Nepal Slows, Gold Soars, and Trump Starts Another Fire

Hello and Namaste from Nepal!

We’re thrilled to bring you our latest edition of Nepali Dias Express, your trusted weekly digest of what’s happening back home, why it matters, and how it connects to Nepalis living around the world.

Nepali Updates

1️. World Bank to Nepal: “2.1% Growth, If You’re Lucky”

Remember when the World Bank said Nepal would grow 5.2% this year? Yeah, about that. They’ve now cut it down to 2.1%, and even warned it could go negative (–1.5 to –2.6%) if the political drama continues.

Apparently, torching factories and shutting down half the country isn’t great for GDP. Who knew?

The report blames the Gen-Z protests, infrastructure damage, and shaky investor confidence. Tourist arrivals are dipping, insurers are bleeding, and the private sector’s basically running on Red Bull and denial.

The only silver lining is that reconstruction might revive things by 2026/27. But the WB also added a friendly jab: Nepal has the lowest exposure to AI in South Asia; a polite way of saying, “You guys still love agriculture too much.”

2️. NEPSE: Investors Lose Rs 38 Billion in a Week

NEPSE dropped 81 points in just three trading days, vaporizing Rs 38 billion in market value.

Hotels and reinsurers took the hardest hit. Turns out, “political unrest” and “burned infrastructure” don’t exactly attract bullish investors.

Nepal Rastra Bank tried to lighten the mood by removing the Rs 250 million margin-lending ceiling, giving the index a brief 22-point sugar rush. But that joy lasted shorter than a Kathmandu power cut.

It’s 2025 in Nepal. Even the bulls need antidepressants.

3️. NRB Increases Gold Imports and Remittance Limit

NRB’s latest vibe is festive and cash-hungry. The central bank just raised the daily gold-import quota to 25 kg (from 20 kg) to meet the Tihar-season gold rush. With prices already past Rs 235,000 per tola, gold is now the new crypto, since the actual one’s still illegal.

Also, for expats, the remittance limit for non-repatriable inflows is now Rs 2.5 million per day, up from 2 million. NRB’s subtle message here is: “Keep those dollars coming; we’ve got reconstruction to fund.”

Global Highlights

1️. Israel × Hamas Ceasefire: Round One (and Counting)

After two years of unrest, Israel and Hamas have finally agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire.
Hamas will release 20 living hostages, Israel will free 2,000 Palestinian detainees, and aid trucks will roll into Gaza. Trump’s taking full credit, obviously. The man probably thinks the sun rises because he approved it.

It’s not a full peace deal yet (still no clarity on who runs Gaza), but for the first time in years, people celebrated in the streets instead of hiding from airstrikes. Small win, big relief.

2️. The Nobel Prize Drama: Trump Didn’t Win (Again)

The Nobel Committee gave this year’s Peace Prize to Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado. The White House promptly accused them of “choosing politics over peace.”

Trump, meanwhile, congratulated Machado, then reminded everyone that he should have won because he “ended wars” and “moves mountains with willpower.”

3️. Taliban vs Pakistan: From Border Tensions to Open Fire

The Afghan Taliban says it launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistan after Islamabad allegedly bombed a market inside Afghanistan’s Paktika Province last week. Pakistan denies it, calling the Taliban’s move “unprovoked.”

Gunfire and artillery reportedly rocked several border points (Kurram, Bajaur, Dir, and Chitral) with both sides claiming the other started it. Pakistan’s interior minister even warned they’ll respond “with a stone for every brick.” Which… someone should tell him that’s not how math or diplomacy works.

What makes it messier is that Afghanistan’s foreign minister was visiting India when it all kicked off. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are calling for calm; which is adorable, considering it’s the Taliban we’re talking about. Asking them to chill is like asking Twitter to stay polite.

4️. Denmark Plans to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 15

Denmark has officially joined Australia in banning social media for kids under 15. The Prime Minister said phones are “robbing children of their childhood”, which sounds dramatic, but also true.

Stats show 94% of Danish teens are online before 13, and most boys prefer video games over actual human friends. The new rule lets parents approve exceptions, but apps like TikTok and Instagram could face fines up to $50 million if they don’t block underage users.

Australia’s version takes effect December 10, though experts warn it’ll be easy to cheat; one even demonstrated a $22 mask that fools facial recognition. 

5️. Trump vs China: 100% Tariffs and a 0% Chill Policy

In yet another “plot twist” moment, President Trump has announced a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, starting next month. This came right after Beijing tightened export controls on rare earth minerals, which are crucial for phones, EVs, and, well, everything that runs on electricity.

The White House says it’s to stop China from “holding the world captive,” and Wall Street said, “Cool, we’ll hold your portfolio hostage instead.” The S&P 500 immediately dropped 2.7%, its biggest single-day fall since April. China shot back, saying it will impose new port fees on U.S.-linked vessels and launch an antitrust probe into Qualcomm.

So, the world’s two biggest economies are once again testing who can self-sabotage faster. And remember, these two literally had a trade truce just months ago. But like any toxic relationship, it was never “over”, just “on a break.”

The Week in One Long, Exhausted Sigh

And that’s this week. Nepal’s bulls are tired, Trump’s tweeting tariffs, and the Taliban’s somehow trending again.

The world may not be getting better, but at least it’s never boring.

See you next week; where, hopefully, the headlines are a little less chaotic and the economy a little more predictable.

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