Author: space4knews

On Saturday, security forces oversaw the demolition of the Sukumbasi settlement in Thapathali, forcing residents to remove their belongings. The government’s failure to provide adequate notice created confusion and anxiety among the residents, complicating the management of the process. When the bulldozer damaged a water pipe, soaking belongings, many residents broke into tears. Police used loudspeakers to reassure that belongings were safe. (12 Baisakh, Kathmandu)

Despite intermittent rain and heavy security presence, the Sukumbasi settlement in Thapathali was encircled by Nepal Police, Armed Police, and occasionally Nepal Army vehicles, maintaining a vigilant watch. Amidst this security, residents were busily salvaging possessions — sheets of tin roofing and treasured household items — carefully bringing them outside to preserve them.

Earlier attempts to evict the settlement had resulted in clashes, but Saturday’s operation was largely peaceful, marked more by sorrow than anger. Facing overwhelming armed government forces, the residents, powerless, complied with the orders. They lacked the strength to confront the authorities or to challenge humiliating questions posed on social media. Residents viewed police assistance not as help but as a hurried push to vacate. “How is that help? The urgency is to remove us, who have nothing, but they don’t actually help. If they cared at all, why do it in such an oppressive and hurried manner?” said Shailendra Paswan, a resident.

As residents wept while leaving the place they had lived for years, the bulldozer entered the settlement around 8:30 a.m. After demolishing the visible structures from the road, officials moved inside to continue clearing the area. Police were seen assisting residents in moving their belongings. As bulldozers operated from Shankhamul and the maternity hospital direction, residents helplessly watched their homes come down, emotionally distraught over their possessions. Around 9 a.m., Anjali Paswan, mother of a four-month-old infant, was rocking her baby in a cradle. She said her family had lived there for 20 years.

As government bulldozers destroyed decades of memories, the infant swung quietly in the cradle. Watching their homes come down was difficult. “We don’t know where the government plans to resettle us,” Anjali said. “They suddenly came with a notice to demolish the settlement. We have no idea where we will be taken. They say they will arrange something, but where, we don’t know.” This underscores the lack of sufficient dialogue between the government and the residents. Despite government efforts to arrange transition measures, insufficient communication left residents anxious. Around 9 a.m., the bulldozer ruptured a water pipe. Water flooded belongings, increasing residents’ distress. Anger brewed among them, but they could only express it through tears. Elderly residents appeared especially heartbroken as years of memories were erased.

As the government demolished the settlement, many people were seen crying, some helplessly moving their possessions, and others cooking under the open sky. Most complained about the lack of proper information from authorities. Some sought rooms where they could live with dignity. “How can we fight? What power do we have against so many police and bulldozers? We endure suffering; we live through pain and happiness. But if the government evicts us in a humiliating manner, and society looks down on us, is that proper management?” local resident Jangbahadur Magar said. The government claims to have peacefully dismantled the Thapathali settlement. Currently, bulldozers are moving towards the Sukumbasi settlement in Gaurigaun. Similar demolitions are underway in the Sukumbasi settlement in Manohara.

April 24, Gorkha – More than 10 people have been injured in wild boar attacks in Ranadi Tole, Gorkha Municipality-11, according to local reports. The incidents have occurred over a span of two days. Some of the injured are currently receiving treatment at the provincial hospital in Gorkha, while others have returned home after receiving care.

Local resident Kumar Amgai reported that the area is experiencing a wave of boar attacks. The boars have been ambushing people traveling along the road from Tehrakilo to Chewetar. “Three members of my household were bitten,” he said, “and neighbors as well as passersby on the road have also been attacked.” He added that motorcyclists, in particular, seem to be targeted.

“Yesterday, a person riding a scooter was bitten by a boar, causing him to fall. When we went to see what had happened, we were also attacked,” Amgai explained. He noted that the boars have been attacking anyone moving along this route in groups, creating significant fear among local residents.

The escalating wild boar menace has left residents of the area terrified, with many now afraid to even remain inside their homes. Amgai expressed concern, saying, “We don’t know where these boars came from nor have we located their den.” Despite informing the police, he claims that authorities have not taken appropriate action. Residents have therefore appealed to both the forest office and administrative bodies to address and resolve the problem promptly.

In the Red Bull 10th PM Cup NV Women’s and Men’s Volleyball League 2083 held on Saturday, both Nepal Police Club teams achieved their second consecutive wins. On the men’s side, Nepal Police Club defeated Nepal APF Club, while the women’s team triumphed over Sudurpashchim. The league features 8 men’s and 6 women’s teams, with the top two teams in each category advancing to the finals. The event is taking place in Kathmandu on 12 Baisakh.

