👀 The Chameli Edition

Namaste! As summer draws to a close, we find ourselves wondering about the fruits of our labor in achieving that coveted hot summer bod. And just when we thought we could rely on the comforting patter of rain, it seems the weather has become just as unpredictable as the state of our beloved country. But fret not, for we have gathered the week's most captivating stories to keep you informed and entertained.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

Balen sir just can't stay out of the headlines! This time, it was the "Enough is Enough", a youth-led campaign, who took to the streets near the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office in Sundhara to raise their voices against the rough treatment of street vendors by the municipal police. A viral video showing the police manhandling a vendor caused a stir, igniting public fury and inviting widespread condemnation. With incidents of authorities confiscating goods, chasing, and even assaulting vendors becoming distressingly frequent, the protesters demanded accountability, an immediate halt to municipal brutality, and safer working conditions for the hardworking street hawkers.

It seems the pro-Balen Twitter squad wasn't exactly thrilled with the protests, taking aim at the protestors for their seemingly lackluster crowd size and not fully involving the street vendors who are directly impacted. The catchy slogan of the protest, "Garib ko chameli boldine ko cha ra?" led to the protestors and their supporters being hilariously dubbed "The Chameli Gang" on social media. As if that wasn't enough, some folks even claimed these rebels were getting paid in dollars, while others couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of most protest signs being in English.

To make the irony even more vivid, certain individuals resurfaced an old post from Balen sir's archives.

Then, one of the leaders of the "Enough is Enough" movement made a post suggesting this:

What is your take on all of this? Follow us on Instagram and send us your replies via dms. We will eagerly await your response.

Sher Bahadur arrested on charges Of false propaganda about PM Prachanda: Sher Bahadur Rana Magar, also known as Tiger Rana Magar, hailing from Devdaha Municipality, was arrested in Butwal for spreading misinformation on social media. Unfortunately, our intern couldn't capture a screenshot of the tweet before it was removed (we’ve put him on probation). Tiger sir had posted counterfeit identification documents, an Indian Aadhaar Card, and an Income Tax Card, suggesting that Prachanda was born in India. These documents were so obviously fake that words can't even do justice to describe them.

Sita Dahal, the beloved wife of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, passed away in Kathmandu at the age of 69. Despite battling multiple health conditions for years, her spirited journey came to an end due to a cardiac arrest. Sita, a strong pillar behind her husband's political career, had been a guiding force during their 54-year marriage. Her loss is deeply felt by leaders both at home and abroad, with tributes pouring in from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others.

Robin dai: Celebrities, politicians, and even Cabinet ministers gathered at the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama to bid a final farewell to the talented singer and actor Robin Tamang, who passed away at the age of 60. Known for hits like 'Dam Maro Dam' and 'Keta Keti,' Tamang not only rocked the stage as the frontman of 'Robin and the New Revolution' but also carved a niche for himself in the film industry with memorable performances in movies like 'Chhadke.'

Lalita Niwas: Former under-secretary Bal Krishna Shrestha has found himself in some hot water as the police swooped in to detain him in connection with the infamous Lalita Niwas land grab scam. He's accused of signing off on a document for a fake tenant with forged papers. But that's not all—Rudra Prasad Shrestha, the former director-general at the department of land reform and management, got tangled up in this web too. Stay tuned, as we'll be covering a longer story on the Lalita Niwas scandal soon. Sixteen people have already been arrested in connection with this land grab scandal.

Tech 

Threads is shaking things up! (Is it though?) Meta's new Twitter clone took the world by storm with a whopping 30 million sign-ups within 24 hours of its launch, putting it on track to become the fastest-growing consumer app ever. So what's Threads all about? It's the fresh and trendy way for brands to debate the age-old question: is vegmomo momo or samosa? With a touch of Instagram food influencer vibes and celebs like the Priyanka Karki dominating the scene, Threads is bringing the public conversation away from Twitter and into the spotlight. While it's still finding its footing, Threads sets itself apart from Twitter with its curated feed, lack of hashtags and keyword searches, and a promise of future updates. Time will tell if Threads is the ultimate Twitter slayer, a snooze-worthy Instagram clone, or something entirely different. (Editor’s addendum: It’s been three days since we approved this piece and our interns tell us threads is already dead, atleast among Twitter users.)

