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The Nepal government has brought 254 Nepalis stranded in war-torn Israel following the armed attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

They were brought home on a wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation this morning. Government officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, had gone to Israel to evacuate them.

Talking to the mediapersons upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Minister Saud said 254 of the 503 Nepalis who wish to return home from Israel were brought in this rescue flight and the remaining ones would also be brought soon.

"Five hundred and fifty-seven Nepalis had provided their details in response to the request of the Embassy of Nepal based in Tel Aviv, Israel to the Nepalis wishing to relocate to safer places and return to Nepal to give their details online. Out of the 557 Nepalis, 503 had applied to return to Nepal and among them 254 have returned home today with us," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

According to him, 54 Nepalis who requested to be relocated from risky areas have been shifted to safer areas in Israel.  He added that four Nepali nationals were injured in the attack by Hamas militants in the southern part of Israel and one among them has returned to Nepal today itself after treatment, another one has been discharged from hospital while two others are receiving treatment in hospital in Israel.

"A search has been intensified for Bipin Joshi who has gone missing following the attack. We will share the information as soon as we get additional information on this," Minister Saud said. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Saud said that 10 Nepali students, who had gone to Israel from the Far-west University of Nepal, were killed in the attack and coordination is being established with the Government of Israel to repatriate their bodies.

"The Israeli side has said that it will take some time for handing over the bodies as it is required to complete the legal process and keep separate details of each and every deceased, and the number of bodies in Israel is currently very high," he said and requested the families and relatives of the deceased Nepalis to have patience for some time.

Minister Saud maintained that the government will make arrangements to rescue the remaining Nepalis who could not be brought this time due to some reasons, as regular commercial flights are also being operated from Tel Aviv at present.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has thanked mediapersons, the Government of Israel and the Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Israel in Nepal and the Embassy of Nepal in Israel and the members of the flight crew, who helped in rescuing Nepali nationals and expressed their solidarity in this.

Nepal Police had kept three buses on stand-by at the airport to take the rescued Nepalis to various destinations.

According to the statistics of the Ministry, there are currently 265 Nepali students studying in Israel and about 4,500 working in various professions and sectors. The 265 Nepali students went to the Israeli government funded 'Learn and Earn' program.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the bodies of all the deceased will be brought to Nepal as soon as possible after the due procedures are completed.

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV) and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization. Half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400m infections occurring each year. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. While many DENV infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, DENV can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death, per the United Nations health agency. 

In Nepal, dengue has emerged as a public health crisis. It has already spread in 76 districts infecting around 40,000 people so far this year and leaving many people dead. Hundreds of dengue infections in a day point at the gravity of the crisis. Favorable climatic conditions from the southern plains to the hills to even the Himalayan region have definitely contributed to this spread, apart from a general lack of awareness about the disease. Water stagnated in tyres, flower pots, air conditioning equipment, buckets, drums and puddles can be a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes that spread this disease through their bites. 

Preventive measures at household and community levels can go a long way in bringing dengue under control. This does not mean that local levels, provinces and the federal government should do nothing to address this health emergency. There’s a deepening feeling among the public that the governments–local, provincial and federal–have not been paying much attention to the outbreak because it does not afflict the ruling elites, given the health safeguards in place for them and easy availability of treatment. 

Through effective steps, the government should prove that this perception is wrong. 

This daily, through extensive reports, has tried to bring the attention of the government toward a public health delivery system that has become dysfunctional, by and large. At least in part, rising dengue infections are an indication of a disease afflicting this system. 

In turn, dengue is symptomatic of governance that has not been as effective as it should be in providing remedies for multiple ills plaguing Nepal and the Nepalis, from violation of national sovereignty to unabated corruption to rising market prices to increasing defense and security challenges. 

The challenges are formidable but they should not be insurmountable. Once again, the onus is on the government to take political parties, civil society, the people and other relevant actors into confidence and do whatever it takes to tide the country over the crises.    

