<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121148/636ce5649c7e80680e096705jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="947" height="1500"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Countries across the world are using technology to organise, manage, prevent and track Covid-19 rates, while Nepal has fallen behind in the pandemic app race.China, being the first country to contract Covid-19, was naturally first off the mark to launch a ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mobileeventguide.healthcode&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">health code</a>’ app nationwide. Installing the app was made mandatory by the government, and while many labelled it a breach of privacy and part of China’s state surveillance system, it was also the only effective way to control the virus across a wide population.The app directed people to stay indoors, report their travel history and share knowledge of any symptoms they may be experiencing. Each user then received a coloured QR code to indicate their infection status: red for those considered infected by the virus, yellow for those who may have come into contact with a Covid-positive person, and green code for those who seemed fine and virus-free. Public spaces could only be accessed with a green QR code, to ensure that a Covid-positive individual doesn’t enter, say, a shopping mall and endanger others.India followed China in its contact tracing app (CTA) strategy and method when Prime Minister Modi’s office set up a committee to guide and quickly launch the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nic.goi.aarogyasetu&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AarogyaSetu</a>’ app. AarogyaSetu is Sanskrit for ‘the bridge for liberation from disease’.It was pretty clear that the Indian government was activating a robust PR campaign around the app as soon as it was launched on both Android and iOS app stores. Indian celebrities such as national cricket captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn endorsed the app via video clips requesting citizens to safeguard themselves from getting infected, The app crossed 100 million downloads and broke Pokemon Go’s record of being the fastest growing app ever.It has been one year since the app came into mandatory practice, and now airports, malls, clinics and local businesses ask Indian citizens to show their AarogyaSetu app to report their Covid status before they come into contact. As in China, the app uses the green-if-negative and red-if-positive simple <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">colour-based communication</a>.The app is not based on prediction but strives for accuracy in reporting. In major cities like Mumbai, the government sends a home testing medical team to test members of households, and if their report is positive, it automatically updates their Covid status on the app, which is linked to their Aadhar Card (government-issued ID).In the United States the federal government did not launch an official app or impose any mandatory rules to use CTAs. Instead, local governments collaborated with Apple and Google to develop regional apps relying on Bluetooth technology, but only for those who wish to use it. These apps ensure user safety by promising not to store personal information on their servers. A survey revealed that roughly 39% of US citizens supported or accepted the use of CTAs to control the pandemic, compared to a whopping 80% in China, indirectly suggesting that the Chinese have more trust in their government institutions than the Americans.Unlike these large economies that developed quick action digital tools under tight timelines, Germany came up with the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.rki.coronawarnapp&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corona-Warn-App</a>’ months later, without any rush, taking its time to tackle possible data privacy issues. The download of the German app is voluntary, and it is designed to respect people’s privacy by not permanently storing personal information.Iceland launched its ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.landlaeknir.rakning&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rakning C-19</a>’ last April, being the country with the highest penetration of any CTA in the world (40% of Icelanders were adopting apps). However, the Icelandic Covid response team claimed that the app alone did not result in high impact. Manual tracing techniques like phone calls were more effective and required alongside the digital tool.Iceland and a few other European countries have been proponents of free but responsible movement, trusting the citizens to follow guidelines without requiring hefty fines that force them to conform. Sweden, however, has flatly rejected the idea of an official tracking app, despite having more Covid-19 cases than neighbours Denmark and Finland.Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and other West Asian countries have rolled out CTAs with Bluetooth tracing, but Qatar has gone a step further warning that citizens who do not cooperate and install the app may face up to three years in jail.Bahrain set a record this year by being the first country with a CTA that allows users to book free vaccine appointments via the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bh.bahrain.corona.tracker&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BeAware</a>’ app, even letting people choose between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines. Bahrain quickly became the second mostst vaccinated country in the world after Israel.Here in Nepal, the government launched the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=np.com.naxa.covid19&amp;hl=ne&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hamro Swasthya</a>’ app to disseminate information about the pandemic. It is a collaboration between several IT startups and the Ministry of Health and Population to financially and technically support the government in developing an effective app.With over 300,000 app downloads and over 5 million site views, the app offers national Covid-19 updates, but not regional or local detailed information that would help people navigate their areas smartly. There is no guarantee of data privacy or any marketing campaign launched to promote the app’s usage.This lack of transparency and quality of software development is classic governmental mode of functioning. It is ticking the basic boxes and producing a low-cost, low-quality product that neither attracts nor engages the user with well-planned, well-designed communication.Hamro Swasthya is available in both English and Nepali, and the top feature is the Covid self-assessment test that is a questionnaire asking the user to fill personal information along with answers to questions about symptoms faced and recent travel (note: it does not ask for domestic travel history, only international) in order to make an educated guess on whether the user has contracted the virus or not.There is a section on plasma donation, with a form for both donors and those who require a blood donation. Another feature is the suspect report, where anybody can complain about anybody who they suspect is a Covid-positive individual. This feature is clearly not thoroughly thought out, as it can be easily misused.There is a nationwide map to guide people to the nearest hospital, but there is plenty of room of improvement regarding the UX/UI and information provided (lack of address and phone numbers). The best sign of a good app is how often it is improved and optimised. But as the government started rolling out vaccines, information regarding availability is missing in Hamro Swasthya.Saniaa Shah writes this fortnightly column, Tech-Away for Nepali Times. She runs Studio Aakar, a film production studio. Her marketing career helped her develop a keen interest in tech and digital culture.

