Nepal will hold first election since deadly protests, with 3 rivals vying to be prime minister

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A former rapper who ran Kathmandu as a mayor. The young leader of Nepal's oldest political party. And a communist veteran politician hoping to return to power after being ousted inyouth-led protestsin which dozens were killed last year.

Nepal Election The Contenders

They are the three leading contenders as Nepal heads into a crucial nationwide election, the first since the protests led to the fall of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli's government in September.

Whoever prevails will become Nepal's 16th prime minister in less than two decades, underscoring the recurring political instability that has marked the Himalayan nation sincethe monarchy was abolishedin 2008.

The protests in Nepal last year revealed the extent of young people's frustration with corruption and a lack of opportunity in the country, where around a fifth of young people are unemployed, but where the children of the political elite seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages.

After public outrage led to the resignation of the government, millions of Nepalese voters are now gearing up to elect members of the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament. The next prime minister will be chosen after securing a majority in the house.

Ex-rapper is seen as front-runner

Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, is seen as front-runner after emerging as a popular figure during the campaign. He waselected mayorof the capital, Kathmandu, in 2022 and later left the post to become the National Independent Party's candidate for prime minister.

The 35-year-old Shah trained as a structural engineer and later gained modest fame as a rap artist, using his music to take on social issues and politics.

Dressed in his signature black attire and sunglasses, Shah has been touring the country. Supporters often line up to greet him and show support for him and his party.

Shah won the Kathmandu mayor's race as an independent, riding a wave of public anger toward traditional political parties. He drew praise for clearing illegal vendors, tackling the city's chronic garbage problem and pushing road expansions, but also faced criticism for ordering the demolition of homes and properties without adequate planning or notice.

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"Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda," he told his supporters in western Nepal last week.

A new face in an old political party

Another contender is Gagan Thapa, the newly installed leader of the Nepali Congress, the country's oldest major political party, a liberal democratic party with close ties to India.

Long seen as a popular face within the Nepali Congress, Thapa, 49, had been held back by the party's senior leadership until earlier this year, when he mounted a rebellion and secured his election as party chief.

The Nepali Congress has remained a popular party, but was part of the last coalition government that was forced out by ayouth revoltin September. The youth-led protests were triggered by a social media ban before snowballing into a popular revolt against the government. Dozens were killed and hundreds injured when protesters attacked government buildings and police opened fire on them.

Thapa says his first priority would be to rid Nepal of corruption within five years and make the government fully accountable to the public.

Former prime minister is keen on a return

The other contender for the post isKhadga Prasad Oli, the controversial but strong communist leader who led the coalition government that was forced out of power last year. He is blamed by many for the deaths in the violent protests that ousted him.

Despite criticism of his handling last year's protests, Oli still commands support within the Communist Party and among many of its supporters.

Oli has consistently argued that steady policies and politics are essential for Nepal, warning that the economy needs stability to develop.

Oli's popularity peaked when he stood up to aneconomic blockadeimposed by neighboring India in 2015 that resulted in shortages of fuel, medicine and other necessities.

Nepal is located between Asian giants India and China, and both countrieshave shown keen interestin having influence in their smaller neighbor. Thapa's party is traditionally closer to India while Oli's communist groups are seen as more friendly to China.

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February 26, 2026

Nepal will hold first election since deadly protests, with 3 rivals vying to be prime minister

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A former rapper who ran Kathmandu as a mayor. The young leader of Nepal's oldest political p...

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Paris Hilton Transforms Fiery Red Gucci Coat Into Chic Minidress

Paris Hiltonis a proper fashion icon, and she always knows just how to make onlookers gush and gasp with her choices. In fact, her latest look proved how the diva is fully leaning into her "lady in red" era.

She transformed a structured Gucci coat into a statement-making minidress, and the result is felt equal parts polished, playful, and pure perfection!

Paris Hilton calls herself 'lady in red' in chic Gucci coat as minidress in photos

Paris Hilton always knows just how to turn heads, and that's exactly what she did for her latest photoshoot, in a fiery red piece, which was tailored to perfection. This full-sleeved Gucci coat also hugged her frame, keeping a sharp classic silhouette. However, what made this look extra special was that Hilton gave it her own unique twist by wearing it as a buttoned up as a minidress. It was also embellished with bold gold buttons that instantly drew the eye. These also showed off her oh-so-toned legs, making the look unforgettable.

