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.

📰 Nepal Highlights

1. Shark Tank Nepal is Here!

The first two episodes of Shark Tank Nepal are out, and we’ve got deals flying left and right.

Out of 8 startups pitched so far, 5 walked away with deals:

1. Bhola Foods: ₹1 crore for 20% from Saurabh Jyoti, Hem Raj Dhakal, Cabinet Shrestha & Anand Bagaria

2. Sandhya Potey House: ₹20 lakhs for 35% from Cabinet Shrestha

3. Art Maya: ₹3 crore for 30% from Hem Raj Dhakal, Cabinet Shrestha & Saurabh Jyoti

4. Sathi Pad: ₹50 lakhs for 40% from all five sharks

5. Mero Coding Classes: ₹1.02 crore for 34% from Cabinet Shrestha & Hem Raj Dhakal

Pretty exciting, right?

But that big cheque moment and the handshake we see on TV is just the tip of the iceberg.
Behind the scenes, there’s months of paperwork, audits, negotiations.

And in many cases, the deals end up falling apart.

Want to know what really happens behind the scenes?
Here’s the full story: Shark Tank Nepal: Reality Behind the Startup Reality Show

2. Nepal’s Court Gave a Green Signal to Old Political Appointments

So guess what Nepal’s Supreme Court just did?

Remember when KP Oli, back in 2020, changed the rules (through an ordinance) so he could appoint people to big government positions without having to go through Parliament? He basically said, “If others won’t show up to the meeting, I’ll just tweak the law and do it anyway.”

But ordinances are meant for emergencies only (like disasters, war, pandemics). Not because your meeting invite got ghosted by political rivals. So 15 different cases were filed. The court sat on it for five years.

And now? The court finally gave its answer: “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Three judges backed Oli. Two didn’t. But majority wins, so all those appointments stay.

Don’t you think this sets a dangerous precedent? If a Prime Minister can just change the rules when things don’t go his way, what’s stopping the next one from doing the same?

3. Ride-Hailing Rules Hit the Brakes in Bagmati

Just when we thought Nepal was finally getting serious about regulating ride-hailing apps like Pathao and InDrive, Bagmati Province decided to stall.

Why, you ask? Because Gandaki Province tried to enforce ride-hailing guidelines last month (basically to make them legal), and all hell broke loose.

Transport unions went full rage mode, staged protests, and suspended all public transport throughout the country for 2 days. Talk about flexing muscles!

As a result, Gandaki paused its own guidelines to keep peace.

Bagmati province was supposed to follow up with their own version of the ride-sharing policy, but now they’re thinking twice.

Officials are literally saying: “If transport entrepreneurs protest here too, what’s the point?” (Translation: “We’re scared.”)

Meanwhile, we’re out here stuck in limbo mode. Loving the convenience of bike rides on red plates but dreading the chaos if apps get shut down.

4. 607 MW to Be Added to Nepal’s National Grid; Finally, Some Power Moves

While everyone else was busy fighting over gold taxes and ride sharing apps, Rastriya Prasaran Grid Company quietly signed a deal to connect 607 MW of electricity from five hydropower projects to the national grid. That’s a pretty big deal.

Projects include the 440 MW Tila-91 in Kalikot and others in Bajhang, Taplejung, and Gorkha. Once complete, these connections could help Nepal finally start walking the talk on energy independence and exports.

Energy Minister Khadka called it a "track opening" moment. (We’re guessing that means the actual highway still isn't paved.)

🌐 Global Updates

1. Trump’s “Big Fat Bill” Is Now Law

Trump just signed a bill so big, it’s literally called the “Big Fat Bill.”

It’s 900 pages long and does three main things:

1. Gives permanent tax breaks to the rich

2. Cuts programs like healthcare and food support

3. Pours billions into deportations, border walls, and ICE

If you’re living in the U.S., this could get rough, especially if you’re undocumented or on a temporary visa. Deportation risk just went way up than it already was. And for families relying on government help, that support might disappear.

So, if you live in the States, this is one to watch closely. Also, watch out for our deep dive on this next week!

2. The US Dollar Just Tanked

So, the US dollar has dropped more than 10% this year. This marks its worst performance in 50 years. Yup, even the dollar is tired.

Experts are blaming it all on Trump. No surprise there.

His wild economic decisions, constant U-turns, and yelling at his own central bank have made investors super nervous. And now, the once-mighty dollar is starting to lose its shine.

3. Iran Says “No More!” to UN Nuclear Inspections

After getting bombed by Israel and the US last month, Iran has now stopped cooperating with the UN nuclear agency.

That means no more inspectors, no more cameras in nuclear sites. Basically, they’re saying, “Leave us alone.”

Why does this matter?
Because it raises fears that Iran might secretly develop nuclear weapons, and that could make things even more dangerous in the Middle East.

4. Sheikh Hasina Got Jail Time. But She’s Not Even In The Country

So, Bangladesh’s former PM Sheikh Hasina just got sentenced to six months in jail, but she’s not even in the country.

She’s been chilling in India ever since last year’s massive student protests booted her out of office. The court says she disrespected them and scared off witnesses in other cases, so, boom: six months in jail. But until she steps foot in Bangladesh again, it’s basically just symbolic.

Meanwhile, her former party’s banned, and there are serious allegations of violence, dictatorship, and crimes against humanity under her rule. This story’s far from over.

Before We Wrap Up,

Quick story.

Every other week, someone messages us saying:
“Hey, do you know a good Nepali immigration lawyer in Texas?”
“Anyone in Sydney who can help with property stuff?”
“Looking for a Nepali tax consultant in Dubai, any leads?”

And honestly, we’ve been winging it. WhatsApp groups, screenshots, random forwards.

So we finally did something about it.

We just launched the Nepali Diaspora Professional & Business Directory Nepali Dias!

From immigration lawyers in Arkansas to real estate agents in Sydney, if you offer a service, you can now be found. No more asking, “Do you know someone in X?” Just check the directory.

It’s built for trust. It’s built for growth. And it’s free to join.

🔗 Get listed here and grow your presence in the global Nepali community.
Let’s make sure our people can find and support our people, wherever in the world they may be.

Let’s Talk

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Want to work with us? Let’s talk.

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— Team Nepali Dias