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AidData, a research lab at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute, has come up with an extensive new study on Chinese public diplomacy efforts in South Asia and Central Asia, ranging from financing and education to culture and social media that seek to win over foreign leaders and the public in what Beijing considers its “greater periphery.”‍

The Corridors of Power report, accompanied by an interactive dashboard, analyzes Beijing's efforts to cultivate and deepen economic, social, and network ties with 13 countries in South and Central Asia (SCA) over two decades, according to AidData.

These ties foster interdependence with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that have the potential to both empower and constrain SCA countries, while threatening to displace or diminish the influence of regional rivals such as Russia, India, and the United States, the new report says.

The report examines how the PRC has deployed $127 billion in financial diplomacy to sway popular opinion and leader behavior over an 18 year period. This state-directed financing includes both aid (i.e., grants and concessional loans) and debt (i.e., non-concessional loans approaching market rates) in four categories of assistance visible to foreign publics (infrastructure financing, humanitarian aid) and prized by foreign leaders (budget support, debt relief).

The new research finds that Beijing does not distribute attention equally—beyond national boundaries, the PRC clearly views some communities as more strategically important to advancing its interests than others. According to the authors, Beijing is employing three distinct subnational public diplomacy strategies, varying its engagement to best advance specific economic, security, and geopolitical goals.

China’s financial diplomacy is indeed highly concentrated: the report finds that Beijing focuses the lion’s share of its largesse to just 25 provinces (receiving 62 percent of financing) and 25 districts (receiving 41 percent of financing) in the region, the report reads.

While China is best known for the power of its purse, the authors argue that Beijing’s economic and soft power tools may be most formidable in exerting influence with countries when they are employed hand-in-hand. The report acknowledges that the more that SCA publics and elites build closer people-to-people ties with counterparts in China, the more they may turn to these social networks when it comes to sourcing goods, services, capital, and other economic partnerships. Read the full report here.

Himalayan Horizon Hotel offers a perfect Dhulikhel holiday experience. Located at Bansghari, Dhulikhel, known for its breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and mountains, the hotel has two restaurants offering continental food. The alluring ancient Nepali architecture, warm lights and spacious accommodations are perfect for your vacation. While Buddha Garden restaurant offers a delightful hangout space to enjoy sunrise and sunset, the Pavilion adds a luxurious touch. The Himalayan Horizon Hotel also has the biggest swimming pool in Dhulikhel and ample parking space. 

Himalayan Horizon Hotel

Chef’s specials:
Chicken Biryani
Charako Sekuwa
Chicken basket 
Opening time: 12:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Bansghari, Dhulikhel
Meal for two: Rs 1500
Phone/Card pay: Yes
Reservations: Yes

On October 26, Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau arrested Suman Kharel, manager of Sindhu Bikash Bank, Dolalghat Branch. Kharel allegedly embezzled bank deposits to the tune of Rs 179 million. Kharel’s brazen embezzlement has raised questions about the bank’s security protocols.

An investigation by Arthasarokar has revealed how Kharel went about siphoning off millions from the bank’s books without raising suspicion. The branch was run by three staffers, one office assistant and two security guards.

When customers deposited money in their accounts, the staffers would make an entry in the bank’s system and put the money in its vault. The money was then to be deposited at the bank’s account at NCC Bank (as it is a bigger bank with better security).

However, Kharel, who assigned himself the duty of depositing the money at NCC Bank, would go around town lending the money to local businessmen for hefty commissions. He would always go to the bank unaccompanied so that other staffers didn’t find out what he was up to. The report says that Kharel tampered with the bank’s security cameras and even deleted recordings to hide evidence of this alleged crime.

Also read: When will NIBL, Himalayan complete merger? 

Soon the bank realized that deposits were never made to the NCC account and that deposits from the Dolalghat Bank were unaccounted for. After a team from Kathmandu visited the branch, the bank lodged a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau. Kharel has confessed to his crime. The CIB is investigating whether this was a lone wolf incident or whether bank officials higher up were also involved.

CIB has only recovered Rs 2.2 million from Kharel and his aides.

The bank has, however, downplayed the issue saying that incidents like these happen all the time and the depositors’ money is safe. An official said that the bank conducts regular monitoring and checks of its branches. But the whole process had been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The official said the bank is fully cooperating with the investigators.

The central bank has been silent on the case and told the bank to provision its losses.

A Nepali restaurant in London has been recognized for their charitable work in the community by a former Premier League football club—Charlton Athletic FC.

Sujan Katuwal of Panas Gurkha in Lewisham, was presented with a signed Charlton Athletic shirt ahead of their match against Cambridge United.

The shirt was given to Katuwal after the restaurant gained notoriety for their incredible work in the local community since the start of the pandemic.

Led by Katuwal and his remarkable restaurant team, Panas donated and delivered over 100,000 free meals to local key workers during the pandemic.

“After the 12 months we’ve had and the work we’ve done in the local community—this is a lovely way to finish off the year”, he says. “We’re a local, community-focused restaurant so the recognition we’ve received from a club that’s very close to our hearts is special.”

The shirt was presented to Katuwal in front of thousands of Charlton fans by the club’s owner Thomas Sandgaard and the CEO of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust, Jason Morgan.

By way of appreciation, Katuwal presented Sandgaard with a Nepali craft scarf, topi and khukuri which was gratefully received by the Danish businessman.

The recognition summed up a special few weeks for the restaurant after they were awarded the Best Nepali Restaurant and the Community Heroes award at the 2021 Asian Food Awards.

