Qatari emir in Nepal, expected to tackle migrant conditions and Nepali student held hostage by Hamas
Apr 23, 2024
The emir of Qatar has landed in Nepal on his first-ever visit to the South Asian country, after visiting Bangladesh and the Philippines, where improving migrant workers’ conditions in the Gulf state and a Nepali student still held hostage by Hamas are expected to be on the agenda
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The emir of Qatar landed in
Nepal
Tuesday on his first-ever visit to the South Asian country, after visiting Bangladesh and the Philippines, where improving migrant workers' conditions in the Gulf state and a Nepali student still held hostage by Hamas are expected to be on the agenda.Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
is set to meet Nepali dignitaries, including President Ram Chandra Poudyal and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his two-day visit.Qatar hosts an estimated 400,000 Nepali workers, most in construction and manual labor. Concerns about working in extreme heat — that could reach over 40 C (104 F) — inadequate living facilities and abuse have risen in recent years.
New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Qatar, Nepal and Bangladesh in a statement Sunday to prioritize labor protection for migrant workers during the emir's visit.
“It is important ... to go beyond exchanging diplomatic pleasantries over their longstanding labor ties and seize this moment to publicly commit to concrete, enforceable protections that address the serious abuses that migrant workers in Qatar continue to face,” the statement quoted Michael Page, the agency’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, as saying.
The statement added that while Qatar-based jobs have allowed migrant workers “to send remittances back home to their families,” many experience abuse, including “wage theft, contract violations, and chronic illness linked to unsafe working conditions.”
Nepali officials are also likely to seek
Al Thani's help in freeing a local
, Bipin Joshi, who is held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Joshi was among 17 Nepali students studying agriculture in Alumim kibbutz, near the Gaza Strip, when Hamas attacked Southern Israel onOct.7.
Ten of the students were killed, six injured and Joshi was held captive.Though there has been no information on his condition or whereabouts, Nepali officials said they believed he was still alive.
Hamas’ sudden attack in October killed 1,200 people and some 250 others hostage were taken hostage. This has sparked a war that has so far killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, at least two-thirds of them women and children, according to the local health ministry.
Qatar has been
a key intermediary
throughout the war in Gaza. It, along with the U.S. and Egypt, was instrumental in helping negotiate abrief halt to the fighting
in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages.A spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday his country was undergoing an assessment of its role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. He also said discussions were ongoing about Hamas’ presence in Qatar where the militant group has had a political office in the capital, Doha, for years.
France and Qatar mediated a deal in January for the
shipment of medicine
for the dozens of hostages held captive by Hamas.MORE NEWS
Dinosaur's rare skeleton is one of the world's most expensive fossils, fetches over USD 47 million against expected estimate worth around USD 9 million
Nanotyrannus was about half the length of an adult T. rex, and the two creatures coexisted during the Cretaceous period some 67 million years ago.
Eric Swalwell controversy: Who is Stephen Cloobeck? Why has FBI raided billionaire donor's Beverly Hills mansion?
Stephen Cloobeck, who founded the Diamond Resorts International timeshare company and ran last year for California governor, contributed more than $23,000 to Swalwell’s congressional campaigns since 2017, federal campaign finance records show.
TVS Motor’s Venu Srinivasan and daughter Lakshmi file caveats against each other over inheritance
Venu Srinivasan and his daughter Lakshmi Venu have initiated caveats against each other regarding family business matters. The filings occurred in Chennai’s civil and commercial courts earlier this month. While Venu and his son Sudarshan claim a previous agreement exists, Lakshmi is advocating for a fair settlement. Mallika and Lakshmi have expressed their intention for an amicable resolution through discussions.
We are aware of everything, will decide: Supreme Court on Chief Election Commissioner row
The Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding a plea from Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen. The plea challenges the changes made to Form 6 by the Election Commission of India. During the hearing, senior advocates presented arguments on the perceived tampering of electoral roll forms. The Election Commission defended its actions, asserting that decisions were made unanimously.
Delhi may raise agricultural land circle rates to ₹5 crore per acre
The proposed changes seek to bridge the gap between official land valuations and market prices across Delhi’s districts and localities
Nations get moving on Paris Climate Accord, but the pace is slow: UNFCCC
The reports assess the progress countries have made towards tackling climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries are investing in the clean energy transition, adapting to the impacts of climate change and building resilience, and there are international financial flows to climate action, the reports said.
Congress says Election Commission of India's 'affidavit to Supreme Court deceptive'
Congress has accused the Election Commission of India of engaging in deceptive practices related to Form 6. The party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh highlighted inconsistencies in the ECI's affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court. Ramesh criticised the ECI for claiming unanimity in decision-making while revealing widespread media allegations of malpractice. The allegations suggest serious legal violations by the Chief Election Commissioner.
India in striking distance of 8% growth as reforms boost economy: Shaktikanta Das
Das said the BFSI sector has a crucial role to play in India's journey from a lower-middle-income economy to a high-income economy, through its intermediation in allocation of financial resources. He said the sector would be required to support India's next-gen Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), be the frontline of green and transition finance and become the catalyst for democratising financial inclusion to support this journey.
Grand Theft Auto VI may be locked at 30 FPS on PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S and PS5 Pro: Report
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on November 19, 2026, exclusively for the latest gaming consoles. There are indications that the game could be limited to 30 FPS, which may impact overall gaming experiences. However, it is expected to showcase incredible graphics and a richly populated open world. Although a PC version is still under wraps, it could potentially deliver superior performance on advanced setups.