Saniaa Shah

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Tap, Track, Trace and Test

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7a99c7e80680e092df5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Between 9-5 jobs, grocery shopping, socialising with friends and family, running errands before and after work, managing the household, keeping up with children’s needs, and more – most women are stretched for time and struggle to watch out for their own health and wellness.Technology can offer what no partner or caring family member can: watching out for you 24/7 and reporting back every day with accurate, thoughtful information that makes you feel informed, confident and supported.FITNESS TRACKERSWomen do not necessarily want to wear a clunky, square fitness tracker that was not made with the female body and nuanced behavioural and lifestyle patterns in mind. Wearable technology like fitness tracking bands, bracelets or watches can be as much of a tech-powered tool as a style statement, so naturally, this category of gadgets has seen a boom of new products and brands in the last few years.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7ac9c7e80680e092df6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">Some ladies are happy with a no-fuss device that counts their steps and monitors their heart rate, but others want more. Smart functions offered in these new innovative products targeted at women include: measuring the body’s energy levels, monitoring sleep stages and blood oxygen saturation, a heart rate tracker, checking stress levels, and text message-reading capabilities. These gadgets come with full-featured activity trackers that come in slim, stylishly designed bands with up to 7 days of battery. Some of them are even swim-friendly and weather both rain and shine with no glitches or heating issues. All this, with band colour options like rose gold and pretty pastels!The <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Watch Series 5 and 6</a> are the high-end, premium models of this category of devices, with their versatile features and beautiful design. From an ECG app to a Breathe app, this watch comes with all kinds of cool built-in capabilities. The best part is, it looks equally good in the gym as it does at a dinner party.The <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fitbit</a> is a more affordable, almost equally reputable brand, making its name as a leading fitness tracker with a wide product portfolio. The Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Zip, Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Inspire 3 are all extremely advanced yet simple to use tools. While the Versa series is a health and fitness smartwatch with Alexa (virtual assistant) built into it, the Inspire 2 is just a nice fitness tracker that looks fancy but is easy on the wallet. The Zip is a wireless clip-on model that suits older women. Fitbit products are synced with the Fitbit app that monitors everything from workouts and nutrition to stress and sleep. They come in colours like rose pink and cement white.Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.garmin.com/en-US/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Garmin</a>, an American multinational technology company that specialises in GPS technology, offers 10 different series of products, including the likes of Forerunner (best for running), Vivoactive (for fitness fanatics), Vivosmart (for casual, stylish everyday use) and Venu (Apple watch rival) among others. They even have Vivofit Jr models especially created for children.Lesser known but undoubtedly attractive wearables like the <a href="https://www.polar.com/en/vantage/m" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Polar Vantage M</a>, score high in the women-oriented category with a wide range of customisation options and over 130 sports to choose from for accurate feedback. Then there’s <a href="https://ouraring.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oura ring</a>, an innovative fitness tracking finger ring designed for comfort and convenience, keeping your wrists free for bangles, regular watches and such accessories.PERIOD TRACKERS<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b09c7e80680e092df7jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="516"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b29c7e80680e092df8jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="586">Unlike fitness bands and watches, period trackers do not do the work by themselves. You need to assist their Artificial Intelligence by entering personal information regularly to improve prediction and analyses. For women with irregular cycles, a period tracking mobile app proves especially useful because intuitive data-driven technology can help predict your next period, the ovulatory window, high fertility days, and even mood swings and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). For those with regular cycles, planning special holidays or trekking trips and pregnancy becomes extremely easy and precise.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b59c7e80680e092df9jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">In 2021, period tracking is as quick and easy as remembering to use a sunscreen and moisturising cream. At first, logging in symptoms and marking period days on the app calendar feels like extra work, but after a point, you get into the habit of it and also reap the rewards with automatic notifications and information personalised to your body’s patterns.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b79c7e80680e092dfajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="197" height="256">Clue, <a href="https://flo.health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flo</a>, Apple Health, MagicGirl, Period Tracker, Glow and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/lc/app/period-tracker-eve/id1002275138" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eve by Glow</a> make the list of apps that you can download without having to contemplate, carefully study or read reviews before installing them on your phone. While apps like <a href="https://helloclue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clue</a> and Flo share knowledge and teach you about your body, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.period.tracker.lite&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Period Tracker</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hwgg.mfsn&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MagicGirl</a> are perfect for teens and beginners who are trying to get a hold of the whole mess-free and stress-free management of period cycles. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glow.android&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Glow app</a> is a fertility tracking app with high ratings, and Eve by Glow is its sister app that zooms in only on the period, sex life and fitness tracking. For iOS users, there is always something special in store (pun intended), and thus, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiFxfjgvJnvAhXfzTgGHb7oDxIQFjAAegQIAxAD&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fios%2Fhealth%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ygn-8s1za4kjwi9x4Qc9S" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Health</a>, an app that covers the basics, is entirely free, and comes pre-installed in every iPhone under a pink heart icon. Who said technology can’t be cute, anyway?

