Kathmandu
Monday, November 3, 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.
China-bought aircrafts grounded for five years, burdening Nepal Airlines with billions
Khila Nath Dhakal, a special correspondent at Nepal News, presents an expose on the grounded aircrafts. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is crushed under a mounting debt of over Rs 3 billion from six grounded, unsuitable Chinese aircraft bought via a G2G loan. Operating for seven years, they resulted in a Rs 2 billion loss, compounded by an additional Rs 1 billion in five years of parking and insurance fees since 2020. Repeated attempts to sell, auction, or lease the planes have failed, yet officials responsible for the disastrous acquisition remain unpunished, burdening the deeply indebted corporation.
Diaspora voting impossible without amending four laws
A dispatch from senior correspondent Roman Acharya at Nepal News offers a succinct analysis on the possibility of diaspora voting in Nepal’s upcoming election. The right to vote for millions of Nepalis residing abroad is a central demand of the Gen Z movement, reinforced by a 2018 Supreme Court order. However, the Election Commission suggests implementing this for the March 5 House of Representatives election is highly complicated and may not be feasible within the tight timeline. Key legal obstacles include the mandatory amendment of at least four specific laws to facilitate voter registration abroad, establish polling centers in diplomatic missions, and permit systems like e-voting, for which the government has yet to reach an all-party consensus or provide the necessary resources.
https://english.nepalnews.com/s/diaspora/diaspora-voting-impossible-without-amending-four-laws/
As NCDs surge, Nepal’s health budget falls
Kalpana Bhattarai, a correspondent at Nepal News, delivers a thorough report detailing the surge of non-communicable disease in Nepal. It is struggling with a mounting crisis as the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and cancer continues to surge, now causing an estimated 73% of all deaths. However, despite the rising public health burden, the national health budget remains critically low, currently at only 4.77% of the total budget far below the 10% target suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government’s own strategy. Experts criticize the budget’s focus on infrastructure over essential prevention programs, human resources, and the quality of services needed to curb the rapidly accelerating NCD epidemic.
https://english.nepalnews.com/s/health/as-ncds-surge-nepals-health-budget-falls/
Panchayat-era law grants perpetual immunity to certain institutions
Mani Dahal, a special correspondent at Nepal News, uncovers a surprising regulatory loophole in the Panchayat-era law. Dozens of elite social and professional organizations, including MuAN and NARMIN, are operating with special exemptions by registering under the outdated National Guidance Act, 1961, a relic of the Panchayat era. This law grants these groups perpetual registration without requiring annual renewal, mandatory approval from the Social Welfare Council for receiving foreign aid (like the Rs 78 million MuAN received last year), or external scrutiny of their finances. Critics argue this lack of oversight creates a profound transparency problem, allowing institutions—some with strong political ties—to manage substantial donor funds outside the public domain, unlike other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Explained: How NEA, Kulman Ghising, and unresolved tariff disputes are threatening Nepal’s major industries
Binod Dhakal, the English News Coordinator at Nepal News, offers an insightful explanation of the conflict between Nepal Electricity Authority and industrialists. The NEA’s aggressive enforcement of disputed “premium” electricity charges, led by Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, has forced 25 industries to halt operations, jeopardizing approximately 15,000 jobs. The conflict centers on retroactive billing for dedicated and trunk lines, with industrialists demanding Time-of-Day (TOD) meter evidence for consumption. Ghising’s uncompromising approach ignores the Lal Commission’s recommendation to recalculate the disputed Rs 22 billion arrears based on verified usage, instead prioritizing aggressive revenue collection and punitive disconnections, which has severely destabilized the industrial sector and eroded investor confidence.
Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves climb to USD 20.41 billion
Uddab Thapa, a special correspondent at Nepal News, presents a comprehensive look at the nation’s economic rebound. Nepal has successfully reversed its foreign reserve crisis of three years ago, with the foreign currency reserve now reaching an all-time high of Rs 2881 billion (US $20.41 billion) as of September 16. This figure is sufficient to cover merchandise and services imports for 16 months, vastly exceeding the Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) seven-month target. The surge is primarily attributed to a massive increase in remittance inflow, which grew by 33.1 percent to Rs 352 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year. However, economists debate whether this accumulation is a sign of economic health or a symptom of the government’s inability to execute large infrastructure projects and spend its development budget, which was only 63 percent last year. Concerns also linger about how to utilize this reserve effectively without jeopardizing the import-dependent economy, especially given the caution required due to Nepal’s placement on the FATF Grey List.
Remembering Mumbai’s one and only ‘Nepali Don’
Nabin Aryal, an Editor of Nepal News Saturday Edition (Chhutima), recounts the life and shocking death of a notorious figure. K. T. Thapa, Mumbai’s sole ‘Nepali Don’ and a powerful Shiv Sena contractor and corporator, was shot dead in broad daylight on April 23, 1992, at 3:30 PM in Bhandup. Thapa, who had the personal trust of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and was lauded for his ‘Robin Hood’ like efforts connecting poor settlements to the city and providing jobs had become a political force in Mumbai. His murder, believed to have been orchestrated by the Chhota Rajan gang, caused the first major rift between Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim. Despite the 16 accused being acquitted in 1996, the killing was seen as a response to Thapa’s growing political influence and his control over lucrative money collection and union-busting activities. His loyal friend, Subhash Singh Thakur, later avenged his death by allegedly killing three of the assailants in Nepal. Even today, Thapa’s legacy endures, with local residents celebrating his memory and demanding a road be named after him.
https://english.nepalnews.com/s/feature/remembering-mumbais-one-and-only-nepali-don/
