Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Process begins to repatriate Bipin Joshi’s body to Nepal

Kathmandu, Oct. 14

The Embassy of Nepal in Israel has started the process of repatriating the body of Bipin Joshi to Nepal. It is working in close contact and coordination with the relevant authorities there, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Tuesday.

The repatriation process has begun following Israel's National Centre of Forensic Medicine further confirmed that the remains received were of Bipin's.

The MoFA updated in a statement that following the handover of Bipin's body to Israel by Hamas via the Red Cross on Monday, representative from the embassy visited the Centre on Tuesday.

The Embassy has been instructed to coordinate closely with the Israeli authorities and to make all necessary arrangements for repatriation of the dead body.

Earlier on the same day, Israel said that it would make all necessary arrangements for the repatriation of Bipin's remains to Nepal.

In a telephone conversation with Nepal's Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai on Tuesday, Israel's Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eden Bar Tal said that Israel government would make arrangements to send Joshi's remains to Nepal.

"During the conversation, Bar Tal officially confirmed, with deep regret, the tragic death of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student, while in captivity of Hamas," the MoFA informed in another statement.

Foreign Secretary Rai expressed sincere appreciation to the government and people of Israel for their continued efforts, up to the last moment, to ensure the safety of hostages.

Both sides expressed hope that the positive developments seen in the first phase of the Middle East Peace Plan would pave the way for successful implementation of subsequent phases, contributing to lasting peace and stability in the region, read the statement.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to further strengthen the friendly relations between Nepal and Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) informed in X that its representatives informed the family of Bipin Joshi and other deceased hostages that their remains have been brought back for cremation.

"Bipin was abducted at the age of 23 from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim by Hamas. It is assessed that he was murdered in captivity during the first months of the war," said the IDF.

Bipin was taken hostage by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on 7 October 2023, the day when it killed about 1,200 people including 10 Nepali students who had reached Israel with Bipin. At least 251 people from more than 40 countries were taken hostage.

The MoFA also said that even after Bipin's body has been brought to Nepal, appropriate initiatives will continue to be taken, in cooperation and coordination with the concerned government and stakeholders, to ascertain the true cause and circumstances of his death, to secure justice, and to ensure his family receives the social security, compensation, insurance, and other benefits to which they are entitled.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 October 2025.     

Private sector credit remains poor

Kathmandu, Oct. 14

Private sector credit from the Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) couldn't improve in the first two months of the current Fiscal Year 2025/26 as it witnessed an increment of just 0.9 per cent.

Credit to the private sector went up by Rs. 49.24 billion and reached Rs. 5,546.94 billion in mid-September, aaccording to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report based on the statistics of two months of this year (mid-July to mid-September) published by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Tuesday. However, on a year-on-year basis, credit to the private sector increased by 7.8 per cent.

In mid-August, such credit was decreased by Rs. 2.93 billion.

"Private sector credit from commercial banks and finance companies increased by 1.0 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively, while credit from development banks decreased by 0.1 per cent," said the NRB.

Out of the total outstanding credit, 15.1 per cent is against the collateral of current assets, and 64.3 per cent is against land and building. While the outstanding loans to sectors like construction, manufacturing, consumable sector, transportation and communication increased, trust receipt (import) loan, margin nature loan, cash credit loan, term loan, real estate loan (including residential personal home loan), and hire purchase loan all increased, but overdraft loan decreased by 3.6 per cent.

 

Inflation remains below 2%

Inflation rate remained below 2 per cent in mid-September 2025. The central bank said that the y-o-y consumer price inflation stood at 1.87 per cent in mid-September 2025, which is a decrease compared to 3.86 per cent a year ago.

In mid-August, consumer price inflation stood at 1.68 per cent in mid-August 2025.

Food and beverage inflation decreased by 1.34 per cent, whereas non-food and service inflation stood at 3.70 per cent in the review month. In the same period in the previous year, the price indices of these groups had increased by 5.06 per cent and 3.19 per cent, respectively.

Ghee and oil prices witnessed the highest increase with 11.09 per cent while price of vegetables and spices went down by 12.74 per cent and 6.31 per cent, respectively.

Similarly, in non-food category, education, clothes and footwear, tobacco products and furnishing and household equipment saw inflation of 11.77 per cent, 7.67 per cent, 6.29 per cent, 4.84 per cent and 4.55 per cent, respectively.

