👀 BRI, FBI, and a Dash of Nepali Drama

Namaste! It’s December, which means there’s still technically time to knock out those New Year’s resolutions—yes, even the one about hitting the gym (we believe in you). Meanwhile, Oli Ba is back from China, Prachanda’s granddaughter is officially off the market, and you’re just sitting there doomscrolling. Anyway, straighten that posture, grab a cup of chiya, and let’s dive into the chaos that was this week in the news.

La Eta Hernus

Ghatanakram

The Week Amrikan Healthcare Took a Bullet—Literally and Figuratively

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s assassination has continued to dominate headlines this week, but it’s the aftermath, equal parts chilling and absurd, that really spotlights the fault lines in American healthcare. Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect now in custody, left behind a manifesto that’s as much an indictment of the system as it is a confession.

In the manifesto, Mangione frames the killing as a brutal act of vigilante justice, targeting what he described as “parasites” profiting from a healthcare system ranked first in cost but a dismal 42nd in life expectancy. He rails against UnitedHealthcare’s unchecked power, accuses Americans of complicity in corporate greed, and apologizes—yes, apologizes—for any resulting “strife or traumas.” If this sounds like a villain monologue, it’s because it is.

Adding to the chaos, a journalist revealed that major outlets like The New York Times and CNN have the full manifesto but refuse to publish it, selectively quoting from it without explanation. This silence raises serious questions about transparency and editorial ethics. Why let conspiracy theories and forgeries proliferate when the real text is just sitting there?

The manifesto also highlights Mangione’s careful planning, involving rudimentary social engineering and engineering expertise. His calm, detached tone contrasts sharply with the public’s often vitriolic response to Thompson’s murder. As debates about the healthcare system rage on Twitter, “Deny, Defend, Depose” T-shirts and other paraphernalia have popped up faster than Nepali startups offering event tickets via Khalti.

But let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture. Thompson’s murder isn’t just a crime—it’s a flashpoint. Executives are doubling down on security measures, but the underlying anger at systemic failures won’t disappear with armored SUVs. Mangione’s manifesto might be unsettling, but it’s also reflective of a growing frustration that corporations are playing games with lives—and winning.

It looks like in America, you either die uninsured or live long enough to see your CEO shot by a guy with a CAD hobby and a conscience. And frankly, it’s hard to tell which one’s worse.

Nepal Joins the BRI Club (Finally) 

Nepal has finally signed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Framework during PM KP Sharma Oli’s China visit, after lengthy debates over terms like “aid assistance financing.” (Diplomacy, or a game of Scrabble?) The deal paves the way for major infrastructure and trade projects, including the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel and RMB 300 million in cash assistance—along with buffalo meat export protocols (murraaaa) and tech collaborations.

Critics note the conveniently placed projects in the home districts of Oli and the Deubas, reminding everyone that infrastructure wins elections. While the government touts this as a milestone, skeptics warn that the BRI could be like dining at Bagaicha—great for insta stories, but the bill might sting later.

Social Lingo

Boomers, it’s time to update your vocabulary. Here are the words zoomers are using these days. Sprinkle these into your conversations to appear “hip” and “cool.” (Source: Femina India)

1. Pink Flag: A mild warning sign—not quite a red flag, but still something to keep an eye on.

2. Throning: Dating someone to boost your social status or enhance your personal brand.

3. Textationship: Endless texting with no commitment or progression, usually leaving one person attached while the other couldn’t care less.

4. Pocketing: Hiding your partner from friends and social circles—like a relationship in stealth mode.

5. Sneating: Going on dates just for free meals, with zero interest in the other person.

6. Paper Clipping: Sporadic attention from an ex, just enough to keep you on their backburner.

   Now, go forth and “sneat” responsibly—or, you know, not at all.

Reading List

1. Fighting a Foreign War: Who Are the “Russian Army Vloggers” from Nepal? (OFU X Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network)

2. The mysterious, mathematical origins of the world’s most unusually shaped national flag (Lilit Marcus, CNN)

3. AI's carbon footprint appears likely to be alarming (Monica de Bolle, PIIE)

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Three Newsbriefs and a Lie

Three of these news headlines are real, and one is faker than your promise to quit drinking after Tihar. If you click on the true headlines, the links will take you to the news articles. If you click on the fake one, you’ll be in for a surprise!

