Breaking: Government of Nepal has Collapsed!

Nepal’s Gen Z protests erupted after a nationwide social media ban, resulting in casualties, curfews, and a government rollback of the order.

Protesters set fire to government buildings, police stations and the houses of politicians in Nepal’s capital as unrest continued for a second day on Tuesday, even after the country’s leader resigned and social media restrictions were reversed.

Members of the governing elite were personally targeted in the unrest in Kathmandu. The homes of several former prime ministers were set on fire.

Here’s what else to know:

Ban reversal: Social media is a critical tool in Nepal, where many citizens work abroad and send money back home. Last week, the authorities banned 26 services, including WeChat, YouTube and LinkedIn, which it said had failed to register with the government. By Tuesday morning, they were all back online.

Youth and democracy: The demonstrators in Nepal, who appeared to be mostly teenagers and young adults, have embraced the label “Gen Z protest.” Free speech is highly prized in Nepal, which has maintained robust space for debate as similar rights have shrunk in other South Asian countries.

Resignations: Mr. Oli had been elected in 2024 for a fifth time as Nepal’s top official, and it’s not clear who will replace him. In all, four cabinet ministers stepped down, including three from the Nepali Congress, which is in a coalition government with Mr. Oli’s communist party.