The y-o-y consumer price inflation in Nepal remained at 1.87 per cent in mid-September 2025, while in India, it stood at 1.54 per cent in September 2025.

 

Remittances up by 33.1 per cent

Remittance inflows increased by 33.1 per cent to Rs. 352.08 billion in the first two months of this year, compared to an increase of 15.8 per cent in the same period of the previous year. During mid-August to mid-September, remittance inflows stood at Rs. 174.67 billion.

The number of Nepali workers taking first-time approval for foreign employment was 90,198, and those taking approval for renew entry was 45,884. In the same period of the previous year, these numbers were 76,485 and 40,583, respectively.

 

Forex reserves for 19.7 months' import

According to the NRB, gross foreign exchange reserves increased by 7.6 percent to Rs. 2881.35 billion in mid-September 2025 from Rs. 2677.68 billion in previous year. Reserves held by NRB increased by 6.9 per cent to Rs. 2582.38 billion, and reserves held by banks and financial institutions increased by 13.7 per cent to Rs. 298.97 billion.

The foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to cover prospective merchandise imports for 19.7 months, and merchandise and services imports for 16 months.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 October 2025.    

Shocking Death

The whole country has been shocked to learn that Bipin Joshi, who was held hostage by Hamas, a Palestinian militant outfit, for more than two years, is no more.  There was a widespread hope that he would return home alive. This optimism was not only fueled by the 'wish' of his family and Nepali people but also by continuous media coverage – including that of The Washington Post and many other news outlets in Nepal and abroad – that he was alive. In Nepal, YouTube channels and social media influencers and journalists were competing to announce and share the news of his being alive, as to international media said, "Bipin's name was included in the list of the final batch of hostages being released on Monday."

But Hamas handed over his body along with three other bodies. Bipin's family, which was resisting any news that would indicate towards the death of the 24-year-old youth, who went to Israel under the government-to-government 'Learn and Earn Programme' in September 2023, is now in great grief at this unexpected loss. In the past two years, the government has implemented various efforts to secure the safe release of Bipin. There were high-level communications between Nepal and Israel, Nepal and Qatar, Nepal and Syria and Nepal and the USA for the same, but those efforts to bring Bipin home alive failed.

Being a Least Developed Country with poor per capita income and a few job opportunities at home, Nepal lacks better options to stop its youth who are flying abroad in search of jobs and better education. A workforce of more than 500,000 enters the market every year, but fewer than 100,000 jobs are created at home. So, the country should have a workable policy for the safety and security of its citizens in a foreign land.

The government should also publish an advisory for Nepalis travelling and working in the country and areas with potential terror attacks and natural disasters, and mandatorily orient them about the dangers and staying safe from them. Risk communication is mandatory, with a priority on pre-travel briefings. The embassies and diplomatic missions in such countries or with jurisdiction over them must maintain a comprehensive list and contact information of Nepali nationals working or residing there. Meetings and information updates should happen periodically.

Nepali citizens must be encouraged to use the pre-travel registration system, and they should be provided with 24/7 emergency hotlines, while the missions should have a team and a plan for evacuation and contingency. Past experiences have shown that Nepal has time and again failed in rescuing its citizens from the disaster or terror-hit areas, such as Iran and other locations in West Asia, with Afghanistan being an exception.

An equally important move that Nepal should adopt is diplomatic neutrality, which it failed in the case of the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel's war against Hamas in Palestine. Nepal exhibited diplomatic activism by supporting Ukraine and Israel, where it should have maintained neutrality or at least learnt from its immediate neighbour, India, which successfully struck a balance among the various global power centres. Likewise, instead of directly communicating with Hamas, Nepal's government thought that it fulfilled its duties by reaching out to Qatar, the negotiator of peace between Israel and Hamas, and other comparatively distant stakeholders. Now, the country should learn a lesson from the tragic killing of Joshi and act to prevent similar incidents in the future. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 October 2025.    

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Misinformation Fuels Social Unrest

On the first day of the Gen Z protest on 8 September, rumours spread on social media that over 35 skeletons had been discovered at the Bhatbhateni Superstore in Chucchepati, Kathmandu. Later, however, only six bodies were actually recovered.

The next day, another hearsay went the rounds that 32 missing protesters had been found dead inside the Parliament building in New Baneshwor. Although the Nepal Police confirmed these stories were baseless, social media influencers and public figures such as Tanka Dahal, Sujan Dhakal, Shiva Pariyar, Himesh Panta and Bhagya Neupane went on to disseminate false information.

