapaliya (kp), The crisis that was coming : Lumpy skin was sure to be a transboundary epidemic, and yet all the government did was watch (kp) [Citizens misunderstand the tasks of politicians. These are limited exclusively to power struggles, constant reshuffling of governments, stupid talk and, if possible, corruption!], Obstruction of UML leads to removal of Loan Shark Bill from HoR agenda, by Ishwari Subedi (rep) [Intentionally or simply disinterested?], RSP warns of obstructing parliament if bill to curb loan sharking is not introduced in the next meeting (rep), KDC refuses to register same sex marriage despite apex court order, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht) [Contempt of Supreme Court by a subordinate court?], Justice remains elusive for persons with disabilities (ht), Refugee and disability stereotyping : Double bind, double discrimination, by Dev Datta Joshi (ht), Bid to ensure adequate housing for all people (ht), Koshi quandary : Fresh elections might be the only option, which is time-consuming and a drain on the resources (ht), Nepali judiciary: Fighting inefficiency and graft, by Anupam Bhattarai (ae), East is East : Mixing politics with identity is turning the dispute over naming Kosi Province volatile, by Anita Bhetwal (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/07/2023 Transitional justice commissions remain ineffective for a year without office bearers : Although government bade farewell to office bearers, it hasn’t filled the posts following delay in revising the Act, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Where there is no will, there is no way!], Have we achieved democratic freedom we fought for?, by Prabidhik KC (rep), 771,998 people left out from the 2021 census report, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht) [??? It would be interesting to know the ethnicity of those excluded!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/07/2023: The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Nepalese Politics: From Power Games to National Progress, by Nabraj Lama (rep) [This can only be done with a completely new and socially inclusive political leadership! The current leadership is so caught up in power games that it can't help itself!], CPC politburo member visiting Nepal : Yuan Jiajun will be senior-most Communist Party of China official coming after formation of Dahal government, by Anil Giri (kp), Mayor under fire for City police’s mistreatment of street vendor : Urban planners say instead of chasing and thrashing people in the informal sector, KMC can bring them under the tax net and allow them to operate at a designated place, by Anup Ojha (kp), In Pictures: Youths stage demonstration against brutality of municipal police personnel, by Prasan Gurung (rep), So the chiefs can powwow : Establishing a chief ministers’ forum will be a big step towards strengthening federalism, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Janamat Party to join PM Dahal-led government (kh), Cabinet reshuffle on the cards to rope in Janmat Party (ht), SC issues interim order on writ against Koshi government formation (kh), Supreme Court issues interim order on ‘unconstitutional’ appointment of Chief Minister in Koshi : The court order comes in the wake of widespread condemnation against the Speaker of Koshi provincial assembly Baburam Gautam who cast his vote to elect Nepali Congress’ Uddab Thapa chief minister last week (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/07/2023: PM’s apology ends House impasse : Says he realised it was inappropriate for a prime minister to make a statement hinting at another country’s intervention in Nepali parliamentary process to elect the executive head, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Agitation against Koshi name unabated as irate groups prepare for more aggressive protests : Protesters claim their struggle ousted Hikmat Karki from power and the new chief minister Thapa too will have to go if he doesn’t help them, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Communists in saffron robes : People can’t tell which one of Prachanda's avatars is genuine and which is fake, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Two more ex-employees arrested in Lalita Niwas Land Grab case (kh), Ajit's corpse awaiting justice at Teaching Hospital morgue for seven years, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/07/2023: Constitutional agencies to implement federalism smoothly remain underused : After almost three years of having the requisite law, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held the first meeting of the National Coordination Council in Pokhara on June 30, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Socialist Front meets but has little to offer : Leaders said the meeting focused on procedural issues, including rotational leadership of the front every six months, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [The Socialist Front only serves to protect the power interests of politicians who are increasingly disappearing into insignificance! A look at the exclusively male leadership of the front shows that here, too, the legally prescribed social inclusion is grossly disregarded!], Nepal’s Compelled Choice: Joining Indo-Pacific Lobbying Front or Chinese Lobbying Front, by Saurav Raj Pant (kh), Controversial Pork Barrel Fund, by Durga Prasad Khanal (rep) [Unvarnished corruption!], Top leaders engage in discussions to remove obstruction in parliament (kh) [Those who are responsible for all the mess of the last few years, among themselves!], UML agrees to end parliament obstruction (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/07/2023: Need To Build A Coherent National Identity, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Frequent obstructions sign of parliamentary practice gone wrong : UML wants the prime minister’s scalp over remarks that Sardar Pritam Singh had visited Delhi to make Dahal PM, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [KP Oli has repeatedly shown in 2020/21 that he is against parliamentary democracy and does not believe in the rule of law!], UML moves Supreme Court against Koshi Province government formation : The party has filed a petition at the top court demanding an order to quash the newly formed government and form a new government under Article 168 (3) (kp), Economic Complexity: Challenges and way forward, by Bishwambher Pyakuryal (kh), Nepal's economic diplomacy needs more focus on development, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Air quality in Nepal deteriorating way beyond WHO standard (ht), Govt made massive budget transfers in the last month of current FY, breaching basic norm of financial discipline (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/07/2023: Speaker backs new Koshi chief minister, kicks up controversy : Legal experts deem coalition parties’ inclusion of Speaker as a signatory backing Uddhav Thapa as ‘unconstitutional’, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Koshi Province government unconstitutional: Dr. Bhattarai (kh), Lalita Niwas land grab: Arrest warrants issued against five former govt Secretaries (kh), Usury ordinance expires, replacement bill ‘may proceed’ : Owing to obstruction by opposition parties including UML and delay in presenting a replacement bill in the House, the ordinance expired on Wednesday, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Crime and/or Punishment in Nepal : Big heads roll for the first time in corruption crackdown, but bigger heads are being deliberately spared, by Sonia Awale (nt), Free and unfair : The Election Commission’s bill can ensure electoral reform. Parliament must pass it (nt), Nepal, which doesn’t have even a single ship, spends over Rs 90 million annually on ship management!, by Bhuwan Sharma (rep) [Corruption in its purest form!], Supreme Court gives green light to CIB for probing Fraud and Organized Crime (kh), Child labor goes unchecked despite laws (kh), Navigating Nepal’s federalism, its transition and public perception : Why has the federal government failed to transfer powers even after completion of the first tenure of provincial governments? , by Niyati Shrestha (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/07/2023: Off-the-cuff remarks of top leaders court trouble. Dahal’s is latest case : Opposition disrupts House meeting over his insinuation of Delhi’s influence in selecting Nepal’s prime ministers, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Blathering stupidly, constant power struggles and, if possible, forming new government coalitions every few months, that's all Nepali politicians are interested in. Otherwise they are completely useless!], Country sure to be without chief justice for a while : nother acting chief justice to head court after August 5, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This is also a system so wanted and abused by the ruling political class that prevents legal stability!], Ordinance to address loan sharking issues repealed due to constitutional time limit (rep) [Blocking parliamentary processes as part of their endless power struggles is much more important to politicians than passing urgently needed laws in the interest of needy sections of the population! Poor Nepal!], Anti-usury ordinance becomes invalid (ht), Addressing Civil Service Issues, by Mukti Rijal (rn), The woman power, by Narayan Manandhar (rep) [Positions that allow access to large-scale corruption are overwhelmingly in the hands of male Khas Arya. This does not mean, however, that other groups in society would be any less vulnerable if they had a fair share in the allocation of such posts!], Local governments demand to release 50 percent of equalization funds (rep), Bridging the digital divide in Nepal : Digital divide in Nepal is not only limited to rural and urban disparities. It extends to marginalized communities, such as disadvantaged groups as well, by Abinash Gajurel (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/07/2023: How Prithvi Shah scams US $4 million from US citizens with false FDI promises : Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government suspended governor instead of investigating Shah’s scam, by Pramodh Raj Sedhain (kh) [All prime ministers in recent years have distinguished themselves by protecting corrupt individuals. The nomination of people accused of crimes to high state offices instead of speedy judicial investigations is also a form of corruption!], Transitional justice bodies get yet another term extension : Terms of truth and reconciliation, and disappearance commissions extended until January 14 next year (kp) [Without immediate legal changes in the sense of justice for the victims, this makes no sense at all!], Hot and dangerous : At COP28, Nepal should negotiate with Gulf countries to prioritise the well-being of its citizens (kp), US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu arriving next week for one-day visit : In November 2021, Lu had threatened leaders that the US would rethink Nepal ties if MCC compact was not passed (kp) [Continued US interference in the affairs of Nepal and other South Asian states?], Three-way competition and Nepal : The three-way geopolitical competition in Nepal involving India, China, and the United States is not necessarily against Nepal’s interests, as it can generate benefits and opportunities in aid, trade, and investment, by Madhu Raman Acharya (ae), Coalition politics in Nepal: Navigating the Challenges of Making and Breaking Alliances, by Rajaram Bartaula (rep), Sweeping poll reforms : Political parties must be ready to pass the bill as it is to make the electoral system more effective (ht) [But this is against the interests of the political leaders!], PM Prachanda puts his foot in his mouth : His remark that ‘Pritam Singh lobbied with New Delhi to make me Prime Minister’ has drawn widespread condemnation in Kathmandu (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/07/2023: Dalit’s house torched for eloping with ‘upper-caste’ girl in Jumla : Police have arrested the girl’s brother on charges of criminal arson and caste-based discrimination, by DB Budha (kp), French riots and Nepal’s ‘respectable’ casteism : Everyone pretends that Dalits have been afforded unprecedented amounts of rights and privileges, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), White man’s burden, brahminism and racial superiority : Focus should be on prohibiting racist and discriminatory thoughts as part of global efforts to end discrimination of all sorts, by Min Bahadur Pariyar (ae), Election Commission proposes two-term limit for PR candidates : In the draft bill, the poll body has proposed the provision for ‘NOTA’ and mandatory allocation of 33 percent seats for women candidates under the FPTP system, among others (kp) [Article 63 of the Interim Constitution had already stipulated that the inclusion rules of the PR system should also be applied to the nomination of FPTP candidates. This did not interest the male Khas Arya at the top of the parties at that time at all. That is why they did not even include this passage in today's Constitution!], EC proposes sweeping reforms, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), EC suggests NOTA ballot paper (ae), Local units flooded with funds for schemes directed by centre : Federal government’s motives questioned as budget for projects where local units have a say has been slashed. Experts say the federal government wants to dictate projects at the local leveld, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Not only projects, the national level wants to dictate and decide everything at provincial and local level. Federalism is a foreign word to them!], Lalita Niwas land grab scam: PMO facilitated issuance of stay order by SC, by Tapendra Karki (rep), PM wants Janamat Party in Cabinet despite rival parties’ reservation : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is ready to allocate one ministry to the Janamat Party, said its general secretary Chandan Singh, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Dahal’s insecurity : How will bringing together parties with limited public mandate revive Maoist Centre’s electoral fortunes? (kp), Who are the Courts for?, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (rep), Is ‘left unity’ on the card?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [Hard to imagine! There are far too many "leaders" there who do not tolerate other gods next to them!], Govt consents extension of TRC deadline (kh) [And what is the point of that, when the leading politicians do not want any justice for the victims?]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/07/2023: MPs from mountain region and oppressed castes treated as third-grade representatives: MP Sherpa (rep), EC directs parties to elect 33% women candidates in FPTP (rep), EC proposes barring defeated candidate from contesting election in another tier for 5 years (rep), Dahal woos Maoist forces. Is that too little too late? Maoist Centre is in an existential crisis as its strength in 2022 elections fell sharply compared to the 2017 polls, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Ruling coalition leaders to meet in Baluwatar to decide on Koshi govt (kh) [What kind of understanding of federalism is this? Only the provincial politicians have to decide on the government of Koshi Province. Under no circumstances should this decision be taken by the politicians at the central level! What kind of presumption is that? If the provinces only serve to create more posts, you can forget the federal system!], Ruling coalition proposes NC leader Uddhav Thapa as Chief Minister of Koshi Province (kh) [???], Council of hope : The federal system needs mechanisms like national and provincial coordination councils to be effective (kp), NCC meeting : Federal parliament must enact laws to remove ambiguities seen in the three tiers of government (ht), Provinces Have A Long Way To Go, by Ballav Dahal (rn), KMC bans construction on Lalita Niwas land, to halt ongoing works : The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police makes three new arrests in connection with the land scam, by Anup Ojha (kp), Governance in Social transformations in Nepal, by Medani P. Bhandari (rep), SC rules KDAO order banning protest at Maitighar Mandala illegal, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Subsidised education, health care: Only partnerships can bring results, by Simone Galimberti (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/07/2023: 'Time-bound programme needed to abolish dowry', by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Woman and daughter found dead in Rautahat (ht), Do laws and institutions to preserve Nepal’s ancient monuments work? Department of Archaeology, responsible for preventing breach of the law, is toothless. Observers say monuments can be saved only by making it strong and independent, by Anup Ojha (kp), Dahal tries to woo dissatisfied Janamat Party : Budget shows his support base is shrinking. PM risks having to go for floor test again if CK Raut’s party pulls the plug (kp), PM Dahal emphasizes on reviving Nepal Communist Party (kh) [???? New parties with the same old failed politicians are no solution. Comprehensive personnel changes are needed in all political parties!], Generational change in Nepali politics : The Maoist story is the most eloquent in terms of political discussions, reports and reviews, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Anti-corruption Drive Intensifies, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Perils of debt-financed fiscal deficit : For developing countries with growing financing needs, well-managed debt can enable growth, by Bigyan Babu Regmi (kp), KMC Mayor Shah elected to World Association of Major Metropolises Board of Directors (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/07/2023: Instead of succumbing to India’s undue influence, engage in paddy plantation: Balen tells leaders (kh), Chief ministers ask prime minister to facilitate implementation of federalism : Six chiefs of provincial governments meet in Pokhara, asserting their rights as Kathmandu delays crucial laws, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Regulating The Monopoly Of New Class, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/06/2023: Anti-Corruption in Crisis, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Observers, even opponents praise Dahal government's anti-corruption campaign : Probe into Bhutanese refugee scam and reopening of the Lalita Niwas land-grab case seen as bold steps of the government, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Rainbow weddings : Supreme Court’s landmark decision on same-sex marriage sets the tone for a more inclusive Nepal (kp), Ensuring The Rights Of Gender Minorities, by Samip Ghimire and Yauaraj Gautam (rn), For some groups experience can be lowered: SC, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/06/2023: Top court orders registration of same sex marriages : Government ordered to form a temporary mechanism to register such marriages pending final verdict, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Parallel military diplomacy : Nepal should seek to retain the status quo with India and promote technical cooperation with China, by Hindu Sanskriti Karki (kp), Decentralized Autonomous Nepal, by Bimal Pratap Shah (rep), Fighting Inequality For Social Justice, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn), SC rebukes KDC for delay : Orders the district court to adjudicate cases within three months, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), 'Amend laws in accordance with Palermo protocol' (ht), Straw-legged bureaucracy: Mere shadow of the politics, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/06/2023: Top court orders relief for conflict-era victims of torture and sexual violence : 17 years since Peace Accord, torture victims lack adequate means to seek justice and hold perpetrators to account, by Binod Ghimire (kh) [The next step should be to punish all those who have been deliberately preventing justice for the victims by hook or by crook for 17 years!], PM Dahal proposes to formulate budget under directly elected lawmakers’ leadership (kh 28/06/2023) [What is this bullshit? Because then it is predominantly male Khas Arya who decide and the annoying socially inclusively nominated MPs are excluded?], Judicial Council appealed not to make court recruiting center for relatives and cadres (kh), Shun Feudal Form Of Language, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn), Free legal aid provision needs to be revisited, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Capital flight unabated: Nepalis’ deposits in Swiss banks soar by 62 percent : The deposits of Nepali individuals and firms in Swiss banks have reached Rs 70.764bn (482.542m Swiss francs) (ae), Police issue arrest warrant against 406 individuals in connection to Lalita Niwas land scam : The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, following the green signal from the Kathmandu District Court, issued warrant against these individuals (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/06/2023: Changes in the current government coalition: Rumor or reality? Some influential leaders from the ruling Nepali Congress and opposition CPN-UML have hinted at a shift in the current coalition government. How likely is it? (nlt) [Can Nepal's politicians do anything other than constantly fight for power, form and reject coalitions led by the same failed leaders, disregard the constitution and laws, cover up crimes and corruption, and of course talk stupid?], Troubles Brewing In Ruling Coalition?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Youths deprived of citizenship finally find happiness : People unable to acquire citizenship due to a legal vacuum are now flocking to district administration offices following the court’s clearance, by Ajit Tiwari and Shankar Acharya (kp), All talk and no change : The budget speech is not a dictum carved in a stone; it must reflect deep engagements in a palimpsest (kp), JSP vows to lobby for directly elected president and fully proportional parliament : Party chair Yadav presented the draft of the statute on Sunday for deliberations among the party representatives attending the convention. The draft has proposed a two-term limit in the same executive post (kp), Child labor situation in Nepal: challenges and ways forward, by Sudarshan Neupane (rep), Torture laws need to be amended, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/06/2023: Stable instability : The Dahal government is far from ideal. But it is also hard to see how its replacement will be any better (kp) [Without a complete replacement of the failed generation of politicians around Oli, Dahal and Deuba, and finally an appropriate inclusion of the people, nothing will ever change!], Leave no one behind : The Harawa-Charawa system is possibly the last visible evidence of slavery in Nepal, by Jagat Deuja (kp), 'New citizenship law needs to be improved' (ht), Yadav for age, term bar on party posts (ht), 'Federalism is flawed, constitution must be amended' (ht), First conference on women shelters begins (ht), CIAA files corruption case against PADT’s former Member Secretary Pradeep Dhakal (kh), The rules of Mayor Shah, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/06/2023: Desperate youths from Maoist heartland hit US wall : Residents of Maoist strongholds that opposed ‘American imperialism’ paid traffickers huge sums to go to the States, by Janakraj Sapkota (kp) [An indictment of the once declared ambitions of the alleged Maoist revolutionaries!], Contempt of court case filed at SC against KMC Mayor Balen (rep), Do mayors have free rein? Experts say constitutional spirit is for local unit chiefs to behave themselves, rather than others disciplining them, by Anup Ojha (kp), Nepal worries about spillages as India delays power export approvals : Nepal is waiting for approvals for 18 projects that were proposed to India over the last two years, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), 'An alliance of forces formed with an eye on retaining power' (ht)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/06/2023: Nepali’s overall health index improves: Report (kh) [see summary report and key indicators], Is Dahal’s coalition government under threat? UML and Congress in talks amid visible unease among ruling party over budget and launch of Socialist Front, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Ruling coalition might change provided govt does not perform well: Gagan Thapa (kh), Faulty Economic Policies Subvert Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/06/2023: Women raped during armed conflict ask: Where is the state?, by Guna Raj Luitel (rep) [The interest of the state aims at reconciliation between perpetrators and victims, not at justice for the latter. This is especially true for the former Maoists.], Female participation in higher education : How Good Is Good Enough?, by Bhim Prasad Subedi (rn), Country sees trade deficit of Rs 1337 billion in past 11 months (kh), Balendra Shah raps court over order on Hindi film screening : Experts say Kathmandu mayor’s posture could be held in contempt of court and even cost him his public position, by Ghanashyam Khadka (kp), Balen Shah’s faulty glasses : In his heart, Kathmandu’s mayor is still a rapper out there to diss and destroy his imaginary opponents (kp), Mister mayor, your stunts are dangerous to Nepali society! Is it not your responsibility to set an example by respecting and following constitutional decisions? Is it not your responsibility to safeguard the rule of law?, by Ashim Neupane (nlt), Court stays Cabinet move to drop case against Chalaune’s assaulters : A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma ordered the defendants to clarify why the decision was taken (kp), Top court clears way for implementation of Citizenship Act amendments : The court’s latest order has cleared the way for thousands of children of parents who got citizenship by birth to acquire citizenship by descent (kp), Budget cut set to hit crucial nutrition programmes : Nutritionists warn the country cannot achieve nutrition targets by cutting investments on Outpatient Therapeutic Care and nutrition rehab centres, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Turbulence in the ruling coalition : Formation of ‘Socialist Front’ has shaken the structural integrity of the NC-Maoist coalition, while the UML looks on, from the sidelines with bated breath, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/06/2023: Continuing injustice : The citizenship question remains a combustible issue and it would be wise to address it on time (kp), PM Dahal and Biplav hold talks over party unification (kh), Promoting Nepal’s reading culture : The government should establish well-equipped libraries and reading corners in schools, colleges and public spaces, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (kp), Foreign direct investment pledges down 25 percent : Experts have attributed the steep drop to policy instability and bureaucratic hassles, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Why is Nepal  India  EPG Report Gathering Dust?