Millions of voters in Nepal have cast their ballots in the country’s first general election since violent youth-led protests toppled the government last September.

The demonstrations, driven largely by members of Generation Z, erupted over widespread concerns about corruption, economic stagnation and social inequality. The unrest turned deadly, with 77 people killed during clashes, many of them protesters shot by police.

The election is widely viewed as a turning point for Nepal’s political future, as established political figures compete against a younger generation of leaders seeking to channel the frustrations of Gen Z voters demanding sweeping reforms.

Votes are being counted for all 275 seats in the country’s parliament, the House of Representatives of Nepal. Officials say the process could take several days, with final results not expected until next week.

Counting is particularly slow due to Nepal’s rugged mountainous terrain, which makes transporting ballot boxes difficult. In addition, votes are counted manually across many districts.

Nearly 19 million people were registered to vote in the 5 March election, including close to one million first-time voters. The Election Commission of Nepal said shortly after polls closed that turnout was expected to reach about 60%.

Despite the country’s tense political climate, voting was largely peaceful. Security forces were heavily deployed nationwide to prevent unrest.

Among the leading figures in the race is former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who was removed from office during last year’s protests. He is representing the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and has insisted the protests were not a rejection of his leadership.

Another major contender is Balen Shah, a former rapper who stepped down as mayor of Kathmandu in January to challenge Oli in the closely watched Jhapa 5 constituency. Shah is running under the banner of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Shah avoided direct interaction with journalists on Thursday, appearing briefly in his trademark black sunglasses before moving through a crowd of reporters without comment. Some members of Nepal’s media fear this approach could continue if he were elected to national office.

However, many younger voters say Shah’s energy and outsider status represent the kind of leadership Nepal needs, seeing him as a symbol of political renewal.

Meanwhile, Gagan Thapa of the Nepali Congress said the country’s youth are increasingly frustrated with what he described as “unholy alliances” and poor governance in previous coalition governments. He said his party is paying close attention to the demands of younger voters.

Not everyone is convinced that the election will bring meaningful change. Rakshya Bam, a prominent Gen Z activist involved in last year’s movement, expressed skepticism.

“They want to sell the name of Gen Z and come into power so they are using the term Gen Z movement,” she said. “I don’t have much expectations from the elections.”

A Japanese appeals court has upheld an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church, rejecting the group’s attempt to overturn a lower court ruling.

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday denied the church’s appeal, affirming last year’s decision by the Tokyo District Court to disband the organisation following accusations that it manipulated followers into making excessive financial donations.

Japan’s education and culture ministry had argued that the group coerced members into contributing vast sums under the guise of religious devotion. The church maintained that such donations were legitimate religious activities, but the appeals court dismissed that defence.

The Unification Church — often referred to as the “Moonies” — faced heightened scrutiny after the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. The gunman, Tetsuya Yamagami, said he targeted Abe due to perceived links between the politician and the church, which he blamed for financially ruining his family. Yamagami, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in January and has since appealed.

The dissolution order is unprecedented in Japan for a religious organisation over a civil offence. While it strips the church of its tax-exempt status and requires asset liquidation, it does not prohibit the group from continuing religious activities.

With the appeal rejected, the order is expected to take immediate effect, though the church may still challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.

Founded by the late Sun Myung Moon, who was regarded by followers as a messianic figure, the church has long been controversial. Investigations following Abe’s assassination uncovered ties between the organisation and numerous conservative lawmakers, intensifying public and political scrutiny.

According to the district court’s earlier ruling, the church collected approximately 20.4 billion yen (about $130m) from more than 1,500 individuals.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said government agencies have been instructed to work on relief measures for victims, expressing hope that the liquidation process would proceed under court supervision to ensure swift compensation.

Infamous Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, has been buried in a gold-coloured coffin during a heavily guarded funeral in western Mexico.

The 59-year-old founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died after being wounded in a firefight between his bodyguards and Mexican special forces deployed to capture him in late February.

Long regarded as Mexico’s most-wanted man, Oseguera was also the subject of a $15m reward offered by the US Department of State for information leading to his arrest.

His death sparked a wave of retaliatory violence across at least 20 Mexican states, with cartel members reportedly setting vehicles ablaze and blockading major roads.

The funeral took place near Guadalajara in Jalisco, a longstanding stronghold of the CJNG. Members of Mexico’s National Guard were deployed in force to deter further unrest during the ceremony.

Large floral arrangements were delivered ahead of the service, including a tribute shaped like a rooster — a nod to Oseguera’s reported passion for cockfighting.

The procession featured a live band playing ranchero music and narcocorridos, a genre known for songs that glorify drug traffickers. Local media reported that the traditional song El Muchacho Alegre was performed as the coffin arrived at a chapel within the cemetery grounds.

After a ceremony lasting about an hour, mourners — many wearing face masks to conceal their identities — followed the casket to the graveside.