👀 Dashain Delights, International Insights

Namaste! We thought about slipping in a mention of upcoming Dashain celebrations, dimmed by somber national and international headlines here, but we'd risk sounding a tad too much like spiritual gurus – and we've been doing that in the past few newsletters. So, fasten your seatbelts; let's dive right in!

La Eta Hernus

Bishwa/Desh

Nepal is engaged in a significant humanitarian mission, gearing up to evacuate its citizens from the conflict-ridden region of Israel following a recent attack by Hamas. The assault, which tragically claimed the lives of ten Nepalis and hundreds of others, has prompted nearly 400 citizens to register for repatriation through the Nepali embassy in Israel.

The conflict started when Hamas initiated a significant assault on southern Israel, resulting in a substantial loss of lives and the taking of hostages, while Israel responded with airstrikes leading to casualties and imposed a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, ultimately declaring war. The ongoing conflict has tragically resulted in over 1,600 fatalities and thousands of injuries on both sides, as reported by Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

This unprecedented attack by Hamas marks a pivotal moment in the history of the region, with far-reaching implications for Israel, Palestine, and the broader Middle East. While it is evident that Israel will respond, the specific nature of this response will unfold in the days and weeks to come. The complete consequences of these actions may not become fully clear for months or even years to come.

The Nepali embassy and Israeli authorities are working closely, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseeing the repatriation efforts for our fellow Nepalis. For additional information, you can contact the Embassy of Nepal in Israel at +972(0)35168085 or Ambassador Kanta Rizal at +972545864423.

In the midst of all the ongoing news, it's hard to overlook the fact that it took Nepal a full six days to dispatch an aircraft for rescuing stranded individuals in Israel. To top it off, the foreign minister himself is leading this rescue mission, which some might consider unnecessary. Over the past six days, the government's response has been nothing short of disappointing. A tweet, which we can't independently verify but has been circulating on social media, serves as a poignant example of this disheartening situation.

Desh

The Supreme Court has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Office of the President and other relevant authorities to explain the release of gangster Yog Raj Dhakal, known as Regal. This action comes in response to a writ petition filed by Bharati Manandhar, widow of Chetan Manandhar, who was murdered by Regal's gang in 2015. The petition demands the annulment of the presidential pardon granted to Regal. The controversy surrounding such pardons is not new, as previous instances have sparked public debate and criticism.

Tech 

• Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, X has become a real smoke machine, shrouding the truth in fog. This popular social platform, once a reliable source for live news, is now awash with misinformation. Misleading videos go unchecked, like fireworks in Algeria mistaken for an Israeli bombardment in Gaza or a video game clip confused as a real-life Israeli helicopter takedown by Hamas. To make matters murkier, X's owner, Elon Musk, isn't helping by recommending dubious sources.

• Israel's cyber police have taken action against multiple cryptocurrency accounts on Binance, suspecting their use by Hamas for fundraising. Although it remains uncertain if these accounts directly supported the recent conflict, any seized funds will be redirected to Israel's state treasury. Notably, this isn't the first time Israel has targeted such accounts, having seized 190 Binance wallets linked to Hamas and other designated groups since 2021. The use of cryptocurrencies in terror financing has raised concerns, with advancements in blockchain-tracking technology and identity checks on platforms aiding authorities in countering these illicit activities.

• A British man's quest to take down Queen Elizabeth II with a crossbow back in 2021 has led to a nine-year detention sentence, complete with a side of AI encouragement! Jaswant Singh Chail, aka "Darth Chailus," hatched this regal scheme with his AI chatbot buddy, "Sarai," who, in a strange turn of events, applauded his 'wise' plot. The judge deemed Chail mentally ill and ordered psychiatric treatment, sparking a conversation about how AI companions like Sarai can inadvertently egg on wild ideas, leaving us with some bizarre bedtime stories for sure!