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Pork Barrel Projects Hurt Public Interest, by Mukti Rijal (rn) [Open corruption in its purest form, backed by the top politicians of all political parties!], Melamchi Mess: Example Of Climate Crisis, by Maheshwor Rijal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/06/2023: Protesters turn up heat over citizenship : They call for immediate implementation of the recently endorsed bill to amend the law, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Kin demand justice as woman’s death raises suspicion : Father of 22-year-old Aarati Sah accuses her husband’s family of killing her over dowry issues. Her husband and father-in-law are in police custody, by Aarati Sah (kp), Discontent with budget rife, lawmakers seek a revision : Ruling parties are also unhappy with disproportionate allocations to some districts at the expense of others, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Cabinet under fire for dropping case against teacher’s attackers : Chalaune on hunger strike protesting decision to withdraw attempted murder case against pro-Congress students, by Anup Ojha (kp), The fantasy of border settlement : The Indo-Bangladesh model that Nepali border pundits are calling for is unrealistic and impractical, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), Pathos of vulnerable narcissism : Borders between political entities with a shared civilisational heritage are transitional, by CK Lal (kp), Exploring Pathways to Economic Recovery : It is unwise to assume that the Nepali economy is improving, by Suraj Ghimire (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/06/2023: Cabinet under fire for dropping case against teacher’s attackers : Chalaune on hunger strike protesting decision to withdraw attempted murder case against pro-Congress students, by Anup Ojha (kp) [Incessant corruption and covering up of crimes by the so-called top politicians and their non-inclusive political parties!], Rights activists, varsity professors demonstrate in support of assistant professor Chalaune : Chalaune is on a hunger strike against the government’s decision to withdraw case against his assaulters (kp), Protecting vulnerable refugees : A failure to prosecute the culprits in the fake Bhutanese refugee case may tarnish Nepal’s image, by Neetu Pokharel and Som Niraula (kp), Clash between Citizenship-less Struggle Committee and Police at Maitighar (Photo Feature), by Prasan Gurung (rep), Expectations low as the socialist front comes into being : Baburam Bhattarai opts out. Socialist Front Nepal has 54 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [All the failed and ageing political leaders in lookout for a way to secure their power! And Netra Bikram Chand does a 180 degree turnaround.], Socialism cannot be acquired through political maneuvering, deception: Dr. Bhattarai (kh), Socialist Front Likely To Wield Considerable Clout, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn) [These old failed politicians, including Oli and Deuba, will not make a difference. The country needs young and socially inclusive democratic leaders!], Leaders justify formation of Socialist Front (ht), Russian recruitment targets vulnerable Nepalis in intensified Ukraine war efforts, by Pramod Raj Sedhain (kh), Nepal staring at impending ‘stagflation’, economists say : Political instability, violence, and climate disasters have been threatening food security in South Asia: Experts, by Sangam Prasain and Krishana Prasain (kp), Geoeconomics over geopolitics : Nepal faces challenges in managing diplomacy on three levels—global, regional and bilateral, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Livability of Kathmandu Valley: From Heaven in the past to a virtual hell now, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), PM Dahal 3.0: A change of heart during India visit?, by Birendra Prasad Mishra (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/06/2023: Discussion on Changing the Electoral System : Is social inclusion falling out of reach?, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Think long and hard : RSP leaders preparing the party’s political document should resist being swayed by populist rhetoric (kp) [In particular, the party should strive to become socially inclusive at all levels, including the concerns of traditionally excluded groups. Then this young party would definitely have chances for the future compared to the non-inclusive big parties!], Democracy in Disarray, by Rajaram Bartaula (rep), Dunning-Kruger effect in Nepali politics : Intellectual shortfall at its peak, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Left leaders announce Samajwadi Front Nepal (kh), Socialist Front Nepal: Parties to work separately, Secretariat to handle the Front (kh) [Unity looks different. The leaders of all parties involved can continue their individual power games unhindered. Differences between them and a break-up of the front are foreseeable. Thus, for the moment, the front serves the interests of the so-called top politicians, but not those of the people.], CIAA files chargesheet against DoWRI Director General on Rs 30 million misappropriation allegation (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/06/2023: Gobbledegook in parliamentary debates : Use of indecent language can do much damage to our hard-earned democratic system, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Swatantra Party leaders seek rewrite of political paper : A year after party formation, they call for clarity on political and ideological stands on major national issues, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Strategy To Boost Bargaining Power?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/06/2023: Leftist forces’ socialist front is being formed. What for? At least five parties will regroup, committing to federalism, democracy, republicanism, inclusion and secularism, by Anil Giri (kp), A Fish Rots from its head, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Big shots charged in fake refugee scam sent to jail : Kathmandu District Court remands 16 including former ministers while releasing two on bail, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), National Investigation Department announces vacancies for 71 positions (rep) [Are the rules on social inclusion being applied or are these again predominantly jobs for male Khas Arya?]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/06/2023: Youths ask: ‘Our parents are Nepalis. Who are we?’ They hit the streets after the Supreme Court on June 4 prevented the enforcement of amended citizenship law, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Health Ministry orders hospitals to avoid sex-selective ultrasound (kh), Why Democracy Lacks Trust And Respect, by Rameshwar Baral (rn), Statistics on indigenous nationalities  will not be corrected: PM Dahal (kh), Red tp Saffron : Even by the standards set by Nepal’s flip-flopping politicians, Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s sudden U-turn is remarkable, by Shristi Karki (nt), Samajwadi Morcha, a loose forum of Left parties, likely to be announced today (kh) [At best, such a forum makes sense if it is combined with an all-round renewed generation of politicians!], Declaration of Socialist Front not to be made today (rep), Chief Justice nominee Karki presents his vision to Hearing Committee : He may not get to implement his vision as he retires on August 5 (kp) [Chief Justice for only one and a half months? That is a farce. This important state office needs more continuity!], Hari Krishna Karki unanimously endorsed as Chief Justice (kh), Stagnation amid uncertainty : The budget is expected to hinder business growth and contract demand, by Pradeep Yadav (kp), Budget ‘mocks’ federalism, by Dilip Paudel (rep), Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: 16 accused, including Rayamajhi and Khand, sent to pre-trial detention (kh), Budget allocated to Madhes is less than revenue from there: Dr. CK Raut (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/06/2023: Dhankuta community schools charge students despite free education : Schools say the budget allocated by the government is insufficient to pay teachers, by Ramesh Chandra Adhikari (kp), ‘Socialist front’ will be announced soon: Prime Minister Dahal : Maoist leaders rule out the UML joining such a front at least in the immediate future (kp) [Hopefully with a completely new and young generation of leaders!], Luxury medicine : Nepali leaders flying abroad for treatment shows how little they trust the country’s healthcare system (kp), Maps and more : When our government adopted a new map of Nepal, not half an eyebrow was raised in New Delhi, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Lawmakers stress on immediately providing citizenship cards to Nepalis bereft of one (kh), Chair KC slams govt for allocating extra budget for home districts of limited leaders (kh), World Bank suggests legal, institutional reforms to boost fiscal federalism in Nepal (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/06/2023: Beyond the fake refugee scam: The rot ran deep in refugee camps even during the 90s : A Bhutanese refugee activist exposes how the government officials and police abused their authorities instead of addressing genuine concern of the Bhutanese refugees in the camps, by Ram Karki (nlt), US-based Bhutanese Diaspora community writes a collective letter to Nepal’s Home Minister : The Bhutanese Diaspora community has appealed to the government, the court and people of Nepal for justice to Tek Nath Rizal (nlt), Court issues show cause notice against Dahal, Bhattarai over use of child combatants : It also directed the court administration to give priority to the case in the hearing process (kp), Member of Citizenship-less Struggle Committee attempts self-immolation in Maitighar (rep), Clean the water : The state is responsible for ensuring its citizens’ fundamental right to safe drinking water (kp), Holding the purse strings : It is ludicrous that projects worth Rs1,000 have been sent to the sub-national levels, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Samajwadi Morcha, a loose forum of left parties, nears final stages (kh), Proposed Socialist Front unite all communist forces: PM Dahal : NCP will be revived (kh) [??], What impedes Nepal’s infrastructure governance? In Nepal, there is a tendency of awarding projects to individuals who have personal connections with those in power without adequately considering their standards or capabilities, by Anmol Purbey (nlt), Why politicians in Nepal go abroad for medical treatment, by Pabitra Sunar (rep) [The question also arises as to how they pay for this if, apart from their party and parliament offices, they only hold a public office very rarely and for a short time, which is supposedly also only modestly remunerated.], Nepali Congress President Deuba leaves for Singapore for treatment (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/06/2023: NC will not compromise on ideology: Gagan Thapa (kh) [Not even in relation to the electoral system? Nepal urgently needs better social inclusion. This is prevented by the existing electoral system and the attitude of the party leaders! But Deuba has called for the abolition of even the minimal opportunity that exists!], VAT makes the poor food insecure, say experts : Nepal relies heavily on imported onions and is gradually becoming a net importer of potatoes, by Pawan Pandey (kp), Misplaced priorities : It took Dahal five months to give a full shape to his Cabinet. He is already thinking of tinkering with it (kp), SC orders show cause on writ filed against PM Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai (kh), Proliferating impunity : Local ward leaders are lectured on how federalism has destroyed Nepal, by Sujeev Shakya (kp), Misinformed lawmakers, misleading debates : They must engage in policy discussions with arguments supported by facts and evidence, by Ishwari Bhattarai and Kiran Dahal (kp), Opposition Needs To Play Constructive Role, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), ‘Akhanda Bharat’ is an attempt of reaping political mileage for BJP in India : South Asia, according to the World Bank, is known as one of the least integrated regions in the world in terms of trade and people-to-people contact. South Asian leaders, however, are less bothered to overcome the situation, by Milan Jung Katuwal (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/06/2023: Is secularism under threat? Dahal’s journey from Mahakaleshwar to Pashupatinath, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), New poll system : The parliament apart, the whole political system needs to undergo an overhaul (ht), Court to hear petition against PM tomorrow : Opposition lawmakers have started seeking Dahal’s resignation on moral grounds, by Binod Ghimire (kp), SC admits writ of 9 former Maoist child soldiers (ht), Oli okayed Lower Arun for Indian firm, now blames Dahal : Initial deal to award the new project on Arun River to SJVN was signed in 2021 during Oli’s stint as prime minister, by Anil Giri (kp) [Oli, Dahal and Deuba should immediately retire from politics. These endless mudslingings are an embarrassment to the country and its people!], Eroding decorum of the HoR : Lawmakers to be blamed, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Traders stop potato, onion imports after VAT decision : Consumer rights activists say revenue-hungry government is taxing everything, at the cost of inflation-hit Nepalis, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Cooperatives close, leaving depositors in hardships : Although cooperatives and microfinance firms started closing from early March, district administration was unaware until depositors filed complaints, by Tripti Shahi (kp), Change is the game : It may not be a bad idea to set legal age and term limits on all public office holders (kp) [Yes, please! And also add binding regulations on social inclusion for all these offices!], ‘Only a political settlement can solve the Koshi crisis’, interview with CPN (Maoist Centre) central committee member Ajambar Rai Kangmang (kp), Janamat Party in talks to join the government in Kathmandu : General Secretary Chandan Singh claims the prime minister has offered one ministry and one state minister position to the party, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Obviously, ministerial posts are also the priority for this party! Since the Council of Ministers has exhausted the personnel limit, other ministers would have to be dismissed. A council of ministers with 25 people is already far too big for Nepal!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/06/2023: Deuba moots election system change : Speaks of having in place FPTP system for HoR and PR system for National Assembly, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht) [Deuba pleads for the final end of social inclusion in the HoR instead of ensuring that this inclusion is also prescribed in the selection of candidates for the FPTP system! 15 percent male Khas Arya should be the absolute limit for all political levels and also for the leadership levels of political parties if Nepal's social harmony is to be maintained!], Understaffed Dadeldhura Hospital paralysed by political interference : The hospital has been the battleground for political parties lately, affecting its service delivery, officers say, by DR Pant (kp) [Party politics is poison in Nepal in many ways!], Visit to religious sites by cabinet members in a group will raise questions: Baburam Bhattarai (kh), 29 complaints filed against acting chief justice Karki : The complainants have claimed that as Karki has failed to maintain the dignity of the position as the acting chief justice, he shouldn’t be appointed the chief of the judiciary (kp), Gerontocracy Ruling The Roost?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Two women allegedly killed for dowry in Sarlahi (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/06/2023: International Human Trafficking: Nepal's Burgeoning Humanitarian Crises, by Shishir Bhatta (rep), PM Prachanda’s visit to India & Nepal’s economic necessity, by Saurav Raj Pant (kh), PM Dahal granted amnesty to Resham Chaudhary to cling to power: Shekhar Koirala (kh) [Nepal's leading politicians believe they are always above the constitution and laws to secure their power, as also did KP Oli in 2020/21 and SB Deuba in 2021.], Age, term limits in political parties contingent on top leaders’ whims : If bureaucrats, professors and justices retire, why not politicians, asks ex-election chief, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), No private hospital bed for poor patients : Hospitals run by the private sector are blatantly ignoring the mandatory 10 percent free bed allocation for the needy, by Deepak Pariyar, Ramesh Kumar Paudel, Ghanashyam Gautam & Binod Bhandari (kp), Top court to accept ex-child soldiers’ petition against PM : A single bench rules that the judiciary needs to resolve the petition filed by former child Maoist combatants, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Everyone seems to be leaving the country : The relentless outflow of Nepali youths has raised the possibility of a labour shortage and consequent economic slowdown, by Sangam Prasain (kp) [The failed ageing male high caste politicians are only good for spreading chaos, but not for political, economic and social solutions!], Chure exploitation goes unabated in the name of revenue generation, by Devendra Basnet (rep), Heightened Insecurity Incubates Systemic Crises, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Govt. will take stern action against wrongdoings and corruption: PM (kh) [Continued nepotism among the ruling male Khas Arya and strict denial of the promised social inclusion are a very special form of corruption. Will the government change this even today, Mr. Dahal? The people do not need foolish talk, but active action!], Constitution amendment must to make PR system effective: NC President Deuba (kh) [Another foolish talk. Of course, the constitution needs many amendments, but the attitude of the all-dominant male Khas Arya elite could be changed today even without amending the constitution! Waiting for a constitutional amendment only aims at further stalling the people!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/06/2023: Census or consensus? Nepal's social demographic data reflects its diversity, but it's socio-political make-up is anything but (nt), SC directs to register ‘war crimes’ related writ against PM Dahal and former PM Bhattarai (kh), Presidential Pardons, explained : The controversial practice of Presidential Pardons in Nepal: Examining the constitutional provisions and political implications, by Anjila Shrestha (nlt) [Nepal is not under the rule of law, but under the rule of so-called top politicians, all incompetent and repeatedly failed! And they seriously claim to always have the law on their side!], Nepal’s Citizenship Amendment Bill explained : Why it was blocked by the Supreme Court after the government sent it to the president for approval, by Shristi Karki (nt), Government ignoring Human Rights Commission’s recommendations to investigate the Gaur massacre : The victims from the incident have lodged a petition at the Supreme Court demanding its intervention in the investigation, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The protection of top politicians from legal prosecution has absolute priority over rule of law!], NC lawmaker Khatiwada objects to removal of Jalhari scam-related remarks from parliament record (kh), Govt will not tolerate anarchic activities in Koshi: Home Minister (kh) [Physically attacking politicians is a form of anarchy, but when these politicians ignorantly violate the interests and identities of citizens, that is also anarchy! Politicians are not the rulers of the people, but the elected representatives who are supposed to represent the interests of the people!], ‘Greater Nepal’ map in Mayor Shah’s office stirs debate : Law experts term the decision ‘childish’ and against the country’s constitution and national interest, by Anil Giri (kp), Human rights watchdogs of Nepal, Qatar sign pact to protect migrant workers’ rights : More than 102,000 Nepalis have received labour approval for Qatar in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/06/2023: Crucial disputes linger as Constitutional Bench fails to act : Chief justice-nominee Hari Krishna Karki is skipping the bench to avoid upsetting political parties ahead of his confirmation hearing in Parliament, experts allege, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [This does not speak for the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers that should exist in a democratic state.], The Koshi crisis : Provincial representatives of parties must get the centre’s full support to come to a settlement (kp), Lawyers of defendants in fake Bhutanese refugee scam claim selective prosecution : They claim some high-profile suspects were not prosecuted despite being named by defendants as beneficiaries of the scam (kp), Janamat Party likely to join government: Chairman CK Raut (kh) [???], Country should issue political map of ‘Greater Nepal’: NC leader Thapa (kh) [???], US and democracy in South Asia : As recent history has shown, it is people who bring change, not any external power, by Smruti S Pattanaik (kp) [The USA is not even capable of practising democracy, human rights and anti-racism in its own country. What do they want to teach in South Asia and especially Nepal?], NRB’s role in fueling inequality : The ever-increasing loanable fund crisis may drastically affect the livelihoods of the poor, by Pradip Kafle (kp), Dharan sub-metropolis hit by severe water shortage amid continued heat wave : The BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences postpones its classes for a week due to the crisis, by Arjun Poudel and Arjun Subedi (kp), Deepen Democracy To Curate It, by Mukti Rijal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/06/2023: Unresolved Issues: Scrutinizing Nepal’s New Transitional Justice Bill, by Narsh Mahaseth and Dikshya Adhikari (rep), Supreme Court issues show cause order over amnesty granted to Chaudhary (nlt), Experts call for a special mechanism for judicial reform : Chief justice himself should take initiative as the charter doesn’t allow the government to do so, they say, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), As KMC jumps into action, schools rush to provide scholarship details : The provision, if implemented strictly, would benefit nearly 15,000 students from 515 schools, by Anup Ojha (kp), Got the guts? RSP lawmakers have a chance to set a sterling precedent by rejecting CDF funds for its lawmakers (kp), A circuitous route to Beijing : Many strategists in New Delhi often choose to ignore that China is an integral part of South Asia, by CK Lal (kp), All is not well : Genuine grievances continue to haunt Nepal-India ties, but our institutional lapses must be fixed first, by Anurag Acharya (kp), Lawmakers call for controlling 'anarchy' in the country (rep), Lawmaker demands downsizing HoR (rep), Time to tap the youth power, by Babu Lama (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/06/2023: Usury probe panel receives more than 21,000 complaints : Most were registered in nine Tarai districts, with only a few complaints lodged in hill districts, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Can RSP walk the talk on scrapping pork barrel fund? It has brought a motion against the fund, but has yet to decide whether it will accept the fund if efforts fail (kp), Oli lambasts Dahal for ‘underwhelming achievements’ during India visit : UML sought an answer from the prime minister as to who gave him the authority to discuss land-swapping with India to resolve the boundary dispute (kp) [The question is justified, but rulers see themselves as the absolutist owners of the land and its people. May their name be Mahendra, Gyanendra, Oli, Deuba or Dahal!], Saffronisation of Dahal’s diplomacy : The India visit has opened up prospects for the integration of Nepali and Indian economies, by Achyut Wagle (kp), A budget amid economic slowdown : Achieving revenue target to meet expenditure needs will continue to be challenging, by Chandan Sapkota (kp), Petitioner’s lawyers demand investigation on high-level leaders allegedly involved in scam (kh), Controversy, thy name is president : SC to settle bill row, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), SC demands govt’s written response on the writ against Resham Chaudhary’s amnesty (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/06/2023: Conflict victims ask lawmakers to get transitional justice bill right this time : They fear the government will use the bill to give amnesty for murders, by Binod Ghimire (kp), HoR witnesses frequent interruptions in rostrum during Prime Minister’s answer session (kh), Bhutanese refugee scam: District court may decide in 10 days whether to remand defendants in custody : After recording statements from the accused, arguments from the lawyers on both sides start on Sunday (kp), Dahal’s India visit: A postscript : Mismatch of more reliance on India and people’s desire to break free of its embrace could turn ugly, by Biswas Baral (kp), Budget 2023: Will It Lift Nepal’s Descending Economy?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Speaker Ghimire issues a ruling to remove portion of RSP lawmaker's statements from the record (rep) [Once again for the record: This is a protocol in which all statements made by the elected representatives of the people have to be recorded. If MPs make false or insulting statements, they must be held accountable. However, it violates all principles of the rule of law and democracy if unpopular passages are deliberately deleted in a manipulative form.]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/06/2023: SC issues interlocutory order not to implement Act on Citizenship (rn), Supreme Court Issues Interim Order to Halt Immediate Implementation of Amended Citizenship Act (ht),, Stakeholders stress on multipronged approach to eliminate child labor : Speaking at the Child Labor Dialogue series with Nepal Live, they said that the causes that push the children in labor are interlinked and therefore those causes have to be addressed holistically (nlt), Infusing imagination in Nepal’s foreign policy : It is true that Nepal should not discount the strategic importance of working with China and India. But the government seems to think Beijing and Delhi are the only capitals in the world it should reach out to, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Koshi Province crisis: Politics static, protests relentless : The recently named province is currently embroiled in two problems with no solution in sight, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [The view of the ruling male Khas Arya oligarchy on the naming of the provinces is the same in all parties. The cooperation of the allegedly communist CPN (UML) with the Hindu fundamentalist and monarchist RPP is telling!], Why development projects in Nepal are seldom completed on time : Poor budget implementation raises questions over the projects announced for the upcoming fiscal year as well, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Number of castes, ethnicities in Nepal increases to 142 : The number of mother tongues now stands at 124 and the number of religions followed in the country is 10 (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/06/2023: Why do Nepal’s presidents often find themselves in controversy? This week, Paudel certified the citizenship bill that was endorsed during Parliament’s last term and pardoned Tikapur massacre mastermind Resham Chaudhary, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [One of the reasons will be that they do not really distance themselves from their party allegiance, which also plays into their choice of advisers!], Dahal says land swap an option to resolve border issue : Prime minister hints at swapping disputed area to gain land link to Bangladesh via India, by Anil Giri (kp) [???], PM Modi has offered to settle boundary dispute through talks: PM Dahal : “For the first time, an Indian prime minister has announced in a press conference that the border issue will be resolved through dialogue”, said Dahal (kp) [interview], One-to-one meetings with Modi helped in reaching deals with India: Dahal. Says didn’t raise EPG report issue not to spoil talks environment (kp), Criticizing leadership alone does not make party strong: NC President Deuba (kh) [But retiring the failed generation of party leaders and transferring responsibility to a younger generation could be important first steps. This applies to all major parties, by the way.], Many see Dahal’s temple worship as deviation from his Marxist ideology : Nepali communists follow Marxism, which talks about dialectical materialism and says religion is an opiate to the people, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Their slogans are mostly phrasemongering. For example, no one advocates the inclusion and rights of women, Dalits, ethnic groups and Madheshi and reduces the proportion of male Khas Arya to a reasonable level in the allocation of posts! The handling of citizenship is also an outstanding example!], Sharing a photo of PM Dahal worshiping in the temple in India, Dr Baburam Bhattarai asks: “Where are we going?” (rep), Police arrest 11 people protesting against PM Dahal (kh) [Freedom of expression is still a taboo in Nepal!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/06/2023: Dalit lives must matter, by Shristi Karki (nt), Comparing Maina Sunwar and Resham Chaudhary cases : Both are cases of criminal political violence, but the security forces are perpetrators in one and victims in the other, by Aastha Dahal (nt) [Politically motivated murder must not be excused, whether it is committed by security forces or by revolutionaries, even if their cause is justified.], Dahal’s Delhi trip: Some hits, many misses : Energy, connectivity deals forged under pressure. Indian side maintains its old position on the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, more positive on power cooperation, by Umesh Chauhan and Rajesh Mishra (kp), Public school staffers warn of protest over ‘broken salary hike promise’ : Government on February 2 had signed an agreement with them to increase their pay (kp), Revealed: The intermediaries and companies behind Nepal Airlines USD 216 million Airbus purchase : A new investigation by CIJ Nepal and Finance Uncovered reveal the key individuals and opaque offshore structures behind one of the biggest and, arguably, most controversial business deals ever conducted in Nepal, by Deepak Adhikari and Rudra Pangeni (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/06/2023: A home for all : If our identities are fluid, citizenship cannot remain dictated by archaic divisions and anxiety of otherness (kp), Presidential seal on citizenship bill courts controversy : Ramchandra Paudel passes legislation, snubbed by his predecessor Bhandari, on Cabinet’s recommendation, by Binod Ghimire (kp), NRNs elated over authentication of bill on amendment of Citizenship Act (rep), Here are some specific provisions made by controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill approved by President Paudel (rep) [Still insufficient, patriarchal and discriminatory against women!], Writs filed at SC against Citizenship Bill (ae), Pardon to Resham Chaudhary comes under question : On Monday, the President pardoned 19 prisoners, including Resham Chaudhary, the convicted mastermind of 2015 Tikapur incident, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Some thoughts on Sagarmatha-bound ties : The Nepalis have begun questioning if a visit to the southern neighbor is mandatory after every change of guard, as if to pay tribute to some emperor, by Devendra Gautam (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

