Energy is a critical resource necessary for a country's economic development. Despite this, many nations struggle to generate enough energy to meet their economic goals. Nepal, on the other hand, faces a unique challenge: although it produces abundant green energy in the form of hydroelectricity, at least in the wet season, it struggles with its proper utilization.

As the second peak season in the tourism sector kicks off, entrepreneurs in the Pokhara region of Nepal are feeling discouraged by lower-than-expected bookings. According to them, this year the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the pace of tourist arrivals, resulting in weaker numbers compared to previous years. The advance bookings for hotels in the area are currently less than 50 percent, which is much lower than the 70 percent that is typical at this time of year. The current occupancy rate of hotels in Pokhara is only 20 percent, which is much lower than the typical rate of 50 percent. The slow pace of advance bookings has been ongoing since the pandemic began, and it is causing concern among tourism entrepreneurs.

The Dhanusha District Court’s verdict announced last Wednesday in the case of Om Prakash Mahato, an environment conservation activist who was brutally murdered in the district on 10 January 2020, has highlighted the risks and challenges faced by environmental activists in Nepal. The district court has found three individuals guilty of intentionally killing Mahato, but the sentencing will not be decided until February 24. Four other defendants in the case were acquitted.

Burn injuries are one of the most painful and life-threatening injuries a person can experience, and in Nepal, the current facilities available for the treatment of such injuries are far from adequate. It has been a compulsion rather than a choice to go abroad for treatment in case of acute burn injuries. As a newspaper, we think it is a matter of shame for a country to not have even a single state-of-the-art burn care hospital.

The recent move by the government to table a bill in parliament with the aim to amend the law and legalize unsourced wealth is a gross violation of international best practices in curbing money laundering. The proposed amendment, which would allow those with illegally acquired wealth to legitimize their assets by paying taxes, is a backward step in Nepal's fight against corruption.

Providing additional air entry-routes to Nepal would not only help in enhancing Nepal's connectivity but also reinforce India's own commitment to promoting regional connectivity, stability and economic growth. India should understand that providing additional air entry-routes to Nepal is not a favor but a responsibility.

The recent revelation by Republica that the daily reports sent by the National Investigation Department (NID) to the Prime Minister are being opened and read by unrelated persons exposes a serious breach of national security. The fact that highly confidential information meant only for the eyes of the Prime Minister is being leaked by the people in the prime minister's personal secretariat is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

With the beginning of the dry season, Nepal is facing an alarming increase in forest fires. Myagdi district in western Nepal alone has reported at least 25 incidents of wildfire, with six of the eight wards in Annapurna Rural Municipality in the district being affected.

Despite the Constitution of Nepal 2015 envisioning a clean, efficient, fair, transparent, and corruption-free public administration, poverty and social injustice in the country continue to thrive due to rampant corruption in public, private, community-owned, and even non-governmental sectors. Policy corruption causes the country to lose billions of rupees in revenue annually, hindering sustainable development.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's that time of the year when love is in the air and red roses are in high demand in Nepal. But this year, there's a twist in the tale. The government has decided to ban the import of fresh roses from abroad, just days before the most romantic day of the year.