Fatafat

Quote: "Let's invest in education in the country by auctioning Prachanda's watch and his daughter's bag" - Sunil Sharma

Sunil Sir's suggestion isn't as far-fetched when you consider the value of those items. Prachanda sports a Rolex, and even the most affordable Rolex can set you back around $5,000. As for his daughter, she flaunts an Hermes (we're not entirely sure about the pronunciation), and Hermes bags often surpass the Rolex in price (we just googled average prices, don’t @ us). The proceeds could provide meals for school kids for months – we mean, months and months. Do you know how to pronounce Hermes? Send us your best impressions in our instagram dms.

Watch: Got Ghota? The Weed Milk of Kathmandu (VICE)

Read: Revealed: Amazon linked to trafficking of workers in Saudi Arabia This article delves into how the online retail giant is associated with the trafficking of Nepali workers in Saudi Arabia.

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Sports

Get ready to cash in those airline miles because the 2030 World Cup is taking you on a globetrotting adventure (our bank accounts don’t allow that adventure but you definitely go ahead)! FIFA just announced that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are teaming up to host, but the fun doesn't stop there. We've got kickoff parties in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay too! With matches spread across three continents, you'll hear "goooooaaaal" echoing from Europe to Africa to South America. Buckle up for the ultimate football journey!

Three news briefs and a lie

Three of these news briefs are real, and one is faker than your dad prentending not to hear your saaila kaaka ko bhatij ko bhaanjo who is calling 3 days before tika to inform the family of a sutak. Can you spot the odd one out? (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the answer).

1. Pho-99, a popular Kathmandu restaurant, recently put up a sign that reads, "Closed for Kitchen Treatment" because they found some unexpected guests in their momo – a few adventurous cockroaches. Looks like they're giving those little critters a taste of their own medicine!

2. Unveiling an unexpected twist, the Jhalanath Khanal Institute of Health Sciences has become embroiled in a snake farming program that's mired in corruption allegations. Accusations target Vijay Kumar, the former Finance Minister of Madhes Pradesh, and associates, for allegedly embezzling NPR 17,983,300 earmarked for a snake venom project.

3. Lawmaker Sarbesh Yadav has found himself in hot water, not for showing support to the Palestinian cause, but for mistakenly flying the Syrian flag instead of the Palestinian one in his tweet. Looks like he gave international solidarity a geography lesson!

4. Well, it seems Badrinath Jha learned the hard way that Facebook is not the place for a mayoral roast session. The local police in Jaleshwor Municipality-3 hauled him in for some spicy status updates targeting Mayor Suresh Shah. Jha's fiery post, declaring Shah a "selfish bloke ready for showdowns," definitely got their attention!

Eta Hernus Quiz

Which politician's shadow is this?

Eta Pani Hernus

• Claudia Goldin made history by becoming the first solo female recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, awarded for her groundbreaking work on the gender pay gap. Her research, conducted over 15 years, revealed that the pay gap widens significantly within the first two years after a woman has her first child, highlighting the need for "couple equity." In a remarkable twist of fate, Goldin clinched the prestigious award just days after publishing her latest paper, "Why Women Won," shedding light on the women's movements of the 1970s and the subsequent slowdown in progress.

• Balen Sir is on a roll, ticking off tasks like a champ! In his latest moves, he's unveiled an ambitious plan to neuter and vaccinate the street dogs of Kathmandu, a paw-sitively good initiative in collaboration with the Nepal Red Cross. But that's not all – he's spreading the love by offering free blood to all Kathmandu residents, thanks to his partnership with the Red Cross. Plus, he's not stopping there, as he's rolling out a vocational training program for 1500 individuals with the goal of creating a whopping 5000 new job opportunities annually.

• In the ongoing case involving the smuggling of gold concealed within vapes, a complaint has been lodged against Rahul Mahara, the son of Maoist Center leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, with the case officially registered at the Kathmandu District Court. Additionally, the District Government Attorney's Office has also filed charges against Resham Mahar, Lokendra Kumar Poudel, Belgian citizen Dawa Chiring, and Nima Chiring, although Nima Chiring remains at large. The accused face potential sentences ranging from more than 4 years to over 7 years, and in cases related to organized crimes, an extra 50 percent imprisonment could apply to their primary sentence if found guilty.

A request

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(Answer to three newsbriefs and a lie: The third one is a lie. Answer to Eta hernus Quiz: See below.)