At the end of an intensive two-day training on semester-based teaching organized by Tribhuvan University in Nagarkot last May, we asked the seventy or so university faculty members from around the country to pick between two groups. One group was asked to  strategize how to institutionalize the teaching excellence training, building on a few years of work done mainly online by a grassroots initiative. The other group would discuss a new topic: how to pursue and promote research and publication in the university. To our pleasant surprise, over two-thirds of the participants went to the research group. We had to come up with a quick way to better regroup the scholars.

As coronavirus continues to spread across the world, many countries have chosen to implement the Wuhan-style lockdown to slow down the spread of infection rates in the population. At the same time, many smart countries have decided to fight the coronavirus without putting in place such strict measures. South Korea did an excellent job of fighting the pandemic by finding a gentle balance between continuing economic activities and containing the epidemic outbreak. Japan declared a state of emergency in hard-hit areas without imposing lockdown. More interestingly, the economic powerhouse is also speeding up the process of transforming the country to “Society 5.0”—a noble idea that is well suited for the post-pandemic world.

Though Madheshi leaders are putting various conditions to vote for getting the new map, that includes Nepali territories of Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh-Kalapani (LLK) region of Nepal in it, endorsed through the parliament, here in Tarai Madhesh there is a huge resurgence of public support in favour of the government on this particular issue.

Even during the lockdown caused by Coronavirus, a small number of Nepalis representing different political parties gathered in South Harrow in London on May 22 with an enlarged new political map of Nepal.  Due to coronavirus situation, protest letters were sent to Indian High Commission in London by post, the process which was followed by the Nepali expatriates and diaspora communities in Cyprus, Qatar, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain. Irrespective of differences in their political stances, they came together. This indicates that whether or not they support the current government in Nepal on internal matters, they truly believe that historically the land included in the new map belongs to Nepal.

The e-inauguration of Darchula to Lipulekh road by India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on May 8 was a surprising move at a time when Nepal was offering to hold Foreign Secretary level talks to resolve outstanding disputes with India. Earlier, Nepal had sent two diplomatic notes to India protesting the new map published by India on November 2, 2019, and in 2015 when India and China signed an agreement in Beijing to make “Lipulekh pass” a trading route to increase their bilateral trade.

OXFORD/PORTO ALEGRE – One of COVID-19’s paradoxes has been the way in which some wealthy, high-capacity countries (particularly the United States and the United Kingdom) failed to contain the virus, while some poorer countries and regions with less capacity (including Vietnam, Greece, and the Indian state of Kerala) swiftly brought it under control. Now that countries must plan beyond their lockdowns, an equally stark contrast has emerged.

The world’s attention is currently focused on measures to mitigate the transmission and economic effect of COVID-19 pandemic, and Nepal is no exception. Though the government and health officials are constantly working towards taking the necessary steps to manage the pandemic, reduce transmission and treat those who need medical attention, this pandemic has surely affected our daily life: We are all stressed.  We all have experienced that social media, television, and print media are all covered with news on the pandemic.

Almost all sectors of Nepali economy have been interrupted, directly or indirectly, by the coronavirus crisis. Nepal’s energy sector also faces a tough challenge during this demanding time. The overall energy demand has dropped due to closure of transportation, industrial and service sectors. There has been as much as 70 % decline in the imports of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuels (ATF) fuels from India. There are no imports of kerosene and ATF, while that of LPG has decreased by around 34 % from last month. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has also reported a decline of about 20-25 % in peak demand and around 30-35 % drop in energy demand in the period after lockdown. Under-construction hydropower plants of Independent Power Producers (IPP) also face a tough test ahead. The situation should improve once the economy revives, but uncertainty looms large in the absence of proper plan and policy. Role of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC)

During the People’s War (1996-2006), I was working as the secretary of People's Power Consolidation Department in the base area. I remember meeting a group of Dalits while I was on my way to Balidan Commune in Rukum. They were marching with panche baja, the traditional set of musical instruments. The group was displaying their instruments of production as if they werecarrying their weapons with confidence and pride. I was surprised, amused and satisfied to see such a sense of empowerment on their faces! That was 2005.

There are only a handful of countries which have close bilateral ties and open border as are existing between Nepal and India. However, the ongoing dispute around Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani along Nepal’s western border with India has aroused passionate discussions and sometimes unfriendly accusations in both India and Nepal. If not resolved amicably, this dispute has the potential to damage the enduring relationship between the two countries.