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government is ready to form a high-level mechanism for addressing problems seen in the economy at present.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'National Economic Debate' organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here today. On the occasion, the PM said the government is ready to form such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

"It is required that all sectors are at one place and there is a centralized expression for improving the economy. We need this kind of mechanism as we need suggestions and guidelines to initiate a new dimension for economic reforms," the PM said, adding that the efforts for improving the economy could be started from this very point. He asserted that the government is ready to make such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

Chairperson of the Dialogue and FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal had proposed making the high-level mechanism for improving the country's economy and the PM, who addressed the program after this, agreed to the proposal.

Stating that the government is about to take a 'bold decision' for economic reforms, PM Dahal opined that improvement of the overall economy would not be possible through 'minor operation'.

"The main problem of the economy is not resolved despite taking the path of reform. Pathwork-type reforms are not adequate and there needs to be a policy shift," he reiterated. The PM also shared on the occasion that the government has made long efforts to have a synchronization of the finance policy and the monetary policy.

He also claimed that the overall economic situation of the nation could not improve if the government did not facilitate the private sector in their business enterprises. The PM reiterated that Nepal itself will take decisions as to how the problems seen in the country's economy are addressed.

The Prime Minister said the government would restructure the nation's economy through the next fiscal year's annual policies and programs.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said that the citizen's morale has been down due to the narrative that is being fomented forcefully that the economy is in the doldrums. He said this narrative should be shattered.

According to him, although the economy is not growing at present, it is not slumping either. "It would create even more problems if the narrative that the country is crisis-hit is spread," he said and called for the united efforts of all sectors, including the private sector in improving the economy.

FNCCI president Dhakal spoke at length highlighting the condition of the economy, calling for urgent action with the government and the private sectors working together to improve it.

Chief economic advisor of the Ministry of Finance Poshraj Pandey said the current critical economic problem was a continuation of problems that piled up in the past.

Stating that there was no uniformity about the present economic situation (the private sector points out economic problems, but the government denies it), economist Dr Achyut Wagle stressed the need for bringing out facts about the current economic situation.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla called for the government to bring the monetary policy that suits the goals of economic growth.

Vice President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Birendra Raj Pandey said the time has come to restructure Nepal's economy.

Similarly, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce Khimlal Bhandari pointed out structural problems in Nepal's economy.

President of the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries Umesh Prasad Singh ruled that there was no recognition of the contribution of cottage and small to the country's economy.

Also, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Industry and Enterprises Bhagirath Sapkota viewed that the state should recognize the role of cottage and small industries for building socialism-oriented society as envisioned by the constitution of Nepal. Industry friendly laws are also required, he added.

Nepal’s vibrant Dashain market, once characterized by bustling streets full of shoppers and a palpable sense of excitement in the air, is largely subdued as a result of ongoing economic crisis. 

Nepal’s economic downturn has cast a shadow over the traditional fervor, leaving many to ponder on the impacts on sales, transactions, and the overall excitement of the festival season. Recession has brought us to a point where we need to reconsider and reevaluate the dynamics of the Dashain market. It is imperative to delve deeper into the nuanced effects of recession on the Dashain market, assessing whether the economic constraints have dampened the customary zeal and prompted a more restrained approach to spending.

In recent years, the Dashain market has experienced a visible shift in sales and transactions that serve as a barometer of economic health. While the demand for essentials and customary festive items remains steady, the extravagant purchases and splurges seem to have taken a back seat. Consumers are exhibiting a heightened sensitivity towards their financial resources. 

The Fashion Hub, nestled in the heart of New Baneshwor, is the brainchild of Juna Giri. In previous years, the lively echoes of footsteps in her store bore witness to the exuberant spirit of the season, with sales soaring from the auspicious day of Ghatasthapana. However, in the wake of the global pandemic, a subtle transformation has taken place. It’s like a big shift in how people do their Dashain shopping, and Juna’s shop is feeling it too. 