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Gadgets and apps for the new age women

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111011114/636ccd0f9c7e80680e08bc56jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="845"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>If we learned anything from 2020, it is that nothing is more important than keeping fit and addressing health issues to avoid compromising one’s immune system. Due to the lockdown and the pandemic, many people with health issues big and small did not or could not visit the doctor without the fear of getting infected. This gave rise to health and medical support apps that consolidate, modernise and disrupt the Nepali medical industry, all at once. Helping connect the public to doctors and hospitals via just a few screen taps, these apps are a boon to those who cannot travel easily or struggle to make time for their family’s or their own health. Here are a few of the many digital assisting apps that help us stay healthy and worry-free:Hamro Doctor<a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://www.hamrodoctor.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hamro Doctor</a> is a super handy app that offers all kinds of medical support and informative services. These online consultations are quick, convenient and half the price you pay to visit doctors physically. They offer information, including but not limited to an index of doctors according to field of medicine, a detailed menu of health checkup packages offered by private hospitals and ambulance service contact listing. There are also blog articles posted by doctors and live chat forums where users can ask specific health questions to doctors.Dividing relevant health services into digital departments such as Coronavirus, Skin and Sex, Sugar, Thyroid and Heart, ENT, Cancer, and Women’s Health and Pregnancy, makes it convenient for users to search for immediate help in the concerned department of health. All this, without the hassle of waiting rooms, standing in queues, wasting time filling paperwork and at the billing counter, etc. Additionally, a health feed with news and updates, blood donation information services and a feature that allows uploading of medical reports are also available on the app.Not only does Hamro Doctor democratise and make expert medical support widely available for all Nepalis, it also makes socially awkward zones such as mental health problems and sex or genital related issues easier to address, thanks to the privacy and one-on-one direct nature of online consultation.Jeevee<a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://jeevee.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeevee</a> is a professional, attractively designed one-stop health app that offers a range of health support services. The app offers online appointments and the option to upload your prescription to smoothly order medicines. A database of over 1000 doctors offers 100% online consultations. Jeeve also has a convenient e-commerce section with over 20,000 products such as medical devices, baby care products, personal care items, ayurvedic medicine, orthopedic accessories and dental care.In case the user has difficulty finding the concerned category, they can also use the search bar on top to find the product they’re looking for. Positive customer reviews confirm that Jeevee does not charge delivery fees, allows ordering from different vendors in the shopping cart and also offers competitive prices that are often cheaper than the nearest drug store.The Namaste Doctor feature has both free and pro (paid) models for patients to choose from, allowing them to consult with a doctor digitally without visiting them at their clinic. The pro version includes not 1 but 2 consultation sessions, 15 minutes of video calling, priority access, as well as lab and medical reports to make the consultation experience fully satisfying for the patient. Another useful feature of the app is the user’s ability to create profiles of themselves as well as their family members, and have access to their medical records and history all in one place.Cura Health<a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curahealth&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cura Health</a> was built to make sure that people can seek medical help without losing out on valuable time, digitally via this app. The app is designed to bridge the gap between patients and medical professionals. Unlike other health and medical apps, users cannot enter the home page without registering or signing in, and providing all their vital statistics (height, weight, blood type, disease history, etc.), as well as an emergency contact number, a thoughtful touch that physical forms at hospitals make mandatory but other apps seem to have skipped.With no bugs and a smooth interface, this app is the epitome of simplicity. However, without an extensive main menu and comprehensive search bar, it leaves the user wanting. With time, after building a larger database of doctors and medical practitioners, this app has the potential to go a long way. Until then, Cura enjoys customer loyalty and appreciation with satisfying booking services that help patients skip lines at hospitals, thus helping save time every time they make a trip to the doctor’s.NepMeds<a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://www.nepmeds.com.np" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NepMeds</a> is a digital healthcare provider that is available on both web and mobile, offering medical shopping services and connecting users to doctors, laboratories, vaccination services, digital health record storage facilities, and tips on staying fit and happy. Currently, NepMeds operates in Kathmandu and Chitwan but aims to soon expand to other major cities of Nepal. NepMeds puts a focus on secure payment (128-bit SSL encryption) for e-shopping as well as affordable prices offered by reliable professional parties, to ensure customer satisfaction. The Health Library is a blog section that is filled with articles that bust myths, clear doubts, share benefits of certain foods - plus, keep the audience informed with knowledge on Coronavirus, dengue, fever and such super relevant health problems.In order to increase its number of users, NepMeds has a referral and rewards system that helps users earn wallet balance when they introduce others to the app. The app keeps updating its home feed with quick health tips, and also promises additional unique features that will get introduced soon, such as a medicine reminder, BMI measurement tool, and medicine refill hints to make sure users don’t miss a single day of regular medication.Drugs Nepal<a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theanilpaudel.drugsnepal&amp;hl=ne&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Drugs Nepal</a> is a brilliant simple single-purpose app that offers free, detailed information about thousands of drugs available in Nepal. Its main advantage is that it is available for offline use after the first time of loading the app, by storing all the information locally. The user needs to simply open up the app when connected to WiFi or mobile data and the updated information gets automatically synced for offline use again.This digital medicine directory allows users to search either by generic name or brand name of the drug. The directory looks appealing at first scroll, but the lack of information in the drug detail pages, like missing info or the word ‘NULL’ in certain categories, is admittedly disappointing. With improvement on the data entry side and minimum front-end tweaks, this purely informative app can be a less used but lightweight, to keep handy at all times. Because this app does not require two-way communication between parties and user inputs or information uploads yet, it is one-dimensional and uncomplicated.Hamro SwasthyaThe Ministry of Health and Population officially launched this app in April 2020 as a quick response measure to the global Coronavirus pandemic. It requests enabling of the Bluetooth feature to help improve contact tracing and track people who might accidentally spread Covid-19. It also offers a warning feature when the user is in close proximity to a device (individual), who is in the red zone.It has received criticism for only doing the base minimum of Coronavirus tracking, updating the app with daily new cases, offering a few mobile numbers and hotline number for emergency Covid-19 support, a Covid-19 self-assessment online automated test, and a plasma donation form section that allows both donors and requesters to fill necessary information to donate or receive. Many users have complained online that it is not a complete, comprehensive, efficient app that asks the right questions to ensure that users feed information that will prove useful and accurate.While the app is named <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=np.com.naxa.covid19&amp;hl=ne&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hamro Swasthya</a>, it is essentially only a Coronavirus tracking and information sharing app, which is rather misleading. Aside from this minor concern, the Hamro Swasthya app has potential to turn into a handy resource that offers online appointment booking at government hospitals and free digital services. The assumption that government-led initiatives are not as modern, efficient and professional as the private sector could be challenged by improving on the product to create a super health app that benefits the average Nepali in a way that private sector apps cannot.

