👀 Everyone's leaving the country

Namaste! What on earth is this "How often do you think about the Roman Empire trend?" Are we too brown to grasp it? Too old, perhaps? How often do all of you contemplate Sughauli Sandhi? While you ponder that, we hope your Teej celebration was fantastic, and you danced and indulged to your heart's content. We also hope you gave your dads a big hug on Father's Day (trust us, it's not weird). Football enthusiasts are getting ready for the Champions League, and we're all gearing up for Dashain. Amidst all the quirky and not-so-quirky events in life, it's moving forward. Just as we're progressing in life, so is the world. Here are some interesting tidbits of information that you can peruse here and brag to your friends that you read it in the NYT or WSJ to sound more politically aware – we don't mind.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

Balen sir is making waves on the global stage (yet again). He's not just any mayor; he's been featured on TIME's 2023 TIME100 Next list of emerging leaders. TIME, the mag that usually tells us who the "Person of the Year" is, decided to spice things up in 2019 with the TIME100 Next. Now, they're recognizing folks like Balen sir for tackling big problems in health, climate, business, sports, and the arts.

We all know his not-so-secret sauce. He used TikTok, Twitter, black shades, and Instagram to whip up some serious voter excitement, creating a "Balen effect" that swept veteran politicians off their feet. With promises of improved waste disposal, clean water, and preserving cultural heritage, Shah has been on a mission to transform Kathmandu into a utopia (or at least a cleaner, more pleasant place to call home). But, as you know, it's not all sunshine and rainbows; his plans have stirred up some controversy, especially concerning the city's less fortunate and those pesky illegal buildings.

The TIME list caused quite a stir on social media. Balen sir's loyal supporters celebrated his TIME recognition, while others who have concerns about his approach to poverty-related issues voiced their criticisms. Notably, renowned activist “iih ईः” has started a 77-hour standing session in front of the National Assembly, urging the Balen administration to fulfill its promises to street vendors made during the election.

It's safe to say that Balen sir's journey continues to be eventful and full of twists and turns. When we hit 100k subscribers, we will give a take (not really though).

Subas Chandra Nembang, former Speaker and CPN-UML vice-chair, passed away at 70 due to a heart attack at his Baluwatar home. Leaders including PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli paid their respects at the Maharajgunj-based hospital. Nembang's state funeral and a public holiday for his funeral rites were announced after an emergency Cabinet meeting.

Shyam Sapkota from Nuwakot decided to express his unique brand of citizen activism by attacking Deputy General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Mahendra Yadav, with a khukuri. This incident occurred as Yadav was leaving a program at the Reporters' Club Nepal in Bhrikuti Mandap. Sapkota, armed with his khukuri, boldly shouted slogans like "Chop the anti-nationalists, Scrap the MCC, Long Live Monarchy," all caught on video. While Yadav received medical attention at the Trauma Center, Sapkota found himself in custody, all in the name of "citizen activism."

Tech 

In the land of search engines, Google used to be a minnow but now rules like the Godzilla of the internet, with over 90% of the market in its webby clutches. Hold onto your keyboards, because there's a showdown of epic proportions brewing. It's the U.S. versus Google in a colossal antitrust trial that's giving Silicon Valley the jitters. The government's bone of contention? Those nifty deals with Apple and others that make Google the default search engine on your shiny devices. It's like trying to switch channels when the remote's stuck on one station. Get ready for a 10-week drama fest, with tech bigwigs spilling the Silicon Valley tea on the witness stand. Even if Google escapes this legal labyrinth, don't expect its CEO, Sundar Pichai, to be sending out congratulatory cards. This trial is a pricey distraction that might give Google's growth plans a little hiccup. Ever tried studying as your dad goes “Ramrari padh hai, ke padhira?” over your shoulders? Yeah, it's kinda like that.

Apple released a new Iphone. USB-C and all. Some exciting new features as there always are. Check out Tridev’s trip to the Silicon Valley to find out more about Apple.

