Supreme Court processes, press freedom, and government accountability dominated today’s reporting alongside updates on elections, banking performance, and public service delivery.
Politics & Governance
Prime Minister Balen Shah directed authorities to stop raids on newsrooms and release detained journalists, following concerns raised by Deepa Dahal. Separately, a report described how Rastriya Swatantra Party is weighing an impeachment motion against senior Supreme Court judges while also pushing for investigations into unlawful journalist detentions. On electoral administration, the Election Commission said the voter roll will be updated using the National Identity Card and civil registration systems under a recent agreement.
Courts & Accountability
Questions were raised over the Supreme Court’s lottery system after a second list of cases appeared in justices’ docket following the lottery, including priority habeas corpus matters that were not addressed by some justices handling the first list. The court said it would discuss the incident at an upcoming full court meeting, including the habeas corpus petitions that were adjourned. Separately, RSP spokesperson Jagdish Kharel called for investigation into media house raids and journalist arrests, linking the issue to broader accountability for state actions.
Economy & Business
Bank reporting showed a 39% rise in profits, with Nabil Bank leading among 20 commercial banks for the first quarter of FY 2083/84, according to a compiled list. Operational pressure also continues within state entities: Nepal Oil Corporation reported a daily loss of NPR 15 crore in petroleum products. Meanwhile, Mugu Hospital said it is facing service delivery challenges due to more than NPR 2 million in pending payments from the Health Insurance Board.
Society & Community
In Bara, a provincial police probe has been launched into the Pheta Rural Municipality clash during a hospital inauguration, after injuries to a youth and five police personnel and property damage by protesters. The investigation committee, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhu Prasad Dhakal, is expected to submit a report soon. In Dolpa, local authorities and residents expressed concern over delayed delivery of the Khadang Bridge, with work not yet started five years after the contract was signed.
Date: November 01, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Kartik 16, 2083
Top News
1. Questions raised over Supreme Court lottery system after second case list appears in justices’ docket (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Concerns have emerged regarding the Supreme Court's lottery system for case assignments after a second list of cases was published post-lottery, leading to the adjournment of habeas corpus petitions, including one filed by Chaturbhuj Bhatta for his son, Deepak Bhatta. Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shanti Singh Thapa, who had already begun hearing cases from the first list, did not address the second list, which included priority habeas corpus cases, raising questions about the integrity of the lottery process. Justices plan to discuss the incident at an upcoming full court meeting, emphasizing the need for clarity and adherence to procedural rules.
2. Ruling RSP instructs government to probe into media house raids and journalist arrests (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has condemned the government's recent crackdown on media personnel, calling for a thorough investigation into the raids on media houses and the arrests of journalists. RSP Spokesperson Jagdish Kharel emphasized the importance of press freedom and urged the government to avoid future arrests related to news reporting.
3. Committee formed to probe Bara clash, inspector removed from responsibility (english.onlinekhabar.com)
An investigation committee has been formed by the Madhesh Province Police Office to probe the clash and shooting during the inauguration of a hospital in Pheta Rural Municipality, Bara. The three-member committee is led by Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhu Prasad Dhakal, with a report expected soon. Inspector Suman Lama, responsible for security at the site, has been relieved of his duties following the incident, which resulted in injuries to a local youth and five police personnel, as well as property damage by protesters.
4. PM Balen Shah directs authorities to release detained journalists, stop newsroom raids (english.onlinekhabar.com)
Prime Minister Balen Shah has ordered authorities to cease police raids on media offices and to release detained journalists, following concerns raised by his adviser, Deepa Dahal. The Prime Minister's Office stated it had no prior knowledge of the detentions and emphasized that the Prime Minister had issued immediate instructions to prevent further harassment of journalists.
5. Mugu Hospital faces challenges as over Rs. 2M pending from HIB (risingnepaldaily.com)
Mugu Hospital is experiencing difficulties due to over Rs. 2 million in pending payments from the Health Insurance Board (HIB). This financial shortfall is impacting the hospital's operations and ability to provide services.
6. Voter roll will be updated thru NID and civil registration system (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The Election Commission will update the voter list using data from the National Identity Card and Civil Registration Departments, following a memorandum of understanding signed on October 29. This agreement aims to enhance the voter list updating process by ensuring secure data exchange and establishing a joint technical working group to address implementation challenges.
7. ३९ प्रतिशत बढ्यो बैंकहरुको नाफा, यस्तो छ २० बैंकको अवस्था (सूचीसहित) (www.ratopati.com)
In the first quarter of the fiscal year 2083/84, 20 commercial banks in Nepal reported a profit of NPR 19.11 billion, marking a 39% increase compared to the previous year. Nabil Bank led with a profit of NPR 2.55 billion, followed by Global IME Bank with NPR 2.31 billion, while the National Commercial Bank significantly improved its profit to NPR 1.64 billion from NPR 580 million last year. Ten banks achieved profits exceeding NPR 1 billion, with notable improvements from Everest Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, and Nepal Investment Mega Bank.
8. पेट्रोलियम पदार्थमा दैनिक १५ करोड घाटा : निगमका कार्यकारी निर्देशक साह (www.onlinekhabar.com)
The Nepal Oil Corporation's Executive Director, Ghanshyam Sah, reported a daily loss of NPR 15 crore in petroleum products. This financial shortfall highlights ongoing challenges within the corporation's operations and pricing strategies.
9. डोल्पाको खदाङ पुल निर्माणमा विवाद, सम्झौताको ५ वर्ष पुग्दा पनि सुरु भएन काम (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Construction of the Khadang Bridge in Dolpa has faced disputes, with work yet to commence five years after the contract was signed. The delay has raised concerns among local authorities and residents regarding the project's progress and accountability.
10. Kathmandu Cable: Inside Nepal’s political corridors (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is contemplating an impeachment motion against senior Supreme Court judges accused of corruption, while also seeking to restructure the judiciary. The party has called for investigations into the unlawful detention of journalists by Nepal Police, although past demands for accountability have gone unheeded. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress is facing internal strife, with the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction preparing for a general convention, and President Gagan Kumar Thapa criticized for his perceived alignment with the government.
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.