Nepal’s health-tech industry is here to stay

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111132/636cd33b9c7e80680e08f958jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1213"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>In the age of smartphones under pillows, screenshots, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, location trackers and free platforms that make money off our data: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/facebook-and-the-future-of-online-privacy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">privacy</a> is rapidly becoming elusive.Ever since WhatsApp’s new privacy policy provoked a mass exit (leading users to impulsively switch to smaller messaging apps such as <a href="https://signal.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signal</a> and <a href="https://telegram.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Telegram</a>) privacy has been a hot topic in the media. But how many of us actually peruse privacy policies of every app, every social platform, every website and every device we allow into our lives?“Privacy is no longer a social norm,” Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has been quoted as saying. This is the same man who, together with his wife, purchased a home in Palo Alto, as well as four residential properties surrounding it, just to protect their privacy.It is not that people have changed their views on privacy after getting on <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/so-you-want-to-quit-facebook/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">social media</a>, we are simply unaware of the repercussions of sharing information with a website. And even if we do, many of us will not know where to start when it comes to protecting personal data and reducing our digital footprint.The truth is: the more private and secure you want to become, the more inconvenient your life will be. Start with your browser and Internet habits, manage your social media presence better, migrate to privacy-focused messaging platforms, control your smartphone and laptop (don’t give them access to everything), steer clear from IoT devices.Privacy is like yoga: it is not just a discipline, it is a lifestyle. If you are willing to give it a shot, let us get started:BECOME A PASSWORD PROAvoid your browser’s in-built password saving and managing features. Avoid weak passwords, or re-using the same password everywhere just because it is convenient. If hackers break through your common password, they will likely get access to all your accounts at once. Have trouble remembering all your passwords? Use a password manager, an online application that stores your login details in an encrypted vault (under a master password) and generates complex passwords for you. Some of the best free password managers out there are LastPass, <a href="https://nordpass.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NordPass</a>, <a href="https://www.remembear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RememBear</a>, <a href="https://bitwarden.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bitwarden</a> and <a href="https://www.stickypassword.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sticky Password</a>. I personally use <a href="https://www.lastpass.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LastPass</a> because it’s secure, packed with useful features and easy to use.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111132/636cd33d9c7e80680e08f959jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="919">HIKE UP YOUR SECURITY BARRIERS‘What’s your mother’s maiden name?’ ‘Which elementary school did you attend?’ and ‘What is your favourite food?’ are questions any Facebook friend of yours could answer. Do not answer any Security Question honestly, instead create cryptic answers with an inside joke. Additionally, make sure your WiFi router is protected, use WPA2 security, and enable two-factor authentication for everything, even if it adds a few extra seconds to your sign-in process.Regarding fingerprint log-ins and facial recognition features, biometric authentication and biometric identification are exceptionally secure systems, but that does not make them 100% safe. If those databases are compromised, a hacker could get access to your biometric data, or they could be used for surveillance. While this data is more vulnerable than passwords, the good news is, such high-profile data is usually secured on a stronger level as well.CONTROL PRIVACY SETTINGSDisable everything in your Google ‘My Activity’ page. Do not give web platforms information such as your home address and disable location tracking if you can help it. When using social media, utilise the Privacy Settings to strengthen control. Do not befriend strangers, avoid public posts and avoid commenting on public platforms if you do not have your personal data on limited access.USE ENCRYPTED APPSUnfortunately, this means that good old SMS is not a safe way to communicate at all. Signal Messenger is gaining popularity for its privacy-focused approach, but bear in mind that WhatsApp does still have end-to-end encryption and the option to make profile pictures and status private. Studies show that most people do not bother visiting the Privacy Settings of apps they download. Sticking to the default settings of the app is common practice, which often is not the smartest, most secure way to use it.Another logical argument is that leaving WhatsApp is not the answer if you are still using Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts and Zoom – the last of which has been dealing with security scandals while also experiencing <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/home-work-during-the-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">monumental growth in usage during the pandemic</a>. If you wish to truly make the switch, consider less popular but extremely privacy-conscious video calling platforms such as <a href="https://www.linphone.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Linphone</a>, <a href="https://meet.jit.si" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">JitsiMeet</a> and <a href="https://www.mumble.info" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mumble</a>.PRACTICE SAFER BROWSINGChrome, Safari or Firefox store cookies to track you, so it is important to clear temporary data frequently and use Incognito mode when necessary. <a href="https://duckduckgo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DuckDuckGo</a>, a privacy-conscious browser, recently hit 100 million searches in a single day, ranking #2 in the USA, only behind Google, beating both Bing and Yahoo.DuckDuckGo’s primary advantage is its privacy features which allow users to search without personal information being collected and sold to advertisers. <a href="https://www.startpage.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">StartPage.com</a> gives Google results while protecting anonymity, and <a href="https://searx.me" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Searx.me</a> is a fully open-source ‘privacy-respecting metasearch engine’ that is quickly becoming a favourite within the security community.<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111132/636cd3419c7e80680e08f95ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>PROTECT YOUR PHONEEvery morning, most of us reach out for our smartphones before we even step out of bed. The smartphone is a device physically closest to us, which is why we need to keep it under strict control. Phones come with powerful sensors and data trackers that are constantly turned on, making it easy to extract data that can be shared with other tech companies.Disable Analytics and go into App Settings to ensure that each app only gets permission for what they really need to perform well. Make sure you are using automatic software updates for both the operating system and applications, so that you receive the latest fixes and security updates.With new high-end phones running on Android 8.0 and up or iOS 14 (for Apple users), you get the option of MAC address randomisation. If you have these updated operating systems, this is a huge plus because this feature protects mobile devices from being tracked as they move through Wi-Fi-rich environments.Disable NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, Radio when they are not in use, especially when moving around in public areas.Disable unnecessary features of existing apps, and control yourself from installing apps you do not need. The more apps you download, the more likely a security breach. In short, less is more.KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR COMPUTERMost of the above tips are applicable for desktop or laptop usage as well. Consider opting out of computer tracking, and disabling unused radios on your computer. Installing an application like <a href="https://www.bleachbit.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bleachbit</a> helps remove temporary data and clean your system, while also clearing disk space. Needless to add, public computers are a huge risk, but it is 2021 and the age of ‘cyber cafes’ has passed.THE DARK SIDE OF SMART TECHNOLOGYThe bad news for gadget geeks is that wearable tech devices (smartwatches, fitness bands, etc.) and gadgets that use IOT (Internet of Things) are not particularly healthy for your privacy. If data is not stored locally, you risk sharing all your personal information with third parties. What is more, hackers can potentially break through your wearable device to get your smartphone and get access to all your contacts, photos, videos and financial information.Choose your brands carefully, spend time understanding their privacy practices and minimise.PRO TIP: USE VPN WHEN YOU CANA VPN (Virtual Private Network) redirects your internet traffic, disguising where your computer, phone or other device is when it makes contact with websites. It also encrypts information you send across the internet, making it unreadable to anyone who intercepts your traffic. That includes your internet service provider. A few of the trusted VPN providers are: <a href="https://surfshark.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Surfshark</a>, <a href="https://protonvpn.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ProtonVPN</a>, <a href="https://www.ivpn.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IVPN</a>, <a href="https://mullvad.net/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mullvad</a> and <a href="https://windscribe.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Windscribe</a>.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111132/636cd3449c7e80680e08f95bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">Saniaa Shah writes this fortnightly column, TechAway, for Nepali Times.

