Today’s developments center on renewed pressure on press freedom alongside early steps in energy market reforms and fresh public safety and climate-related alerts.
Politics & Governance
Nepal’s ruling and opposition parties intensified their response to police actions against media outlets, with the Nepali Congress demanding an immediate halt to journalist arrests. Gagan Kumar Thapa said the raids represent a return to autocratic practices and urged reliance on established legal mechanisms rather than police intervention. Separately, the Prime Minister directed authorities to release detained journalists and stop newsroom raids, with the Prime Minister’s Office stating it was not informed in advance. Balen Shah ordered the release and said instructions were issued promptly to prevent further harassment.
Courts & Accountability
Information and Communications Minister Bikram Timilsina said all detained journalists have been released, framing the matter as consistent with the government’s commitment to press freedom. Bikram Timilsina stated that press freedom and responsible journalism are pillars of democracy, while the minister also reiterated that all apprehended journalists were released. Bikram Timilsina reaffirmed the same position after police operations led to widespread condemnation.
Economy & Business
The government has begun issuing letters of intent to companies seeking entry into electricity trading, including firms already listed among applicants. Nepal Power Exchange Ltd and other applicants received LoIs, but trading or power purchase agreements are not permitted until a trading license is obtained through amendments to the Electricity Act, 1992. The move has been welcomed by stakeholders seeking clearer licensing procedures to reduce financial and legal risks. Electricity Act, 1992 is central to the licensing requirement.
Society & Community
Safety alerts and climate-linked concerns also featured in today’s reporting, with authorities warning of high landslide risk during travel due to Cyclone Arnab’s potential impact. Flood Forecasting Division highlighted the Dawanne section of the East-West Highway and a section within Roshi Rural Municipality on the BP Highway as especially risky. In parallel, Nepal is expected to receive more than $20 million from the Loss and Damage Fund after an emergency request tied to floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli region, though questions persist about whether this affects earlier proposals. Loss and Damage Fund may come with procedural complications that could delay approvals for previously submitted projects.
Date: October 31, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Kartik 15, 2083
Top News
1. Nepal's opposition party condemns police raids on media houses, demands immediate end to journalist arrests (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The Nepali Congress has condemned police raids on media houses, labeling them as a return to autocratic practices and expressing concern over the detention of journalists. Central Office President Gagan Kumar Thapa stated that such actions threaten democracy and undermine press freedom, emphasizing the need for established legal mechanisms to address media errors rather than police intervention. The party called for an immediate end to these arrests, highlighting the importance of independent journalism in a democratic society.
2. PM Balen Shah directs authorities to release detained journalists, stop newsroom raids (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Prime Minister Balen Shah has ordered authorities to release detained journalists and cease police raids on media offices, following incidents where journalists were taken into custody. His communications adviser, Deepa Dahal, clarified that the Prime Minister's Office was not informed about the detentions beforehand and emphasized that the Prime Minister had issued immediate instructions to prevent further harassment of journalists.
3. Newsroom raids revive memories of the royal regime’s press crackdown (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Police conducted operations at various media houses in Nepal, detaining journalists and raising concerns about press freedom. The Rastriya Swatantra Party criticized the government's actions, questioning whether they were conducted with the party's knowledge, while sources indicated that Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki coordinated the operations with the Prime Minister's team. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition parties and legal advocates, who likened it to the repressive tactics of the royal regime and called for the immediate release of detained journalists.
4. Government starts issuing LoIs to firms seeking to enter electricity trading (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The government of Nepal has begun issuing letters of intent (LoIs) to companies interested in entering the electricity trading sector, with most of the 12 applicants, including Nepal Power Exchange Ltd and Green Energy Power Trading Pvt Ltd, already receiving them. While the LoIs allow companies to prepare for market entry, they do not permit actual trading or power purchase agreements until a formal trading license is obtained, which requires amendments to the Electricity Act, 1992. The Independent Power Producers’ Association has welcomed the initiative but called for clear licensing procedures to mitigate financial and legal risks for companies.
5. पक्राउ परेका सबै पत्रकार रिहा भइसके : सञ्चारमन्त्री तिमल्सिना (newsofnepal.com)
Information and Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina announced that all detained journalists have been released. He emphasized the government's full commitment to press freedom, stating that press freedom and responsible journalism are pillars of democracy.
6. ‘अर्नब’ को प्रभाव : यी राजमार्गहरूमा पहिरोको उच्च जोखिम, सतर्क रहन आग्रह (www.ratopati.com)
The Flood Forecasting Division has warned of a high risk of landslides on major highways due to the potential impact of Cyclone Arnab. Specifically, the Dawanne section of the East-West Highway and the road section within Roshi Rural Municipality of the BP Highway are at significant risk, prompting authorities to advise heightened vigilance while traveling and to follow official updates closely.
7. 302 ropanis of public land comes under govt ownership (risingnepaldaily.com)
The government has officially taken ownership of 302 ropanis of public land. This decision is part of an ongoing effort to manage and utilize public resources effectively.
8. Has Nepal gained climate justice, or compromised its bigger claim? (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Nepal is set to receive over $20 million from the Loss and Damage Fund established under the UNFCCC, following an emergency request due to devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli region. However, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of this allocation on three previously submitted project proposals aimed at addressing climate change losses, as the Fund faces a significant shortage of resources. While officials assert that the emergency request will not affect the earlier proposals, sources indicate that procedural complications could hinder their approval, raising questions about whether Nepal's recent actions truly represent a step forward in achieving climate justice.
9. पत्रकार पक्राउविरुद्ध रास्वपासहितका ठूला दलको एकस्वर (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Major political parties in Nepal, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party, have united in opposition to the arrest of a journalist. They are calling for the immediate release of the journalist and emphasizing the importance of press freedom in the country.
10. All apprehended journalists released: Minister Timilsina (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina announced that all journalists arrested by police earlier have been released, reaffirming the government's commitment to press freedom. He emphasized that press freedom and responsible journalism are essential for democracy.
Forex
| Currency Pair | Rate (NPR) |
|---|---|
| USD → NPR | 152.23 |
| CAD → NPR | 109.06 |
| AUD → NPR | 107.03 |
| GBP → NPR | 204.47 |
| JPY → NPR | 9.68 |
Metal Prices (International)
| Metal | Price (USD/oz) | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $3877.05 | NPR 221,326.01 |
| Silver | $49.15 | NPR 2,805.79 |
Disclaimer
- Forex rates are sourced from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
- International gold and silver prices are sourced from swissquote.
- Nepal gold and silver prices are sourced from Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association.
Prices are provided for informational purposes only and may be delayed, or inaccurate.