In a jaw-dropping twist, India's edtech giant, Byju's, is under fire for parking a whopping $533 million in Camshaft Capital Fund, a hedge fund that once called an IHOP (yeah, that’s International House of Pancakes) in Miami its headquarters. The peculiar IHOP connection came to light as lenders embarked on a quest to reclaim their moolah. In the lenders' legal showdown, it's revealed that Byju's funneled over $500 million to Camshaft Capital Fund last year, a brainchild of William C. Morton, who apparently skipped the formal investment class. Post-transfer, Morton's garage underwent a dazzling transformation with a 2023 Ferrari Roma, a 2020 Lamborghini Huracán EVO, and a 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith now parked in it, as per the court drama unfolding!

Sports

Move over, Ted Lasso, because British football is going all-American! 777 Partners just scored a deal to buy Everton, bringing the count of American-owned Premier League clubs to almost a touchdown – 10, with an honorary half thanks to Ryan Reynolds' Canadian connection. Yo American haru le sansaar bhyaaune bhaye!

Fatafat

Stat: Nepal is witnessing an exodus of its youth as hundreds of thousands seek opportunities abroad, driven by peer pressure, economic challenges, and political instability. Approximately 775,000 Nepalis have ventured overseas for work, with another 100,000 pursuing education abroad in 2021-22. The bureaucratic hurdles of obtaining no-objection certificates and foreign degree equivalencies add to the challenges of their global pursuit.

As young Nepalis pack their bags, even border-hopping to neighboring India, the nation grapples with a significant demographic shift. While remittances from these expatriates sustain the economy, the country faces the loss of its future leaders and innovators. Sociologists emphasize that a country without its youth risks losing its vitality. Meanwhile, Nepal's politicians urge a change in mindset (k k na), but the departure of its youth continues. The nation watches as its young generation embarks on a global adventure, hoping for a brighter future elsewhere. Here's the article from Nepali Times that delves into this matter in detail (it also features a pretty cool interactive infographic!).

Best of Twitter/Switter

This entire saga of football Twitter folks pretending to be the Taliban is quite amusing.

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than two high school lovers convincing each other long distance relationships can work. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. The Chief Administrative Officer of Maijogmai Rural Municipality in Ilam has been stripped of his "Integrity Icon" award, which he received in 2019, after a shocking video emerged of him engaging in inappropriate behavior with a woman inside his own office. The incident was captured on CCTV camera, leading to his removal from the prestigious award.

2. The Nepal Medical Council (NMC) appears to have ignited a dental drama by declining to support Shanti Shrestha, a dentist, in her predicament. Shrestha, who was beaten by a patient's family after complications from a wisdom tooth extraction left the patient in a coma, received the NMC's cold shoulder with the classic "We only represent doctors" response. It seems the NMC has adopted a strict "dentists need not apply" stance in this oral odyssey!

3. Smita Ghuge, the Indian bride who said, "No way!" to a 15 lakhs dowry demand, just conquered Mount Everest as the ultimate act of dowry defiance. Now, she's on a mission to scale seven of the world's tallest mountains in her "Retaliation Tour" against this outdated system. Talk about turning a cancelled wedding into a mountaineering masterpiece!

4. Susan Ghimire's gold hustle on Instagram took a glittery turn when he got caught red-handed. His con game involved buying gold while pretending to be in the UK, then convincing vendors to ship it elsewhere for payment that never arrived. In the end, he swindled a whopping 11 lakh rupees. Goldilocks, watch out!

Bidesh Tira Hernus

India and Canada are in a bit of a tiff, with both countries kicking out each other's diplomats like it's some international game of chess. It all started when Canada pointed fingers at India, suggesting they had a hand in the unfortunate demise of a Sikh activist in Canada. India, of course, wasn't having any of it and called the allegations "absurd." Now, let's not forget that India has been dealing with the whole Khalistan independence movement for quite some time. But this recent drama took a bizarre turn when the said activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was allegedly involved in an attack on a Hindu priest in India. India had even slapped a cash reward on his head. Nijjar was on a mission to organize an unofficial Sikh independence referendum when he met his unfortunate end. So, you see, there's a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

Survivors of Morocco's recent earthquake face a tough situation as they have spent many nights in makeshift shelters, with some villagers in remote mountain areas expressing frustration at the lack of government assistance. The earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, struck the High Atlas Mountains and resulted in a tragic death toll of 2,901 and over 5,530 injured. Many remote areas remained cut off due to landslides, hindering relief efforts. Ordinary citizens also stepped up to help those in need, distributing food, water, and blankets.

A request

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