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Happy Tihar to all celebrating the festival of lights! As diyas glow and marigolds adorn homes across Nepal and the diaspora, this week carries the weight of profound loss and historic triumph. We grieve Bipin Joshi—the young hero who saved 17 lives before perishing in Gaza—even as we roar with pride for our cricket team’s unbeaten T20 World Cup qualification. Prime Minister Sushila Karki promises elections in six months while bringing Gen Z voices into government, steering Nepal through its most critical political moment in years. This Tihar, we light our lamps for those we’ve lost, celebrate wins that unite us, and look forward—together—to the brighter days ahead.
Diaspora & Globalisation
The nation mourns the tragic loss of Bipin Joshi, the Nepali student taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. MyRepublica confirmed that DNA testing verified Joshi’s body, which was handed over by Hamas to Israeli authorities and transported to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials revealed that Joshi likely died toward the end of 2023, bringing a heartbreaking end to nearly two years of uncertainty for his family and the Nepali public. Prime Minister Sushila Karki described Joshi as a symbol of Nepali pride and resilience, noting his extraordinary courage in saving the lives of 17 people by throwing back grenades during the attack before being taken hostage. His heroism stands in stark contrast to the devastating conflict that has since claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives, a tragedy that continues to unfold in the region where Joshi lost his life.
Joshi’s heroic final moments have resonated deeply across Nepal and the global diaspora. President Ramchandra Paudel expressed profound sorrow over the loss, recalling his untiring efforts for Joshi’s safe release and extending condolences to the bereaved family. The two-year ordeal of waiting for answers about Joshi’s fate reflects the anguish faced by families caught in conflicts beyond their control. Joshi’s mother and sister, who had recently traveled to the United States to raise his case at the UN Headquarters in New York, are now preparing to return to Nepal for memorial ceremonies. According to Israeli authorities, the body is expected to arrive in Kathmandu later this week, where Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize tribute ceremonies to honor this young hero who gave his life protecting others.
In other diaspora developments, Onlinekhabar reports that the United Kingdom is tightening visa rules, requiring some immigrants to demonstrate A-level English proficiency starting January 8, 2026. The new measures will apply to certain graduate applicants and those seeking Skilled Worker or Scale-up visas, as part of Britain’s broader plan to reduce immigration. Meanwhile, the Nepali government has recalled ambassadors from 11 countries including the US, UK, China, Israel, Germany, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, and Spain, instructing them to return home by November 6. The recalled diplomats were politically appointed during former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s tenure, signaling a diplomatic reset under the new interim government.
Politics & Governance 🏛️
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has pledged to transfer power to a democratically elected government within six months, addressing heads of diplomatic missions at Singha Durbar on Friday. MyRepublica reports that Karki emphasized her government’s main focus is ensuring fair and peaceful elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, noting she was entrusted with the prime ministership “not in the capacity of any political party, but in the interest of safeguarding the constitution and democracy.” She informed diplomats that a judicial inquiry commission has been formed to investigate violent incidents during the Gen Z movement and that preparations are underway for impartial corruption investigations. Rising Nepal Daily adds that President Ramchandra Paudel has called on the government and security chiefs to instill public confidence in the electoral process, urging decisive action during a meeting at Shital Niwas where security agency heads assured their readiness to maintain peace and order.
The interim government is expanding with four Gen Z representatives set to join the cabinet, though not without controversy. Onlinekhabar reports that Ganpatilal Shrestha (heritage conservation advocate), Bablu Gupta (COVID-19 relief organizer), Ramji Ram (first Chamar community doctor), and Tashi Lhazom (climate activist from Humla) are expected to take ministerial oaths by Monday. However, Lhazom’s appointment has sparked racist and xenophobic attacks on social media, with false claims about her citizenship and foreign influence. The Indigenous Gen Z Collective issued a strong statement condemning the hate campaign, emphasizing that “Indigenous communities have faced exclusion for centuries based on language, culture, and appearance” and calling for respect toward diversity in leadership. Meanwhile, cracks have emerged within the Gen Z movement itself, with influential activist Miraj Dhungana questioning the legitimacy of the proposed ministerial names and accusing the government of political co-option without proper consultation with movement representatives.
The political tensions deepened when excluded Gen Z members protested outside the President’s Office, forcing a postponement of discussions between President Poudel, PM Karki, and Gen Z representatives. The protesters, claiming they participated in the September 8-9 demonstrations but were not invited to talks, demanded broader representation. In other political developments, the Nepal Students’ Union has demanded investigations against former PM KP Sharma Oli, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah for their roles in the casualties during last month’s protests. Perhaps most dramatically, UML Chair Oli announced his party will skip the upcoming elections, prioritizing the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives instead—a statement that sparked internal dissent from two vice-chairpersons who openly disagreed during the Central Committee meeting.
The aftermath of the Gen Z protests continues to reveal troubling statistics. The Nepali Army disclosed that only 22 out of 76 people killed during the movement were actual protesters, with three being police personnel, ten prisoners, and 41 categorized as “others.” The army reported that protests erupted in 484 locations nationwide, resulting in the vandalization or burning of 688 government offices, 259 private houses, 128 businesses, 198 political party offices, and 307 police stations. On a more positive note, 586 firearms looted during the unrest have been returned to police following the army’s public appeal, though 978 weapons were initially stolen or lost. Additionally, THT reports that 5,547 inmates who escaped during the prison breaks remain at large, though 9,008 fugitives have been recaptured. In separate legal news, former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara was re-arrested on gold smuggling charges after investigators found evidence of hundreds of calls between him, his son, and Chinese smuggling suspects, with charges being prepared for customs violations, conspiracy, and organized crime.