1. Citizen's Bank wins Bank of the Year award not because it's the best but because no other bank applied for the award.
   (When participation trophies go corporate!)

2. Ward chairperson who went to the UK hasn’t returned even after five months.

   (Did he forget where he’s posted—or just really love fish and chips?)

3. Ex-Army general wants to play the role of Hitler in Nepal, claims he will put anti-nationalists in a gas chamber.

   (Apparently, Mein Kampf just reached the clearance sale in Kathmandu.)

4. Pandit in a Nepali wedding in New York leaves midway after the groom asked him to hurry with the rituals and wrap up faster.

   (Turns out, “hurry up” doesn’t sit well with centuries-old traditions.)

Eta Hernus Quiz

What is the first rap song in Nepal?

Eta Pani Hernus

Rabi dai is on tour: RSP chair and former home minister Rabi Lamichhane is now in Birgunj, the latest stop on what’s starting to look like a nationwide detention tour. From Kaski to Kathmandu to Pokhara and now Simara-Birgunj, his carbon footprint might rival Taylor Swift’s private jet by the time the investigations are done. Accused of cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, Lamichhane remains under custody, with his remands repeatedly extended.

While Rabi dai looks dodgy (we’ve said this before), the optics of his treatment are only boosting public sympathy. Watching old political heavyweights gang up on the newbie could give Lamichhane and RSP an unlikely popularity bump—just in time to fuel their Mission 2084 ambitions. Whether guilty or not, his arrest might turn out to be the best campaign boost no money can buy.

Best of Twitter/Switter

Proud Gorkhali Moment

Ex-Prime Minister Prachanda’s daughter proudly flaunted a congratulatory message from Indian PM Narendra Modi on her daughter’s wedding. You’d think the family would keep things low-key after the backlash from his last granddaughter’s extravagant wedding, but no—subtlety is clearly not on the menu. Once the champions of janawadi weddings during the civil war that left thousands dead, Prachanda and the Maoists now parade their wealth like it’s an Olympic sport.

And what do we, the proud Gorkhalis, do? We watch, we grumble, and then we move on. Because if there’s one thing we’ve mastered, it’s letting hypocrisy pass us by without so much as a “Ke ho esto?”

Bidesh Tira Hernus

Donald Trump’s second shot at the presidency looks more like an episode of Succession than The West Wing. With at least ten billionaires (or their spouses) tapped for top roles, his administration is shaping up to be the wealthiest in U.S. history. Together, the cabinet nominees alone are worth over $9 billion—dwarfing the $118 million collective wealth of Biden’s 2021 cabinet, per Forbes.

Among the deep-pocketed picks: WWE-linked billionaire Linda McMahon as Education Secretary, Jared Kushner’s father Charles as Ambassador to France, and space-tourist-turned-tycoon Jared Isaacman for NASA. Oh, and Elon Musk, the planet’s richest man, will co-head the “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy.

Critics are already bracing for the financial disclosure reports, which will likely reveal new conflicts of interest—or perhaps just which nominee owns the most yachts.

Amazon now sells Hyundais—yes, actual cars, not just toy ones. With the launch of Amazon Autos, shoppers in 48 U.S. cities can browse, finance, and trade in vehicles alongside their bulk toilet paper orders. For now, it’s Hyundai-exclusive, but Amazon promises more brands next year, so maybe your dream car is just a Prime Day deal away.

Syrian rebels have seized Damascus, ending the Assad family’s 50-year rule as President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, where he was granted asylum. The fall of Assad marks a major geopolitical shift, dealing a significant blow to Russia and Iran, his key allies. Attention now turns to the rebels who ousted him and the potential power vacuum that could reshape the Middle East.

Answer to Eta Hernus Quiz: It’s Batti Baalera by Ratan Subedi! (Yes, the same song sneakily linked in the “Three Newsbriefs and a Lie” section.)

A request

If you’ve enjoyed the journey with us thus far, please help us spread the word about this newsletter by asking your friends, dads, maijus, neighbors, and your fupajus to sign up by forwarding them this email! If this email was forwarded to you, please consider signing up using this link! We've also got a discord server, you can join us here.

_{Our newsletter includes images sourced from online platforms for illustrative purposes only, with no implied ownership or endorsement. The content is for informational purposes only and is not authored by professional journalists. The views expressed are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organizations.}