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Image: ChatGPT/Read 2B HaPPY   Is Nepal quietly rewriting its foreign policy? By LB Thapa In recent days, many political pundits have begun discussing the changed attitude of Nepal's new government. The government's working style has already made a positive impression on the Nepali people. This shift is visible and palpable across nearly every governmental and non-governmental sector.   A rather unusual scene unfolded in the recent past when Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister, Balen Shah—a political outsider and the youngest person to hold the office—made a move that is raising eyebrows across the region. Instead of holding conventional one-on-one diplomatic meetings, he invited 17 ambassadors together for a single, coordinated interaction. The envoys represented India, China, the United States, Japan, Gulf nations, and even the United Nations. Such a gathering had never been organized in Nepal's political history.   This was a calculated move by Prime Minister Balen ...

Image: ChatGPT/Read 2B Happy   From philanthropist to policymaker: The rise of Sudan Gurung By LB Thapa Until yesterday, he was a man who struggled as a philanthropist and fought for the rights of ordinary people against a broken system. Today, he commands the entire security apparatus of the country and rules from the most powerful chair in Singha Durbar. Yes, I am talking about Nepal’s current Home Minister, Sudan Gurung.  This is no magic. This is the story of a boy who, while struggling on the streets of Kathmandu, witnessed the filthy games of the system from close quarters.  A boy who saw the system up close   On July 18, 1987, Sudan was born into a very ordinary family in Chum Nubri, a remote village in Gorkha. But his childhood was unstable. He did not get to grow up with his parents. Instead, he was raised by his grandparents. He studied at Bal Sansar School in Dhankota while staying with relatives, then drifted through the heat of Chitwan. His life ...

Image: ChatGPT/Read 2B Happy. Nepal’s delicate balancing act: Challenges of dealing with China and India By  LB Thapa Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) left all major political parties in Nepal astonished by securing nearly a two-thirds majority in the general election. As a result, Balen Shah, the charismatic former mayor of Kathmandu, has become the country’s next prime minister.  From the very start of his tenure as mayor, Shah impressed the people of Kathmandu with his unique personality and unconventional working style, quickly capturing the attention of the nation’s youth.  What Shah’s rise means for Nepal’s foreign policy   The outcome of this election marks a seismic shift in Nepali politics, and it is expected to have significant implications for Nepal’s relations with its two giant neighbors, India and China. It remains to be seen how Shah’s government will maintain the delicate political equilibrium between New Delhi and Beijing.  Sandwiched be...

  How the US destroys, loots and destabilizes peaceful countries By LB Thapa The American strategy of destabilizing any sovereign nation is a well-thought-out and deadly blueprint, tested over time and executed successfully. It consists of four stages. The first stage involves economic blockade and isolation policies. When any country challenges the US dollar policy, that country is subjected to severe sanctions, trade bans, and asset freezes, crippling its economy.  After this, when the citizens of that country are oppressed by scarcity and inflation, they become angry with their government. At this point, the second stage begins: information warfare and internal rebellion. Under the guise of media and non-governmental organizations, propaganda is spread internationally against that country’s strict political system.   At this time, US intelligence agencies play a double game. On one hand, they work to turn peaceful protests into armed civil war by providing weapons and...

  KNOW THE FACT Has the case of Oli and Lekhak really concluded? By  LB Thapa Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, after being released following the Supreme Court’s mandamus, has claimed in a Facebook status that he was freed because no grounds were found to prosecute him. If Oli’s claim is accepted, it would mean this case has ended here. But has the case of Oli and Ramesh Lekhak, who were arrested on the recommendation of the Karki Commission, really concluded?  On March 26, the elected lawmakers took their oaths. Then, on March 27, after Balen Shah took the oath of office as Prime Minister from the president, other ministers also took their oaths the same day. Immediately after the oath, the first cabinet meeting decided to implement the report of the Karki Commission, which was formed to investigate the Gen-Z movement, as it is, except for the security apparatus. Right after that decision, on the night of March 27, the Ministry of Home Affair...

