Nepal faces economic fallout of September protest

When Nepal’s government was toppled in September after deadly youth-led protests against economic stagnation and corruption, many in the impoverished country hoped for a period of meaningful political change. But experts warn that the upheaval — which killed 76 people and left thousands of buildings including parliament damaged — has pushed the nation backwards economically. […]

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Nepal charges Chinese contractor with corruption over airport deal

By Bibek Bhandari Nepal’s anti-corruption watchdog has filed criminal charges against ex-ministers, senior bureaucrats and a Chinese state-owned construction giant accused of inflating costs and manipulating contracts at a multimillion-dollar infrastructure project. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Sunday charged 55 people, including five former tourism and finance ministers, 10 ex-government […]

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‘Poor governance’ led to regime changes in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka: India’s Ajit Doval

India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has attributed the recent political instability and “non-constitutional regime change” in India’s neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, to “poor governance”. Speaking at the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on governance yesterday (31 October), Doval asserted that governance is the deciding factor in political stability, stating, “The […]

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Can India reset ties with Nepal, sidestep ‘big brother’ perceptions?

By Maria Siow India can seize an opportunity to reset its ties with Nepal and strengthen regional stability following the leadership shake-up in Kathmandu sparked by the Gen Z-led protests, according to analysts. But they warn that any such move by India must avoid triggering perceptions of “big brother” interference – a legacy of its […]

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Nepal’s political turmoil not expected to have major impact on relations with China

By Vanessa Caiin Shanghai China’s swift recognition of Nepal’s interim government reflects Beijing’s interest in regional stability, according to analysts who said that the political transition was unlikely to have a significant impact on relations between the two countries. Former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country’s interim leader on Friday after […]

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Young activists who toppled Nepal’s government now picking new leaders

A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country’s new interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used the Discord messaging app and Instagram to mobilise massive […]

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Young activists who toppled Nepal’s government now picking new leaders

A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country’s new interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used the Discord messaging app and Instagram to mobilise massive […]

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