Germany has donated vaccines to Nepal as part of the COVID-19 response. About 1,965,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine as well as 2,176,650 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were provided by Germany to Nepal through the multilateral vaccine platform COVAX this week.

These vaccines add to the in-kind donations of life-saving medical supplies and technical support during this pandemic. In addition, Germany had also supported the procurement of ultra-low temperature freezers, procured through UNICEF, according to a press statement issued by the Embassy of Germany in Kathmandu.

“We can only get over this worldwide pandemic together. Therefore, from the very beginning, Germany has been supporting the multilateral platform ACT-A/COVAX and is today the second biggest donor. We are proud that we can now share more than 4.1 million doses of covid vaccines with the people of Nepal. With these vaccines more than 10 percent of the population can get fully vaccinated”, said Dr Stephan Russek, Chargé d'Affaires at the German Embassy.

Dr Russek presented the vaccines on December 16 to Minister for Health and Population, Birodh Khatiwada, in the presence of EU representative Stepháne Maicon, UNICEF representative Elke Wisch and WHO representative Dr. Vinod Bura.

Ms Nona Deprez, EU-Ambassador to Nepal, congratulated on this consignment: “The European Union is so far the biggest donor of COVID-19 vaccines in the world. EU Member States have shared more than 350 million doses for donation to countries around the world. In total, we will secure 700 million doses for sharing by Team Europe by the middle of 2022. I am glad, that Germany as part of Team Europe shows Nepal that the best partnerships are when we support each other.”

CDC Group (soon to become British International Investment), the UK’s development finance institution, has announced a US $25 million loan to Global IME Bank Ltd (“GIME”), one of the largest commercial banks in Nepal. CDC’s commitment will enhance GIME’s ability to provide credit to businesses across key economic priority sectors and stimulate economic opportunities throughout the country.

The facility will also help address funding gaps in the market by strengthening GIME’s capacity to increase lending to businesses in key economic sectors, such as infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. This much-needed capital will enable the Bank to offer financial support to more businesses, enhancing their ability to navigate post-covid recovery and create jobs that will facilitate sustained inclusive growth across all segments of society in Nepal.  

Moreover, the loan will amplify GIME’s plans to broaden its offer to key sectors, including renewable energy and tourism sectors, classified by the Government of Nepal as priority sectors for the country. The Bank’s goal to provide local and foreign currency longer-term lending to businesses within these sectors and others, aligns with CDC’s ambition to increase green finance and help scale clean energy and infrastructure projects across its markets, including in key countries like Nepal. 

The DFI’s commitment to GIME forms part of its strategy to bring the best of British finance to help accelerate productive, sustainable, and inclusive opportunities in market shaping sectors that create jobs and usher in transformative positive impact in Nepal and throughout the wider region. CDC’s commitment to Nepal is demonstrated by its investment in the country’s leading internet provider WorldLink, as well as its commitment to NMB Bank and the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project. This year, the DFI invested in Nepal-focussed Dolma Fund II and partnered to launch the Nepal Invests market building platform, aimed at accelerating foreign direct investment into the country.

Sher Bahadur Deuba’s failings as a national and party leader are well-known. He is notorious for all kinds of wheeling and dealing to remain in power. But as a five-time prime minister and a repeat Nepali Congress president, this might also be the right time to revisit his signature strengths: his unmatched organization prowess, his keen sense of the shifting sands of power, and his ability to get the right people to back him at the right time. Having secured a thumping victory in the race for party presidency, the 75-year-old seems to be at his politicking best. 

But what next? Can Deuba improve on Nepali Congress’s performance in the previous elections? If the 2017 provisional and federal elections are any guide, his public appeal seems to be shrinking and, frankly, he hasn’t done much in the past four years to make them rethink. The Congress party could have done with a new leader, just as there is a desperate need for churning at the top of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center). But now that the party and the country is stuck with Deuba, what can we expect of him?

Also read: Editorial: The Nepali Congress tamasha 

One good aspect of Deuba’s leadership is his ability to hold the loosest of coalitions, something he has done during all of his five tenures as prime minister. The presence of such an accommodating figure at the top of national politics bodes well for the otherwise fissiparous polity. Also, we should not forget Deuba’s role in successfully holding the 2017 elections, even if the results didn’t go his party’s way. Arguably, Deuba is more of a conciliator than KP Sharma Oli or Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the country’s two other top leaders.

If Deuba can again preside over timely and free and fair elections, he will have played a vital role. That is a very low bar to clear for the country’s executive head and the chief of its oldest and traditionally most powerful political party. But then Deuba is only a reflection of the state of our broader polity and society. Transformation in Nepal is a slow process.  

Kathmandu—As the ruling Nepali Congress heads towards the electoral process to elect new leadership, six leaders have fielded their candidacy on December 11. The 14th General Convention of the party which began on December 10 will conclude electing new leadership for the next five years.

Incumbent Party President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Shekhar Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh, Kalyan Gurung, and Yubaraj Neupane have registered their candidacy for party president. 

The party’s election committee will publicize the final names of candidates on Sunday. The senior leader of NC Ram Chandra Poudel did not register candidacy stating that there was no consensus in his camp about the common candidate for president

 Along with Party President, there will be elections to choose two vice-presidents, two general secretaries, eight joint-general secretaries, a treasurer, and members of the Central Working Committee.  A total of  4,743 General Convention representatives are eligible to vote to elect new leadership.