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French national Arnaud Cauchois has been appointed the new country director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Nepal.

Cauchois will lead ADB operations in the country and participate in policy dialogue with the government of Nepal and other development partners. He will also oversee the implementation of ADB's country partnership strategy for Nepal that focuses on the country's long-term development needs through improved infrastructure for private sector-led growth, improved access to devolved services, and environmental sustainability and resilience.

Cauchois has almost three decades of professional experience, including over 15 years with ADB. He joined ADB in 2005 as a rural development specialist and has since held numerous leading positions. Before this appointment, he served as principal water resources specialist for India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and was posted in ADB's India resident mission.

Sajjan Raj Vaidya finally released his new single Parkhaai on Friday, July 9, and the response so far has been overwhelming. Within two days of the release, the official teaser for the song’s music video has garnered over 120,000 views on his Instagram. 

Following its release on YouTube, Vaidya’s video has received more than 300,000 views, with most of the feedback being positive. For fans, this has been a much-awaited release. 

In the teaser of Parkhaai, Vaidya writes, ‘This song is about making promises, in full awareness and consciousness, and withholding those promises against all odds and amidst full uncertainty, with one’s voice within himself that says, ‘Keep waiting!’”

Shining in the rain: The newly completed 51.45m-long and 12m-wide arc bridge at Bijuli Bazar, Kathmandu, is reflected on a puddle nearby, following a heavy rainfall on the night of July 13. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) the monsoon this year arrived on July 1, a week earlier than usual, and is expected to leave the country only on September 23 | Pratik Rayamajhi 

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Ltd contributed a ventilator, 20 oxygen concentrators, 10,000 N95 surgical masks, and 2,000 gloves to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to support the government’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The medical and health equipment was handed over by CEO Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar to Dr Roshan Pokharel, chief specialist at MoHP. Pranu Singh, head of corporate affairs brand and marketing; Asim Thebe, health and safety coordinator; and Alka Pant, manager of corporate affairs, were also present at the event. The bank had earlier contributed Rs 57.50 million to the fight against Covid-18 through various projects during the first wave of infections in Nepal.

Nepal Telecom was once one of the highest tax paying organizations in the country. Now, the same organization has dropped to the bottom of the list. The failure of Managing Director Dilliram Adhikari, who was appointed to improve the service and quality of the Telecom, to work as per the performance agreement is reportedly causing havoc at the organization.

“There is an unholy alliance between the top-level Nepal Telecom officers and the private sector telecommunication providers. That is why telecom services are disrupted from time to time,” a senior Telecom source told ApEx. “Instead of working to disrupt the alliance, Adhikari is instead protecting those directly involved.”

Due to the lack of optical fibers even in the main areas of ​​the capital, many people have been deprived of high-speed Telecom services. As MD, Adhikari has failed to make Telecom’s relatively cheap fiber FTTH accessible to all. As fiber service is not available even around Singha Durbar in Kathmandu, users who have shown interest in using Telecom internet are now connected with other service providers.

Adhikari had also planned to reduce internet charges, expand 4G services nationwide and expand the access to as well as upgrade 2G and 3G services. “Most of his work is unfinished,” a senior telecom official says. “Due to Adhikari’s weak leadership and what looks like a deliberate attempt to sabotage Telecom’s operations, there have been many problems in the past month.”

With Telecom services being disrupted time and again, users complain of multiple problems when using Telecom services. 

Nepal Bank recently launched its credit card service. The minimum limit has been fixed at Rs 20,000 and the maximum at Rs 500,000, the bank informs. The credit card service launched in association with Visa International will be used for the payment of various goods and services through POS and ATM terminals as well as on online banking systems.

Up to 10 percent of the approved loan limit can also be taken out in cash from the ATM terminals of the bank and other banks affiliated to Visa International. The card can be used in Nepal, India, and Bhutan.

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, Coca-Cola in Nepal has announced plans to support grocery and shop owners to bounce back from the pandemic. This includes initiatives to protect the safety of shop owners.

The objective is to assist the food and beverage sector get back on its feet, recover and thrive in the post-covid era, the company says.

Under the scheme, retailers will be able to directly place orders with distributors through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Viber. Coca-Cola will also provide hygiene and PPE kits and install counter shields at over 1,000 stores.

Out and about already: Kathmandu’s iconic marker, Dharahara, which stands again after being destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes, as seen on a clear day from the Swayambhunath monastery premises. As restrictions ease in Kathmandu, valley's denizens are taking this as an opportunity to go sightseeing. Infection rates, however, are still troubling | Pratik Rayamajhi