31/05/2023: Safeguarding republicanism : We must initiate several reforms to ensure citizens’ continued trust in the current system, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), President Paudel authenticates Citizenship Bill (kh), Wrong timing, flawed process: Authentication of the citizenship bill might remain a controversial move for long : The timing and process of a particular decision carries important value in politics. The move of Nepal’s president to authenticate the citizenship bill coinciding with the Prime Minister’s India visit will generate controversies in Nepal’s political sphere, by Kishor Dahal (nlt), RPP Nepal Chair Kamal Thapa, RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane oppose citizenship bill authentication : President Paudel granted stamp of approval to the controversial citizenship bill few hours before Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal embarked on four-day official visit to India (nlt), Budget for transmission lines cut despite high capacity power line being a top priority : The government’s budget says both domestic and cross-border power lines are priorities, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Lofty dreams in hard times : The finance minister has promised so much without spelling out how he intends to keep those promises (kp) [This is typical of this extremely competent generation of politicians!], CPC leader in Kathmandu on eve of Dahal’s Delhi trip : Chinese side could still be exploring the possibility of unity among leftist parties in Nepal, Maoist Centre leader says (kp), Chinese leaders reach Parisdanda after PM’s residence in Baluwatar (kh) [The constant interference of China, India and the USA in internal Nepali affairs is disgusting! Nepal must be very careful!], Ward Chairman, who is on the absconding list of police, holds meeting with UML Chairman Oli, by Upendra Yadav (rep) [What does KP Oli want to express with this?], HURPES concerns policy on extraction of sand and pebbles (kh), Bhutanese communities express concern over arrest of Tek Nath Rizal, call for his release : The statement issued by Bhutanese communities says that accusing Rizal, a dedicated advocate for human rights and a staunch proponent of democratic change in Bhutan, is a deliberate design to tarnish his image (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/05/2023: Not-so-sweet 16 : The political class must recall the zeal in 2008 when a seed of hope was planted in the hearts of Nepalis (kp 30/05/2023), President Paudel for full implementation of reservation system (kh) [But he, his presidential office and also his mother party continue to be outstanding examples of the male Khas Arya state!], Govt report reveals unauthorized Chinese construction, encroachment upon Nepal’s territory (kh), Why PM Dahal should reconsider his India visit, by Akhilesh Tripathi (rep), The new world, and Nepal-India ties, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), PM Dahal’s India visit: What purpose will it serve?, by Gopal Khanal (ae), Controversial pork barrel fund revived after two years : Former member of planning body terms the budget anti-federalis, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), MPs can only recommend projects in CDF – Finance Minister Mahat (kh) [Nevertheless, this opens up opportunities for only directly elected MPs to profile themselves with a view to future elections, which is a form of corruption.  This system must be abolished once and for all!], SC receives writ against  Resham Chaudhary (kh), Budget ignored demands of education sector: NNTA (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/05/2023: Mountain communities, climbers and scientists sound alarm from Everest and call for world leaders to decarbonize now : In the next 70 years, under the current emissions scenario, scientists project that two-thirds of glaciers in the Everest region will disappear (nlt), Birgunj locals march to Kathmandu to highlight Sirsiya River pollution : Factories along Parsa-Bara corridor release untreated wastewater into the river, by Bhusan Yadav (kp), Resham Chaudhary, the convict of Tikapur carnage, walks free : Chaudhary, who was convicted by district court, high court and supreme court and given life sentence, was given pardon on Sunday by President Ram Chandra Paudel (nlt) [The families of the victims will be delighted in view of this principle of justice! Is this now a pattern for not punishing the crimes of the time of the insurgency?], Republican Nepal fails to achieve its stated objectives : As the country celebrates 16th Republic Day, its politics has blatantly failed to live up to the people’s expectations, say observers, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), 16th Republic Day: Government celebrates, people cry foul : As the government marked the day with various events, people have taken strong exception to the presidential pardon to the convict of 2015 Tikapur carnage (nlt), Good Governance Key To Improving Republic, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Nepal sends diplomatic note to US regarding religious freedom report : The latest US report said right-wing religious groups associated with India’s ruling BJP have been providing funds to influential politicians in Nepal (kp), ‘As the case is open, top leaders may still be prosecuted’, interview with former Deputy Inspector General Hemanta Malla Thakuri on different dimensions of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam and its investigation (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/05/2023: Embrace women’s diversity : The experiences of women of historically marginalised groups aren’t discussed, by Sangmo Yonjan-Tamang (kp), Agitation against Koshi nomenclature escalates, government issues prohibitory order : Congress demands dialogue with groups agitating against the renaming of Province 1 as Koshi, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Koshi Province name won’t change despite govt’s intentions, UML asserts (kh 28/05/2023) [This was decided by the male Khas Arya elite, the exclusive owners of Nepal, basta!], NC leader Koirala criticizes removal of MP’s speech from Parliament records (kh), Ill intention evident right from task force formation on Bhutanese refugees, watchers say : Government authorities had gone ahead with their plan despite the UNHCR’s clarification that third-country resettlement of the refugees left behind would not happen, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), 17 rights activists protesting against corruption taken into custody (kh) [This is the state of the rule of law in Nepal: civil society protesters are arrested, convicted and sentenced murderers are released, potential rapists are courted and celebrated, women are not categorised as full and equal citizens, the historical and cultural identity of the majority of the population is disregarded in an authoritarian manner, disagreeable statements by parliamentarians are expunged from the record after the House of Representatives is blocked, etc.], President Paudel grants amnesty to 482 prisoners, including Resham Chaudhary (kh), Fringe parties, independent lawmakers complain of negligence in parliament (kh) [This is the state of a ruling oligarchy and not a democracy!], Irreversible System, by Parmeshwar Devkota (rn), Nepal to welcome Chinese delegates prior to PM Dahal’s India visit (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/05/2023: Prohibitory orders imposed in Biratnagar (kh) [The Khas Arya politicians simply do not want to understand how much they are hurting the majority population of this province by disregarding their historical roots and identity!], UML obstructs House over Maoist MP’s allegation of corruption in Pashupati jalahari installation : UML lawmakers ask the prime minister to present truth and seek an apology from Lekh Nath Dahal, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Top leaders agree to remove controversial remarks on Jalahari from parliament record (kh) [Statements made in parliament may be refuted or contradicted, and in the case of false statements the courts may also be involved, but statements that are disliked must not be deleted from the records by decision of the executive or the party leaders! This would be a manipulation of the statements of elected representatives and a subversion of the separation of powers!], Prime Minister to clarify Parliament about ‘jalahari’ (kh), My voice against corruption is suppressed: Maoist Center lawmaker Dahal (kh), Nepal Army plans to buy APCs. Chinese supplier is on US blacklist : It wants to procure 26 armoured personnel carriers from Chinese firm Norinco for use in UN peacekeeping missions, by Anil Giri (kp), Experts oppose lawmakers’ demand for pork barrel fund : There are allegations of misuse of the money provided under the controversial fund known Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [This fund serves the exclusive profiling of the non-inclusively selected and directly elected members of parliament and must be described as a special kind of corruption.], Ungreasing the wheels of corruption: Three Lessons for Nepal, by Alok K Bohara (rep), Essential To Overcome Political Malaises, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Pipeline plan slammed for violating eco commitments : Experts say there is an immediate need to decarbonise the transport sector, not import more gasoline, by Krishana Prasain (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/05/2023: Institutionalised inequality : The rich-poor gap in Nepal is state-sponsored violence, and is detrimental to stability and prosperity (nt), Nepal’s tax system widens rich-poor gap : The new budget needs to overhaul the tax structure that favours the privileged, by Ramesh Kumar (nt), The reign of private interests : A system that does nothing about conflict of interest is likely to foster corruption, inefficiency, and moral decline, by Basanta K Pokharel (kp), Court clears way for RSP’s Kansakar to become lawmaker in place of Shrestha : Dhaka Kumar Shrestha had moved the court against his party’s decision to sack him (kp), Travesty of eminence : The prime ministers of Nepal and India should have the courtesy to jointly receive the EPG report (kp), President’s Office sends back proposal to pardon Resham Chaudhary to Home Ministry (kh), Government urges President to authenticate Citizenship Bill (kh) [Why isn't a law passed that excludes politicians from any punishment for all time to come? Then the current corruption scandal would not have to be pursued any further as well. Politicians could go about their dirty business in complete openness and the cumbersome annulment of court rulings by the executive would be superfluous!], Wife of police officer killed in Tikapur incident files petition asking President not to grant amnesty to Resham Chaudhary (rep), NA hell-bent on procuring weapons from China; CoAS Sharma still goes falsehoods (kh), Writ petition filed at SC seeks to declare contradictory constitutional and legal provision for political parties null and void (rep) [The Political Parties Act is in any case undemocratic in many respects and primarily oriented towards securing the power of top politicians!], Declaration of Federal Republic: Momentous Day Of Nepal’s History, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Republicanism: Despite Progress, Challenges Remain, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Struggle Of Madhes For Federal Republic, by Amarendra Yadav (rn), Making Democratic Republic Work For People, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Changes In Electoral System: A Milestone To Institutionalise Republican Setup, by Liladhar Upadhyaya (rn), Republic And Renaissance, by Nanda Lal Tiwari (rn), Improved Status Of Women In Republic Nepal, by Anjita Rijal (rn), Sincere Efforts Needed To Build Nepal, by Lok Deep Thapa (rn), Act now to strengthen green democracy : Those green laws are not mere cosmetic arrangements but like lampposts showing vivid paths, by Jivesh Jha (ae), Nijgadh International Airport : Another Scandal, by Keshab Poudel (sp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/05/2023: Justice running late : The justice process in the Rukum West killings should blaze a trail for other caste-killing cases (kp), Rayamajhi kingpin, Khand tried to return bribe: Charge sheet : The Kathmandu attorney’s office has charged 30 persons with four types of crimes in fake Bhutanese refugee scam, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Investigation into Fake Refugee Scam is Incomplete (rep), Nepal Police denies involvement of Inspector General as high-profile arrest and lawsuits pile up (rep), Civil society demands independent probe in fake refugee scam : Former judges, bureaucrats, academicians and rights activists signed a joint letter to draw the government’s attention (kp), Youth leaders mobilise to ‘save’ Congress : Second-rung leaders to travel the country to ‘unite cadres and reconnect with voters’, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Is the EPG report dead and buried? India has refused to accept the report prepared by a joint team of eight experts five years ago. Some Indian diplomats find faults with its recommendations, by Anil Giri (kp), Nepalese Army to buy military equipment from China at high cost, by Tapendra Kharki (rep), Govt starts preparations to grant clemency to Resham Chaudhary (kh) [Article 276 of the Constitution opens the door to the arbitrariness of the political elite. Will we soon see something similar with regard to the accused in the current corruption scandal? Article 276 sets convicts free, but does not change their guilt. If Chaudhary is indeed innocent, this must be determined by a court. Then he would be entitled to adequate compensation for the injustice he has suffered! Now the procedure once again smacks of the manipulation of political power.]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/05/2023: The poverty of republican imagination : The divisive 2015 constitution has almost foreclosed any chance of further reforming society and polity, by CK Lal (kp), The crux of the matter, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), 3 years after Rukum West killings, kin still await justice : Dalit activists accuse major parties of weakening the case to protect the accused, who are non-Dalits, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Provinces accuse Centre of ignoring their concerns : Inter-governmental mechanisms envisioned by law remain largely ineffective as authorities fail to bridge the gap, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The disinterest in implementing the federal system started with KP Oli and continued unchanged by his successors.], Newly-appointed ministers sworn in (kh) [Wow, PK Dahal took only five months to complete his "stable" non-inclusive government!], Refugee scam-accused may face charges besides fraud, organised crime and treason : District Court, Kathmandu on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of those arrested by two days, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Teachers in politics : Most public school teachers in Nepal work with poor pay and perks, which makes them veer towards politics (kp) [In no democratic country should citizens be excluded from political activity because of their profession. This is one of the fundamental rights of human beings! And why does the exclusion in Nepal, for example, not apply to rich businessmen, while an uprising is being rehearsed against poor teachers?], Why is Russia keen to engage with Nepal?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [Putin is urgently looking for supporters of his murderous war of terror!], A correct political leadership can correct all flaws, interview with Jagdish Dahal (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/05/2023: Lal Commission report: Truth and lies : Shelving a report that could speak of security personnel’s wrongdoing will give rise to impunity, by Dipendra Jha (kp) [Anything that contradicts the interests of the ruling elite must not be published. People's fundamental right to information is being disregarded. This has been similar with regard to the social and cultural data of the latest population census.], Police for indicting 33 in Bhutanese refugee scam : They have fixed the total amount involved in the scam at around Rs270 million based on complaints by 113 people, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) Nepal’s public debt exceeds Rs 2,150 billion (kh), Nepal’s per capita public debt increases four-folds in the past one decade (rep), Pashupati Shumsher Rana: Fragility of parties does not forecast a stable future, interview with Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana (ae), A plethora of pipedreams : Some items in the latest programme have been reappearing unfailingly for the past 30 years, by Achyut Wagle (kp) [This is due to the fact that the same old failed and totally incompetent politicians are clinging to power. They can't think of anything better, let alone solutions!], Debates On Federalism, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/05/2023: Government’s policies and programmes disappoint the Dalit community : Prime Minister Dahal had made lofty promises but the document barely mentions Dalits, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), How language reflects social and racial prejudices against Madhesh, by Sushant Nepali (rep), Enough is enough : The general public’s level of frustration over corruption is very high, by Paban Raj Pandey (kp), Police, attorney in a rush to file charges in refugee scam : As per the law, all 32 accused must be tried in court by Wednesday, but investigators have yet to conclude probe, by Anup Ojha and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), 32 people involved in fake Bhutanese refugee scam: Police : Police submitting report to District Attorney Office today (kh), Police submit investigation report on Fake Bhutanese Refugee case (kh), The high-profiles who appeared on the investigation radar but were not prosecuted, by Arun Bam (rep), Cop terror in Tarai border points rampant, by Bal Krishna Sah (ht), A common man’s view of corruption, by Cilla Khatry (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/05/2023: Justice delayed: Vacancies hamper three tiers of courts : Top court not only lacks chief justice but has five of the 21 justice posts vacant. Lower courts are understaffed too, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Could the primary system work in Nepal? : After RSP, RPP is considering primaries to pick candidates, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Perhaps such a procedure could finally help to make the selection of candidates socially inclusive and end the total dominance of male Khas Arya, if the latter allow it at all. So far, they consider this country as theirs!], Vigilance after refugee scam : The responsible people of the political parties and the bureaucracy have established an uncanny alliance, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Bhutanese Refugee Scam : Parties Must Not Interfere In Prosecution, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: Police fail to submit investigation report (kh), EC seeks clarification from political parties, university teachers (kh) [It should be the basic right of every Nepali citizen to be politically active, regardless of their everyday occupation. The Political Parties Act is discriminatory in this respect, while on the other hand it grants authoritarian powers to party leaders!], Why are Nepalis Leaving the Country?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/05/2023: Policy paints rosy picture of economy amid fiscal trouble : Government claims of improvements in revenues, foreign aid and investment contradict official statistics, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), 11-member panel to forge consensus on transitional justice law amendment : Parties must understand any process rejected by victims will have no legitimacy, says conflict victim leader (kp), When will the government make Lal Commission report public? Experts say parties fear releasing the report could antagonise security officials, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Rastriya Prajatantra Party objects to State Department’s religious freedom report : In a letter addressed to US ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson, RPP chairman Rajendra Lingden has asked the State Department to revise the ‘one-sided’ and ‘biased’ report (nlt) [The RPP's efforts to once again link the state with one of the diverse religions practised in Nepal contradict its claimed respect and freedom for all religions. Followers of these religions must be deeply hurt by these aspirations of the RPP, whose policies were supported by just five percent of the electorate in the elections! Whether such aspirations are actually supported by India, as the US report claims, is of secondary importance. What matters is the damage that the RPP wants to inflict on Nepal's multi-ethnic and multi-religious society!] NHRC calls to protect MP Gautam’s life (kh), Nurturing Leadership Ideals, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/05/2023: No one is above the law but some crime accused seem to be, in Nepal (nlt) [The way they still present themselves as waving superstars even in this situation is repulsive!], Losing our moral compass : The fake refugee scam is a reflection of everything that is wrong with Nepal and the people who run it (nt), Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: There is more to it, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Accused of fake Bhutanese refugee scam to face five different offenses, by Arun Bam (rep)), Dahal says court barred release of Lal panel report : The prime minister claims his Maoist party didn’t misuse cantonment funds and offers to go to jail if found guilty, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Obviously, Nepalis continue to be denied the right to information!], Season of instability : It should be no surprise if voices against federalism get more traction in the coming days (kp) [Federalism is of enormous importance for Nepal, given the centuries of social and regional exclusion policies. The problem is the centralist-minded top politicians and the Hindu fundamentalists!], Cultural revolution needed : People don’t give up caste hatred even when they move from villages to more urban parts of Nepal, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), 11-member sub-committee formed to discuss and prepare report on transitional justice bill (ae), NUP withdraws its general strike (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/05/2023: Law amendment aims to drop conflict-era cases, human rights commission claims : High possibility of the draft aiming at withdrawing cases by giving them a political colour, says Top Bahadur Magar, commission chair, by Binod Ghimire (kp), US report: BJP pays politicians to lobby for Hindu Nepal : Pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu groups in the country dismiss the Department of State claims as baseless, by Anil Giri (kp) [see report] [Those who turn the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual state of Nepal into a unilaterally defined state, as the monarchy once did and as the RPP and similarly oriented groups want to restore in an intolerant manner, are violating basic human rights and destroying the harmony and internal peace of the country.], Peace Initiative Bhutan demands swift action to punish the perpetrators of fake refugee scam : The organized crime orchestrated by high-ranking Nepali politicians and bureaucrats has caused immense harm to legitimate Bhutanese refugees and undermined the integrity of the refugee resettlement process, the US based organization said, by Arjun Pradhan (nlt), Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal arrested (kh), Fake Bhutanese refugees scam: Haj Committee Chair Miya arrested (kh), Of scammers and experts : The role of experts in the highest levels of government has been revealed completely, by Deepak Thapa (kp), Six months after elections, provincial governments are still incomplete : Experts warn prolonged delays will gravely undercut the spirit of federalism, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [The responsibility lies predominantly with the completely irresponsible, power-greedy and incompetent top politicians and parties at the national level!], Was she inappropriate or a victim of misogyny? While some saw Sumana Shrestha’s dress as unseemly for MP, others thought she was unfairly targeted as a woman, by Anup Ojha (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/05/2023: Will top brass sink three big parties?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae) [Absolutely guaranteed! These totally self-overestimating politicians never change! The prerequisite for saving the parties would be that they resign without exception and give way to a younger generation!], Collusive alliance: Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Maoist collude to extract partisan rent : The Bhutanese refugee scam has brought Nepal’s main opposition CPN-UML closer to ruling parties Nepali Congress and Maoist-Center. This is an indication that major parties are institutionalizing collusive alliances instead of practicing competitive politics (nlt), Political parties urged to not disrupt investigation into fake Bhutanese refugee scam (ae), Police not to submit report on Wednesday : Preparing deadline extension for 14 in custody (kh), From Bribery to Nepotism: Fighting Back Corruption in Nepal, by Nisha Jha (rep), Lessons to learn from fake Bhutanese refugee scam : Current discourse on the fake Bhutanese refugee scam misses two important points: We need limited government, and Nepali people want to leave the country, by Prakash Maharjan (nlt), Time To Demonstrate True Leadership, by Namrata Sharma (rn), Rayamajhi, Khand, others to remain in custody for another 3 days (kh), Top court upholds Resham Chaudhary’s life sentence : He was handed life term by lower courts for links to the Tikapur lynchings in which 8 people were killed in 2015, by Binod Ghimire (kp), NUP announces Nepal Banda from May 20 to exert pressure on govt to release Resham Chaudhary (rep), Nagarik Unmukti Party warns of quitting government (ae), Short of sight : Most people’s representatives work for themselves rather than on behalf of their electorate (kp), Bring federalism-centric budget : Allocating a bigger budget or more programmes to specific constituencies does not guarantee electoral success, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Six years after BRI agreement, Nepal has little to show for it : Nepali officials seem unaware the deal, involving cross-border rail, is renewed every 3 years, by Anil Giri (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/05/2023: SC issues short-term interim order not to implement the decision to give 2 lakhs rupees to Maoist ex-militants (kh), District Public Prosecutors’ Office records statement of 11 accused (kh), Calls to probe Maoist cantonment scam growing : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s Maoist party has been accused of misusing funds meant for combatants, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), No blanket amnesty for serious rights violation, PM vows to foreign diplomats : Promises to uphold zero-tolerance policy against corruption and ensure transparency and accountability (kp) [???], Nepal: Economy Confronts a Challenge to National Stability, by Binoj Basnyat (kh), Communities struggle as climate impacts threaten public wellbeing and livelihoods : Hundreds of vulnerable groups—the poor, women, and children—have been affected, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Supreme Court sentences Resham Chaudhary to life imprisonment (kh), Dismal Capital Expenditure: Govt yet to spend 60 percent of capital budget (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/05/2023: Journalists and civil activists commit to give priority to issues of marginalized, by Lalit Bista (rep), Why does government flip-flop on decisions? Mature decision-making involves processing and analysing information but the government is taking shortcuts, experts say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), In Nepal, rage against grand larceny : Lawmakers, intellectuals and commoners are uniting against attempts of top leadership to dismiss the fake Bhutanese refugee scam (nlt), No refuge, no shelter : Nepal will be confronted on the international arena for inviting the present imbroglio, by Semanta Dahal (kp), Absconding UML leader Rayamajhi arrested : The former deputy PM was on the run since May 4, by Anup Ojha (kp), Top Bahadur Rayamajhi arrested from hideout, by Ujjwal Satyal (ht), Top Bahadur Rayamajhi being produced in court today (kh), Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: Former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa surrenders to Police (kh), Lawmakers air views against fake Bhutanese refugee scam (rep), Foul play suspected after District Government Attorney’s Office instructs police to complete investigation by Tuesday, by Arun Bam (rep), Controversial Amendment Bill that sets five-year statute of limitation on corruption cases being reverted to parliamentary thematic committee (rep), Let Refugee Scam Probe Take Its Course, by Ballav Dahal (rn), Parties revive deal to give momentum to Parliament : A subcommittee will iron out the differences among the major parties on the disputed transitional justice bill, by Binod Ghimire (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/05/2023: ‘Corrupt, beware!’: Protests against refugee scam continue : The scam, in which 875 Nepalis were swindled of millions of rupees on the promise of being sent to the US, forces people to hit the streets decrying the network of corruption, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Multiple protests demanding action against refugee scammers (ht), PM Dahal, Deuba and Oli hold meeting in Baluwatar (kh) [The frequent meetings of these three politicians, who are mainly responsible for Nepal's political decline in recent years, are significant after the corruption scandal came to light!], Police issue arrest warrant against former Home Minister Thapa’s son Pratik (kh), Top Bahadur Rayamajhi arrested (kh), Police arrest Top Bahadur Rayamajhi (nlt), Former Home Minister Khand and 11 others remanded in custody for four days : The Kathmandu District Attorney Office has also directed the Nepal Police to complete the investigation within four days (nlt), Fake Bhutanese refugee scam tarnished Nepal’s image: NC leader Koirala (kh), Nepali traders fed up with China’s random border policy : The Tatopani border point re-opened on May 1 after remaining closed for eight years then closed again the next day, by Krishana Pradhan and Anish Tiwari (kp), Nepal's Economy Faces External Dependency Nightmare, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/05/2023: Grassroots Citizens Voice Against Status Quo, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), In the jungle of corruption, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), PM Prachanda, Deuba, Oli should not be spared if found guilty: Dr. Govinda KC (kh), Bhutanese languishing in camps decry Nepali leaders’ deceitful substitution of genuine refugees : Refugees living in Jhapa and Morang districts of eastern Nepal lament those in power are trying to profit from their miseries, by Parbat Portel (kp), Impeachment move alone ‘no ground for suspension’ : The Supreme Court ruling may dissuade lawmakers from bringing such motions on a whim in the future, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Setting the record straight: Parties submit their audit reports to EC, by Pratik Ghimire (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/05/2023: Civil society rises again : It can articulate larger public demands while moderating the more extremist voices in the crowd (kp), Nepal is failing on multiple fronts. What can be the way out? We should first be able to discern neighbors’ core interests and maneuver our binding compulsions while managing our internal problems, by Suresh Sharma (nlt), Fake Bhutanese refugee scam tarnishing Nepal’s image internationally, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Government registers bill to ease path to amnesty in crimes : Human rights activists say withdrawing cases related to heinous crimes will promote impunity (kp) [This is a consequence of the proximity of politics and crime in Nepal. Leading politicians often do not even consider it necessary to respect the constitution and laws or they manipulate them!], Top court vacancies persist despite chief justice nomination : Positions of as many as five justices at Supreme Court, 42 judges at high courts and 40 judges at the district courts are currently lying vacant, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Fault lines in foreign policy : Nepal’s western border issue is on the backburner and there has only been a coy response from political elite, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), RPP Chairman Lingden suggests PM Dahal to initiate investigation of assets of leaders and govt employees after 2046 BS (rep) [Why only from 2046 BS? Corruption was no less in the panchayat system and at that time those politicians who formed the RPP in 2046 ruled under the special protection of the monarchy!], GBV Hinders Economic Development, by Madhavi Singh Shah (rn), Rot at the top : Everything you need to know about Nepal’s fake refugee scandal (but were too indifferent to ask), by Shristi Karki (nt), The last of the Kusunda : Social exclusion by mainstream society is driving this endangered ethnic group and its unique language to extinction, by Sewa Bhattarai (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/05/2023: No trust, no credibility : The singular mission of all major political parties in Nepal has been to grab power by any means, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Experts laud arrests, say will be watching progress : They caution against the possibility of party honchos coming together to protect their accused colleagues, by Binod Ghimire (kp), People protest against Bhutanese refugee scam : Civil society members accuse leaders of misusing state funds, authority, by Anup Ojha (kp), Skeletons tumbling out : Probe into the Bhutanese refugee scam needs constant vigilance from media and civil society (kp), Pressure mounts on the government to get to the bottom of fake refugee scam : Calls are growing on the government from all sides to take action against everyone involved in the case, by Anil Giri (kp), Economic outlook and fiscal budget : A single budget cannot resolve all structural issues but it can take corrective steps, by Chandan Sapkota (kp), FNCCI calls for tax cuts and increased spending : Ad hoc decision making by the government and the central bank is hurting the economy, private sector representatives say, by Subin Adhikari (kp), Civic Initiatives For Charitable Services, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Govt preparing to amend law to withdraw Resham Chaudhary’s case (kh) [Desperate search for government partners? Nepal's so-called top politicians cannot make friends with legal processes!], Government registers bill in Parliament to free Resham Chaudhary (ae), EC directs 82 political parties to make public their audit report (ae) [Why is the Political Parties Act not amended to exempt political parties from such reports? That would fit, wouldn't it?]