Kathmandu
Monday, October 20, 2025
KATHMANDU: Nepal News is transforming the way stories are told in Nepal. No longer content with simply reporting events, our journalists dig deeper, asking not only what is happening, but why it matters.
Each story is carefully planned, with clear assignments, structured outlines, thorough research, verified data, and insightful quotes. Every piece is thoughtfully edited and crafted to provide clarity amid the noise.
Every week, we present a curated selection of stories that capture the heartbeat of Nepal — from groundbreaking investigative reports to human-interest features, policy analyses, and cultural insights. These are more than just news stories; they are windows into the forces shaping our society, economy, and daily lives.
Here’s a look at the seven standout features from last week, each reflecting our commitment to quality journalism, storytelling depth, and editorial integrity. Explore these stories to understand not just the headlines, but the narratives behind them.
Nepalis hooked on pirated books
Senior Correspondent Prabhakar Gautam at Nepal News unveils the alarming state of Nepal’s book market, where the sale of pirated copies of best-selling foreign titles now significantly surpasses official imports. The investigation reveals that unauthorized editions, often imported from India at drastically reduced costs, have flooded physical stores and online platforms, severely demoralizing legitimate booksellers and threatening the sustainability of the authorized book trade in Kathmandu.
Krishna Bahadur Mahara: From Attempted Rape Case Acquittal to Gold Smuggling Investigations
The English News Coordinator Binod Dhakal at Nepal News explains the renewed investigation into a high-profile gold smuggling scandal, a key priority following the recent government change. The focus is on former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who was recently arrested for his alleged role (alongside his son) in facilitating contraband gold concealed in “vapes” and pressuring customs officials. This explainer details the complex case, which spans initial investigations from 2022 and involves missing evidence and foreign nationals.
Pressure on CIAA to investigate Cabinet decisions
Senior Correspondent Roman Acharya at Nepal News examines the long-standing controversy over policy-level corruption, detailing how the CIAA’s jurisdiction is restricted from investigating Cabinet decisions. Following a Supreme Court ruling that mandated the investigation of all participants in the Lalita Niwas case, the pressure is mounting on the commission to close this legal loophole, which has shielded top political figures like former prime ministers from accountability.
Municipal police: New version of unproductive expenditure
Special Correspondent Gopal Dahal at Nepal News details the nationwide trend of local bodies (rural and municipal governments) forming their own police forces, often leading to misuse of authority. Despite constitutional mandates, the units are accused of prioritizing the recruitment of these forces for the convenience and vanity of elected officials (saluting, carrying bags) over crucial tasks like improving education and health, causing duplication of the Nepal Police’s work and imposing an unnecessary Rs 5 billion annual financial burden on the state treasury.
Mathema to political leaders: “End power-sharing, end impunity”
Editor-in- Chief Prashant Aryal and Editor Baburam Biswakarma at Nepal News present an exclusive interview with Kedar Bhakta Mathema, a renowned civic figure and former ambassador. Mathema attributes the recent political chaos and the Gen Z movement to decades of institutional destruction and widespread negligent governance by political leaders. He argues that trust in the state is completely absent and stresses that the current government’s only effective task is to hold elections after setting up a Constitutional Drafting Commission to amend deep-rooted anomalies like political power-sharing.
Government in cost-cutting mode: Where have the budget cuts hit?
Special Correspondent Uddab Thapa at Nepal News reports on the government’s dramatic fiscal austerity measures, cutting Rs 119 billion from the current fiscal year’s budget. This massive cut was initiated to fund reconstruction efforts, manage election expenditure, and curb the practice of allocating budgets to fragmented, low-utility projects secured through political influence. The decision, led by Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal, specifically targets schemes like those in the home districts of former prime ministers, aiming to end the monopolization of state resources by influential leaders.
Employees sell Melamchi pipes worth Rs 8 million
Special Correspondent Khila Nath Dhakal at Nepal News unveils a major corruption scandal involving the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, where employees of the Project Implementation Directorate’s Store Section allegedly sold Rs 8 million worth of project pipes intended for the Kapan area pipeline extension. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is investigating the internal theft and possible collusion with a controversial contractor, whose delayed work has already prevented Kapan residents from receiving Melamchi water for nearly five years.