Privacy is power

<img width="640" height="805" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5449c7e80680e0736b6jpeg.jpg" alt=""/><img width="640" height="795" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5479c7e80680e0736b7jpeg.jpg" alt="">Neighbouring India has banned it, the United States and Australia are about to do the same, but here in Nepal TikTok use has soared in the five months since the COVID-19 lockdown was announced.The Chinese-owned app has taken Nepal by storm, with young people using its 15 second design for an explosion of creativity, and online businesses signing on to promote products ranging from fashion to food. Former royal couple Paras and Himani Shah’s daughters Purnika and Kritika who do mainly dance videos are a hit on TikTok with a massive following.Two weeks after the lockdown in March, Bharat Pokhrel, a doctor in Kathmandu started to use TikTok, posting videos of himself and his little sister. Four months later, he has over 13,000 followers and 400,000 likes for his videos, answering medical questions about COVID-19 from viewers.“I am surprised how much of them have genuine medical concerns. In Nepal this is a huge shift because patients do not always open up and share their actual problems or habits,” says Pokhrel. Because of the restriction on transport, many Nepalis have been using Tiktok as a form of telemedicine – especially for sensitive mental health issues. The lockdown has led to an increase in <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/post-pandemic-mental-health-epidemic/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/post-pandemic-mental-health-epidemic/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFPFuqB49b4GXsfKi_z2l2NVabpbA">mental health problems </a>and suicide cases throughout the country.“I noticed mental health is a major issue, and many people seek to consult from me via email provided in my bio,” Pokhrel adds. However, TikTok is more popular among young people showing off their creativity through short video clips of dance routines, lip-synching, branding through influencers, or point-of-view videos – all done with a wide range of editing gimmicks. While the TikTok ban in India was more of a tit-for-tat for the deadly border clash in Ladakh in May, and in the US and Australia it is ostensibly driven by privacy concerns, the underlying reason is the phenomenal rise of the app by a non-Silicon Valley company. With over <a href="https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics#:~:text=TikTok%20has%20800%20million%20active%20users%20worldwide.,App%20Store%20and%20Google%20Play." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics%23:~:text%3DTikTok%2520has%2520800%2520million%2520active%2520users%2520worldwide.,App%2520Store%2520and%2520Google%2520Play.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFNnmxHnbCEW3MQGeTt7P1DozSfyw">800</a> million active users and 2 billion downloads worldwide, it is the only non-US tech giant in the top five. <img width="640" height="824" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba54a9c7e80680e0736b8jpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="640" height="849" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba54d9c7e80680e0736b9jpeg.jpg" alt=""><img width="640" height="831" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110914114/636ba5509c7e80680e0736bajpeg.jpg" alt="">TikTok, owned by ByteDance, a Chinese app developer, lets users publish a 15-second or 60-second video, and had seen widespread use in India. Even before the lockdown hit, TikTok already had 600 million active users in India, 44% of the population, and making up <a href="https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/tiktok-downloads-2-billion-growth-india-611-million-installs-sensor-tower-2220873" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/tiktok-downloads-2-billion-growth-india-611-million-installs-sensor-tower-2220873&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEYzZxeA7OHXCKDUZ6OeFOJ7JcWTQ">over a quarter</a> of the total downloads worldwide.  There has been criticism of the ban in India, where most users were using it to engage and network, and had empowered the youth among the minorities targeted by the state. However, it was also welcomed by an older section of the population where anti-China sentiments ran high after the Ladakh clash. Indian ISPs like Airtel, Vodaphone and Idea blocked TikTok app from its Google Play Store and Apple Store since 29 June, and some tech savvy users switched to proxy servers with a foreign IP. However, some mobile carriers have cracked down on VPN use. After the ban, Tiktok has been partially replaced with <a href="https://amp.scroll.in/article/968787/after-tiktok-ban-30-million-indians-downloaded-this-app-backed-by-eminem-and-snoop-dogg?__twitter_impression=true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amp.scroll.in/article/968787/after-tiktok-ban-30-million-indians-downloaded-this-app-backed-by-eminem-and-snoop-dogg?__twitter_impression%3Dtrue&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFIJQSVb5tOW2A61I1Z-LCoNdUs5w">the LA-based company</a>, Thiller with has seen 30 million downloads in India since June.   There is anecdotal evidence of young people in Indian town on the Nepal border like Jogbani, Siliguri, Raxaul, Sunauli and Rupedhia using Nepali data SIM cards to access TikTok, although telecom companies do not have statistics to show a significant increase in SIM sales or data use. Parakram SJB Rana in Kathmandu has been a TikTok user since December 2019, but started posting more frequently after the lockdown. The fashion and lifestyle vlogger has over 20,000 followers, with each video having an average of 50-60,000 views. “I felt that this was the perfect time for me to do fun stuff on TikTok because I have time to kill,” said Rana, whose TikTok videos include funny skits, voiceovers, and videos with family members. He says engagement on TikTok are higher than other social media platforms he uses. “The is a way more interaction, which is surprising because I have half the number of followers in TikTok compared to Instagram,” said Rana, who makes a living out of blogging on Instagram.  “TikTok is different as it has a way of reaching out to more people. You can easily swipe on videos of people you are not following in your For You Page.”  In the For You page, one can view videos of people they are not following, making it easier for people to gain more interaction and views. Curtis Waters, a Nepali-born singer, was <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-rise-of-curtis-waters/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-rise-of-curtis-waters/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHh-PywNJ_GTAMCGvFyugqPFq-ZCg">able to promote his song</a>, Stunnin’ using TikTok, which went viral worldwide, and now, has over <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDO-In8sF6c/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/p/CDO-In8sF6c/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHJRAb6jKQkcxu1WahYGaoE57pG6Q">50 million streams</a> on Spotify. Mamta Siwakoti started using TikTok a month into the lockdown as a form of entertainment and would post dance videos, something she otherwise did not have time to do. She said: “TikTok provided me a platform to dance for 15-seconds to a minute, and the easy interface lets me record it and have the audio available for me,” she said.  Siwakoti, who is a lawyer, saw some doctors using TikTok for medical advice, so she started using her platform to spread legal awareness to her viewers. Her first video on how to become a lawyer in Nepal got an astounding 173,000 views. Another video on the legal age of marriage also went viral. She pointed out that underage married women may face problems if they want to file for divorce or report domestic violence.  Just like with other social media TikTok can also be toxic, and Siwakoti faced a backlash for that post and was accused of promoting divorce. Some viewers have also commented that she should become a bar-dancer instead of a lawyer because of dancing videos.  “What makes TikTok more popular is the easy interface where you can have the audio, video, and editing on the app itself,” she said.  Furthermore, after the lockdown, social media has been the only method to connect many Nepalis with family and friends in the country and around the world. Social media is no longer considered just unproductive entertainment, and screentime is actually a communication necessity. Internet use has increased <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepal-internet-use-increases-by-35-during-lockdown/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepal-internet-use-increases-by-35-during-lockdown/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHbC6d-QuZgnSg80XVcLu4_AiPyCQ">35% </a>in the past four months of the lockdown with Ncell selling <a href="https://www.nepalitelecom.com/2020/06/ncell-super-4g-offer-nonstop-youtube-pack.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nepalitelecom.com/2020/06/ncell-super-4g-offer-nonstop-youtube-pack.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFxNAe7iQ-by69WqA9axBTuyM-JbQ">special offers</a> for TikTok users.   “Before the lockdown, spending a lot of time on social media would be frowned upon as an idle past time, but now even the older generation understands the importance of social media,” she adds. While <a href="https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1596948484536000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH41Q2gqOzaVJgIwSHyXt9oBhyX8g">41% </a>of TikTok users are aged 16-24, many people older are also using this app to publish content. Dance videos and lip-synching Indian tv reenactments are popular among all age groups.  Anish Tamang is a body painter and TikTok makes up a majority of his make-up and make-up transformation videos. Unlike other social media platforms that he is active on, Tamang says that the exposure on TikTok is higher.  “It’s been a year since I started using TikTok,” said Tamang. “Viewership has increased in all my social media platforms, and because of the lockdown.” While TikTok has given many people a platform to demonstrate their creativity, Alex Shiwakoti, who had been on the platform for over two years before ByteDance merged with Musically, says he also gets trolled more for his dances, skits and POV videos.   “During this lockdown, I experienced a lot of negative comments in Tiktok, which sometimes makes me want to stop using it,” admitted Shiwakoti. “But it is such a great way to reach my audience, I rarely used to interact with people but TikTok changed that.”  In Nepal TikTok is not immune to hate comments, predatory behaviour to younger users, bullying, mature content, and addiction that plagues other platforms. Despite this, TikTok looks like it is here to stay.  Says physician Bharat Pokhrel: “In a nutshell, it has been a learning experience, an entertainment medium, and a way to reach out to the people from different parts of the country with useful advice during the pandemic.”

Huge uptick in TikTok during Nepal lockdown

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8b839c7e80680e06b2a3jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="999" height="598"/>Not everyone has a cabinet full of dusty cookbooks passed down generations, or a mom-on-call to consult when cooking something ambitious. With more time to spare than ever during the lockdown, non-cooks are slowly turning into beginner cooks, and home chefs are going pro, by the looks of social media boast posts.In the age of YouTube cooking tutorials and Instagram celebrity chefs, technology encourages and supports people to get creative in the kitchen. For carefully curated and organised cooking support, recipe-related apps are the perfect go-to guides for great gastronomic ideas and virtual assistance.Here is a study of three free apps that have the power to inspire everyone:<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8b859c7e80680e06b2a4jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="850">TASTYIf there was one app that was made for millennial chefs, it’s Tasty. Brought to you by Buzzfeed, Tasty is a reflection of its mother brand with creative content, vibrant look, attractive imagery and quick ’n easy how-to videos. Tasty seems to be ideal for those who identify as hungry but lazy but might just get inspired to do it for the ’gram.The search bar can be used to discover dishes based on Difficulty (easy, under 30 minutes, and 5 ingredients or less are suggested filters), Meal Type (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, baked goods), Occasion (date night, happy hour, weeknight, special occasion, brunch, BBQ, and so on), Diet (vegetarian, contains alcohol, pescatarian, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly), Cuisine (American, British, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Fusion and many more, including Greek and Latin American) and Dish Style (one-pot or pan, big batch, no bake desserts, and other such specifications).While using Tasty to its full capacity is not possible during the lockdown, with limited supplies and no guests to serve fancy meals to, the app is handy to be able to make a five-minute chocolate mug cake with just a microwave, no oven, to satisfy some serious dessert cravings.Cooking apps aren’t just for those who can make a sophisticated spaghetti in made-from-scratch pesto or a slow-cooked honey mustard chicken that requires some skill and time. Tasty also caters to kids and their parents, who are constantly whipping up stuff for them to gobble, by including fun recipes for a dreamy, creamy hot chocolate drink, the classic mac ‘n cheese, a three-minute pizza (yes, there is such a thing) and the perfect French toast with a drizzle of honey that would take anybody, even adults, to cloud nine.Tasty is omnipresent on the web, with a colourful website, an active YouTube channel, and an Instagram page catering to over 36 million followers, to name a few of the platforms it has conquered. Is it the best food app out there? Definitely not. But if you don’t try it, you might just suffer from FOMO.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8b879c7e80680e06b2a5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="855">YUMMLYUndoubtedly the best guided recipe app out there, Yummly has millions of recipes to offer, with thousands added every week to keep up with cooking trends. When setting up your account, you get to disclose your dietary restrictions and preferences – vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, nut allergies, and so on – as well as specify what foods you dislike, so that they don’t turn up on your feed.The app is packed with information. You can judge a recipe before trying it by checking out how it scores on a user-run five-star rating system, and also the number of ingredients, calories and minutes it takes to prep and cook the dish. What’s more, you can even schedule what time you wish to prep, what time you wish to cook (which isn’t always right before prepping, if you’re busy with other chores) and what time you plan to eat the meal. Talk about being organised!With video-supported recipes that you can access hands-free (just activate the voice command feature and say “Hey Yummly” to move forward while you’re cooking), cooking and referring to the app simultaneously becomes an easy step-by-step process without any hassle.For when you are no longer in quarantine and want to try something new, you can also make the most of the ‘Add to Shopping List’ feature that allows you to add ingredients from a recipe to the shopping list section of the app, which gets automatically organised by Yummly by aisle or by recipe. With an app like this, the user barely needs to think, and meal planning and cooking both become creative and fun activities you can fully enjoy, alone or with your sous-chef family member.The more you use the app, the better it will perform for you, thanks to AI. If you are not ready to cook yet, just treat it like Pinterest for food, an exclusive cooking inspiration board that you can build by clicking the ‘Yumm’ button on images of scrumptious-looking food, which automatically bookmarks them for you to refer to later. When you filter your recipes by cuisine, cook time, nutritional requirements or technique, the app gets a sense of your taste and constantly works on improving your personal recipe feed to suit your preferences.