“Before Covid-19 struck, our sales were flourishing. We had about 15 daily visitors, and during Dashain, that number would swell to around 50, starting from Ghatasthapana. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, customers have shifted to online shopping. But there aren’t as many sales as before,” says Giri. “After Covid-19, walk-in customers have slashed. The same familiar clothes hang on our racks, with few to no new arrivals.”

The hallmark of Dashain market, the hustle and bustle, has been somewhat tempered. The once hectic shoppers, darting from stall to stall, now move with a measured determination. The cacophony of haggling and bargaining, while still present, has taken on a more subdued tone. This recalibration of the shopping experience mirrors a broader societal shift towards a more mindful consumption pattern, in regards to recession. 

There has also been a noticeable surge in online shopping preferences among Dashain celebrants. Instead of rushing from stall to stall, more and more people are choosing to scroll through virtual storefronts from the comfort of their homes. This shift towards e-commerce reflects a broader societal transition towards convenience and accessibility in the shopping experience.

“We opened a TikTok account for our store, and in just a year, we’ve surpassed 38,000 followers. Many of the customers who visit us now say they discovered our store through TikTok,” says Giri.

Much like The Fashion Hub, numerous clothing stores have undergone this transformation. The tradition of haggling and bargaining, while still prevalent in the traditional market, has also been influenced by this digital evolution. Online platforms introduce a different method of negotiation, often involving the use of digital coupons, promotional codes, and comparative shopping, ultimately reshaping how consumers interact with sellers.

Market saturation has intensified the impact of the recession. Consumers now prefer unique, trendy clothing over mass-produced options found in every other store. Rose Pahari, owner of Bellevogue_np, a platform enabling customers to pre-order desired items from the USA, reflects on this shift in consumption patterns. 

“We receive substantial pre-orders for ethnic wear because individuals are inclined towards exclusivity. However, this year has witnessed a decline in consumption. We observe a surge in online bargaining as people become more discerning and prudent with their spending,” says Pahari.

Limiting the uncontrollable spending

Recession has acted as a reality check, prompting consumers to reevaluate their spending habits. While the allure of extravagant purchases remains, a newfound restraint prevails. The Dashain market, once a playground for unrestrained spending, is now a space where thoughtful choices are celebrated.

In a recent report from the Ministry of Finance, concerns arise as government expenditures, including salaries and Dashain allowances, have surpassed income, leading to a negative account balance.

Dhaniram Sharma, joint secretary of the ministry, urges against misconstruing this situation as a sign of distress, explaining that while first-quarter revenue collection fell short of targets, overall revenue is on par with last year’s. This fiscal situation prompts reflection on the age-old tradition of celebrating Dashain with lavishness, sometimes surpassing one’s financial capacity. The government’s provision of Dashain allowances, while well-intentioned, can inadvertently encourage this trend. It’s important to recognize that an extravagant Dashain celebration should not be equated with genuine tradition, but may, at times, stem from a desire to imitate unsustainable practices.

The Dashain market in Nepal stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Nepali culture in the face of economic challenges. While the recession has ushered in a more measured approach to spending, it has not extinguished the fervor of the festival. Instead, it has prompted a reevaluation of priorities, emphasizing the true essence of Dashain—family, togetherness, and the celebration of traditions. As the market evolves, it continues to serve as a reflection of the ever-evolving economic landscape of Nepal.

Nepal Police has come up with a Kathmandu Valley-centric special security plan meant for public safety in view of upcoming festivals.  

The police force aims to deploy personnel and use modern technologies to enable people to celebrate the festivals in a safe and secure environment as part of its ‘Safe Valley, Our Commitment’ campaign.   

Effective security arrangements will be made during the festivals through proactive policing, which includes foot patrol, mobile patrol, plainclothes, picketing, striking, reserve force mobilization, CCTV surveillance, walk-through gates and drone surveillance for traffic and disaster management.