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/05/2023: Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand arrested : Khand's personal secretary Narendra KC also arrested (kh), CPN-UML refuses to take action against Top Bahadur Rayamajhi : Police on Tuesday raided the home of Rayamajhi, who is dodging the authorities, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), UML suspends Secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi (kh), UML suspends Top Bahadur Rayamajhi as party secretary : Rayamajhi, who was supposed to return to the Capital via Bhairahawa on May 4, cancelled his flight ticket and has been contactless since (kp), Top Bahadur writes to Parliament Secretariat seeking sick leave (kh), UNHCR expresses serious concern over the fake Bhutanese refugees scam : The UN agency has made it clear that the Bhutanese refugee resettlement process from Nepal was formally closed on December 31, 2016 and that there was no possibility to start the process again (nlt), ‘There should be no 5-year statute of limitation on corruption cases’ (rep), TI-Nepal draws attention on bills to amend two commissions (kh), General secretaries plan Congress revolt. Will they succeed? Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma are reportedly considering radical options for the party’s transformation, by Anil Giri (kp), Retailers pulling down shutters as recession bites : ‘To Let’ notices have become a common sight as business confidence has sunk to record lows, market observers say, by Subin Adhikari (kp), The Hindutva template of hegemony : The controversy over Bhanubhakta’s statue shows the emancipation of the subaltern is a long process, by CK Lal (kp), Escaping the remittance trap : Nepal is facing a vicious cycle of rising costs, migration and falling farm output, by Gopi K Khanal (kp), A Disappointing Picture of Capital Expenditure, by Suraj Ghimire (rep), By-poll Message To Parties, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/05/2023: Unholy nexus: A billion-rupee scam exposes ugly connivance of politicians to dupe public : The Home Ministry is supposed to control forgeries. But the fake Bhutanese refugee scam has exposed the alleged involvement of political leaders at the helm of the ministry in power misuse (nlt), PM Dahal, Deuba and Oli hold talks at Baluwatar (kh), Police raid UML Secretary Rayamajhi’s house (kh), Concerns grow over Nepal’s global image after Bhutanese refugee scam : How can its neighbours be assured Nepal’s corrupt system can address their legitimate security interests, experts ask, by Anil Giri (kp), Don’t let them down : The loan sharking problem will not go away without addressing the financial vulnerabilities of the poor (kp), President Paudel initiates consultation with legal experts on Citizenship Bill (kh), Confusion persists over President’s role in Citizenship Bill : Experts say ex-President Bhandari flouted constitution by sitting on the bill passed twice by Parliament, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Focus on fiscal fundamentals : Nepal’s current economic crisis can be solved only with bold fiscal policy measures, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Refugee Crisis Is Far From Over, by Uttam Maharjan (rn), Inclusive participation of women in all levels, structures of State demanded (rn), Women Forum demands inclusive participation of women in state structures : The Forum concluded with 14-point declaration which calls for proportional inclusive representation, taking the transitional justice to conclusion, and increasing access of women and all marginalized communities to justice (nlt), Starving Saipal residents crying for food (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/05/2023: Rape offense is not just rape offense, do not normalize it : Our society tends to demotivate and defame the victims and further victimize the victims if the perpetrators are powerful people, by Shreena Nepal (nlt), The nexus of crime and politics : Political leaders are protecting corrupt individuals, goons, real estate developers, and tax evaders, among others, a former police officer claims, by Ajabi Paudyal (ae), MPs trade barbs in House over top-level corruption : UML challenges government to investigate tampering of tax rates last year and corruption in Maoist cantonments, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Victims doubt loan shark ordinance’s implementation : High-level panel reports harassment of victims of unscrupulous lending in some districts, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Amid gloom, Prime Minister and Finance Minister reassure people on economic recovery : The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have said that work is underway to bring the economy back on track and therefore people do not need to panic (nlt), Govt’s efforts for economic improvements inadequate: Dr Swarnim Wagle (kh), The news-knowledge divide : Press freedom should be about more than just defending the media from political interference, by Dharma Adhikari (kp), New Finance Minister Needs to Promote Budget Credibility, by Anirudra Neupane (rep), SC issues interim order not to implement RSP’s decision to sack its MP Dhaka Kumar Shrestha (rep), RSP’s Bindabasini Kansakar appointed HoR member (ae), Justice Karki recommended for Chief Justice (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/05/2023: Eruption of Dalit rage : Political parties have little interest in resolving the pressing problems of the Dalit communities, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), Nepali, Indian stakeholders stress joint effort to curb human trafficking : Human trafficking that was rife after the 2015 earthquakes further increased during the pandemic, by Rajesh Mishra (kp), Of political parties and leaders : The binary of democrats and communists is the most commonly used expression in Nepali political parlance, by Abhi Subedi (kp), Reforming Anti-Corruption Legislations, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), New President can authenticate citizenship bill, legal experts say : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeks suggestions from representatives of Nepal Bar Association on the bill’s status (kp) [And what are the consequences of his predecessor's unconstitutional behaviour? After all, this had far-reaching consequences, not only for the persons concerned. It is high time to enforce the duty of leading politicians to comply with the constitution and laws!], Constitutional Council meeting to take place Monday (kh), PM Dahal appoints NC’s Surendra Acharya as Minister (kh), NA set to open LC to procure weapons worth Rs 6 billion from China (kh), Dahal commits to getting to the root of fake refugee scam : The prime minister hints of undue pressure to spare politicians named in fake refugee documentation (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/05/2023: How Nepali Diasporas are influencing politics back home : Due to Rabi Lamichhane's citizenship and passport dispute, there will likely be demands from Nepali diasporas for dual citizenship, representation in parliament, and the right to vote from outside Nepal, by Saugat Gautam (nlt), Reasoned Debate Key To Civic Renewal, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/05/2023: Should Rastriya Swatantra Party join the government? They could take a leaf out of the book of Canadian politics
The creation of a confidence and supply agreement with the ruling coalition could give RSP a lot of influence without losing its opposition status, by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Will Dahal be able to accommodate Swatantra Party in government? RSP will take a call on whether to join the federal Cabinet at its central committee meeting today, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), RSP to withdraw its support to Dahal-led government (kh), UML’s Oli objects to the arrest warrant against Rayamajhi : Police say the arrest of the party secretary and former minister was delayed due to political pressure, by Anil Giri (kp) [This is typical once again. Politics and crime are often very close!], Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: Police preparing to arrest about a dozen more people including ‘VIPs’ while lobbying starts to protect the accused (rep), Manufacturing refugees : The fake documentation case highlights the criminalisation of politics and bureaucracy in Nepal (kp), By-election 2023: Swing voting or polarisation? The use of informal networks, rather than open policy debate, is still a key to winning elections, by Sanjeev Humagain (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/05/2023: Newly-appointed ministers to be sworn in today (kh), Ex-minister, sitting officials implicated in refugee scam : Investigators suspect more government officials and relatives of political leaders could also be involved, by Anil Giri (kp), Differences between ruling coalition and main opposition likely to grow : The Business Advisory Committee on Friday failed to agree on the endorsement of the bill to amend the Constitutional Council Act after the UML sought revision, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Both sides do everything to prevent political stability!], Budget session of Parliament to start next week : Besides pre-budget and fiscal policy discussions, session may also handle a few other crucial bills (kp) [Take your time with these things, the main thing is that the politicians enjoy their pointless power struggles!], Dalit Network objects demolition of Badi people’s huts (kh), CIAA Chief Rai likely to be dragged into fake Bhutanese refugee issue (kh) [!!??], Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: 106 people file complaints against fraud for over Rs 230 million (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/05/2023: Can more inclusive media support peace in Nepal? Media stakeholders in Nepal recognize that inclusion needs to be addressed. By capitalizing on this opportunity, Nepali media can thrive, facilitate a healthy democracy and contribute to a truly sustainable peace, by Rabina Shrestha (nlt), World Press Freedom Day: Challenges galore for Nepal’s free media, by Umesh Pokharel (ae), Arrest warrants issued for Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, his son, and Ram Bahadur Thapa’s son in relation to fake refugees scam : The court has issued an arrest warrant against them in connection with an investigation into a scam that defrauded Nepalis by falsely promising to send them to the United States as Bhutanese refugees (nlt), Police arrest Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey of Vice President’s Office (rep), NC leader Koirala in S’pore amid intra-party conflict : PM Dahal's India visit uncertain as the process of procuring arms from China begins (kh), Govt recommends President to call parliament session on May 7 (kh), President Paudel calls session of Federal Parliament (kh), President appoints three new ministers from NC (kh), Dahal’s graft probe should begin with his own actions, say experts : Anti-graft commission formed through a political decision can only prepare reports, but not punish anyone, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Nepal keeps downgrading economic growth projection : The latest estimate is 1.86 percent, down from 4 percent during the first half and 8 percent at the start of the fiscal year, by Sangam Prasain (kp), Oli offers prime ministership to Rabi Lamichhane (rep) [The chaos fomentor Oli is in action again, of course all in the interest of political stability and for the good of the country!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/05/2023: Debating the discourse of discrimination against Dalits with JB Biswokarma : ‘The state must be inclusive, society needs to respect every member of the society equally regardless of gender, caste and ethnicity, and create an environment where everyone can have a dignified life’, interview by Simone Galimberti (nlt), Dahal keen to rope in RSP as coalition partners dither : The prime minister is ready to re-allocate the three ministries the RSP led earlier, says spokesperson, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Is the RSP willing to give up its independence for power and posts? Where is the difference?], Lamichhane submits reply to SC : Says court's interference could end AG's institutional, functional autonomy, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Rabi Lamichhane says court cannot examine Attorney General’s decision : The writ petitioner Yubaraj Poudel, however, claims the attorney general’s powers as stipulated by Article 158(2) does not apply in Lamichhane’s case, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Budget cuts in maternal health carry serious risks, experts warn : Antenatal and postnatal care, institutional delivery, verbal autopsy of maternal deaths, and training will be impacted, by Arjun Pudel (kp) [But monetary payments to disqualified former Maoist soldiers, obviously recruited in violation of international law, are obviously more important than maternal health!], In a recession : There is no political consensus on boosting economy, creating jobs and unlocking public spending (kp), Appoint Chief Justice right away : A delay in the appointment of the head of the top court casts doubt on the judiciary's independence, by Dipendra Jha (kp), Nepali trucks being stopped at Tatopani border point : The cargo has to be transferred to Chinese trucks for onward transport under a new rule issued by China, officials said, by Krishana Prasain (kp) [Free trade as China understands it! Nepal should slowly think about whether China is really a cooperation partner for the future!], We Look at Nepal for Nepal's Sake’, interview with US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thomson (rep) [So you know better than Nepal what the country needs? Others call this intervention!], FATF blacklist: Act before it is too late (rep), Govt to bring ordinance to address issues of loan sharking victims (kh) [Why is this not regulated in a parliamentary democracy through the popularly elected HoR?]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/05/2023: Nepal plunges into its first recession in six decades : As per the Statistics Office, seasonally adjusted growth rate for the second quarter may drop by 0.73 percent, by Sangam Prasain (kp), PM Dahal asks RSP to join govt : Expresses willingness to investigate corruption cases (kh), RSP to take decision on joining government only on Friday (ae), Division in ruling coalition over possible Cabinet entry of Swatantra Party : While the prime minister wants to accommodate the party, RSP leaders say they are yet to seriously discuss matter, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), ‘New forces will take a decade to take full shape’ : What we need right now is a strong left-of-centre force to counter the forces coalescing around right-of-centre RSP, interview with Baburam Bhattarai (kp), Will Dahal have to go for floor test a third time if any party pulls support? Opinion is divided. Some argue floor tests are not needed until the government falls into minority, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Ruling parties fault the UML for delay in chief justice recommendation : Lawyers launch protest demanding speedy filling of vacant judicial positions, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Let us continue to exacerbate the instability and crisis! You selfish "top politicians" are really indispensable!], What a waste : Nepal’s lawmakers are more interested in development work than lawmaking (kp), Agreement reached between govt. and Chair Pun (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/04/2023: Death of ideological politics in Nepal : Misfortune looms large over the fate and longevity of existing ideology-based political parties in Nepal, by Matrika Poudyal (ae), New forces came and went. Will emerging parties be different? Swatantra, Janamat became national parties at one go. Here’s a peek into their prospects, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Opportunism and sacrifice in politics : The contest between the older parties and the newbies is one between stagnation and kinetics, by Avasna Pandey (kp), RSP Poll Victory : Can It Prompt Reform In Big Parties?, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn), First session of House ended without passing a bill : Previous legislature got embroiled in a dispute over twin dissolutions. This hung parliament bears no bright prospects either, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Saving National Human Rights Commission : The decision to downgrade the NHRC’s status raises questions over our commitment to human rights, by Bijay Raj Gautam (kp), FATF skeptical on Nepal’s efforts on money laundering preventions; carried out three onsite inspections last year (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/04/2023: Absence of law is denying conflict victims of sexual violence access to justice: Report. While no official figures are available, there are an estimated 1,500 victims of sexual violence from the insurgency era (kp), Children from Karnali families are falling prey to fraudulent foster homes : Nearly a hundred children from Karnali are rescued from children’s homes in various cities every year, says activist, by Tularam Pandey (kp), Prevent Partisanisation Of State Apparatuses, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Swatantra Party carefully calculating government support : Prime Minister Dahal is trying to woo Rabi Lamichhane as Maoist Centre leaders apparently fear a Congress betrayal, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Congress and UML protest as government prepares to pay disqualified ex-Maoists : Earlier budgets also mentioned the plan. Prime Minister Dahal made the decision in March (kp), Independent lawmaker Singh calls for ending policy-level and institutionalized corruption (kh), Mahabir Pun begins protest demanding government priority for innovation : Pun submitted a list of demands to the prime minister before launching his agitation, by Anup Ojha (kp), House of Representatives forms thematic committees : The lower House constitutes 10 thematic committees on the last day of the current session, five months after the first sitting (kp), Nepal doing better in financial inclusion, narrows gender gap, report says : The economic participation and opportunity for women in Nepal have improved—from 116th in 2013 to 107th in 2021 and 98th in 2022 (kp), Nepal achieves increase in financial inclusion (rn) [see report by IFC], 89% women and 90% men in Nepal have access to financial services: Report (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/04/2023: Gandaki and Lumbini get new chief ministers : Koshi, another UML-led province, is yet to start the process for the formation of a new government, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Since Nepal is a federal state only on paper, authority in the provinces still lies with the central political level! This prevents a rational provincial policy, causes completely unnecessary costs, prevents decentralisation and further contributes to the destruction of the nation!], Court denies interim order against KMC’s eviction notice to squatters : Lawyers on both sides have interpreted the order as a decision in their favour, by Anup Ojha (kp), Development, protection of environment should go hand in hand, justices say : Judicial activism in Nepal has resulted in several court rulings related to environmental protection, according to the Supreme Court judges (kp), Dahal’s arbitrary rule and docile Congress (ae), Govt decision to provide Rs 200,000 to disqualified former Maoist combatants slammed (rep), Rising poll expenses : Apart from laws, public awareness is a must to ensure free, fair and impartial elections (ht), The Reign God : The Maoists may have thought they were kingmakers, but now it is the RSP that has the role, by Santa Gaha Magar (nt), Old wine in old bottles m: Nepal’s ageing career politicians, it is time for you to bow out gracefully. You have failed. Give someone newer a chance (nt), Royal treatment in a republic (ae), Civil Society calls for scaling up Child Grant (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/04/2023: The Byawastha-Awastha Hypothesis, by Narayan Manandhar (rep), Food shortage in Sankhuwasabha villages as China border closure continues since 2020 : Bhotkhola Rural Municipality distributed rice in the affected villages of Thudam, Ridak and Chhumusur on Wednesday, by Dipendra Shakya (kp), Dalit freedom hinges on religious reform : The incompatibility between caste rituals and anti-caste laws has caused inevitable friction in Nepali society, by Mitra Pariyar (kp), When will Nepal become a child labor free country? Abolition of the worst forms of child labor is a national as well as international priority. But Nepal still has a long way to go to achieve the goal, by Helina Rai (nlt), Depoliticizing schools: Kathmandu Metropolis decides to ban political activities at the premises of public schools : Nepal’s political parties have long been using students of public schools to expand the cadre base of their student wings. The latest decision of Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah can be a crucial move toward making schools a zone of peace (nlt), Key items ‘vanish’ from House agenda as parties differ : Parliament Secretariat had published tentative agenda for the House meeting including formation of committees, by Binod Ghimire (kp), 5 months after his Saptari defeat, Bara sends Upendra Yadav to Parliament : Yadav emerges victorious in bypolls beating the Janamat hopeful who was riding on the popularity wave of CK Raut, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Like many of the old failed politicians, Upendra Yadav may have been elected only thanks to the electoral alliance.], NA allegedly procuring weapons worth Rs 6 billion from China without competitive bidding process, by Ishwar Dev Khanal (kh), Business leaders predict difficult year ahead for Nepali economy : Economists say that the failure of the government to spend would further hurt economic activities (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/04/2023: Stunned by the RSP, can Nepal’s old parties reinvent themselves? The trouncing of the candidates of established parties in the by-elections is being seen as a ‘do or die’ moment for the forces that have promised much but delivered little, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Tipping poin : If the political biggies do not mend their errant ways, they will face even more reverses in coming days (kp), The politics of emotional control : The polls have diverted the national attention away from some of the more pressing issues of political economy, by CK Lal (kp), National mood-swing : The by-elections have reaffirmed the young voters’ disillusionment with traditional political parties, by Anurag Acharya (kp), Communist Parties In Existential Crisis, by Yuba Nath Lamsal (rn), Advised for downsizing numbers of HoR, PA members (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/04/2023: A failed state or a middle-income country?, by Kedar Neupane (ae), Swarnim Wagle elected from Tanahun-1 : The renowned economist and former vice-chair of National Planning Commission had rebelled against Nepali Congress and joined Rashtriya Swatantra Party to contest the by-election from Tanahu-1. He won by a huge margin (nlt), Dr. Wagle voices for political corrections (kh), Rabi Lamichhane secures landslide victory from Chitwan-2 : The Rastriya Swatantra Party chairman got reelected from the same constituency twice in five months with a much larger number of votes than in the November 2022 polls (nlt), RSP Chair Lamichhane hints at withdrawing support to government (kh), RSP on journey to prosperity by embracing good governance: Chairman Lamichhane (rep) [For good governance, it would be important to stop supporting the power of the old failed leaders!], For whom the bell tolls, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Bypolls a warning shot to old parties : Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said on Monday that people had stopped trusting big parties, by Anil Giri (kp), Parties agree on House panels’ leadership, key bills : Congress, Maoist Centre and UML to discuss the disputed transitional justice bill in a special committee, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), TRC Bill to get a special panel push (ae), Big 3 reach understanding on TRC Bill : They have also worked out issue of sharing parliamentary panels' leadership (ht), Costly country : One of the poorest states in the world has also become arguably among the most expensive to live in (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/04/2023: Transitional justice in limbo : Callous injustice to the victims, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Democracy suffers when democratic actors fail to deliver : Political parties’ failure to uphold democratic values and their inability to ensure dividends of democracy to the people had emboldened King Gyanendra to take absolute power in hands in 2005 (nlt) [Without any doubt, the political parties and especially their top politicians stand out as completely anti-democratic failures, but the authoritarian monarchy was even worse, something the younger generation, however, has not experienced itself!], Disorderly House : The highest policy-making body in the land must mend its shoddy image soon (kp), Bypolls close with average 60 percent voter turnout : Elections were held in Bara-2, Tanahun-1 and Chitwan-2 with results expected to be declared by April 25, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), By-election results indicate people’s declining interest in major parties: Deuba (kh) [In a democratic state, the responsible leaders of these parties would resign immediately!], Top leaders meet at Singha Durbar to discuss contemporary issues (kh) [Not to initiate political and economic measures that the country so urgently needs, but once again primarily quarrelling over positions and offices!], Could Nepal’s communists reunite to fend off emerging political forces? Prime Minister Dahal says they are working to re-establish a unified communist party, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Industrialists in eastern Nepal protest against power cuts : The current power supply is short by 70 MW, the Nepal Electricity Authority says, by Binod Bhandari (kp), Code of conduct: Only for women? It is important for the state to realise that restrictive borders and policing the so-called ‘dignity of Nepali women’ is not the solution to existing problems, by Swasti Gautam (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/04/2023: Nepal votes: By-election taking place today : Voters to exercise franchise right in Bara-2, Chitwan-1 and Tanahu-1 (kh), Voting stalled following scuffle between cadres of RSP and other parties in Chitwan’s Naya Kiran School polling center (kh), JSP cadres capture polling station in Bara (kh), Designated voting time for April 23 by-election is over : EC estimates less votes than in November 20 elections (kh), By-election sees around 60 percent turnout (kh), Pre-budget deliberations could be cut short as House session lingers : Experts on parliamentary affairs say such problems arise when the House maintains no calendar, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [A direct consequence of the undemocratic policies of the "top politicians" of all parties who are exclusively interested in power!], Why has Nepal failed to establish consumer courts as mandated by law? As buyers don’t want to get into complex court cases, unscrupulous traders are emboldened, observers say, by Krishana Prasain (kp), Provincial governments in a flux as coalitions change : Karnali government splits ministry to accommodate aspirants from alliance partners, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Lack of understanding or deliberate abuse of the federal system by parties and politicians?], NCE Nepal demands 10 percent increment in education budget (kh), Relocating the Capital City: Easy as a Balen’s Tweet?, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep), Ensure Justice To Conflict Victims, by Ritu Raj Subedi (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/04/2023: Land, Livelihood and Climate Change, by Jagat Deuja (rep), Deliberative Public Key To Democracy, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), 7 years since transit deal with China, no shipment has moved : Nepal’s bid to break away from its sole dependence on India for third-country trade has not succeeded so far, by Anil Giri (kp), Teachers miss out on Chaitra pension as pay for ex-combatants gets priority : Around 18,000 retired teachers failed to receive monthly pay owing to budget shortfall, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Dahal and Oli meet, but no agreement yet on chief justice : The main opposition CPN-UML is also looking for the leadership of several parliamentary thematic committees (kp), Campaigners against Koshi hope province will get new name : Province 1 renamed Koshi on March 1. There are no signs of movement for name reflecting ethnic identity ebbing, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [Janajati groups may be in the majority, especially in Province 1, but this land belongs to the male Khas Arya and they decide!], Govt committed to ensure social justice, good governance: PM (kh) [And why does the entire policy of the country act in the opposite way? Empty words, as always!], Clash in Biratnagar, police fire tear gas (kp) [Anti-inclusive policies in practice!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/04/2023: Ensure Voting Right For All Nepalis, by Lokdeep Thapa (rn), Birth registration laws need amendment (ht), Shah-Singha Durbar spat sign of bigger waste problem : Dhunibesi and Kakani vow to obstruct garbage disposal at Banchare Danda if their demands are not honoured, by Anup Ojha (kp), Supreme Court orders Kathmandu Metropolitan City resume garbage from Singha Durbar  (nlt), SC orders Kathmandu Metro to collect Singha Durbar’s garbage within 3 days (kh), Police fire gunshots, lob teargas to disperse demolition protesters in Mirchaiya bazaar : People whose houses were damaged in the demolition drive have been protesting since April 10 seeking compensation, by Bharat Jarghamagar (kp), Swatantra Party cadres under public scrutiny : They are growing anarchic, intolerant of criticism and are no different than traditional party cadres, say observers, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Rich school, poor school : The steady decline of public school education portends a bleak future for the ‘socialism-oriented’ country (kp), Electricity for us first : Will Nepal’s hydro that is translating into billions in export earnings benefit the Nepali people?, by Bishal Thapa (kp), Nepal in a multipolar world : We should recognise that inviting the influence of major powers can be risky and costly, by Amrit Poudel (kp), National miasma : Independent party all set to overturn Nepal’s national politics in crucial by-elections, by Shristi Karki (nt), A Looming Crisis : Recent political events and action indicate that there is a serious political crisis that endangers the constitution (sp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

