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Namaste! It has been a week of profound contrasts for our global family. While we celebrate the resilience of the Lumbini Lions lifting the Nepal Premier League trophy and the inspiring ingenuity of Chepang students launching a satellite into space, we are also confronted with the grim reality of human trafficking in Myanmar. Politically, the government has signed a historic accord with the Gen Z movement to stabilize the streets, though the opposition remains vocal with massive rallies. Economically, there is a sigh of relief for travelers as the ban on high-value Indian currency is finally set to be lifted, even as national growth forecasts take a hit. Let’s dive into the stories defining our nation this week.
Diaspora & Globalisation 🌍
Digital Slavery Exposed: 47 Nepalis Rescued from Myanmar In a sobering development that highlights the evolving risks of modern migration, 47 Nepali nationals were rescued this week from “digital slavery” camps in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Unlike traditional labor migration, these victims were educated, tech-savvy youths lured by social media advertisements promising high-paying IT and digital marketing jobs in Thailand. Instead, they were trafficked across the border into lawless enclaves like KK Park, where they were held hostage and forced to execute sophisticated cryptocurrency and romance scams under the threat of physical torture. The rescue, a coordinated effort between the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok and Thai authorities, serves as a critical warning about the “tech job” traps targeting our aspirational youth (Kathmandu Post).
Breaking Boundaries: Ajar Rajbhandary Makes Forbes 30 Under 30 On a brighter note, the diaspora is celebrating a monumental win in the global business arena. Ajar Rajbhandary, a Nepal-born entrepreneur, has been named in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list. Rajbhandary is the founder of Herd, a startup revolutionizing e-commerce by using artificial intelligence to identify and scale high-potential brands globally. In just over a year, his venture has generated over $15 million in revenue, proving that Nepali innovation can compete at the highest levels of international business and inspiring a new generation of builders and creators (Kathmandu Post).
Global Briefs
🇺🇸 The “Gold Card” Shift: The US has introduced a “Gold Card” visa for individuals investing $1 million, creating new opportunities for wealthy investors but raising anxiety for skilled workers amid reports of other visa revocations (CBS news).
🗳️ Demand for i-Voting: Nearly 60 Nepali student organizations across 10 countries have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, demanding digital voting rights for the diaspora in the upcoming 2026 elections (THT).
👑 Queen of North America: Congratulations to Diya Shrestha from New Jersey, who was crowned Miss Nepal North America 2025 in New York, a platform celebrating second-generation heritage (nepyork).
Politics & Governance 🏛️
Historic Accord: Gov’t and Gen Z Sign 10-Point Deal The interim government has formally institutionalized the September uprising by signing a landmark 10-point agreement with Gen Z representatives this week. The accord officially designates the protests as a “Jana Andolan” (People’s Movement) and commits to radical reforms, including the introduction of a “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on ballot papers, mandatory internal primaries for political parties, and term limits for leadership. While the signing marks a victory for civic activism, it also exposed deep rifts, with a radical faction of the movement protesting the deal at the venue, signaling that the path to stability remains fragile (THT).
Cabinet Expands as Opposition Rallies Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expanded her cabinet for the fourth time, inducting four new ministers to fortify the administration ahead of the March 2026 elections. The new appointees include Shraddha Shrestha (Women, Children, and Senior Citizens) and Rajendra Singh Bhandari (Labour), signaling a focus on technical expertise. Meanwhile, the opposition CPN-UML struck back with a massive show of force in Bhaktapur, where Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli addressed a crowd estimated at 70,000, criticizing the government’s legitimacy and demanding the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament (ANI News).
Governance Briefs
🔴 Oli’s Challenge: In his largest rally since being ousted, K.P. Oli framed the Gen Z movement as a destabilizing force and rallied his base for the upcoming political battles (Indian Express).
🚔 Banking Shock: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested Prabhu Bank CEO Ashok Sherchan over a loan dispute, a move that bypassed the central bank and has rattled the financial sector (Nepal News).
Economy & Development 💸
Relief for Travelers: High-Value Indian Notes Allowed In a major pragmatic shift, Nepal is finalizing the removal of the decade-long ban on high-denomination Indian currency notes (₹200 and ₹500). Following a recent amendment by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), travelers can now carry up to ₹25,000 in larger notes. This decision is a lifeline for the tourism industry in border hubs like Birgunj and Bhairahawa, where Indian tourists—Nepal’s largest visitor segment—have long struggled with the inconvenience of carrying bundles of ₹100 notes (thewire.in).
The Cost of Upheaval: Economy Takes a Hit The economic toll of the political transition is becoming clear. A government committee report released this week estimates that the “Gen Z Uprising” caused Rs 84.45 billion ($586 million) in physical damages to public and private property. Reflecting this instability and climate-induced agricultural losses, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded Nepal’s GDP growth forecast to 3.0% for FY 2025/26, significantly lower than the government’s target (source).
Economic Briefs
📉 Market Slump: Investor confidence remains shaky as the NEPSE index fell 0.9% this week to close at 2,607.37, impacted by the banking arrests and political uncertainty (Nepal News).
💵 Dollar Record: The US Dollar hit a record high of Rs 144.37, raising concerns about inflation and the cost of imports for the coming months (Nepal News).
Social & Cultural ⭐
Lions Roar! Lumbini Wins NPL Title From finishing last in the previous season to lifting the trophy, the Lumbini Lions have completed a fairytale comeback to win the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025. In the final held at the TU Ground in Kirtipur, they defeated the Sudurpaschim Royals by 6 wickets. The hero of the match was captain Rohit Paudel, who took a sensational hat-trick to restrict the Royals to a meager 85 runs. Opener Dinesh Adhikari then smashed a quick-fire 42 to seal the victory in just 9 overs, electrifying the packed stadium (Kathmandu Post).
“Slippers to Sat”: Chepang Students Touch Space In one of the most inspiring stories of the year, students from the marginalized Chepang community in Chitwan have successfully launched their own pico-satellite, named “Slippers to Sat“. Mentored by the Antarikchya Pratisthan, these students—many of whom struggle for basic necessities—designed the satellite to monitor environmental data. The project challenges deep-seated stereotypes and proves that scientific talent in Nepal knows no caste or class boundaries (OnlineKhabar).
Cultural Briefs
🌕 Festive Season: Communities across Nepal celebrated Yomari Punhi and Udhauli Parva this week, marking the rice harvest and the migration of nature with feasts and traditional dances (Xinhua).
🐘 Tragic Conflict: A sombre reminder of human-wildlife conflict occurred in Morang, where a 60-year-old man was killed by a wild elephant, highlighting the growing tension between settlements and wildlife corridors (risingnepaldaily.com).
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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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