The idea is to use CCTV cameras and drones for surveillance in crowded areas. The police force will deploy personnel equipped with body-mounted GoPro cameras for the identification of suspicious individuals.

Plainclothes security personnel equipped with communication devices and small arms will be deployed in banks, financial institutions and other places where cash and precious jewelry are traded.  

“Public help desks with traffic police will be set up at 15 different locations in the valley,” said Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office.

Dog sniffing and search will be conducted at malls and major checkpoints in the valley.

A total of 1,800 traffic police personnel will be deployed to keep tabs on road traffic as there are chances of people driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, black marketing of bus tickets, mismanagement of the public transport system, looting, speeding and road traffic accidents.

Altogether 7,633 police personnel will be deployed in the valley during the festivals.

Meanwhile, police have issued an advisory on ways to remain safe. The advisory cautions people not to eat foodstuffs offered by strangers. It alerts people not to visit crowded places with cash and valuables, including jewelry and expensive phones. Keeping doors and windows closed, installing a lock with a siren and informing neighbors and local police before leaving home for a long time are also some of the ways to remain safe.

It also recommends people to use digital technology for monetary transactions, keep one-time password (OTP) private and not to post personal and travel details on social media.

Police have also alerted the public about the negative effects of gambling and cautioned against driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 20. 16 points to close at 1,874.60 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 95 points to close at 359. 13 points.

A total of 7,558,542-unit shares of 292 companies were traded for Rs 1. 70 billion.

Meanwhile, Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited and Mid Solu Hydropower Limited were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, City Hotel Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 9. 09 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 87 trillion.  

A person was injured when police opened fire at a group of alleged robbers at Jagdol in Gokarneshwor Municipality on Thursday.

Crime Investigation Office spokesperson Rabindra Regmi said that police have recovered a pistol and seven rounds of its bullets from the possession of robbers.

He said that police opened fire at the robbers after they tried to attack security personnel. Amar Ghalan (25) was injured in the police firing.

Regmi said that police reached the incident site acting on a tip-off.

Amnesty International’s new report titled ‘Don’t worry, it’s a branch of Amazon,’ based on information collected from 22 men from Nepal who worked in Amazon’s warehouses in Riyadh or Jeddah between 2021 and 2023, reveals that they were deceived and exploited.  

“Contracted workers in Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia were deceived by recruitment agents and labor supply companies, cheated of their earnings, housed in appalling conditions and prevented from finding alternative employment or leaving the country,” Amnesty said in a press statement. 

The report shows how Amazon failed to prevent contracted workers in Saudi Arabia from being repeatedly exposed to human rights abuses, despite receiving complaints directly from workers about their treatment over a lengthy period of time. In many cases, it is highly likely that the abuses suffered by workers amounted to human trafficking, given the deception that occurred during recruitment, and the exploitation endured once they were there. 

“The workers thought they were seizing a golden opportunity with Amazon but instead ended up suffering abuses which left many traumatized. We suspect hundreds more endured similar appalling treatment. Many of those we interviewed suffered abuses so severe that they are likely to amount to human trafficking for the purposes of labor exploitation,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice.  

“Amazon could have prevented and ended this appalling suffering long ago but its processes failed to protect these contracted workers in Saudi Arabia from shocking abuses. Amazon should urgently compensate all those who have been harmed and ensure this can never happen again.

  “The government of Saudi Arabia also bears a heavy responsibility. It must urgently investigate these abuses and reform its labor system to guarantee workers their fundamental rights, including being able to freely change employers and leave the country without conditions.”  

The workers were employed by two third-party labor supply contractors—Abdullah Fahad Al-Mutairi Support Services Co (Al-Mutairi), or Basmah Al-Musanada Co for Technical Support Services (Basmah).    

Deception, recruitment fees, squalor and exploitation  

To secure work at Amazon’s facilities in Saudi Arabia, the interviewees, with one exception, paid recruitment agents in Nepal an average of $1500. Some took high-interest loans to pay the fees.   