A video of an air hostess claiming that Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was spotted fleeing the country to an unknown destination via Dubai on 10 September went viral. She said Oli was being carried in a wheelchair by her colleague under the security of the authorities in Dubai. She even expressed her helplessness for not being able to do anything and urged others to help, calling on Nepalis in Dubai to reach the airport. This video was shared by hundreds of thousands of people on various social media platforms.

The posting of this video coincided with rumours since September 9 that then PM Oli was fleeing the country on the pretext of medical treatment in the wake of the Gen Z uprising in which 19 youths were killed on its first day. Himalaya Airlines – a Chinese and Nepali joint venture – was linked with the rumours. The company stated that its serious attention had been drawn to online reports, citing unnamed sources that PM Oli was preparing to fly on a Himalaya Airlines aircraft for medical treatment abroad.

 

Fake news flies fast

However, online media continued to carry the news, forcing the airline to issue another press note the next day, saying the report was “completely false and misleading.” “Despite yesterday’s press note, we have come across various media channels reporting the news of Mr KP Sharma Oli flown or flying to Dubai on Himalaya Airlines. We would like to reiterate that this news is completely false and misleading. We sincerely request everyone not to believe or disseminate such unverified information,” read the note.

Likewise, another video went viral showing a man – allegedly identified as Nepali Congress general secretary Gagan Thapa – being dragged along and kicked by a mob. Similarly, another featured a man – allegedly the then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel – running in a river to save himself from protesters, only to be pursued and beaten. Videos purporting to show other leaders, such as Mahesh Basnet, also went viral.

As seen in many countries around the world – with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia being the latest – Nepal’s recent protests provided fertile ground for spreading misinformation and disinformation. Social media sites, especially Facebook, TikTok and X, were flooded with videos containing fake information, while some users deliberately sought to misinform the masses.

With more than three-quarters of the population having smartphones, and most accessing the internet via broadband or GPRS, the impact of social media has risen like never before. Sadly, some of the popular legacy media outlets have stooped to competing with social media, creating another challenge in protecting the essence of journalism, which is under severe threat from the rise of influencers and content creators.

One example is the YouTube channel Tough Talk, operated by Dil Bhushan Pathak, former editor of Kantipur Television. In one presentation, Pathak claimed that Jaybir Deuba, son of Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, had bought the international hotel chain Hilton. He linked the issue to corrupt political leaders, including Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, then Foreign Minister. But most of his presentation was based on assumptions and hearsay. The only fact he substantiated was the denial of a share purchase between the hotel owners and Jaybir.

Clips of Pathak explaining how corrupt money was being channelled into business expansion by politicians’ children went viral. While the issue had already been raised by some YouTube channels, Pathak’s credibility further pushed the misinformation to the masses.

 

Increased access to smartphones,

According to a survey by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in March 2024, about 76 per cent of Nepali households own smartphones, with 4.9 million families having at least one device. This figure is higher than in neighbouring India and Bangladesh, where smartphone use is slightly above 50 per cent.

In Nepal, those aged 25–35 make up over half of all smartphone users. Social media use has also reached a significant milestone, with 50 per cent of the population (about 15 million) using Facebook and YouTube. Both platforms require minimal technical skills and English, making them popular even among the elderly and rural population. Other widely used social media channels include Instagram and X.

The protests and the flood of fake information coincided with Meta – the parent company of Facebook – monetising the application, allowing users to earn from reels. “There are people who unknowingly fall victim to fake information, while others enjoy it knowingly. And influencers are running after the cents, willing to say anything that will bring them more dollars,” said journalist and fact-checker Deepak Adhikari.

Umesh Shrestha, known as Shalokya, a fact-checker and one of Nepal’s first bloggers who still runs mysansar.com, said misinformation was rife in earlier movements, COVID-19 and elections, but this time it was more noticeable. “The monetisation of Facebook motivated more people to make misinformation viral. Since this happened when mass media and journalists’ credibility is dwindling, it inflicted greater damage,” he said.

Shrestha noted that misinformation such as claims that the Nepali Army was preparing a coup, or that Narayanhiti Palace Museum was being cleaned to welcome the dethroned king, preyed on public fears. Other claims, such as 32 bodies found inside Parliament, incited the youth to further violence. Even platforms with small user bases in Nepal, like Telegram, carried false claims.