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Paris also rounded out her look with classy black pumps. These pumps also had a pointed-toed style, adding to the fancy vibe. Furthermore, she also added an extra scoop of panache to her look with black glossy gloves. Even her delicate earrings added some sass to her look. However, the focus of the look was her incredible silver brooch, which elevated her whole outfit. This also added some extra shimmer and shine to her look.

Last but not least, Paris's makeup choices were also on fleek. She went with a natural-seeming base. Further, she added a dash of contour on the sides to sharpen her features, while adding a dash of color to her cheeks with some pink blush. For her eyes, she went with some black mascara for her eyelashes and well-shaped eyebrows with some shiny eyeshadow and black eyeliner. She completed the look with nude lip and with a touch of gloss. These enhanced her lips.

Originally reported by Mehak Walia onThe Fashion Spot

The postParis Hilton Transforms Fiery Red Gucci Coat Into Chic Minidressappeared first onReality Tea.

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February 26, 2026

Paris Hilton Transforms Fiery Red Gucci Coat Into Chic Minidress

Paris Hiltonis a proper fashion icon, and she always knows just how to make onlookers gush and gasp with her choices. In fact, her latest ...

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Growing more complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their products?

Like so many sectors of the economy, the news industry is hurtling toward a future whereartificial intelligenceplays a major role — grappling with questions about how much the technology is used, what consumers should be told about it, whether anything can be done for the journalists who will be left behind.

These issues were on the minds of reporters for the independent outlet ProPublica as they walked picket lines earlier this month. They're inching toward a potential strike, in what is believed would be the first such job action in the news business where how to deal with AI is the chief sticking point.

Few expect this dispute will be the last.

AI has undeniably helped journalists, simplifying complex tasks and saving time, particularly with data-focused stories. News organizations are using it to help sift through the Epstein files. AI suggests headlines, summarizes stories. Transcription technology has largely eliminated the need for a human to type up interviews. These days, even a simple Google search frequently involves AI.

Yet rushing to see how AI can help a financially troubled industry has resulted in several cases of publications owning up to errors.

Within the past year, Bloomberg issuedseveral correctionsfor mistakes in AI-generated news summaries. Business Insider and Wired wereforced to removearticles by a fake author named Margaux Blanchard. The Los Angeles Timeshad troublewith AI and opinion pieces. Ars Technica said AIfabricated quotes, and the publication that has frequently reported on the risks of overreliance onAI toolsembarrassed itself further by failing to follow its policy to tell readers when the tool is used.

The ProPublica dispute is noteworthy for how it touches on issues that are frequently cause for debates. The union representing ProPublica's journalists, negotiating its first contract with the the outlet known for investigative reporting, says it wants commitments that mirror those sought elsewhere in the industry about disclosure and the role of humans in the use of AI.

Along with holding informational pickets, union members pledged overwhelmingly that they would be willing to strike without a satisfactory agreement, said Jen Sheehan, spokeswoman for the New York Guild, the union that represents many journalists in the city.

"It feels to me pretty monumental when we think about the trajectory of AI and journalism," said Alex Mahadevan, an expert on the topic at the Poynter Institute journalism think tank.

ProPublica has rejected its requests, the union said. Insight into why can be foundin an essay, "Something Big is Happening," that circulated widely this month. Author and investor Matt Shumer, who said he's spent six years building an AI startup, wrote that the technology is advancing so quickly that "if you haven't tried AI in the last few months, what exists today would be unrecognizable to you."

The reluctance of news outlets to put policies on record

Small wonder, then, that news executives are reluctant to put guarantees in writing that could quickly become outdated.

Rather than make promises that can't be kept, ProPublica is exploring how technology can create more space for investigative reporting, company spokesman Tyson Evans said. In the "unlikely event" of AI-related layoffs, ProPublica is proposing expanded severance packages for those affected, he said.

"We're approaching AI with both curiosity and skepticism," Evans said. "It would be a mistake to freeze editorial decisions in a contract that will last years."

Fifty-seven of 283 contracts at U.S. news organizations negotiated by the NewsGuild-USA contain language related to artificial intelligence, said Jon Schleuss, president of the union that represents more journalists than any in the country. The first such deals happened in 2023, and The Associated Press was one pioneer. He wants provisions in more contracts.

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It won't be easy, judging by the reluctance of many outlets to be tied down. The organization Trusting News, which encourages news organizations to develop and make public its policies on AI use, estimates that less than half of U.S. outlets have done so.

"I think it is becoming harder," Schleuss said, "because too many newsrooms are being run by the greedy side of the organization and not by the journalism side of the organization."

