👀 A Capital City Divided

Namaste! Last week, our capital city (and nation) witnessed a deep division that left many with mixed feelings. The protest against Balen sir brought people together in both support and opposition, reflecting a range of perspectives. Amidst it all, what stood out was the rapid and passionate reaction to every tidbit of news. This week, we want to encourage a shift from reactivity to responsiveness. It's a gentle reminder to take a moment, breathe, and appreciate that upcoming Dashain, a time for reflection and celebration, is just around the corner. We're not here to preach, but we believe there's more to life than the constant rush of "gotcha" moments on Twitter and Facebook. Let's indulge what really matters together.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

Social media has been abuzz all week with the Balen vs. Ih showdown, and we've been continuously updating this news piece as things evolve rapidly. Ih has been stationed outside the Kathmandu Metropolitan Office, demanding that Balen fulfill his pre-election promises and provide street vendors with an alternative selling space, away from the crowded footpaths. You might recall Ih from his protests during the 2015 constitution crisis, including the infamous red paint incident at Singha Durbar, and his recent activism during the COVID era.

Ih's determination is evident, with some photos making it seem like he never skipped leg day. Two days ago, a group from Kathmandu Municipality tried to engage with Ih. Ih requested 30 minutes to gather his expert supporters, but the municipal representatives left, prompting him to continue his protest. Even political figures like Kamal Thapa and Surendra Pandey, who have somewhat faded from relevance, have joined Ih, perhaps seeking to regain some clout.

The latest twist in the saga came when Balen posted a Facebook status suggesting a compromise with youth activist Ih. Balen has asked Ih and his supporters to conclude their protest, emphasizing that he can't grant wishes through social media. While social media has been flooded with jokes and memes reminiscent of the BLM protests (how can you protest when you have a full-time job?), the heart of the matter remains the street vendors. Balen staunchly adheres to the rulebook, despite widespread sympathy for the vendors. Balen sir's message to the protestors is straightforward: "Sorry, folks, can't grant that wish either." Balen? Ih? 12 bhai? Dollarwadis? See, you could appreciate nuances and remember that only a sith deals in absolutes. Or you could do you and let the political games continue!

Educators nationwide have taken to the streets to protest the recently proposed Education Bill, sparking curiosity about what's really driving the controversy. The bill suggests converting thousands of private schools into the non-profit Guthi system, aiming to boost educational accessibility. Furthermore, the bill's push to teach computer science and math exclusively in English raises concerns about its impact on students and the future of the Nepali language. On a positive note, there are commendable efforts within the bill to support children with special needs and promote gender inclusivity in teaching. The bill also imposes constraints on private school fees, which could have unintended consequences. And while requiring teaching licenses is a good idea, mandating master's degrees for basic-level educators may not be practical for Nepal. In the midst of these changes, it's essential to strike a balance between quality education, inclusivity, and teacher incentives. The bill's shift toward localized exams brings new challenges and opportunities, especially for students pursuing international curricula.

On Tuesday, doctors from various medical institutes gathered for a peaceful protest in response to the recent assault on doctors at Manipal Hospital in Pokhara. Their message was clear: they demanded immediate implementation of the Security of the Health Workers and Health Organisations Act (First Amendment) 2022. The protest comes after the tragic incident involving Sukamaya Dura, a Lumjung local who passed away during treatment, leading to physical assaults on medical staff by her relatives. In solidarity, doctors at Manipal Hospital have temporarily halted their services until the culprits are identified and brought to justice, echoing a nationwide call for action initiated by the Nepal Medical Association earlier this month in response to attacks on doctors in Hetauda.

Nepal and China recently issued a 13-point joint statement during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to China, but it left us with more questions than answers. The statement, while lacking specifics, did touch on some interesting points. For instance, they've switched from the "one-China policy" to the "one-China principle" - it's like going from "I like your outfit" to "I really, really like your outfit." But amidst the diplomatic dance, it seems some critical issues were left on the sidelines, like Nepal's map concerns. Former foreign minister Narayan Khadka even asked, "Did the prime minister raise the map issue?" It's like being in a heated argument and your friend suddenly changes the topic to talk about their sunko hatti. Despite all the fancy words in the statement, it seems that the visit didn't quite live up to the hype. One former minister, Pradeep Gyawali, humorously quipped that the prime minister couldn't quite keep his promises made in Parliament. It's like telling your friends you're throwing a massive party, but it turns out to be just chyura dalmot and 750ml of khukuri rum at home. In any case, the joint statement did touch on infrastructure projects and cooperation, which could be exciting for the future. Let's hope that amidst the diplomatic jargon, there's some real progress brewing.

