LONDON – I recently re-read and reflected on everything I have written for Project Syndicate since the start of this year. Two commentaries, in particular, stood out. In January, I suggested that without a new surge in productivity, the world would struggle to achieve the same level of economic growth in the 2020s as it did in previous decades.

Basic income security is a human right guaranteed by the Human Rights Declaration 1945, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966, and other international human rights instruments. Article 33 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 guarantees employment as a fundamental right to all Nepali citizens. In 2018, the federal parliament enacted the Employment Rights Act (ERA), which requires Government of Nepal (GoN) to provide at least 100 days of employment annually to the unemployed or provide half of the minimum wage for 100 days should it fail to provide employment.

In the last few weeks there have been two deaths that have shocked their respective nations. George Flyod who was killed in cold blood by a police officer in Minneapolis and Navaraj BK who was lynched in west Rukum in Nepal. These were not acts of mindless violence but rather part of a systematic violence meant to keep an order and quell any threat to it. Unarmed Flyod was considered to be a threat to three armed police officers as one of them chocked him to death, despite his screams for help and Navaraj whose act of walking to his lover’s house was considered to be too great a threat that he and his friends needed to be beaten, chased and then drowned in the river. They were both threatening  a system, a mindset that is so afraid that it will not tolerate even a semblance of resistance and change, a system and mindset that created a certain establishment that has been working for centuries.  As such both were killed long before their murderers even lifted a finger, their deaths were ordained centuries before they were even born. These were two institutional murders that have demonstrated the continuing existence and perhaps the thriving of two ancient and deep seated prejudices in human civilization: Caste and race.

There are approximately 1,150 four-wheeler Electric Vehicles (EVs), 4,700 electric bikes and 31,000 e-rickshaws in Nepal. Considering 1,150 four wheelers consumes 20 million rupees worth of electricity per year, and saves the fuel import of worth 100 million rupees per year. Further, operation of 1,150 four-wheelers saves 2,400 tons of CO2 emissions.

As India stood reluctant to resolve the border matters with Nepal, the government of Nepal has published the new political map including Limpiyadhura Lipulekh and Kalapani region, the land which belongs to Nepal but which India claims and which it is even occupying. Since this incident, there have been several interpretations and discussions regarding India’s intention vis-à-vis Nepal. People are angry, sad and agitated by the recent behaviors from Indian side. But the type of response and reaction coming from Indian side and its deferral to resolving border issues through friendly peaceful diplomatic dialogues reinforces the fact that India has not changed its old habits when it comes to dealing with Nepal. For those who follow history, India’s overbearing attitude and behaviors with its neighboring countries is not new.

Murder of  Nabaraj BK and a group of his friends all belonging to the Dalit community, a gruesome act of violence driven by discrimination and racism, is again bringing up latent patterns of social exclusions, structural patterns that are still dominant in the society.

Do you recall seeing headlines like these? Nepali scientist invents Corona vaccine. Barsha Raut supports India on border dispute issues. Donald Trump says to India to give Nepali territory back.

PARIS – The small landlocked Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which lies between China and India, is not only a tourist mecca. The country has also long pioneered the concept of “gross national happiness” (GNH), which its architects regard as far more comprehensive and accurate than the conventional measure of an economy, gross national product, or GNP.

In the midst of every crisis, lies a great opportunity and every crisis adds courage. The world is dealing with an unprecedented health, economic and social crisis in a century. Health systems and businesses are being challenged. The power sector has been hard hit, as demand has fallen globally. Europe’s power prices have collapsed at the heart of the crisis, even turned negative in some countries.

“Silent coronavirus” is widespread in Nepal. Almost all individuals infected with coronaviruses were found with no symptoms at all.