The guild pushing for contracts that guarantee AI won't eliminate jobs. That's no surprise; unions exist to protect jobs. Schleuss characterized a proposal that ensures an actual journalist is involved when AI is used as a way to prevent errors and help an outlet build trust with its readers.

"Humans are actually so much better at going out, finding the story, interviewing sources, bringing back the relevant pieces, asking the hard follow-up questions and putting that in a way that people can understand and see, whether it's a news story or a video," he said. "Humans are way better at doing that than AI ever will be."

Apparently, not everyone in journalism agrees. Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, wrote this month of his disgust with a recent college graduate who turned down a job offer because the person had been taught that AI was bad for journalism.

Quinn's newspaper has been sending some of its journalists out to cover stories by interviewing people, collecting quotes and information, then feeding it to a computer to write. While a human will edit what the computer spits out, an integral part of the process — a reporter using his or her judgment about how to tell a story — has been stripped from their hands. Quinn defended it as the best use of limited resources.

A 'Catch 22' in public attitudes toward AI disclosure

Research shows that a vast majority of American consumers believe that it's very important that newsrooms tell the public when AI is used to write stories or edit photographs, said Benjamin Toff, director of the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota. But here's the rub: Such disclosure makes them trust the outlet's stories less, not more.

A significant minority — 30% in a study Toff conducted last year — doesn't want AI used in journalism at all.

Telling a reader that AI was used is not as simple as it sounds. "There are just so many, many uses of AI in journalism, from the very beginning of the reporting process to when you hit publish, that just broadly declaring that when AI is used in the newsgathering process that you have to disclose it, just seems like it is actually a disservice to the reader in some cases," Poynter's Mahadevan said.

Two lawmakers in New York state — the nation's publishing capital — introduced legislation this month requiring clear disclaimers when artificial intelligence is used in an published content. There's no immediate word on its chances for passage, but both sponsors are Democrats in a legislature controlled by that party.

Mahadevan believes it's fair to have policies that requires human involvement — editing to prevent slip-ups, for example. But even these declarations are open to interpretation, he said. If an outlet uses chatbots to answer reader questions, are they being edited by a human being?

"Speaking realistically, the newsroom of the future is going to look completely different than it does today," he said. "Which means people will lose jobs. There will be new jobs. So I think it's important that we are having these conversations right now because audiences do not want a newsroom completely taken over by AI."

David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him athttp://x.com/dbauderandhttps://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.

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February 26, 2026

Growing more complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their products?

Like so many sectors of the economy, the news industry is hurtling toward a future whereartificial intelligenceplays a m...

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30 years after Pokémon's release, fans are still trying to collect them all

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Benson Lu's life revolves around Pokémon.

World Pokemon Anniversary

The 26-year-old has played the mobile game Pokémon Go every day for a decade, watches the animated show every week, goes to the local card shop in his Los Angeles suburb to play the brand's trading card game every week, and has a whopping collection of cards worth more than $70,000.

"I don't remember when was the last day I did not think about Pokémon at all," he said.

In the 30 years since Pokémon debuted in Japan with the 1996 release of "Pokémon Red" and "Pokémon Green" for Nintendo Game Boy, the franchise has taken over the globe with its animated shows, mobile games and highly coveted trading cards. Its popularity continues with fans young and old.

Pokémon offers a masterclass in character design, which has helped make it so enduring, said Heather Cole, teaching assistant professor of game design and interactive media at West Virginia University.

"I think the longevity of it has to do with the characters and world-building it does with the characters," she said.

A valuable commodity

It's not just cuteness that has people clamoring for merchandise, particularly trading cards. Today, some are so coveted that social media star Logan Paul sold one for arecord $16.5 million. In Southern California, the fervor around Pokémon cards has led to strings of break-ins in recent months at trading card stores that have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars of losses and even some collectors robbed at gunpoint.

Adam Corn, owner of card business Overdose Gaming Inc, said he was able to buy a house last year from his Pokémon cards.

"Pokémon almost always appreciates in value over time," Corn said. "So it's just a really good place to put your money in my opinion, better than a a lot of other assets."

Companies like Beckett Grading Services and Professional Sports Authenticator authenticate and grade the quality of Pokémon cards on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being pristine mint condition and fetching the highest prices. Paul bought the PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card a few months prior for $5.3 million and wore the card on a chain around his neck in videos. It features a Pikachu holding a pen and feather sweeper.

