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Today's Chatpat: October 8th, 2023

1. According to media reports, 10 Nepali citizens have been killed in the sudden Hamas attack against Israel since yesterday. Many Nepali men work in Israeli farms and women as caretakers. As usual, the government has taken out a statement condemning the attacks on Israel but seems to lack coordination with our Embassy there or the Israeli government on how to assure safety of Nepali citizens working in Israel.

2. Nepal has finally own a medal in an individual event, as Arika Gurung wins a Silver medal in Karate. Earlier, the Women's Kabbadi team was successful in winning the bronze medal. It had been 17 years since we had managed to win at least two medals at the Asian Games. As usual, our sports officials, whom are mostly politically-affiliated cadres use such international events as free vacations while athletes still do not get any resources, incentives or respect. There are 200 sports associations registered in the country while Nepal actively participates in less than 50 sports in the international arena.

3. The customs department at the Tribhuvan International Airport has put out a notice warning Nepali citizens returning back home to not bring any power bank, grinders, mixers, emergency light or even a machine to pump water. The justification given for such notice is that these products look suspicious when placed inside the X-ray machine and need to be broken apart to find if nothing fishy has been placed inside it.

The customs department did not mention any brake pads because one single company had managed to import such stuff for years and was finally caught trying to smuggle 60kg gold using such products. It seems that our government agencies are hell bent on giving ordinary citizens a hard time with small gold chains and bangles while smugglers can easily smuggle gold worth billions until they are caught, that too when someone forgets to pay an extra chiya kharcha to one of the agencies at the airport.

4. The government has announced that it will operate Fair Price Shops in 43 districts for Dashain. 49 shops will be open for consumers selling the usual rice, dal, salt and other Nepali products. Every year, it's the same story where these shops are used as fronts to mismanage funds by our government officials.

Nepal Police has also announced that it will mobilize more than 50,000 cops as its security operation for the Dashain, Tihar and Chatt festivals. Many home robberies do occur during the festivals, mostly in the Kathmandu Valley, when millions leave for their hometowns and leave their homes and apartments empty.

5. The CIAA has filed a case against a former minister and a few government officials on corruption charges while running the Jhala Nath Khanal Academy of Health Sciences and the skimming of the funds is around 17 crores. The research institute was established to study snakes and work to provide anti-venom products. While former PM Jhalan Nath Khanal has denied any wrongdoing as he is not involved in its operation, many of us wonder why a health academy was established in his name in the first place?


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