Social & Cultural ⭐
Nepal’s cricket team made history this week, capturing the nation’s heart with an unbeaten championship victory at the T20 World Cup Asia-East Pacific Qualifier in Oman. THT reports that Nepal capped their dominant campaign with a commanding 124-run victory over Samoa, posting an impressive 211/4 powered by half-centuries from Asif Sheikh (69 off 41) and Dipendra Singh Airee (53 off 31), before restricting Samoa to just 87/7. This marks Nepal’s first-ever ICC qualifier title and their third T20 World Cup appearance, having qualified for the 2026 tournament in India and Sri Lanka two matches before the final. Beloved Irish commentator Andrew Leonard, honored by the Nepali government for his contributions to Nepali cricket, praised the team’s “amazing character, great resilience, and skill,” calling them potentially “one of the best fielding sides in world cricket” and predicting they’ll be “the story to watch” at next year’s World Cup.
The victory sparked an outpouring of pride from across the cricketing fraternity. Cricket Association Nepal Chairman Chatur Bahadur Chand expressed immense pride in the team’s hard work, while Australian coach Stuart Law praised the players’ “excellent cricket” and unique style of play. Captain Rohit Paudel called it “a proud moment for all of us as our dreams have come true,” thanking supporters and looking forward to seeing them in India and Sri Lanka next year. Veteran bowler Sompal Kami, the last remaining player from Nepal’s 2014 T20 World Cup squad and the first to feature in all three T20 World Cups, described the qualification as “a dream come true.” The team will now travel to Dubai for 50-over ODI matches against the USA and UAE before returning home to hero’s welcome.
As Nepal celebrates sporting glory, the nation also observes Tihar, the festival of lights that began today. Rising Nepal Daily reports that the five-day Yama Panchak festival commenced with Kaag Tihar, honoring crows as messengers, followed by Kukur Tihar (worshipping dogs), Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (celebrating cows and the goddess of wealth), Goru Puja (oxen worship), and culminating with Bhai Tika on October 23 at the auspicious time of 11:39 AM. Homes across Nepal and the diaspora are illuminating with colorful lights, oil lamps, and marigold decorations, while families prepare traditional delicacies including sel roti and perform deusi-bhailo cultural songs and dances. In governance news, Education Minister Mahabir Pun has called for removing the Prime Minister as university chancellor, arguing that since the PM became chancellor, universities have become “recruitment centers for party workers” rather than academic hubs, with experts recommending that university leadership be drawn from qualified academics instead of political figures to maintain educational quality. Meanwhile, environmental journalist Roshani Adhikari Pathak was elected as IUCN Regional Councillor for East and South Asia (2026-2029), representing Nepal’s conservation efforts on the global stage during the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
Economy & Development 💸
Nepal’s stock market experienced significant volatility this week, with investors losing substantial wealth amid ongoing political uncertainty. MyRepublica reports that the NEPSE plunged 81 points in just three trading days last week, wiping out Rs 38 billion in market capitalization as the index fell from 2,663.51 to 2,582.18 points—a 3.04% decline. The market continued its downward spiral, with another 78.83-point drop bringing the index to 2,503.35, hitting the hotel and tourism sector particularly hard with a 4.84% decline, likely reflecting reduced tourist inflows following the September protests. The International Monetary Fund has revised Nepal’s growth forecast to 5.2% for the current fiscal year, down from the earlier projection of 5.5%, citing the economic impact of the recent Gen Z movement and global trade uncertainties from US tariff policies.
On a brighter note, Nepal’s energy sector is showing remarkable progress and resilience. MyRepublica reports that Nepal Electricity Authority has assured no power cuts during Tihar, with peak demand expected to reach 1,600 MW on Laxmi Puja day—the same level as last year. NEA Spokesperson Rajan Dhakal confirmed the authority is fully prepared to manage festival demand, with distribution center heads and power plant managers on high alert to minimize disruptions. More impressively, Nepal earned Rs 8.64 billion from electricity exports to India and Bangladesh during the first two months of this fiscal year, marking a 10.5% increase from Rs 7.82 billion in the same period last year. The country continues exporting 40 MW to Bangladesh and around 1,000 MW to India during peak generation, with total earnings from electricity exports reaching Rs 17.45 billion in FY 2024/25.
Industrial sector developments show mixed progress. The Annapurna Express reports that the Ministry of Industry unveiled a comprehensive 39-point action plan with a five-month deadline, outlining 20 action points for the industrial sector, eight for commerce, and eleven for supply management, aiming to enhance public service effectiveness and foster an industrial-friendly environment for economic growth. In positive news for the energy-intensive steel sector, both Hulas Steel and Ashok Steel have begun repaying electricity arrears totaling Rs 317 million in 28 monthly installments to NEA for their use of dedicated and trunk lines. However, the agricultural sector faces challenges, with Rising Nepal Daily reporting that floods in Mahottari damaged paddy on 2,000 hectares along with sugarcane, vegetables, and lentils across nine local levels, while flower farmers complained ahead of Tihar that marigold garland prices have declined from Rs 33 a decade ago to just Rs 18-23 today, with farmers urging the government to fix rates to ensure fair returns and protect consumers from middlemen exploitation.
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The Nepali Diaspora Digest connects the global Nepali community with curated news, insights, and stories that matter most. Join us as we celebrate and explore the diverse voices and achievements of Nepalis worldwide.
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