Border casinos draw tourists—but rule-breaking, fake IDs and rising crime fuel concerns
By Dipendra Baduwal & Parbat Portel Businesses say casinos boost footfall in Nepal’s frontier towns, but authorities warn of widespread regulatory breaches, money-laundering risks and political protection enabling illegal operations.
Campaign urges annulment of Lumbini Development Trust appointment
By Dipendra Baduwal Activists say move sidelines locals and threatens heritage preservation.
One injured in shooting at Bhairahawa hotel
By Dipendra Baduwal Security guard wounded as dispute between groups escalates.
Shree Airlines aircraft makes emergency landing in Bhairahawa
By Dipendra Baduwal The flight en route to Kathmandu from Dhangadhi made an emergency landing at Gautam Buddha International Airport following a hydraulic failure report.
Rupandehi farmers grapple with fertiliser shortage after dry spell
By Dipendra Baduwal Limited local supplies and smuggling of Indian urea are forcing farmers to pay two to three times the subsidised rate, raising concerns over the paddy harvest.
Debt, despair, and uncertainty plague Bhairahawa airport
By Sangam Prasain & Dipendra Baduwal Minister says PM will push for air route permits, aim to address Indian concerns on Bhairahawa, Pokhara airports.
Floodgates open as Indian tourists flock to Nepal
By Dipendra Baduwal Around 5,000 Indians enter Nepal daily from Belahiya. Over 1,300 vehicles cross daily, with most visitors heading for Pokhara, Kathmandu, and Chitwan.
Court refuses to release Rabi Lamichhane from custody in cooperative fraud case
By Ghanashyam Gautam & Dipendra Baduwal RSP chief produced bank guarantee of Rs27.4 million, equivalent to alleged fraud amount.
NHRC inspects Rabi Lamichhane’s prison cell in Bhairahawa
By Dipendra Baduwal Commissioner says denial of outdoor movement for 100 days violates basic rights; prison administration cites security reasons.
Low-quality fertiliser floods border districts
By Dipendra Baduwal Traders are exploiting open border and weak oversight to dump untested fertilisers that threaten soil health and crop yields.
In Buddha’s birthplace, disquiet is growing
By Manoj Paudel & Dipendra Baduwal Lumbini Development Trust staff padlock offices demanding better benefits and promotions. Monks decry recurring power outages.
India’s new rule, aimed at China, stalls Nepal’s steel exports
By Dipendra Baduwal Nepal sources steel from China. Previously, BIS certification was required only for finished goods.
Tigers thrive, conflicts decline in Nepal
By Manoj Paudel, Dipendra Baduwal & Ramesh Kumar Paudel With good habitat and prey availability, Nepal can host up to 500 tigers, say conservationists.
Rupandehi police seize smuggled goods worth over Rs126 million in a year
By Dipendra Baduwal Over 100 arrested and more than 330 vehicles seized in a crackdown on cross-border smuggling.
Bhairahawa, gateway to Lumbini, hit by parking woes
By Dipendra Baduwal Hotels and restaurants draw crowds but lack proper parking space. Most offices and businesses rely on street parking, adding to congestion.