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8b899c7e80680e06b2a6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="657">COOKPADCookpad is a unique app for the adventurous cook, one who wishes to experiment with food and compose recipes to share them with others around the world. The app heavily relies on user-generated content, but this model works well because it makes the app feel like a social network for culinary enthusiasts.In stark contrast to Instagram, Cookpad doesn’t reward aesthetically pleasing food pictures. The goal is realistic: an app filled with easy homemade deliciousness that inspires home chefs. It’s motivating to see pictures of dishes that looks like they’re worth an attempt, unlike the food prepared on the reality TV show MasterChef.Cookpad quickly rose to become Japan’s largest recipe-sharing network (60 million users) expanded to international markets until it gathered 40 million users globally and set up its headquarters in the UK. Interestingly, the app began as a way for Japanese homebodies to connect with others over the joy of cooking. This could also be why the app developers decided to add in a chat feature with both private chat and group chat options to make this a more social experience than what competitor apps offer. Being able to text the original cook asking about the chicken to tomato ratio when cooking for three times of number of people is useful, after all.Since the content is all user-generated, unlike other apps, Cookpad is where there are Nepalis uploading recipes, including but not limited to momos, aloo fry, pork sekuwa and authentic homestyle achaar. You can also see who all are planning to cook a certain recipe, which works as a motivation tactic for users.You can also leave a ‘cooksnap’ – a picture of your dish – once it is ready. Other users can tap the heart button to get your recipe trending, while helping you gain social currency on the app. Additionally, Cookpad offers unique user stats, a clever way to gamify the app and make users want to earn more points by cooking and creating more to rise in the ranks.The way the app works indicates its wise, special philosophy: that cooking is not about how beautiful the food looks, but the effort put into making it delightful, and sharing with an online community helps make the effort worthwhile.***Other cooking apps: BigOven, SideChef, Food.com, Nooddle, Kitchen Stories, Epicurious and Cheftap.Read also:<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/home-work-during-the-lockdown/">Home work during the lockdown</a>, Saniaa Shah <a style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/unlocking-yourself-during-the-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unlocking yourself during the lockdown</a>, Saniaa Shah

Who is up for a Quarantine Cooking Challenge?

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110911110/636b7a469c7e80680e06474fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="508"/>While working from home seems like a great idea, the curfew does skew our work-life balance. Working with the TV, fridge, and our dear pets nearby is a challenge, no doubt, and it doesn’t help that there are no nosy co-workers or scary supervisors to check on our productivity levels every once in a few hours.That said, working remotely and feeling in it is totally possible with the support of a few free apps that make everything easier to compute and control.Whether we consider pre-Corona days or during, it’s safe to say that using Skype, Viber, Whatsapp or Google Hangouts for official purposes is passé now. In bored times like these, leave those to your super active family group chats and friends’ circles where random memes and text screenshots take centerstage.Professional teams need professional apps that are built to imitate our real-life working styles. Buckle up and get familiar with awesome apps that will turn you into a smooth worker bee, never mind that you’re wearing pajamas to work now –<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110911110/636b7a499c7e80680e064750jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">ZOOMDubbed ‘king of the quarantine economy’, Zoom was perfectly poised for the work-from-home situation that many of us have found ourselves in. The Nepali Times editorial team itself has become a champion of this video conferencing platform, that makes team meetings, catch-ups, problem solving and work discussions all possible in a virtual space.With fun features like a library of interesting virtual backgrounds to choose from, your daily online meetings get a light, fresh mood. Besides, it’s kind of a relief to have a fallback when your zoom room is a mess and between cooking and working, you just haven’t had the time for that ever-expanding pile of clothes.Zoom’s ‘freemium’ pricing model is useful for startups and established businesses alike, especially those just beginning to wrap their heads around the idea of working out of the den. Thoughtfully programmed touches like being able to mute select participants and having a digital whiteboard function makes Zoom a clear winner in the online conference room category.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110911110/636b7a4c9c7e80680e064751jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="335">SLACKAn app that the pandemic has given new life to is Slack: a mobile, desktop and web application (multi-platform) that feels like a cross between an instant messaging space and an email thread. Slack recently announced that it gained 7,000 new customers between Feb 1 and March 18 due to office-goers around the world suddenly working remotely. (For context, it found 5,000 new customers in all of the last quarter.)With separate #channels (chat threads) representing various business departments, ‘@ person’ tagging features for easy one-on-one communication, digital memos (reminder feature) and dozens of apps integrated into the system, Slack makes for an ideal virtual office that entire companies run out of. Zoom, Google Drive, Google and Outlook Calendars, Giphy, Twitter and Dropbox are just some of the popular integrations that make Slack a one-stop shop for working remotely. While Zoom enables larger meetings, Slack video calls are more useful for the agile, tightly knit teams that successful startups are made of.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110911110/636b7a4e9c7e80680e064752jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480">TRELLOPlanning and communication are essential to efficiency and productivity, yes, but where is the app that puts the ‘work’ in teamwork? Enter Trello – a project management app that makes emailed task lists and physical sticky notes on desktops look like cute, vintage ways of working. Trello offers digital bulletin boards that allow actionable items to travel from one category to another. For example, you can shift a card from ‘Concept Stage’ to ‘Implementation Stage’, which is like virtually passing the baton (read: project) from one team member to another.This app is made for taskmasters who take control of a project and see it through to the finish line. Software developers, designers, marketers, college educators, retailers, and Internet companies flock to it for a reason: it is a terrific productivity tool that, if used well, can help chart out not just one’s business activities, but even personal life.If you are not sure Trello is all that it is made out to be, it helps to know that large companies like Google, Adobe, PayPal, Spotify, Tumblr and even offline-heavy organisations like the UNICEF and the New York Times have their teams using it every day to get work done.Next week on An App a Day: Free workout apps for exercising without leaving your bedroom.