20/04/2023: “Nepal has strayed significantly from its intended path”, interview with Jayaraj Acharya (kh), Government employees threaten to halt daily operations at Singha Durbar : As part of their demonstration, the employees plan to send text messages to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on May 2 and 3, drawing attention to their cause (kh), Rabi Lamichhane’s awarding of ID deal under dual probe : The then home minister had pressed ahead with the process despite officials expressing serious doubts, by Anil Giri (kp), Timely breakup : There was the risk of our personal data circulating across the globe, ready to be snapped up by the highest bidders (kp), Civil society activists stage ‘human rights march’ : The march was staged against the police brutality on loan shark victims at Shantibatika on Monday (kp), Civic movement making a comeback? (ae), Undoing status quo in Nepal’s India policy : Nepal should avoid getting caught in the crossfire of conflicts between big powers, by Pragya Ghimire (kp), (Un)Fair Treatment (rep) [Don't worry, in future, without exception, all Nepalis will be brought for medical treatment by charter flights at state expense.], Save Public Institutions From Decline, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Govt doesn't register Nepal-made vehicles, by Sangay Sherpa (ht) [???], Citizenship bill : The govt must reach consensus on the citizenship bill rejected by then prez (ht), Forest fire reported at 379 places on Wednesday alone (kh), Dozens injured as police, locals clash in Siraha (ae), Does government even listen to the Parliament?, by Sabitri Dhakal (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