At the same time, Twitter's recent struggles continue as traffic takes a nosedive following Elon Musk's whopping $44 billion purchase. Even Cloudflare's CEO couldn't resist the temptation to share the irony on Twitter, which promptly went viral. However, although, Threads skyrocketed to 100 million users in a mere five days Twitter still reigns supreme with a staggering 250 million users passionately bickering away.

Instagram's boss, Adam Mosseri, recently shared (in a series of tweets, maybe?) that Threads won't be dabbling in politics or "hard news" to ensure it feels more like a fun happy hour than a tense kojagrat purnima with your relatives. But not everyone's convinced! Critics argue that this kind of content is essential to prevent the platform from becoming a bland playground for brands and influencers. Despite the debate, Threads' popularity keeps soaring, with over 70 million users, including those curious about Elon Musk's private jet adventures, jumping on board.

Fatafat

Read: AI moderation is no match for hate speech in Ethiopian languages (restofworld)

Stat: Foreigners spend half as much in Nepal compared to Nepali tourists when they travel abroad. As Rajesh Hamal aptly stated, “Yo desh garib ho, deshbaasi ta dhani chan.”

Another stat: In a travel trend that soared higher than a Bollywood dance number, the year 2022 witnessed an astounding 415% surge in Schengen visa applications from India, as wanderlust made a powerful comeback. While the good news came with increased visa approvals, making dreams come true, recent data from Schengen Visa Info revealed that India secured the second-highest spot for Schengen visa rejections worldwide. With over 1 lakh visas declined, amounting to an estimated Rs 87 crore in missed adventures, it seems some trips were destined to stay only in the realm of dreams.

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Proud Gorkhali Moment

Bijaya Ghimire and Tendi Sherpa conquered Mount Everest, and you won't believe what they did at the top! They whipped out a RaSwaPa flag and struck a pose, thinking of Rabi dai. Talk about a Gorkhali moment that'll make our chests swell with pride!

Arts?Movies?Culture?

Prepare yourself for the unexpected duo of Barbie and Oppenheimer, who are stealing the spotlight, transitioning from internet sensations to blockbuster hits. With over 20,000 movie buffs already securing their seats in the USA alone, this unique combination of a doll's adventure beyond her pink paradise and the genesis of the atomic bomb is causing quite a buzz. The excitement isn't limited to the US—across the pond, 19% of Oppenheimer ticket holders in the UK couldn't resist adding Barbie to their movie marathon. While we don't have the numbers for Nepal, our small team of three individuals plans to watch both movies consecutively via a telegram link, featuring the films in Russian with English subtitles.

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than a celeb who’s recently joined threads trying to connect to their fans. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. A couple of crafty Chinese tourists have managed to successfully smuggle gold into Nepal by ingeniously concealing it inside innocent-looking vapes, resulting in the creation of the ultimate "Golden Vape" experience. They proceeded to sell the gold to a group of unsuspecting Indian tourists, proving once again that the best deals can often be found in the most unexpected of locations.

2. In an academic scandal that could rival a fictional heist, the associate dean of social sciences at Tribhuvan University has been unceremoniously ousted from his position. It turns out he took "do it yourself" to the extreme by fabricating all the data for his PhD research, cleverly disguising his fraudulent actions as a household survey for 300 homes, only to pocket the grant money for himself.

3. Looks like these six Nepali men took the term "tourist trap" to a whole new level! After luring unsuspecting Indian tourists with promises of sightseeing and a visit to Pashupatinath, they skillfully swiped 33,000 from their pockets and whisked them away to a lively dance bar, proving that sometimes the best way to show hospitality is through some impromptu dance moves and a clever sleight of hand.

4. In a tragic and cautionary tale that highlights the perils of alcohol-fueled escapades and unconventional fashion choices, a man from Jhapa sadly met his demise when he attempted to emulate Lord Shiva by draping a snake around his neck. Regrettably, the inebriated encounter took a venomous turn, resulting in a fatal snakebite.

Best of Twitter Suitter

Rest assured, that's not a genuine feature on LinkedIn. Soren Iverson creates satirical app designs on a daily basis, and some of them are truly remarkable. For instance, there are iMessages that display your average response time, an option to disable Instagram stories if you post too many videos of fireworks, and even an amusing feature on American Airlines that allows you to shock someone if they place their foot on your armrest. These designs by Soren Iverson are true gems.

A request

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