OLD NEPAL, NEW NEPAL, AND BALEN'S NEPAL Get your Legal Certificates at home – Promises Balen's Government By LB Thapa   All previous political leaders spoke of building a New Nepal. The Nepali Congress and various Communist parties came to power promising the creation of a New Nepal. Yet after ruling the country for decades, they left it in a worse state than before.   They treated the nation as a milking cow. Leaders like Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress and KP Oli of the UML exploited the country beyond imagination. These two parties did not merely exploit Nepal — they ravaged it, leaving it bleeding to death. Every sensible citizen of Nepal will never forgive them for the damage they have inflicted upon the country.   For the first time, however, the Nepali people are witnessing a new era of good governance. What is currently unfolding in the country feels more like a Bollywood movie. The government led by Balen is in full action, kindling a flicker of...

Is your money safe in banks? By LB Thapa We deposit money in banks believing it is safe. However, that is not entirely true. Even when your money is in a bank, it is always at risk.   For various reasons, even a bank that appears financially healthy can become bankrupt. In such a situation, the key question is, will depositors get a refund after the bank fails? And who is responsible for protecting public deposits?   To answer these questions, let’s look at the provisions set by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). The NRB, Nepal’s central financial regulatory authority, is only responsible for paying up to Rs. 500,000 per depositor. If a bank goes bankrupt and you have deposited more than five lakh rupees, you are unlikely to receive the remaining amount. This is because banks insure only Rs. 500,000 through the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund.   Although the NRB has clearly stated that public deposits are generally safe, that does not mean it guarantees to repay all your mo...

  Education consultancies and foreign colleges evade trillions in taxes under the guise of foreign education By  LB Thapa “Many education consultancies conceal their actual income and avoid paying taxes. In fact, these consultancies charge exorbitant fees and service charges from students, generating enormous profits." According to a report published in Harpan Khabar, numerous education consultancies and foreign colleges are involved in tax evasion amounting to trillions of rupees annually. This is undoubtedly startling news.  It has been revealed that under the pretext of sending students abroad, many consultancies and foreign colleges have allegedly evaded hundreds of billions in government revenue, deceived hundreds of thousands of students, and created a chaotic situation that has shaken the state. In response, the government is now preparing to tighten legal measures to curb the activities of these unscrupulous education consultancies.  Operating under the facad...

  How consumers can be cheated by the sale of half-filled LPG cylinders By LB Thapa The Nepal Oil Corporation deserves praise for maintaining a steady supply of petroleum products—particularly petrol, diesel, and LPG—across the country. A long-term agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has made this possible.   Even as the Indian government faces challenges in ensuring a steady supply of these fuels within its borders, the Nepali government has managed to sustain distribution nationwide.   However, the prices of many consumer goods have risen due to the ripple effects of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Although Nepal does not import crude oil and has not yet experienced a direct impact from the war, a prolonged conflict could change this situation for sure.   Nepal imports its petroleum products under five-year agreements with the IOC, and the current agreement still has one year remaining. While all petroleum products ...

  The rapid decline of consumer rights in Nepal By LB Thapa   In the field of business a customer is always hailed as the king, but in reality the consumers are not treated with respect. They are overpriced, duped, and exploited. At times consumers find themselves abandoned, as no one is there to commiserate with their predicaments. They have been demoted from kings to powerless consumers whose voices go unheard.  In today’s context, consumers are not the king, but the manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers rule the roost.   Maximizing the profit in the competitive market is the essence of modern business, where consumers’ satisfaction is always given prime importance. However, this norm has become less important today. Manufacturers and producers have developed many ways to cheat consumers. Sometimes, their cheating is seen openly, but other times, they cheat consumers in a much more concealed manner. Are general consumers aware of such nefarious practices ...