19/04/2023: Legal doubts over Constitutional Council meeting : The law appears to be unclear on whether the council has the mandate to make decisions, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) Constitutional Council meeting to recommend CJ inconclusive (kh), Thinning provincial purses : Provinces have failed to bolster their development portfolios for lack of internal revenues, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Nepal’s queer community watching India with interest : Supreme Court of Nepal in 2007 ordered the government to recognise same-sex marriages, but there’s no law yet, by Anup Ojha (kp), Govt scraps the procedure of awarding personal details to private companies, by Tapendra Karki (rep), 'No eligible Nepali will be without citizenship' : DPM Shrestha also assured the problems of usury victims would be addressed (ht) [The question is, who is considered eligible? So far, children are only considered eligible if the father has Nepali nationality. Only when women are seen as fully equal citizens can the problem with citizenship be solved!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

18/04/2023: Top leaders agree to take ahead chief justice appointment process : The chief justice position has been lying vacant since the retirement of Cholendra Shumsher Rana on December 13 last year (kp), PM Dahal calls meeting of Constitutional Council (kh), Constant tussle for power has crippled provincial governance : The power-centric mindset of Kathmandu-based politicians blamed for putting federalism in jeopardy, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Public Financing of Elections Could be a Game-changer for Nepal, by Alok K Bohara (rep), Difficulty in passing Transitional Justice bill (rep), NHRC concerned over use of force against victims of shylocking (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