During the recruitment process, the agents, sometimes in collusion with the Saudi Arabian labor supply companies, deceived many of the workers into believing they would be employed directly by Amazon.  

Some workers began to suspect that Amazon was not their direct employer when they received their contracts and documentation just hours before they were due to fly, but having already paid recruitment fees felt they had no choice but to continue. Others realized only after arriving in Saudi Arabia.  

One interviewee, Bibek, said: “I realized it was a different company on the day of the flight… I saw on my passport it said, ‘Al Basmah Co’ but the agent said, ‘don’t worry, it’s a branch of Amazon’.”  

In Saudi Arabia, the workers were mostly housed, for months, in dirty and overcrowded accommodation, sometimes infested with bed bugs. They were put to work in Amazon warehouses, but the contractors often withheld part of their salaries and/or food allowances without explanation, and underpaid overtime.  

In the warehouses, workers said they were repeatedly required to lift very heavy items, run to meet grueling performance targets, were constantly monitored, and not allowed to rest adequately. In some cases, this resulted in injuries and illness. One worker said he suffered a suspected broken arm and was signed off work for a month by a doctor, but because the supply company denied workers sick pay, he felt that he had to resume work within two weeks.  

Most workers signed two-year contracts with the labor supply companies, but many spent less than 12 months at Amazon’s facilities before the work ended, which some likened to being “fired”.  The supply companies then moved these ‘jobless’ individuals to even worse accommodation, stopped paying salaries, and in some cases food allowances. Without any social protection or support from the Saudi state, some survived by eating bread and salt, and drinking salty water.  

One worker, Kiran, said the accommodation “was extremely dirty. No air conditioning, no fans. The temperature was 50°C… There are so many workers… no beds, cooking gas or drinking water. There was no internet so we couldn’t contact our family.”  

Trapped in Saudi Arabia

Most interviewees received no more work, but the contractors took advantage of Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship system, or kafala, which despite some recent reforms binds foreign workers to their employers, preventing them from moving jobs without the employer’s consent and limiting their ability to leave the country freely.  

The labor supply company managers refused to provide ‘transfer authorization’ documents required under Saudi regulations to allow workers to change employers within their first year. If workers left without permission, they risked arrest for ‘absconding’. Many wanted to return home before their contracts ended but Al-Mutairi managers would not purchase the flight tickets they were legally obliged to provide and told workers they would have to pay a ‘fine’ of between $1,330 and $1,600 for exit papers.  

As a result, the workers were stranded in appalling conditions at the mercy of the Amazon contractors.  

A few contemplated suicide. Dev said: “I tried to jump from the wall, I tried to kill myself. I told my mum and she said ‘don’t, we will get a loan’. Already it is eight months since she took out a loan and the interest is piling up.”  

Amazon’s failures

The vulnerability of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia was well documented before Amazon began operating there in 2020 and was identified in an Amazon risk assessment conducted in 2021, meaning the company knew about the high-risk of labor abuses in the country.  

Workers began raising complaints directly with Amazon managers in Saudi Arabia in 2021, including by writing on dedicated white boards in the warehouses, or verbally at daily meetings, yet these were often ignored and the abuses continued into 2023.   

One worker, Kiran said: “Amazon knows each problem we have with the supply company. Amazon asks workers about the problems and issues they face during daily meetings.”  

Some workers who complained to Amazon were subject to reprisals by the contractors. One said salaries were deducted after complaints to Amazon about their living conditions. Another person who complained to Amazon about the water quality in the accommodation said he was taken to a supply company office and pushed and slapped by an Al-Mutairi supervisor.  

When he subsequently informed an Amazon manager about the assault, he said he was told “it’s not our business”.  

The report finds that Amazon has contributed to abuses by failing to adhere to its own stated policies, or the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and potentially benefitted from the services of victims of human trafficking, as defined by international law and standards.