👀 The Weekend Edition

Namaste, fabulous folks! Can you believe it? Summer is just around the corner, ready to blast us with sunshine, good vibes, and mangoes. Now, before we dive in, we have a little confession to make. We messed up the delivery schedule this time—blame it on our mischievous head of content who decided to embark on an impromptu adventure. But fear not, we're here now, armed with an epic weekend read to make it up to you. So, let's kick back, relax in our chhats after our Saturday morning showers, and indulge in some delightful content.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

This section is all corruption, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Bhutani refugee saga: In the latest episode of the Bhutanese refugee scam, Nepali police have recommended prosecuting 33 individuals, including senior political leaders, for their involvement in a scam that defrauded hundreds of people out of millions of rupees by promising to send them to the US as Bhutanese refugees. The scam involved forging government documents and creating fake lists of refugees. The police investigation found that the scam was orchestrated by a group of racketeers who were backed by some high-level political and bureaucratic figures. The police have recommended that the accused be charged with fraud, organized crime, and treason. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison.

Honestly, it's mind-boggling to think that this kind of corruption exists in such a serious matter as human trafficking. It's like they had a TGIF party for drinks and sekuwa, and everyone from political leaders to their sons, wives, right-hand men, and even their pets came in and got involved.

Jalhari: There was some chaos in the House of Representatives when the previous government was accused of corruption over a golden jalahari (used to pour milk and water on Shivalinga) at Pashupatinath Temple. The accusation arose when a lawmaker claimed that the government had used a brass jalahari instead. UML lawmakers demanded an apology or a gold test, disrupting the House proceedings and leaving everyone scratching their heads. The controversy surrounding the jalahari even made it to the Office of the Auditor General's report, raising further questions.

Last week, Twitter and Facebook were on fire with uncles passionately debating which party is to blame for all these scandals. It's like a never-ending blame game where everyone's pointing fingers at each other, desperately trying to prove that their beloved party isn't the mastermind. The show goes on.

Tech 

• Move over, ChatGPT! Anthropic, the AI startup with a sense of humor, is revolutionizing the game with its constitutionally governed chatbot, Claude. Recently, they made headlines by raising a whopping $450 million in funding, putting them just behind OpenAI. Founded by former OpenAI employees, Anthropic is serious about AI safety, basing Claude's behavior on a constitution inspired by human rights and even Apple's Terms of Service. With Claude already integrating into Slack and soon to chat up Zoom users, Anthropic has big plans for more products, powerful algorithms, and cutting-edge AI safety research.

• Join in on the hilarity as Ron DeSantis kicks off his 2024 presidential campaign on Twitter Spaces with none other than Elon Musk. However, instead of triumph, the event became a tech disaster reminiscent of the time Musk shattered a Cybertruck's windows on stage. With over 500,000 eager attendees, Twitter's servers couldn't handle the load. While the event may not have reached Fox News levels of viewership, it's probably for the best considering the chaotic outcome. Looks like Twitter still has some work to do before taking on the conservative media throne.

Fatafat

Stat: Startling statistics reveal that over the past fifteen years, approximately 12,000 Nepalis lost their lives while pursuing foreign employment. The majority of these fatalities occurred in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, with heart attacks being the leading cause of death among Nepali workers abroad.

Best of tweet/sweet:

Read: The free dogs of India by Krithika Srinivasan, published in aeon.co

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than the whole "Oh yeah, let's exchange numbers, we should meet up sometime" thing we tell "those" friends. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer.)

1. Hungry teachers in Pokhara just couldn't resist the temptation of student lunches! A school is now under investigation after it was discovered that the government-provided meals were mysteriously disappearing into the bellies of the educators. In response, the school administration swiftly fired the school chef, leaving the teachers unscathed for their lunchtime adventures.

2. Looks like a furry stowaway caused quite a commotion on a Buddha Air flight from Janakpur to Kathmandu! Passengers were in for a surprise when they spotted a rat on the plane, causing the flight to be delayed. While the adventurous rodent put a dent in travel plans, engineers from Kathmandu arrived to conduct a thorough inspection before the flight took off.

3. Kathmandu's infamous "Simant Guru" Clinic has been shut down by the police following an uncontrollable clash. The office, known for its viral presence on social media, faced closure due to security reasons. Simant Guru, also called Bharat Keshi, drew attention for his abilities to predict and communicate with those who are unable to speak or hear. However, controversy and skepticism surrounded his practices, leading to the closure of his clinic.

4. Looks like Bhim Dutta Niraula from Sunsari has taken "office supplies for sale" to a whole new level! This government employee is now under investigation after it was revealed that he ordered a whopping 30 laptops for the Department of Transport, only to turn around and sell them to eager buyers in Sunsari. Talk about an entrepreneurial twist to public service!

Eta Hernus Quiz

Can you guess these Nepali song lyrics that have been translated to English? (Part 3)

1. The fish doth drink the water of yon lake, whilst thou, wilt thou venture forth with thy beloved?

2. Never shall I desire to recollect that day once more, nor shall I long to recount that tale anew. Love, a raging fire, doth consume, I am aware, and I shan't willingly engulf myself in its flames.

3. Mistakenly I deemed thee my paramour, yet thou art my mother-in-law. Mine eyes, deceitful, beguiled me, and I, as if stung by nettles, bear the pain.

4. With longing, I bided my time for my moment to arise, yet now I do perceive that my vigilance hath prolonged, and my life remains shrouded in darkness.

5. Thou art forever angered, forever angered, when wilt thou blend thy love with mine?

Eta Pani Hernus

• In the midst of recent electoral setbacks, a group of Nepali Congress leaders is launching a nationwide campaign to revitalize the party. With the Nepali Congress Rupantaran Abhiyan (transformation campaign), the party's youth leaders aim to unite party members and reconnect with voters. The campaign seeks to regain public trust and boost cadre confidence through a series of major gatherings across different provinces. However, observers remain skeptical, questioning whether the campaign will truly address factionalism and uphold the party's core values.

• Get ready to be amazed by Hari Budha Magar, the badass Gurkha army veteran who conquered Mount Everest on artificial legs! After losing both legs above the knee in Afghanistan, he proved that nothing can hold him back.

• The government has sent a request to the President's Office to release Resham Lal Chaudhary, the imprisoned leader of the Nagarik Unmukti Party, through a presidential pardon. This comes after Chaudhary was convicted for masterminding the infamous Tikapur massacre. We'll have to wait and see if the President's Office gives the green light on Republic Day next week. On a somewhat(?) related note, Aleeza Gautam, the seasoned political leader from the Unmukti Party (yes, the one who happens to be married to the Nepali heartthrob Rishi Dhamala), made a fiery declaration. According to her, if Chaudhary isn't released, the entire country will be set ablaze.

A request

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