17/04/2023: Democracy in retreat : Top leaders of old parties lack public trust despite their successes in electoral arithmetic, by Lok Raj Baral (kp), Top leaders agree to convene Constitutional Council meeting for CJ appointment (kh), Forest fires in surrounding districts make Kathmandu world’s most polluted city : There are incidents of fire in a half of the country’s forests, officials say, putting human health, wildlife at great risk, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Over Rs25 billion foreign aid spent in unproductive sectors: Auditor general : Development Cooperation Policy-2019 aims to utilise foreign aid in infrastructure and areas that contribute to sustainable development (kp), Difficult but doable : The political parties should do more than pay lip service to give voting rights to Nepalis living abroad (kp), Police use batons and water cannons on loan sharking victims (rep), Rabi Lamichhane’s supporters becoming increasingly anarchic, by Arun Bam (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

16/04/2023: PM Dahal set to expand cabinet for eighth time today : Nepali Congress leader NP Saud to become Foreign Minister (kh) [Nepal's politicians call this political stability!], Foreign Minister Saud assumes office (kh), Prime Minister Dahal’s India visit deferred until May : Railway, two-way trade, hydropower and Indian investment in Nepal are on the agenda of bilateral discussions, by Anil Giri (kp), Bad air, Covid make for noxious cocktail : Deteriorating air quality in Kathmandu Valley could exacerbate severity, deaths from coronavirus infection, doctors warn, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Prime minister renews voting pledge to Nepali citizens residing abroad : Experts say enabling Nepali citizens working or studying abroad to exercise their franchise is easier said than done, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [So far, these have only been hollow promises by politicians, although the Supreme Court has long obliged the government to apply this right of Nepali citizens!], Keep them in Nepal : If people are given a chance to work in their trained fields, they will not want to go abroad, by Sushila Karki (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

15/04/2023: Budget transfers equal capital expenditure last year; a serious issue of credibility (kh), RSP’s sacking of lawmaker may hit legal hurdle : A court can scrap the party’s decision made without following due process, say multiple law practitioners, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), As differences persist on key bills, top leaders of major parties fail to meet : Deferred citing Oli’s illness, the meeting may be held today, according to the prime minister’s personal secretary, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Giri elected Teacher Association’s Chair (kh) [Almost exclusively male Khas Arya were elected in this context. Long live the socially non-inclusive state!], Creating Autonomous Economic Space, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

14/04/2023: Dahal backtracks on responsibility for 5,000 conflict deaths : In a statement to court, the prime minister says his remark was political, and cannot be an issue of judicial concern, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [Deciding this is the exclusive task of a court of law and not that of a possibly responsible perpetrator!], Cabinet expansion unlikely before bypolls : Congress factions reach power-sharing deal, but Dahal is waiting for Bara by-election results (kp), PM Dahal urged to appoint CJ, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), Combatting misinformation: Effective fact-checking is the way, by Pralhad Gairapipli (ht), NC leader Koirala sees need of engaging youths in nation building (kh), Year 2079 BS remained additionally challenging for Press: FNJ (kh), 2.9 percent increment in expenditures (kh), New Nepali decade, by Sonia Awale (nt). Political trash : The garbage piling up inside Singha Darbar is an indication of the rot that has set in, by Shristi Karki (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

13/04/2023: Should we review the constitution? Experts have no definite answer, but they do agree on one thing: the political parties must change their attitude and implement the constitution to the letter, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Sex-selective abortions rampant, resulting in decreasing number of baby girls (kh), Positive beginning: RSP’s pledge to support state agencies in investigating the alleged bribery by its MP set a new standard in Nepali politics (nlt), Cash-strapped government renews push to dole out money to disqualified fighters : Ministry goes ahead with plan to pay Rs200,000 to each of the over 4,000 unverified conflict-era Maoist recruits, by Anil Giri (kp) [????], Matter of Shame (rep), Poor internet services in Karnali adding to people’s hardships : Unreliable connection has affected government services, small businesses and students’ performance. It has also kept residents outside the digital ecosystem, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Raj Bahadur Shahi (kp), Shah v Singha Durbar : The perception of a malfunctioning federal setup does not help any of the three tiers of government (kp), Heap of garbage in front of PMO (rep), Either work in the interest of Kathmandu or move Singha Durbar elsewhere: Mayor Balen (kh), Living Sustainably to Ensure a Future of Sustainability, by Basu Gautam (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

12/04/2023: Inclusion of Dalits, disadvantaged groups still negligible : Experts demand amendment to election laws to ensure inclusiveness as envisioned by the constitution, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [And please democratise the Political Parties Act at the same time, which in its present form only serves the authoritarian power of the incompetent party leaders!], Foreign ministry vacant amid great geopolitical churn : Coalition partner Congress considering NP Saud for the foreign minister job, but there’s no official decision yet, by Anil Giri (kp), Two steps back : With Covid cases steadily rising, this is just about the worst time to cut the country’s health budget (kp), Experts paint gloomy picture of economy as FNCCI readies for election : The private sector apex body said that political instability had put the country's economy in total disarray and eroded market confidence (kp), Why do leaders fear to declare their wealth? Anti-corruption activists say the anti-graft bodies should show some teeth and investigate the properties of government ministers and high-level officials if they refuse to disclose their assets. by Sumit Dhungel (ae), A stinking Singha Durbar is no solution, Mr Mayor, by Madhav Karki (ae) [Singha Darbar "stinks" anyway!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

11/04/2023: What will become of Nepal’s multiparty democracy and federalism? Experts warn that the entire multiparty polity and federalism may suffer collateral damage if political actors do not heed to the warning signs on the wall (nlt), PM Dahal, Deuba and Oli agree to make TJ and TRC bills ‘widely acceptable’ (kh) [Almost 6,000 days after the November 2006 peace agreement, still none of these failed political "leaders" wants to give absolute priority to justice for the victims!], Will UML help the coalition on transitional justice bill? As the ruling parties want to fast-track the bill, the role of the second-largest party is being keenly watched, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Home Minister pledges to revive the Citizenship Bill (kh), RSP stuck in the muck it promised to clean up : The proponents of alternative politics have been mired in controversies, one after another, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), New faces, old flaws : RSP is already proving to be no different to the older parties it supposedly wanted to replace (kp), Massive health budget cuts loom, all programmes to be affected : This could jeopardise progress achieved from years of investment, warn experts, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Hydropower (un)economics : Nepal’s hydropower development is challenged by a series of policy confusions, by Achyut Wagle (kp), Inflation exceeds cap of 7.44 percent (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

10/04/2023: Department of Civil Registration revises provision about non-marital child (kh), On autopilot : A sense of drift characterises the current coalition government. The country cannot afford it (kp), Speaker’s ruling to government to respond to questions raised in parliament (kh), Garbage piled up in Singha Durbar reflects govt’s indifferent attitude: KMC Mayor Balen (kh), Prime Minister should communicate with Mayor of Kathmandu immediately: Gagan Thapa (kh), Provincial pride projects in Gandaki in limbo : Political instability, lack of coordination between federal and provincial governments, budget crunch, and the pandemic are cited as the reasons, by Pratiksha Kafle (kp), Expensive Parliament, by Pratik Ghimire (ae), Indian security force’s entry in Nepali territory creates distrust in security mechanism: Raghuji Panta (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

09/04/2023: How proposed Telecommunication Bill violates people’s right to privacy : If the government has unchecked access to citizens' private phone calls, it can use the information gathered to suppress dissenting voices and punish individuals who speak out against the government, by Anjila Shrestha (kp), Speaker discusses TRC Bill with top brass of three parties (ht), Oli objects to PM on fast-track passage of transitional justice bill : Ruling allies Dahal and Deuba meet opposition leader at Speaker’s initiative, first time since the change in alliance, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Government seeks $200 million from ADB to tide over revenue shortfall : Reforms in public entities, transparency in contracts and timely financial reports are among the bank’s conditions, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), The epidemic of misgovernance : At the core of our national suffering is political mismanagement, by Mohan Guragain (kp), Four youths arrested for protesting against PA member Rai (rep) [Freedom of expression and protests are obviously not wanted in Nepal!], Lamichhane and the Long Arm of the Law, by Akhilesh Tripati (rep), National Civil Society Conference concludes issuing 19-point Kathmandu declaration (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

08/04/2023: Voice for the voiceless: How the loan sharks fleece the poor in Tarai and what may be done to stop it, by Jivesh Jha (nlt), Govt has to take a loan to pay salary to employees: DPM Khadka (kh) [No, Nepal does not have any financial problems, other politicians claim!], Ruling partners drifting apart on multiple issues : Some allies have refused to take ownership of the common programme and fielded their own candidates in bypolls, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [At the top of all these parties is a collection of exclusively power-hungry male Khas Arya who don't give a shit about the country and its people! Sorry for the way I put it!], Power in the wrong hands, by Niranjan Mani Dixit (rep), Overcoming Hurdles To Good Governance, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn 08/04/2023)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

07/04/2023:  Break the fall : The continued slowdown of the economy hints at much tougher fiscal days ahead (kp), Common programme repeats government’s past promises : 13-page paper contains populist pledges and a plan to conclude peace process in 2 years, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), CMP is dull and prosaic: NC General Secretary Thapa (kh), Differences stall House committees’ formation : A reason for delay is the intent of some to pass transitional justice law amendments without adequate discussion, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Congress factional dispute delays Cabinet expansion : Party’s rival faction led by Shekhar Koirala unwilling to settle for anything less than three ministries for its members (kp)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

06/04/2023: Meeting of ruling coalition underway at Baluwatar : To finalize government's Common Minimum Program (kh) [What kind of approach is this? The agreement on a CMP must be reached before the formation of a coalition government. Only after that can one talk about subordinate matters. The allocation of ministerial posts should only take place at the very end! This shows that the politicians are only concerned about posts and less about content!], New parties in House struggling to make an impact : Rastriya Swatantra, Janamat and Nagarik Unmukti parties have failed to effective play their parliamentary roles, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Instead of presenting a difference, they help the old failed elites to survive!], Nepal’s growth faces slowdown amidst domestic and external challenges : The World Bank said that political stability remains important to manage the economy and ensure the continued pursuit of development priorities (kp), Women and indigenous rights activists call for focus on gender justice (rep), PM Dahal urged to own movement for ethnic identity (kh), PM Dahal under pressure to name Koshi province on the basis of ethnic identity (rep), Civil Registration Department adds new provision for birth registration (rep) [Despite this slight improvement, discrimination against women and their descendants explicitly remains!], Caveats Of Fund Allocations To MPs, by Mukti Rijal (rn), United for opportunism: “Upendra Yadav is indispensable for the nation and parliament,” says former PM Madhav Nepal : Both leaders have been already tested and failed to deliver. But it is not the end of the story. They keep on indulging in clumsy appreciation of each other for the sake of perpetuating their hold onto power (nlt) [And urgent recommendations of the NHRC are once again disregarded in this context! A failed generation of politicians is fighting to stay in power by hook or by crook!], Ruling coalition unveils government’s Common Minimum Program (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