Tech

Get ready to take your relationship with AI to the next level! OpenAI just dropped a game-changing update for ChatGPT that will have you ditching those boring weather chats and timer setups. Now, ChatGPT can chat back with spoken words, making your conversations way more interesting than Alexa and Siri's party small talk. What sets ChatGPT apart? It's powered by a giant language model that can chat endlessly, while those other voice assistants are stuck on a script. Plus, ChatGPT's voices sound more human than those robotic rivals. If you're a ChatGPT Plus customer, you'll be chatting it up with this new feature in two weeks, and the rest of us will join the fun "soon after." And in case you're wondering, ChatGPT can even help with your math homework now - just show it a picture!

In other AI news, Amazon is dishing out a cool $4 billion to keep up in the AI arms race with a startup called Anthropic. They mean business!

Fatafat

Stat: Migrant workers coming back from the Gulf and Malaysia make up a whopping 40% of infertility cases at Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu. Recent studies have shed light on the challenges these men face after working in extreme conditions abroad, often leading to unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking, which can contribute to fertility issues.

Quote: Former Prime Minister K.P. Oli, known for his own strong-willed personality, offered some wisdom to Balen sir, cautioning that arrogance and pride can be detrimental to an individual. Interpret as you see fit.

Read: Worried you’re not normal? Don’t be – there’s no such thing

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Well, it seems the Kavre Times was having a snooze-day instead of a news day because they splashed a headline on their front page about their editor jetting off to Thailand. Now, the burning question remains: Why on earth is that news?

16 medical personnel bound for Nepalgunj faced a roadblock when leaders of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), including Deputy Secretary Matrka Yadav, intervened. Summit Air Station Manager Mahendra Bhamal justified the holdup, claiming the need for five doctors for VIPs. Consequently, all the doctors had to disembark, leaving their medical mission hanging in the air, as leaders, including former Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, took precedence. The medical team, consisting of Dr. Vimal Pandey, Dr. Vyapak Paudel, Dr. Suraj Bajracharya, Dr. Gaurav Dhakal, and others, had originally scheduled their flights two weeks prior for crucial medical work in Jumla. However, it appears that political clout took priority over their mission. Thukka.

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than twitter users who say “ah yo blue check ta malai sathi le gift dieko ho, maile tireko haina.” Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. Jyoti Baniya, the head honcho at the Consumer Rights Forum, is ready to throw some legal punches at phone providers who think it's cool to play those CRBT tones when you call someone – remember “launa hajur launa hajur aayo nirwachan!” Apparently, they've been driving folks up the wall with annoyance. And when the Nepal Telecommunications Authority was handed the memo on this, they just shrugged, prompting Baniya to say, "Alrighty then, let's take this to the courtroom, shall we?"

2. The Home Ministry is all about wellness as they've just rolled out a new initiative. Staffers have been given the green light to incorporate 15 minutes of yoga into their daily routines, as per a memo from Under Secretary Bhim Kanta Sharma. Starting their day with a little zen, officers will be hitting their desks by 10:15 AM (instead of 10) after 15 minutes of mindful stretching. Nah-mahh-stayhh!

3. Rabindra Mishra, the guy who's switched political philosophies more times than Leo changed girlfriends, shared a pic from his European adventure, suggesting Nepal should get a king because Sweden is thriving with one. Just one tiny detail – the photo was actually from Finland, and Finland's never had a monarch!

4. The Women's World Cup Football 2023 was held from July 20th to August 20th in New Zealand and Australia, but Nepal's team didn't make the cut. Interestingly, several Nepali journalists who were supposed to cover the event haven't returned home a month after the tournament ended. Reports suggest they're in Australia on student visas, including journalists from outlets like OnlineKhabar, Kantipur Television, and more.

A request

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(Answer to three newsbriefs and a lie: The third one is a lie.)