👀 Swarnim yug

Namaste! It was Earth Day and 4/20 last week, so we hope you got to touch some grass (whatever kind). Big political changes are happening in the country, and the tech world is wild too. Here's the lowdown.

La Eta Hernus

Government

RaSwaPa stays winning: This week's big news is the victories of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which means the old political parties have suffered some losses. The Nepali Congress, the largest party, lost its Tanahun-1 seat to Swarnim Wagle from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) by a good margin. Remember that Swarnim Wagle was a Congressi for decades. Then he was like, 'Yo, I went to Harvard, I worked for the UN, I’m qualified AF, can I get a ticket?' And Congress was like, 'You ought to wait.' So Swarnim was like, 'Bye Felicia!' to his old-time buddy Gagan and went to Tanahu, where he beat a veteran Congressi politician. He came, he saw, he conquered. This is pretty big. To add to that, remember the whole citizenship fiasco with Rabi Lamichane? He’s won in Chitwan, and get this, more people voted for him than last time. If this isn't a sign that people are fed up with the old ways of doing things, we don’t know what is. 'Change' is a pretty cliché term, but the people have sent a message loud and clear. The traditional parties should take note and start feeling the pulse of society.

Let's see if the new parties, including the RSP (we say including but they’re pretty much the only one..Milan Pandey wya?), can deliver on their promises and avoid repeating the mistakes of the old parties.

Balen sir: Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah is currently refusing to pick up waste from Singhadarbar, the seat of the federal government, until his demands are met. Balen sir is frustrated with the lack of support from the central government regarding the waste disposal issue in Kathmandu, which has been ongoing for almost a year. The local of Bancharedanda has also obstructed garbage trucks from entering the landfill on several occasions, further exacerbating the issue. Balen sir is making demands from the federal government regarding traffic light management, pedestrian pavements, cleanliness, health insurance for people living near dumping sites, and more. The federal government has opposed Balen sir's decision, stating that there is a policy arrangement to collect the garbage of the valley at the local level.

Meter Byaaz: Loan shark victims and stakeholders marched in Kathmandu on Wednesday to protest against police brutality they faced during a demonstration earlier this week. The demonstration was attended by various rights activists who demanded the resignation of Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Protesters from different parts of the Terai region have been taking shelter at Shantibatika, and police have been restricting their movement since Monday. The victims arrived in Kathmandu on April 3 to stage protests after the government failed to comply with a previously signed agreement.

Transport

There was a scary situation in Kathmandu recently when a Fly Dubai plane reported a fire shortly after takeoff. Thankfully, the situation was quickly resolved and the plane was able to continue on its journey to Dubai according to the flight plan. The Nepalese Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, even tweeted to confirm that the aircraft was now in a safe condition.

Tech 

Kasturi dai and twitter: Twitter just can't stop making headlines! The platform's been dealing with impostors left and right after removing blue checkmarks for folks who won't cough up the cash. And get this: a fake account claiming to be a Sudanese paramilitary group - complete with a blue checkmark - tweeted that its leader had kicked the bucket, and the tweet went viral before anyone realized it was bogus. Meanwhile, Twitter's also nixed labels calling accounts "government-funded media" - not just the controversial ones. But the real kicker? Twitter's been handing out verification badges like candy to dead celebs like Chadwick Boseman and Anthony Bourdain, saying they've even paid for their Twitter Blue subscription - which is pretty impressive since they're, you know, not alive. And on top of that, Twitter's brought back the blue check marks for living celebs who aren't paying for Twitter Blue. Looks like Kasturi dai is bringing back the verification system he once destroyed. What other tricks does he have up his sleeve?

Google: Google has finally registered with Nepal's tax system, becoming the first big company to do so after the government introduced a law to bring internet-based companies under taxation. From now on, the government will charge a two per cent tax on all transactions made on any of Google's platforms. The government introduced a provision for the registration of internet-based platforms where financial transactions happen for the first time in the current fiscal year's budget plan. The move is expected to put pressure on other global tech giants like Facebook to follow suit.

Oh snap!: Snapchat's latest feature, "My AI," has been getting worse reviews than Bota. The new ChatGPT-powered bot has caused an uproar among Snapchat's 750 million users, dragging down the app's weekly rating to 1.67 stars. Reviewers report feeling "freaked out" by the bot's access to personal information and its ability to suggest nearby restaurants. The bot is also annoyingly omnipresent, staying pinned to the top of the chat screen even if you're willing to pay $4 a month for Snapchat+. Like a photo accidentally sent to the wrong recipient, "My AI" can't be deleted, only hidden. Despite the backlash, Sensor Tower data shows that Snapchat's history of unpopular updates has actually led to an influx of new users.

Fatafat

Read: This Mom Didn't Know She Was In A $250K Candy Crush Tournament, But She's Killing It from Kotaku

Quote: “Sher Bahadur Deuba in deply in love with me” - Prachanda. Go figure, we have no take.

Another Quote: Balen sir said, “If I weren't the mayor, I'd be truckin' it across the country.” Dude's all about promoting vocational skills for the younger generation. And can you imagine if he was a famous truck driver? Someone would totally write a sick rap version of "chitthi aayena" just for him. Hey, zoomers, if you don't know that song, google it ASAP and get on board.

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Eta Hernus Quiz

This tech billionare was spotted at Coachella in a butterfly-print button-down shirt. Who is he?

Bidesh Tira Hernus

• A three-day cease-fire has been agreed in Sudan as rival groups fight for control of the country, following days of violence that have left more than 400 people dead. The Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have agreed to halt fighting at midnight Monday, with a statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirming the US’s commitment to assisting in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan. France has evacuated 491 people from Sudan, including at least nine Americans, and Saudi Arabia has evacuated 357 people from more than two dozen countries.

• So, it looks like Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, won't be giving up his morning lattes anytime soon. While the rest of us are feeling the pinch, Pichai's pay has skyrocketed to $226 million, thanks to a stock award worth $218 million. I guess when you're at the top, you don't have to worry about losing your stapler.

• Guess who's leading the charge in military spending? That's right, it's the US of A! According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US spent a whopping $877 billion on the military last year, which is more than the next 10 countries combined (including China). And if you're wondering what all that cash is funding, the war in Ukraine and China's ambitions are partly to blame. It looks like Uncle Sam isn't afraid to flex his military muscle, even if it costs an arm and a leg (or 877 billion dollars).

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(Answer to Eta hernus Quiz: see below)