On Saturday, the departmental side Nepal Police Club saw victories in both categories. In the men’s division, Nepal Police Club defeated rival Nepal APF Club in straight sets. This marked Police’s second win in the league. The match, held at Dasarath Rangashala Covered Hall in Tripureshwor, saw Police overcome APF with scores of 25-23, 25-20, and 25-14. Prior to this, Police had secured a win against Koshi Province.

In the women’s competition, Police also recorded their second consecutive win by defeating Sudurpashchim with scores of 25-12, 25-6, and 25-18. Previously, Police had beaten Everest Volleyball Club on the opening day. In another women’s match, New Diamond Youth Sports Club defeated Everest Volleyball Club.

On the men’s side, Nepal Police Club, Help Nepal, Rukum Paschim, and Tribhuvan Army Club have each won their first two games, accumulating 6 points each. The NV League will feature a total of 5 matches on Sunday—3 men’s and 2 women’s games. Organized by the Nepal Volleyball Association, the league includes 8 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams.

April 25, Kathmandu – The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has arrested a police havildar based on information that he accepted a bribe of 50,000 rupees. The 39-year-old havildar, Bishnu Thapa Kshetri, working in the case section of the District Police Office in Kaski, was apprehended by the CIAA office in Pokhara.

CIAA reported that Havildar Thapa took 50,000 rupees after promising to facilitate the settlement of a narcotics case in favor of the defendant. Acting on this information, he was arrested from Khajaghar in Pokhara Metropolitan City-4, and further investigation is ongoing, the commission added.

The Nepali kempo team secured a total of 25 medals, including one gold, at the 22nd IKF World Kempo Championship 2026 held in Antalya, Turkey. Monalisa Dhami opened Nepal’s gold medal tally by winning gold in the Junior Kata event, and she also earned a silver medal in the Junior Full Kempo Fight. Pavel Shah, President of the Nepal Kempo Federation, described this as Nepal’s best performance to date and a proud achievement.

The championship, conducted in Antalya, saw the Nepali team participating in five categories, winning one gold, six silver, and eighteen bronze medals, marking a historic success for Nepal.

Monalisa Dhami claimed the gold medal in the Junior Kata category and secured a silver medal in the 12–14 years age group of the Junior Full Kempo Fight held on Saturday. Additionally, Aira Gautam won silver in the 8–10 years age group, while Prisha Rajyalaxmi Shah earned a bronze medal in the Junior Full Kempo Fight for the 6–8 years category.

Federation President Shah stated, “Although the gold medal count was limited, the overall medal haul by the players is very encouraging. This championship marks Nepal’s best-ever performance on the world stage, and winning such a large number of medals is a matter of pride for the country.” A total of 16 players and officials from Nepal participated in the event. Coach Anjana Shahi congratulated all the medalists and participants, acknowledging their success in proudly representing Nepal internationally.

April 25, Kathmandu – The government commenced clearing squatter settlements in the Kathmandu Valley starting Saturday. Political advisor to Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen), Asim Shah, reported that the eviction on the first day proceeded peacefully. “According to data from the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, there are a total of 871 unauthorized households: 476 in Shantinagar, 162 in Gairigaun, 143 in Thapathali, 77 in Gothatar, and 13 in Manohara Tol,” Asim Shah wrote on Facebook. “Following cooperation from the residents in these areas, the settlements in Thapathali were cleared in a peaceful and harmonious manner.”
So far, the government has established contact with 68 families residing in Thapathali, and outreach efforts continue at other locations, he added. “Family information is being collected after bringing contacted families to Dashrath Rangashala, and preparations are underway to temporarily house them in various hotels across Kathmandu,” he explained. Identification to confirm which families are genuine squatters will begin tomorrow. “Families verified as genuine squatters will be relocated within two weeks to government apartments located in Nagarjun Municipality-1,” he added. “Subsequent long-term arrangements for their settlement will then commence.”

While reporting in the Manohara area of Kathmandu, online journalist Kamal Prasain was attacked by residents of the local settlement around 7 PM. He sustained an injury to his nose during the assault, which occurred as a security team arrived in Manohara with a bulldozer. The attack took place amid government efforts to demolish the settlement, as Prasain was covering the unfolding situation. 12 Baisakh, Kathmandu.

During his reporting from the Manohara squatter settlement in Kathmandu, journalist Kamal Prasain was assaulted by local residents at approximately 7 PM. The attack resulted in a nasal injury. The group became hostile as he was documenting the government’s demolition activities in the area. Earlier in the day, the atmosphere was calm when security forces cleared Thapathali and Sinamangal, but tensions escalated in Manohara when the security team arrived with a bulldozer, provoking anger among the locals.