 

Social media: Source of misinformation

A research report by Ujjwal Acharya and Chetana Kunwar, published in Nepal’s Misinformation Landscape (Centre for Media Research, 2024), found that political and social issues make up almost 75 per cent of misinformation topics in Nepal.

Analysis of 414 fact-checked items showed that 76.17 per cent of misinformation originated from media or social media authors, while politicians accounted for 17.69 per cent. By platform, 56.5 per cent spread via social media, 19 per cent via mainstream media and 17 per cent via online portals. These findings challenge the commonly held notion that the legacy or mainstream media perform fact-checking seriously and that the journalistic process ensures that only accurate information is transmitted. As many scholars and media experts suggest, credibility is probably the best asset that will help the traditional media as well as online news channels amidst the information blizzards created by social media. 

Another report in the same book, based on a survey of 3,448 adolescents conducted by Kunwar and Ujjwal Prajapati over 2023–24, found that 58 per cent admitted sharing unverified information, with 20 per cent doing so frequently. About 68 per cent encountered misinformation on social media, 38 per cent on online news sites, 25 per cent by word of mouth, 19 per cent on television, 13 per cent in newspapers and 10 per cent on radio.

Influencers, particularly celebrities, were the most responsible for spreading misinformation, according to 40 per cent of respondents. About 25 per cent blamed social media users, while others identified journalists, media workers and politicians. The researchers found that 60 per cent had never heard of media and information literacy. This demands an urgent action from the government, academia, civil society and media channels, including the social media operators, to design and implement Media and Information Literacy (MIL) programmes for various categories of masses, from those who are native to the new media and those who migrated to it recently. 

However, there have been only a few efforts to implement MIL programmes, especially by the non-government organisations like the CMR. The institutions like the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Department of Information and Broadcasting, and press registrar offices at the provincial level could have designed and organised such initiatives. But the results are not encouraging. 

Fact-checkers were overwhelmed by the torrent of misinformation during and after the protests. At one point, world-renowned eye surgeon Dr Sanduk Ruit had to call a press conference to deny rumours he was joining a cabinet led by Sushila Karki. By the time fact-checkers complete their verification, the damage is often already done, with fake content spread beyond measure. Worse still, fact-checked corrections are largely ignored, even by educated audiences, said Shrestha.

Fact-checkers argue that media houses must maintain in-house verification teams. Even opinion articles and letters to the editor should be checked so that the historical record is not distorted. Ultimately, however, audiences themselves bear responsibility. With access to verified information from official sources, users can avoid being duped, at the very least by not sharing doubtful content instantly.

Often, people share information in close circles, from where it rapidly spreads outwards. “Do not send or share any information until you understand the whole context. Wait and verify. Even doubt the camerawork, because an alternative angle can change the entire meaning,” said Adhikari. He added that had people simply asked “where is Oli in the video?” they might not have spread the rumour of his escape. 

Shrestha also maintains that users have the first responsibility to check misinformation, though government, media and educators also have crucial roles.

 

How to spot it

The increasingly professional use of AI tools and creators’ expertise is making fake news and deepfakes harder to detect. “As fact-checkers find new ways to identify it, propagators find new ways to improve their content,” said Adhikari. He advised paying attention to landmarks, geography, locality and natural features in videos or photos to verify authenticity, noting that many fake items are actually from other countries but passed off as Nepali events.

Checking and verifying the credibility of the source of information is the basic. Users should look for reputable and trusted sources or media outlets that have a good track record in terms of accuracy. Many media channels that claim to be neutral or non-partisan have their tilt to certain political parties or interest groups, even foreign countries or powers. This is rampant in the case of Nepal; audiences can find all these media in operation. 

Users should avoid instantly reposting information. Instead, they should save and scrutinise it before sharing. Adhikari said many people also fall victim to confirmation bias – liking or sharing information that aligns with their existing beliefs. Comparing the information with other trusted sources, especially with the official documents, data or statements from the related authorities, not clicking the obscure sites, and checking timelines of the event can be instrumental in identifying fake information. 

Likewise, fake information mostly uses sensational, emotional or indecent language while legitimate sources of information use a moderate tone and show a balanced attitude. There are high chances that highly viral information was verified by the fact-checkers, so one can visit their sites – such as nepalfactcheck.org, factcheck.org, and politifact.com. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily's Friday Supplement on 10 October 2025.    

