👀 Dashain is over

Namaste! Since our last issue, more than 10,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the military campaign launched in response to Hamas attacks by Israel. It's challenging to browse social media without encountering images of injured children, casualties, and utter chaos. Hospitals, universities, everything has been devastated. We assume you're already up to date on this news; nonetheless, we aren't the best source to provide you with the latest updates. However, please keep reading and pay attention. This is an event of extraordinary proportions. Here are some other important updates from the last few weeks.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

The death toll resulting from the devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Jajarkot and West Rukum districts has risen to 157, with over 375 people injured, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. While those with minor injuries are receiving treatment at local health facilities and district hospitals, seriously injured individuals have been airlifted to Kathmandu, Surkhet, and Nepalgunj. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited the affected districts with medical personnel, medicines, and relief materials, instructing agencies to enhance search, rescue, and relief efforts. A financial package of Rs100 million has been allocated to support these missions, with Rs50 million earmarked for both Jajarkot and West Rukum districts, and additional resources and personnel being deployed to the affected areas.

Amidst all this, the president was supposed to go on a Euro trip. But then people said, "Yo dude, there are people dying. How can you take selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower?" Then Ramchandra Baaje was like, "Okay, the Euro trip is canceled." However, he flew a helicopter to Rukum for antics, and when he flew out, his chopper blew dust all over the temporary shelters where the earthquake victims were living. Yo kasto desh ho?

That’s not all the president did last month. Remember the murderer the president decided to pardon? The Supreme Court recently issued a mandamus order annulling the presidential pardon granted to Yog Raj Dhakal, a murder convict associated with the Nepali Congress. A full bench, including Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Sapana Pradhan Malla, and Kumar Chudal, ordered his immediate arrest in response to a writ petition filed by Bharati Sherpa, the widow of Chetan Manandhar, who was brutally murdered by Dhakal in 2015. The court concluded that the decision to grant a pardon was constitutionally and legally incorrect. Subsequently, the police arrested Dhakal in Nepalgunj, Banke, and are preparing to send him back to jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.

There’s also this.

Tech 

• YouTube's war on ad blockers has users tossing their extensions like a Manakamana Mayako Chino souvenir. The company's crackdown has prompted a game of ad-blocker whack-a-mole, with users frantically trying to find one that can evade YouTube's detection. Privacy advocates, meanwhile, are crying foul, claiming YouTube's move is a privacy violation.

• From Bahamas billionaire buddy to the broke and busted, Sam Bankman-Fried's rollercoaster ride took a nosedive as he was found guilty on all seven charges of fraud and conspiracy, with the potential of a 115-year prison sentence looming like a dark cloud over his future. SBF plans to appeal, but it's not looking good, especially after his "I couldn't recall" hit parade during cross-examination. Once a crypto king, now an Icarus who flew too close to the sun, Bankman-Fried's lavish lifestyle and alleged $8 billion swindle have left the crypto world shaken, stirring a crypto drama of epic proportions.

• Initially, the traffic police or some government agency stated that displaying driver's licenses through the Nagarik app was acceptable. However, they later emphasized the importance of carrying physical licenses, reminiscent of boomers calling to confirm sending an email. This highlights the ongoing digital transformation in Nepal. (We don’t have a link for this, RONB ma padeko ho.)

Fatafat

Stat: In the fiscal year 079/080, Nepal experienced a significant increase in internet users, with 566,000 new users compared to the previous fiscal year 078/079, according to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA). The total number of internet users now stands at 2.7 million, up from 2.23 million in the previous year. Notably, WorldLink Communications and Dish Media Networks have aggressively expanded their market presence, with WorldLink reaching 781,000 customers and Dish Media Network growing to 290,000 customers by mid-July 2022.

Quote: "We are not in the position to say 'Please Return' to Nepalis living abroad." - Bishwaprakash Sharma (Zoomers, he's the mahamantri of a leading party, if you dm us which party, you'll get a heart emoji)

Need we elaborate further? Your (well, technically our, but he's from your party) president has been busy pardoning criminals and blowing dust at earthquake victims. Which NRN is going to look at that and go, 'You know what, I'm going back?’

Read: Watch This Guy Work, and You’ll Finally Understand the TikTok Era (WIRED)

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Best of Twitter/Switter

Sports

Nepal has once more secured its place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a decade after its initial qualification in Bangladesh. These athletes' remarkable journey to the top level of cricket, overcoming obstacles like poor infrastructure, limited pay, and scarce resources, is a source of immense pride. With their underdog spirit and diverse lineup, the Nepali team continues to win hearts worldwide, though concerns remain over Sandeep Lamichhane's presence amidst accusations, which could impact the team's camaraderie and reputation.

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than authentic pizza anywhere in Nepal. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. Shanti Baral just received a timeout from the Maoist party for flashing her TikTok audience! It turns out, showing your breasts on a live stream doesn't jive with the party's strict rules – who knew? Looks like Shanti's political career just hit a bit of a, well, bumpy road!

2. Mayor Rajeshman Singh, in a noble attempt to inaugurate a friendly cricket game, took a swing at one ball but ended up swinging himself right into an injury - he broke his arm while hustling between the wickets. Guess he's learning the hard way that politics and cricket don't always mix smoothly!

3. A Nepali Congress cadre in Jajarkot faced social media backlash for allegedly misappropriating three tents from government donations and providing them to his extended family. The incident sparked outrage online, with many condemning such actions during a time of disaster relief efforts.

4. In a truly tragic twist, two folks in Salyan took the 'Dhog or Die' slogan way too literally and beat up another dude to death, all because he didn't obey when they said, 'tero dai lai dhog gar.' The two have been arrested.

Eta Hernus Quiz

Guess which district's jersey this dude is donning?

Bidesh Tira Hernus

With just one year left until Election Day, President Biden is facing a challenging path to victory, as he lags behind former President Donald Trump in five out of six crucial battleground states, according to a New York Times and Siena College poll. Notably, Biden's support among young voters has dwindled, with just a one-point lead, and he's also witnessed a decline in support from nonwhite voters under 45, where only 49% now back him, signaling potential hurdles for his 2024 re-election bid.

A request

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(Answer to three newsbriefs and a lie: The third one is a lie (we hope). Answer to Eta hernus Quiz: It’s obviously Syangja)