Two opposition parties, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), continue to disrupt Parliament proceedings, demanding resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over his alleged involvement in a visit-visa scam.
The main opposition, CPN (Maoist Center), which initially joined the opposition chorus for Lekhak’s resignation, however, has backtracked from its stance after signing a vague agreement with the ruling parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML. It is apparent the Maoist move is aimed at fostering better relations with the NC. Maoist leaders believe closer ties with the NC could eventually lead to a coalition shift. For now, however, the NC-UML alliance remains stable without immediate threats.
Royalist forces are scrambling to revive their campaign to bring back monarchy and Hindu state. They are even considering replacing octogenarian leader Nava Raj Subedi, who was appointed by former King Gyanendra Shah but failed to galvanize the movement. Shah himself has remained silent after the royalist protests he backed stalled. Two senior RPP leaders, Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana—arrested for their alleged role in the violence that took place during the March 28 royalist protest— have been released on bail.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari held a lengthy meeting to defuse their recent public spat. Senior UML leaders have urged both to avoid airing their differences openly. Bhandari’s growing political activity, including a recent visit to China where she met senior Chinese Communist Party officials, has reportedly unsettled Oli.
As Israel-Iran tensions escalate, concerns are growing for the safety of around 5,500 Nepali workers in Israel and two dozen in Iran. The government is preparing contingency plans for their evacuation if the situation worsens. Nepal lacks robust mechanisms for overseas rescues, and the Foreign Ministry is ill-equipped to handle such crises. Authorities are now compiling a list of those seeking repatriation from Israel.
This week, a UNFPA report revealed that despite a preference for larger families, Nepal’s fertility rate has dropped to two children per woman across all demographics. High living costs, job insecurity and unaffordable housing are key factors. Meanwhile, National Statistics Office data shows rapid demographic aging, with the 60+ population rising from 8.1 percent in 2011 to 10.3 percent in 2021. Policymakers have yet to address these long-term challenges.
The US government has yet to finalize its decision on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact, despite the 90-day review period ending. Over 85 US aid programs to Nepal have already been cut. However, the US Embassy in Kathmandu clarified that an exception allows MCC implementation to continue pending the review’s outcome. Discontinuing the MCC could further damage America’s credibility in Nepal, where politicians risked their careers to endorse the controversial deal.
The 16th meeting of the Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues (BCGSI) is underway in Pune, focusing on defense cooperation and equipment procurement. Regular meetings signal normalized bilateral ties. Last year’s talks were held in Pokhara.
A Nepali Congress delegation, led by Bal Bahadur KC, visited China at the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. According to the Chinese readout, Sun Haiyan, vice-minister of the party, said that CPC is willing to work with the NC and other major political parties in Nepal to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. KC said that Nepal attaches great importance to developing relations with China, always regards China as a good neighbor, good partner and firmly adheres to the one-China policy.
Nepal’s power trade is making progress one after another. With rising water levels in major rivers and accelerated snowmelt following the onset of the monsoon, power generation by hydropower projects in the country is gradually increasing, enabling the country to resume power exports to India and Bangladesh.
According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), daily exports have now reached 350 MW. Of this, 40 MW is being sent to Bangladesh via India, and the remaining is being exported to various Indian states including Haryana and Bihar. Since Sunday, NEA has been exporting 200 MW and 80 MW, respectively, to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar. Additionally, it has been supplying up to 30 MW daily to the Indian power exchange market.
Air pollution is the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, according to a new report from the World Bank (WB). Tilted ‘Toward Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources and Solutions’, the report serves as a foundational assessment of air pollution in the country and the airshed of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF). The report also calls for cross-sectoral policies and cost-effective solutions to address pollution.
RSP Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody, faced another case this week in connection with a cooperative fraud case at the Parsa district court. Lamichhane is currently being held at the Bhairahawa prison. The district attorney’s office, Parsa, has registered a case against 29 individuals, including Lamichhane, alleging embezzlement of Rs 1.324bn from the Sano Paila Savings and Loan Cooperative Society in Birgunj. Prosecutors claim Lamichhane is responsible for Rs 115m of the missing funds.
