Author: space4knews

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.

A short excerpt of the third song, ‘Mai Ramri Chu Ta Ni,’ from the film ‘Lalibazar’ was released on April 30. The vocals are by Deepika Bayambu Magar, while the lyrics and music were composed by Prakash Saput. The film focuses on the story of a mother and daughter and portrays the harmful traditional practice of Nathiya prevalent in the Badi community.

Kathmandu – A brief segment of ‘Mai Ramri Chu Ta Ni,’ the third song from the film ‘Lalibazar,’ which is set to release on April 30, was made available through the producer company Shatkona Arts’ YouTube channel. The song features lead vocals by Deepika Bayambu Magar, with chorus vocals from Ranjita Bishwakarma, Bindu Bishi, Sunita Sunar, Manoj Bik, and Govinda Anek. The lyrics and music are crafted by Prakash Saput.

The song includes appearances by actors Swastima Khadka, Rabindrasingh Baniya, Mukund Shrestha, and Janaki Kadayat, among others. Choreography was directed by Pradeep Lama. The song celebrates female beauty and has gained popularity across platforms such as TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The full version of the song will be available exclusively in theaters.

The previously released trailer has received positive feedback from audiences. Social media users and celebrities alike have praised both the trailer and the film’s storyline. Centered on the mother-daughter relationship, the film depicts the socially oppressive Nathiya practice common in the Badi community. It highlights a mother’s courageous struggle to protect her daughter. Swastima Khadka portrays the mother’s role. The production team includes producer Max Dipesh Khatri, actor Rabindrasingh Baniya, and director Pradeep Bhattarai under the banner Shatkona Arts, known for successful films like ‘Jatra,’ ‘Jatrai Jatra,’ ‘Mahapurush,’ and ‘Mahajatra.’ The film is directed by Yam Thapa.

April 25, Hetauda – The process of selecting the Speaker of the Bagmati Provincial Assembly remains uncertain due to the absence of consensus among ruling parties. The vacant Speaker position has drawn claims from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (UML), with no agreement reached between them. The post has been vacant since Speaker Bhuvankumar Pathak resigned on Ashoj 1 (September 17, 2022) following the Janajati Andolan movement. Constitutional provisions require the Speaker to be elected within 15 days of a Provincial Assembly meeting.

Although preparations were underway to advance the Speaker selection process on April 21, delays have occurred due to disagreements among parties, according to Pukar Maharjan, spokesperson of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party in Bagmati Province. Both the ruling and opposition parties have put forward separate claims for the vacant Speaker post. Maharjan, representing the largest party in the provincial assembly, asserted that the Speaker position should be given to the Nepali Congress. “The UML is also staking a claim, but we want to proceed with mutual agreement between both ruling parties,” he said. “As the largest party, Congress should be allotted the Speaker position.”

Maharjan emphasized moving forward by establishing consensus among the ruling parties. On the other hand, the UML claims the Speaker post for itself, arguing that because the Chief Minister is from the Nepali Congress, the Speaker should come from their party. Ekalal Shrestha, chief whip of the UML parliamentary party, stated that since the Chief Minister is from Congress, their party’s claim to the Speaker post remains uncontested. He noted that some delay had occurred while parties sought to select the Speaker with consensus across all parties.

Leader Shalikram Jamkattel of the Communist Party of Nepal stated that as the major opposition, their party deserves the Speaker to maintain balance between the government and the assembly. While asserting his party’s claim for the Speaker, he confirmed that in the absence of agreement among the ruling parties, his party will field a candidate. “We are telling the ruling parties: You handle the government, give us the leadership of the assembly,” Jamkattel said. “The opposition’s claim is natural for power balance and sends a positive message. If the ruling parties reach an agreement, that’s good; if not, we will present our nomination.” The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has also claimed the Speaker post. RSP parliamentary leader Uddhav Thapa stated that after Speaker Pathak resigned, who was from their party, the Speaker position rightfully belongs to the RSP again.

The Bagmati Provincial Assembly has 104 members: Nepali Congress with 35, CPN-UML with 25, Communist Party of Nepal with 26, Rastriya Swatantra Party with 13, Nepal Workers Peasants Party with 3, and Hamro Nepali Party with 2 members.