The squatter settlement in Gairigaun, located in Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward 9, has been cleared by demolishing unauthorized houses and structures. Following directives from the Government of Nepal, a joint team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Metropolitan Police has been deployed to remove the squatter settlement in Sinamangal. At least 100 houses in Gairigaun have been demolished so far without any major disruptions or clashes, according to police officials.

The squatter settlement in Gairigaun, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward 9, has now been cleared. The houses and structures built illegally on encroached land were removed. The team is currently moving towards the squatter settlement in Sinamangal to carry out similar demolition operations. This intensified campaign to dismantle illegally constructed structures began this morning under government orders.

The operation, launched this afternoon, involves a joint force of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Kathmandu Metropolitan Police. In the strong presence of security personnel, temporary and permanent structures in the Gairigaun settlement have been removed. The team has now started to demolish the houses in the squatter settlement in Sinamangal, informed Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu District Police Office. “After clearing the settlement in Gairigaun, the team has been dispatched to remove the squatter settlement in Sinamangal,” he said. The police have reported no significant obstacles or clashes during the removal operation so far. According to the Metropolitan Police, at least 100 houses have been demolished in Gairigaun.

With AI technology and editorial analysis: Chegg, a leading US edtech company, is facing a severe financial crisis, with its valuation nearing zero. The availability of ChatGPT’s free services and Google’s Gemini AI has caused a significant decline in Chegg’s user base and revenue. Without diversifying its services, Chegg is compelled to implement major staff layoffs, putting the company’s survival at risk.

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and tools has placed many major global companies in jeopardy. Chegg, a renowned educational technology company based in America, is a recent example. Once valued in the billions, Chegg is now on the verge of collapse, largely due to the disruptive impact of AI.

Until a few years ago, Chegg was the first name that came to mind for academic assistance in the United States. The company was considered a major brand in online education and the largest edtech firm in the country. Tens of millions of students used Chegg’s platform for homework solutions, Q&A, and exam preparation. However, the arrival of AI, particularly ChatGPT, has severely challenged Chegg.

Chegg reached its peak in 2021, with an estimated valuation around $15 billion. Since then, it has experienced a rapid decline, with its valuation now close to zero. Chegg’s business model relied on students paying fees for answering their questions. However, ChatGPT’s launch in 2022 brought free AI-powered answers, eliminating the need for paid services. This shift led to a massive drop in Chegg’s users, rendering its subscription model ineffective and causing a substantial drop in revenue. Website traffic plummeted, and the company’s stock price has fallen by 40 to 50 percent.

Google has also presented a major competitive challenge. With AI integrated into Google Search, users receive direct responses without needing to visit external sites like Chegg. Google’s Gemini AI has effectively reduced Chegg’s user base to near zero.

From a commercial perspective, Chegg’s biggest vulnerability was its heavy reliance on homework assistance. As AI tools began offering these services quickly and for free, Chegg’s ability to compete diminished drastically. The company’s failure to diversify or improve its offerings, coupled with its inability to launch its own AI tools, forced students to turn to alternatives like ChatGPT, from which they have not returned. Consequently, Chegg was compelled to carry out massive layoffs, terminating thousands of employees and implementing cost-cutting measures as its financial condition worsened daily.

In 2025, Chegg’s revenue declined by approximately 50 percent with increasing losses. Ultimately, the company’s very existence is now at stake. Chegg’s predicament illustrates the profound challenges that AI technologies pose to traditional technology industries.

12 Baisakh, Hetauda – The Bagmati Province government has introduced a new budget preparation directive aimed at resolving the long-standing issues of unfinished projects and cost overruns. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, now preparing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, has released the new Annual Project Proposal and Selection Directive, 2083.

The directive clearly sets time limits for the completion of new infrastructure projects based on their cost. Economic Affairs Minister Prabhat Tamang formulated this directive exercising the authority under Rule 120 of the Provincial Financial Procedure Regulations, 2076. Minister Tamang emphasized that the directive is essential to ensure timely and systematic budgeting and program formulation.

Henceforth, adherence to the standards outlined in the directive will be mandatory when submitting budget proposals. Starting from the upcoming fiscal year, Bagmati Province will enforce maximum completion periods for new infrastructure projects according to their costs, ensuring all projects are completed within five years.

According to Article 4 of the directive, projects costing up to NPR 10 crore must be completed within two fiscal years. Minister Tamang stated that projects with costs ranging from NPR 10 crore to NPR 20 crore should be completed within three years, those between NPR 20 crore and NPR 50 crore within four years, and any projects exceeding NPR 50 crore must be finalized within five years. He highlighted that this rule is designed to control prolonged incomplete projects, reduce cost inflations, and ensure effective utilization of public resources.