👀 Leave Rabi Dai Alone!

Namaste! As we bid adieu to 2023, it's that time of the year when we reflect on our triumphs, our not-so-triumphs, and brace ourselves for what 2024 might throw our way. Speaking of unpredictable encounters, one random day in 2023, a random dude DM-ed another random dude on Twitter, proposing a meeting with the vaguest agenda ever. Those two random dudes ended up giving birth to this newsletter during a call, and one of them even had a fancy deck ready. Talk about destiny! Now, here we are, marveling at the randomness that led us to each other. And speaking of marveling, almost a thousand of you awesome folks have joined our newsletter journey. The achaar on momo, lime on a neat gin, cherry on top, whatever you call it would be hitting 1k subscribers before the year wraps up. We've shamelessly asked before, and we're shamelessly asking again – if you think your mama, maiju, hajuraama, situationship or your Ullens ma padhne bestie's dog Bruno would dig our newsletter, do them a solid and forward this email so they can hop on the ride too. A massive thank you for all the love and support! Now, let's dive into what's shaking up the world.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

RPP's Political Ballet: Nepal's Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has pulled off a political balancing act that's nothing short of a blockbuster script. While declaring nationwide protests against secularism, federalism, and republicanism, the right-wing party has also positioned itself strategically in talks for the Speaker's position in the provincial assembly. The RPP, keen on reverting Nepal to a Hindu kingdom, manages a twist of irony by playing both the street protest card and seeking a role in parliamentary affairs. Who said you couldn’t have both chichi and papa? Critics call it a lack of political morality, but the RPP insists it's simply maximizing its presence in the provincial assembly.

Khoya Khoya Chaand: Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane faced an unexpected foe at a public function in Pokhara – a corn cob thrower! The alleged attacker, Santosh Ranabhat, aimed for Lamichhane but was swiftly detained by the police. Taking it in stride, Lamichhane humorously declared he'd frame the corn cob as a memento and even saw it as a manifestation of public frustration with bad governance.

Meanwhile, Rabi dai's former venture, Galaxy TV, is grabbing attention – and not the positive kind. Owner GB Rai is allegedly facing accusations of misappropriating a staggering 16 billion rupees from Suryadarshan Savings and Loan Cooperative. Entangled in a legal battle in Kaski District, Rai has gone off the grid since an arrest warrant was issued. For further details on this saga, delve into "Galaxy 4K TV: A Spectacular Launch and a Swift Demise – What Went Wrong in 3 Years?"

Ministerial Mayhem Unleashed: Sudan Kirati, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, stirred up a real tempest with his recent remarks, claiming that non-Christians are "anti-constitutional" and should be labeled "traitors." This wild ride has taken a serious turn, with political figures like Rabi Lamichhane and Kamal Thapa demanding Kirati's swift removal. Gokul Baskota even threw shade at the Maoist party, questioning how many prisons they plan to build. Christmas ko mukh ma k k ho.

Tech 

Meta's TikTok Takeover: TikTok is giving wearable tech a trendy twist with viral videos featuring users flaunting the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses—often while grooving to K-pop hits. Priced at $300, these tech-infused glasses blend seamlessly with the cool factor of regular Ray-Bans but pack a punch with discreet cameras for high-quality photos and voice command capabilities. Meta's vision for the future includes real-time language translation, witty photo captions, and even assistance with fashion choices. Whether this TikTok obsession translates into sustained popularity or becomes a fleeting fad will determine the fate of Meta's ambitious metaverse venture. Let's hope these glasses are more successful than Google's past attempts at wearable AR and VR tech!

Nepal's Tech Extravaganza: The government is set to organize an information technology fair to promote the advancement of Nepali startups, as revealed by the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. The announcement was made during the ICT Awards 2023 program in the capital. Minister Sharma expressed the government's commitment to encourage startups in the information technology sector through events like the ICT exhibition and digital champion programs. The initiative aims to support startups and showcase their innovations in various sectors, including agriculture, health, energy, tourism, finance, and urban infrastructure, as part of the Digital Nepal Framework.

The Google Developer Group (GDG) is set to host 'DevFest Kathmandu 2023' this week. GDG Kathmandu, in collaboration with Women Techmakers Kathmandu, is organizing the event to bring together commercial and new developers along with other individuals in the information technology sector. According to Vivek Dhakal, the leader of GDG Kathmandu, the program aims to focus on global discussions about the advancements in technology and will feature presentations from three individuals from India, one from Bangladesh, and nine from Nepal. The DevFest, with over 300 participants at Alpha House in Baneshwor, Kathmandu, will delve into discussions on machine learning, cloud services, and app development. Dhakal also mentioned the increasing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and the conference will address topics related to its future, practical applications, and effective utilization.

Fatafat

Stat: Turns out, 80% of Nepalis are living that loan life to pursue our dreams abroad. According to a study by the Foreign Nepali Coordination Committee and the Center for the Study of Labor and Mobility Social Sciences, 50% are still juggling those loan papers. And get this, 88% are playing the "repay-the-loan-with-foreign-money" game. Who said adulting was easy? Apparently not for the 72% who returned from foreign lands with zero savings due to some serious mismatch between skills and Nepalese job market opportunities.

Quote: “एउटा छोरी छ, उसलाई जोडेर उचालेको छ, यो सिष्टममाथिको हमला होः प्रधानमन्त्री”

We have no clue how to translate this but the tweet below summarizes our feelings.

Read: YouTube is the last bastion of unbiased journalism in India (restofworld)

As Narendra Modi's government clamps down on the free press, top journalists are going solo to report unbiased news.

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Bidesh Tira Hernus

Trump's Ballot Bungle: Colorado's Supreme Court put a quirky twist on Trump's political comeback plans, barring him from the 2024 presidential ballot. Their reasoning? A playful nod to the 14th Amendment, citing his alleged role in stirring up the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. In response, the Trump campaign is throwing a legal curveball, hoping the US Supreme Court will turn the tables on Colorado's decision. Let the legal juggling begin!

Czech Chaos, Nepali Confusion: A 24-year-old gunman unleashed chaos at Charles University in Prague, leaving 14 dead and 25 injured—the deadliest attack in modern Czech history. Dramatic footage on social media captured the terrifying scenes, with some people jumping from ledges to safety. The authorities disclosed that the gunman, also a student at the university, was "eliminated." Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled upcoming engagements, emphasizing the gravity of the "tragic events." The motives behind the attack remain unknown, adding to the shock and sorrow enveloping this historic university.

Interestingly, this event caused a bit of a stir in Nepal's media. Some outlets, in their classic "be first, worry about being right later" fashion, mistakenly linked the Czech capital Prague to Paraguay, reporting the shooting in Paraguay instead.

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news headlines are real, and one is faker than the accuracy of marked sizes on hoodies in Ranjana Galli. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. Tribuwan University Throws the Biggest Graduation Bash, Thinks It's a Guinness World Record; Turns Out It's Just 'Official World Records' Giving Them a Nod.

2. Nepal Airlines Employees in 'Visa-gate': Suspended for Faking Passport Papers!

3. Accounting Blame Game: Lamjung Accountant Points Finger at ChatGPT for Financial Fumble, Gets the Axe!

4. Myagdi Road Project Defies Nepali Time: Finishes 24-Month Contract in Just 12!

Eta Hernus Quiz

Take a stab at some of these Lok Sewa Aayog questions.

Best of Twitter/Switter

A request

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

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