05/04/2023: Govt scraps expenditure in the name of peace-related activities (kh), After Deuba, Dahal hesitates to publicise his property details : Though public unveiling of property details is a voluntary act, it is an established practice in mature democracies, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepali and Chinese officials to discuss border, security issues but skip GSI : A foreign ministry official says there will be open and frank discussion on all topics including some disputed ones, by Anil Giri (kp), CIAA challenges Special Court’s clean chit to ex-minister and 20 others : Anti-graft body claims evidence was ignored to exonerate those accused of corruption in Sikta Irrigation Project, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), The role of deputies : It is necessary to analyse the executive powers of the federal units provided by the constitution, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Where are women in academia? One can only wonder why women disappear as they advance academically, by Aarati Baral (kp), Nepal, sans Division of Labor!, by Pradip Kumar Kafle (rep) [Once again a primordial fault of the institution of Shah Monarchy!], Development partners urge Finance Minister for effective implementation of projects (rn), The Swarnim Waglé effect: Can RSP rise as an alternative political force to liberals? For a long time, Nepali Congress enjoyed the advantage of being the only established democratic force of the country. Rastriya Swatantra Party has shown some initial indications that it can be an alternative platform for liberal candidates (nlt) [So far, the RSP is less alternative, which would mean different from the old parties, than additional!]
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

04/04/2023: Examining Nepal's Male-Dominated Legal System, by Bhawana Ghimire (rep), Two successive Nepali prime ministers addressed the Summit for Democracy and lied to the world : Deuba and Prachanda claimed they were working to resolve transitional justice issues by taking into account the concerns of the victims. The truth is they are trying to ram down a law that is feared to benefit the war-time perpetrators instead of the victims, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt), People’s suffering peaks but Nepali lawmakers’ focus is on their honorific titles : Parliamentarians of all major political parties band together to prioritize order of precedence at a time when the people are facing hardships, by Kishor Dahal (nlt), Don’t shut them again : More than the BRI, Nepal would arguably benefit from hassle-free border points with China (kp), A mountain of questions : After a switch to federalism, the people had hoped to find the government at their doorsteps. Their hopes have not materialized thus far, by Gopikrishna Dhungana (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

03/0472023: Dalit man insulted for joining feast for ‘upper-caste’ guests : Various political parties, their sister organisations and several social organisations deplored the incident and demanded legal action against the guilty, by Deepak Pariyar (kp), Freedom of expression in Nepal: The false prototype, by Pushpa Raj Joshi (ht), Something is rotten : Protests reflect a deeper societal issue: The system is not functioning effectively, by Avasna Pandey (kp), Unified Socialist can’t keep key leaders after poll debacle : Two senior leaders abandon party while many, including third-ranked Mukunda Neupane, express dissatisfaction, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), Concerns over implementation of agreement between the government and loan shark victims : Another group of people who are victims of unscrupulous lending announce a separate protest programme, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Action over word : Is it the case that those who join politics through “lateral entry” are often too ambitious and impatient? (kp), Nepal in a geostrategic chessboard, by GP Acharya (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

02/04/2023: Behind births of fewer girls than boys : Preference for sons, which leads to female foeticide, is among the suspected reasons, by Arjun Poudel (kp) [Only males are full Nepalis. This is what is written in the constitution and laws and especially in the minds of the patriarchal machos!], Conflict victims’ families meet PM Dahal, demand equitable compensation (kh), Why do Nepal’s political parties sideline experts? There are several cases of technocrats foraying into politics and not welcomed. Some are trying to explore their own political options, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [Firstly, they are not really interested in substantive politics and secondly, they know everything better than the experts anyway!], Congress factions clash, delaying the pick of more ministers from party : Confusion in Koirala camp with General Secretary Thapa joining Sharma in suggesting Pradip Poudel’s name, by Anil Giri (kp), Challenging the Primate Dominance Hierarchy, by Bimal Pratap Shah (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

01/04/2023: Parties’ Mercurial Acts Erode Credibility. by Dev Raj Dahal (rn), Dahal appoints eleven ministers amid disputes, Cabinet yet to get full shape : As 4 Congress ministers take oath, rival faction stays out of process. Janamat Party minister quits over portfolio, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This coalition government remains a guarantee for political instability because all the so-called top politicians have only their claims to power and personal benefits in mind! Why should they behave any differently from the PM?], Restoring business confidence would be tough task for Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat : Managing resources for important funding is another challenge for the Nepali Congress spokesperson as revenue drops, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Tackling Geopolitics In South Asia, by Liladhar Upadhyaya (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

31/03/2023: Nepal’s demographic dividend, by Shristi Karki (nt), Counting on Nepal : Nepal’s most ambitious census yet fell short of being an accurate representation of the country (nt), All in the name : The protests in Koshi show that the agenda of ethnic identity is very much alive and should be addressed politically (kp) [The male Khas Arya elite arrogantly ignores the historical, ethnic and cultural realities of the country in the context of the federal state since 2010 at the latest!], Musahar man kills self amid looming eviction : Twenty-four families of Musahars have been living on a piece of land at Kawilasi for the past five decades. They have now been ordered to move out, by Om Prakash Thakur (kp), Thapa, Kunwar and Nepal appointed advisors to Prez Poudel (rep) [All male Khas Arya! This symbolises the President's willingness for continued non-inclusion!], Bara-2 by-election further polarises Madhesh politics : The ‘working alliance’ formed during Vice President election is disintegrating, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp), Accidents, insurgency blamed for rise in disabled population : Activists say disabled numbers could be more than reported, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Janmat Party quits government : Minister Khan submits resignation (kh)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

30/03/2023: 2021 Census: How inclusive is the Nepali state?, by Karl-Heinz Krämer (kh), Why population data matters: It is an integral part of policy formation for the future, by Young Hong (ht), Conflict victims divided over amendment bill : While most victims insist on amendment, a section calls for speedy passage of the disputed bill (kp), Unwarranted cynicism : At the start of his tenure, the new Speaker of the House deserves everyone’s benefit of doubt (kp), Nepal, US conclude Bilateral Land Forces’ Talk : They neither brought up the SPP issue nor put forward any new measures or framework of cooperation, an official said (kp), TRC: Holding Balance Is The Way Out, by Mukti Rijal (rn), Dahal’s dismal performance, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), Budget formulation without a finance minister (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

29/03/2023: Amnesty International’s 2022 report exposes Nepal government’s failures to safeguard people’s rights : The annual report has documented cases of violation of freedom of expression and assembly, right to truth, justice and reparation, right against torture and other ill-treatment, indigenous peoples’ rights, women’s rights and right to food and housing among others (nlt), Ruling coalition seeks to keep the Speaker on a tight leash : They want him to follow Business Advisory Committee’s lead. Experts say that’s unfair, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Protest against naming of Koshi Province intensifies : On Tuesday, 25 people were injured when protesters clashed with the police in Biratnagar, by Deo Narayan Sah (kp), Maoist betrayal and reparations : Channelling support to ex-child soldiers through the Maoists would be like asking the fox to guard the chicken coop, by Kul Chandra Gautam (kp), ‘How will there be justice when the court receives bribes?’ A girl, the child of loan shark victims, asked this question to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Narayan Kaji Shrestha (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

28/03/2023: Amend the bill : As a stakeholder, the conflict victims too have the right to be consulted about the content of the bill (ht), Efforts on to criminalise loan sharking : Six months after the government’s last commitment, a fresh promise is made to take action against loan sharks and ease the woes of their victims, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), Govt decides to criminalize loan sharking practice : A meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to amend the criminal code to criminalize the loan sharking practice, according to a minister who attended the meeting (nlt), Govt to send draft of bill against usury to parliament (kh), Ruling coalition homes in on a power-sharing deal : Prime Minister Dahal will expand his Cabinet by Wednesday, if not Tuesday, say his close aides, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), What good are the sister wings of Nepal’s political parties? Sister organisations of political parties are forgetting their roles and gradually losing their relevance, observers say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp) [They primarily serve the party-political infiltration of Nepali society in the interest of a handful of political leaders!], Ruction in provinces : The current provincial governments are no more than offshoots of federal-level politics (kp), Unfinished political reform : The practice of internal democracy in our major political parties is essentially absent or a sham, by Achyut Wagle (kp), New census results : Vital For Taking Informed Decisions, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Dwindling economy of the country: Tourism and architecture could come to the rescue, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht), Clash erupts between protesters and police in Biratnagar, 12 injured (nlt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

27/03/2023: National Census 2021: Significant shift in the lifestyle and usage of amenities in Nepali households (ae) [see National Report Volume 01] [Obviously, this report does not include any data on ethnicities/castes, languages, religions, etc. Suppressing data on such issues had been the concern of the monarchy during the Panchayat period to pretend to be a culturally unitary state. If this data is not provided, this will be by far the most worthless census after 1990.], Future of 1.7 million children uncertain as they fail to get citizenship from their mother’s name (rep), Lawmakers against passing transitional justice bill as it is : Ruling Congress is divided with a section seeking revision even as the chief whip says it should be passed urgently, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Opposition slam TRC Bill, ruling alliance soft on it (ht), A crowded, cacophonous cockpit : American, Indian and Chinese representatives will start sniping at each other, as Nepal looks on helplessly, by Biswas Baral (kp), 'Consensus inevitable to overcome economic crisis' (ht), Youths chanting slogans against Prime Minister Dahal sent to jail : The move to shut the mouths of protesters was widely condemned on social media as the Constitution of Nepal guarantees freedom of expression (nlt) [Criticism of the godlike prime minister, who has been exclusively preoccupied with power struggles since he took office on 25 December, is obviously a reason to suspend basic human rights!], Nepal needs robust data protection legislation : Such a law should cover aspects like the data subjects’ right to access, correct, and delete collected data, and to receive compensation for violation of rights , by Harsha Man Maharjan (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

26/03/2023: ‘The country is severely ill:’ NC leader Shekhar Koirala : During the house session on Sunday, Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala raised some pressing issues, while saying that the country’s political system has already witnessed the first step of failure (nlt) [It is not so much the system as the way the authoritarian and power-hungry politicians abuse it for their selfish ends!], No need to give relief to alleged rape victim in Sandeep Lamichhane related case: District Court (kh), Continuing crowding of the Tarai creates multiple concerns : Planners say time has come to push for reverse migration by developing urban centres up in the hills, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp), US Army's Asia Pacific Command team visits Nepal (rep) [Why on earth? Nepal is not a US territory!], 22-member US Army team in Kathmandu to enhance bilateral military relations (kh), Nepal’s New Challenges with Super Powers, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

25/03/2023: Nepal is ageing as children’s share in population shrinks : Final census report does not break down population based on ethnicity, language, religion, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp) [Welcome back to the thinking of the Panchayat period when Mahendra and Birendra negated the multi-ethnicity, multi-lingualism and religious diversity of the country and propagated Nepal as a Hindu state of the Khas Arya minority?], Power play: Provinces taking cue from centre : Emerging coalitions are working to remove the CPN-UML from provincial governments, by Tika R Pradhan (kp) [This is probably more on the instructions of the central party elite. Nepali "federalism" continues to serve not the urgent need for decentralisation and better inclusion of the multi-ethnic population, but rather for further post creation of the political Khas Arya elite!], Male-female ratio at birth widening (rep) [This points to manipulation, which is likely to be related to the disdain for females in Nepali society and politics!], International rights groups slam bill on transitional justice law : The bill, if adopted in its current form, will not adequately provide for the effective prosecution of serious crimes under international law, the groups say (kp), New bill needs to protect victims, not abusers (ht), Speaking to our Karl Marx: Marxism from a Nepali perspective : Karl Marx, you would be surprised to learn that your proclaimed followers and dogmatic warriors in the forest for ten years have happily shared government power with democrats, republicans, and also those who want the king back, by Gaurav Ojha (nlt), Treading Forked Geopolitical Paths, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

24/03/2023: International rights bodies raise serious objection to Nepal’s transitional justice bill : Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists have said that transitional justice bill needs to protect victims, not abusers adding that proposed law disregards domestic and international legal standards (nlt), Nepal’s Army Chief’s reaction to the size of the national defense force generates controversies : ‘Army's size is not to be dictated by self-proclaimed academics, experts and security experts associated with INGO and NGO but by the government’ (nlt), Concerns after tainted cop’s promotion : Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, who has been promoted to AIG, is reportedly a front-runner for Nepal Police chief, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Basanta Kunwar is the new Nepal Police chief : Other AIGs Tek Prasad Rai, Deepak Thapa, Shyam Lal Gyawali and Kiran Bajracharya were also in the race for the top post (kp), As powerful countries compete for influence, nations like Nepal advised to tread carefully : Given that Nepal’s only two neighbours China and India are arch-rivals, the US seems equally concerned about happenings in Nepal, by Purushottam Poudel (kp), Experts urge authorities to prepare for the worst of climate disasters : Amid IPCC’s ‘clarion call’, Nepal should be more proactive to adapt to climate crisis, by Arjun Poudel (kp), Quid pro quo quagmire, by Santa Gaha Magar (nt), “Victims of conflict may forgive, but they will never forget”, interview with human rights activist Mandira Sharma (nt)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

23/03/2023: Can’t buy justice : Dahal is trying to whitewash a grave rights violation: Employing child soldiers in insurgency (kp), Nepal’s Quest for a Dynamic Foreign Minister : Why It Matters Now More Than Ever, by Adhiraj Regmi (kh), Parties yet to seal a deal on Cabinet expansion : Prime Minister Dahal claims no decision has been made to distribute money to disqualified Maoist combatants, by Anil Giri (kp) [All these politicians care about are endless fights for power and posts! A strange understanding of democratic politics!], National Assembly passes resolution to end caste discrimination : The 19-point motion aims to pressure the federal government to work effectively towards ending discrimination and oppression against Dalits (kp), Caste-based prejudice (ht), Stop Political Meddling In Varsities, by Mukti Rijal (rn), What will it take to end child marriage?, by Anushka Nepal (ae)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

22/03/2023: United States’ 2022 country reports on human rights practices find faults with Nepal on several fronts : The report mentions Nepal's failure to address transitional justice issues, curb corruption and ensure rights of the Tibetan refugees, among many others (nlt) [see report on Nepal], Govt urged to recruit employees on the basis of ethnicity to implement proportional inclusion (rep), Dahal accused of trying to appease conflict victims : The government recently announced a new cohort of martyrs and cash relief for former child combatants, by Binod Ghimire (kp), Nepal’s Maoist-led government all set to distribute millions to its cadres as Nepali Congress watches in silence : Maoist have a history of misusing public money. The Maoist-led government, yet again, is set to distribute a huge sum of money to its cadres amid the economic doldrums, by Durga Lal (nlt), Governance hit as parties busy themselves with power-sharing : Ten-party coalition mulls leading both federal and provincial governments by turns, by Tika R Pradhan (kp), PM Dahal to dole out Rs 9 billion to party cadres (rep), Nepal, US armies to talk next week : Among other things, the meeting will discuss military hardware for the Nepal Army (kp) [The next stage in protecting American interests in Nepal with an eye on China?], Vulnerable Nepali girls forced into prostitution in India : On Saturday, Delhi Police rescued nine Nepali teenagers who were forced into sex work in the city, by Rajesh Mishra (kp), NA lawmakers call for safe society for daughters (kh), History of women lawmakers : To ensure women’s rights, their presence is necessary in Parliament and the law-making process, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp), Resolution discussed in National Assembly to end discrimination against Dalits (rep), Dalit lawmakers in NA call for building equal society (kh), Bibeksheel Party sees foul play in govt decision not to prosecute RSP prez Lamichhane in passport fraud case (rep), ‘Can the police shut the mouths of citizens?’ (rep)., Indecent behavior case filed against three youths who chanted slogans against PM (rep)
see also TV news: Kantipur TV  (English) (Nepali: morning, evening); AP1 (morning) (evening); Sagarmatha TV (evening)

21/03/2023: Another transitional justice blunder, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae), No hope from new amendment bill, interview with Suman Adhikari (ae), As many as 42 conflict victim groups of Nepal raise objections to the faulty transitional justice bill : The victim community has appealed to the Human Rights Commission, Civil Society and Human Rights community, the media, and the international community for solidarity and cooperation in their fights for justice (nlt) [Justice is not desired on the part of the political power fighters who consider themselves indispensable!], Transitional Justice A Difficult Road Ahead, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn), Coalition split on revising common programme : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal secures a vote of confidence for the second time in 70 days, by Tika R Pradhan (kp),