PM Karki tells envoys to disseminate true information about political change at home

Kathmandu, Oct. 8

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed Nepal’s ambassadors and heads of missions abroad to prioritise five key areas to navigate the nation's political transition and address the fallout from recent Gen Z unrest.

In her address to them on Wednesday, she laid out her immediate strategic mandate, focusing on the recent political shift, upcoming general election, managing fund for reconstruction, revitalising tourism and investment and enhancing citizen services.

Stating that Nepal is currently at a critical political juncture and the role to be played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and its subordinate bodies is significant, PM Karki said that it is essential to inform all stakeholders, including government bodies in the countries where the diplomats and representatives are resident and concurrently accredited, about the immense scale of the recent movement in Nepal, the public's desire for change, and the priorities of the interim government.

She stressed the importance of holding the upcoming General Election on 5 March 2026. "The bedrock of democracy is a free, fair, and fear-free election, and the current government is resolute and committed to this principle. Should we require specific technical or other assistance from a friendly nation, we will notify you separately and swiftly," said PM Karki.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has begun preparations for international election observation, in line with international practice. PM Karki said that the missions will need to maintain contact and coordinate with the relevant parties on these issues. "We are also working on allowing Nepali citizens temporarily abroad to vote in the election and are seeking information and suggestions on how to best facilitate their participation," she said.

Likewise, PM Karki directed the Nepali missions abroad to actively disseminate the information about the need of support for the infrastructure damaged during the movement and make sure that the support is provided to the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund established by the government to support relief, reconstruction, and economic revival.

According to her, the purpose of operating this official fund is to ensure the correct, transparent, and proper utilisation of resources, preventing parallel, non-transparent fundraising and potential misuse.

Similarly, the recent movement has negatively impacted Nepal's tourism sector. Hotel bookings, which should be around 70 per cent of capacity during the high season month of October, have currently dropped to around 30 per cent. In this regard, it is essential to inform all concerned parties that the situation in Nepal has returned to normal and that economic activities, including tourism, trade, and investment, have resumed their previous momentum, stated PM Karki.

On the occasion, she demanded the Nepali envoys and representatives abroad to enhance  service delivery to the migrant workers and to safeguard their dignity, honour and rights.

"Millions of Nepali citizens are currently abroad for work. As the flow of people going abroad increases, so does the volume of work related to Nepalis overseas," she said.

“Following the movement, there are elevated public expectations for efficient, impartial, transparent, accountable, unbiased, technology-friendly, and effective service delivery and performance. We cannot shirk our public and legal responsibilities,” maintained PM Karki.

She informed that the MoFA and its departments are actively working on problems arising from the misuse of visit visas and matters requiring coordination with other bodies. "While challenges certainly exist, new opportunities have also emerged for a country like Nepal. Therefore, it is essential that we conduct even more effective diplomacy and demonstrate greater proactivity, keeping the national interest at the forefront," she said.

PM Karki also said that the country must further strengthen its cooperative ties with friendly nations and enhance collaboration with multilateral and regional organisations for the smooth transition to the developing nation from the Least Developed Country in 2026 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

She stressed on mutually beneficial cooperation, sustainable investment, and shared prosperity.

Stating that the foremost priority of this government is the election, PM Karki expressed her commitment to establishing the highest standards of good governance in the country. "It is with this commitment that I expect all of you to carry out your duties. Any behaviour that compromises your duty and integrity will not be tolerated," she warned.

The demands of the Gen Z youth relate to the political, economic, and overall governance structure and are often far-reaching in nature, she informed.  

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 October 2025.    

Hamas-abducted Bipin Joshi confirmed dead

Kathmandu, Oct. 13

The last hopes of welcoming Bipin Joshi home have been dashed with the Palestinian armed group Hamas confirming his death while in hostage.

"Hamas releases the names of four dead hostages whose bodies the terror group is expected to transfer to the Red Cross today. The hostages are Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez," The Times of Israel reported on Monday evening.

However, the statement does not specify when the transfer will take place.

Bipin from Kanchanpur in Nepal was in Israel to participate in Israel's 'Learn and Earn Programme' and was held captive by the Palestinian armed outfit Hamas – listed as a terrorist organisation in several Western countries as well as in Japan and Australia – since October 7, 2023. 

He was abducted in less than a month after he reached Israel under the government-to-government programme at the age of 24.

He was among the 49 students who reached in Israel in September 2023 (Bhadra 2080) after completing their final-year examinations at the Tikapur Agriculture Campus under Far Western University.