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Last Tuesday, thieves stole more than $80,000 of Pokémon cards from Do-We Collectibles in Anaheim — the second time the store has been targeted. Other stores around Los Angeles and inNew Yorkhave been hit by Pokémon thieves too.

Duy Pham, owner of the Anaheim store, said the financial incentive of trading cards for robbers and scalpers means "the hobby will never be the same."

"It's rougher for collectors and players," Pham said. "It's hard for us to get anything."

Collectors can either pay retail price for a standard pack of randomized Pokémon cards, around $5 for 10 cards, or buy the specific card they want secondhand for higher prices. But much like gambling, opening packs doesn't always pan out to profit — Aiden Zeng spent $1,000 on packs of cards that were only valued at $60 on the resale market, he said.

Zeng, 17, said his fandom began in elementary school, when he obsessed over character guidebooks. He eventually began trying to collect every single type of card available for his favorite, Black Kyurem.

"I memorized every single Pokémon's specific move set, what region they come from, some of the lore behind it," Zeng said.

Resurgence of popularity

Even beyond dedicated collectors, Zeng said he has seen a resurgence of popularity for Pokémon at his high school in Toronto, where some students decorate their phone cases with cards featuring special artwork or a holographic sheen.

Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri has said he enjoyed catching insects and other small critters in the fields and forests outside the Tokyo suburb where he lived as a child. Those creatures inspired him to make the colorful, fantastical Pokémon of which there are thousands of species today.

While his hobby is lucrative, Lu said the draw for him is still nostalgia for the characters he grew up with and the community he has formed around Pokémon. He prefers not to sell his single cards because he worries he will never be able to find them again.

Lu recently spent an entire Saturday walking around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, looking for Pokémon on his augmented reality phone game at an event attended by thousands.

"I've liked Pokémon ever since I was a kid," he said. "And I still like it the same amount."

byAdministrator

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February 26, 2026

30 years after Pokémon's release, fans are still trying to collect them all

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Benson Lu's life revolves around Pokémon. World Pokemon Anniversary The 26-year-...

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FBI moving command post in Nancy Guthrie investigation, source says

The FBI is moving its command post in theNancy Guthrieinvestigation from Tucson, Arizona, to Phoenix, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CBS News on Thursday.

The transition is being done because the large Phoenix command post will be able to operate more efficiently for the long term, and most of the agents who have been working on the investigation in Tucson are based in Phoenix, the source said.

The investigative squads,evidencerecovery teams and SWAT teams will all remain in Tucson as they are assigned to the FBI's Tucson office, which is a large satellite office.

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1, sparking a massive search effort.

The investigation is still running at full speed, the source said. Leads are still being worked, andvideo footageis still being reviewed. Digital evidence, including cellphones, is being analyzed. Tips are still being followed.

The source said a lot of the work going forward does not require boots on the ground in Tucson and can be done from Phoenix or offices anywhere in the country.

A second law enforcement source briefed on the investigation said when a major case breaks, the FBI surges resources fast. It brings in extra agents, stands up a command post and throws everything at the time-sensitive work that has to happen in those initial critical days.

That work includes neighborhood canvases, evidence collection and running down every lead as soon as it comes in, the source said. That work in the Guthrie case is now done.

The source familiar with the investigation noted that those specialized resources, including the hostage rescue team from Quantico, Virginia, are always readily available. They can be back on the ground in Tucson quickly if something breaks in the case.

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A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff's Department told CBS News on Thursday that investigators were also aware of a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a vehicle within a couple of miles of Nancy Guthrie's home at around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 1, the day she was reported missing.

"We are aware of the video, I'm told that the property appears to be a bit further from the Guthrie home," the spokesperson said. "We asked homeowners in the area to submit video and encourage anyone who hasn't, to please do so viathis link."

CBS News has not verified the video or the location that it shows. The video was first reported by Fox News.

Authoritieshad previously reportedthat a Nest doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie's home disconnected at 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 1. Then at around 2:12 a.m., the Nest cameras detected what it classified as a person.

The FBI has received more than 23,600 tips since Guthrie's disappearance. More than 1,500 of those tips have come in since the family offered arewardof up to $1 million this week, according to a law enforcement source.

Meanwhile, Nancy Guthrie's house will soon bereturned to her family, a law enforcement source said.

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February 26, 2026

FBI moving command post in Nancy Guthrie investigation, source says

The FBI is moving its command post in theNancy Guthrieinvestigation from Tucson, Arizona, to Phoenix, a law enforcem...

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