Ten Nepali students lost their lives during the attack on 7 October that year while Bipin was held hostage along with around 251 people including foreign nationals from more than 40 countries such as Thailand, the USA, the United Kingdom, France and Argentina. About 1,200 were killed on the spot in the terrorist attack.

According to media reports, a total of 168 people were released alive while 83 were killed or died in captivity.

"It had been expected that Bipin would be included in the list of hostages to be released," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement issued on Monday evening.

According to the MoFA, at 10:15 AM Nepali local time on Monday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) organised a virtual meeting with the Ambassador of Nepal to Israel Dhan Prasad Pandit, Bipin's brother, mother, and sister, as well as officials from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, it was informed that Bipin's name was not included among those hostages to be released and that his current condition remained unknown.

The Nepali Embassy in Israel said that the government there confirmed the death of Bipin.

Under the first phase of the proposed Middle East Peace Plan, proposed by the United States of America and aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas that began on 7 October 2023, an exchange of hostages took place.

But Bipin was not in any of the lists of people released in a phase-wise manner. He was seen in a video after a month in November 17, 2023 at the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

In its statement, the MoFA said that the Government of Nepal has made every possible effort at various levels over the past two years to secure his safe release. It also said that continued updates on this matter until the process of handing over the dead bodies of the hostages held by Hamas and transferring the bodies of deceased captives is fully completed.

The news came like a disaster to Bipin's family and also to Nepali people and well-wishers abroad, whose hopes to see him alive were further heightened by international and national media reports that he was included in the final list of hostages being released.

Initially published by a few Western media, including The Washington Post, the news was prominently published and circulated by Nepali media, YouTube channels and social media influencers.

Bipin's family complained that they have been distressed by the spread of various unverified reports and rumours circulating on social media and in the press.

Bipin's family – mother Padma, father Mahananda, cousin Kishor and sister Pushpa – had put their utmost efforts to obtain the whereabouts of Bipin and secure his release from the captivity.

Pushpa travelled to Israel and the USA to meet Nepali officials, and Israel's ambassador. In August this year, Pushpa and her mother travelled to Israel to lobby for Bipin’s release.

The Government of Nepal had initiated multiple efforts to secure Bipin's release. Foreign ministers talked with Qatar's minister who was chief negotiator in peace talks with Hamas. The MoFA had also support of Egypt, another country involved in similar ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, in facilitating the release.

Likewise, multiple meeting with Israel's ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass whiel former Foreign Ministers Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and NP Saud talked to their Israeli counterpart. Nepal's prime ministers raised the issue at the international forums while President Ramchandra Paudel wrote to King Abdullah II of Jordan in August this year requesting his support in identifying Bipin Joshi’s condition, ensuring his safe release, and facilitating his return to Nepal. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 October 2025.    

Brokers Association urges investors to maintain morale

Kathmandu, Oct. 13

The Stock Brokers Association of Nepal (SBAN) has said that the future of Nepal’s capital market is sustainable and bright, and urged the investors to trade with patience and high morale. Expressing concern that investor confidence has been declining amid recent uncertainty, the association called on investors to engage in share trading with renewed confidence in the coming days.

SBAN's President Sagar Dhakal said that although the NEPSE index has dropped to its lowest point, the government and other concerned authorities have been making every possible effort to reform and develop the capital market.

"I appeal investors to trade with optimism in line with these efforts. Following the formation of the new government, a Capital Market Reform Recommendation Committee was established to propose necessary measures for improving the capital market. The government has instructed that these recommendations be implemented immediately," he said.

Accordingly, the Nepal Rastra Bank has already begun the required implementations, and the Securities Board of Nepal has also advanced its activities. “The Board and other relevant institutions have already initiated the necessary reforms demanded by investors, while the SBAN has continuously been reminding concerned authorities to carry out long-term reforms for the development of the capital market,” said Dhakal.

He added that despite damage caused by recent protests to public property and private businesses, various indicators of the national economy — including bank interest rates, foreign exchange reserves, inflation rates, and financial liquidity — are improving,

This leaves no alternative but for the share market to recover, said Dhakal.

He further stated that although the capital market was affected by the protests organised by youth groups (Gen-Z) on 9–10 October and the resulting political instability, the interim government has been working to maintain law and order and has formulated and implemented short-, medium-, and long-term policies aimed at ensuring economic stability and sustainable development. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 October 2025.    

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