Home work during the lockdown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85epyHUvjo&amp;feature=youtu.beFor those who think that Nepal is too underdeveloped to make full use of <a href="https://fusemachines.com.np/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a> (AI), think again. That is exactly what they used to say about computers and mobile phones in the 1990s.It may come as a surprise to many that Nepal has been gaining ground in AI, developing not only software using machine learning algorithms but producing world-class engineers. One company at the forefront is <a href="https://fusemachines.com.np/">Fusemachines Nepal</a>, which has started using industry experts to train AI students with cutting-edge technology to deliver intelligent solutions.“I wanted to see if I can contribute in bringing the best AI education to Nepal and make Nepal known around the world as one of the best sources of AI talent,” says the <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/review/Sameer-Maskey-revolutionalizing-customer-service-through-Fuse-Machines,1069" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nepali founder of Fusemachines, Sameer Maskey</a>, a professor at Columbia University.<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95dd9c7e80680e05dc32jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"/><figcaption>All Photos: MONIKA DEUPALA/SONIA AWALE</figcaption></figure>This is the age of surveillance capitalism, where algorithms determine election outcomes, Siri knows what you want before you do, wearables correctly deduce the state of the heart and <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/so-you-want-to-quit-facebook/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> recognises friends.Read also:<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/natural-intelligence/">Natural Intelligence</a>, Duksangh Sherpa<a style="background-color: #ffffff; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/outdated-laws-limited-ecommerce-hold-back-tech-industry%20,3547">Kathmandu's Silicon Alley and the Law</a>, Sonia AwaleAI simply imitates human thinking by recognising patterns in data, so that repetitive everyday work can be done by machines that learn as they go along.Nepal missed the bus on natural resource processing, manufacturing and <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/outdated-laws-limited-ecommerce-hold-back-tech-industry%20,3547" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information technology</a>. But experts say that training a critical mass of engineers in AI can allow the country’s economy to leapfrog and become globally competitive.<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95e09c7e80680e05dc33jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95e29c7e80680e05dc34jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img title="page-14-15d" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95e49c7e80680e05dc35jpeg.jpg" alt="page-14-15d"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95e69c7e80680e05dc36jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Fusemachines Director of Academic Affairs Bülent Uyaniker, who was in Nepal recently, rejects the notion that Nepal is not ready for artificial intelligence applications. “It is happening already, it is inevitable. If there can be 8<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/editorial/the-message-is-the-medium/">.5 million Facebook users</a> in Nepal, then it has the special conditions for AI.”Proof of this is the increasing number of software companies in Nepal using local engineering talent to work on software solutions for customers in North America or Europe. However, most of the engineers and recent graduates need training in AI to keep up with customer requirements. America alone will need 200,000 data scientists in the next five years, and most of these will come from the UK, Finland, Canada, Singapore, China and India.Which is why Fusemachines Nepal is also emphasising education. Says the head of its global operations and strategy, Sumana Shrestha: “You cannot learn AI in a one-day bootcamp, it needs intelligent mathematics, but there is a huge demand versus supply gap for engineers proficient in machine learning or other AI components everywhere.”<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95e89c7e80680e05dc37jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000">Read also:<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/it-is-all-about-it-in-nepal,3887" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It's all about IT</a>, Sahina Shrestha<a style="background-color: #ffffff; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/drones-to-the-rescue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drones to the rescue</a>, Lucia de VriesNepal established itself as a sought after destination in the past 20 years <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/it-is-all-about-it-in-nepal,3887" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for outsourcing services</a> such as software and app development, website design and big data management to overseas clients, mostly due to the country’s inexpensive English-speaking workforce.This move from IT to AI will not just create jobs in Nepal, but also allow the country to <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/drones-to-the-rescue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace</a>. General practitioners in rural hospitals will be able to make diagnoses faster so they can spend more time with patients, high-risk individuals can be identified with <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/think-pink-breast%20cancer-diagnosis-treatment,3877" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancer screening</a>, and targeted advertising and customised itineraries will lure <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/bringing-in-two-miilion-tourists,3551">potential tourists during Visit Nepal 2020</a>.Recently, a group of engineering students developed a model to help <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/are-you-sick-of-chicken/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poultry</a> entrepreneurs understand fowl behaviour and the state of their animals’ health, helping them to raise the farm’s business profile.“With precision livestock farming we can generate patterns to help farmers recognise symptoms before an outbreak of a disease by implementing AI components such as image processing and deep learning,” explained engineering student Sajil Awale at Pulchok Engineering Campus. “This allows for timely intervention to prevent mass deaths and reduce losses.”Read also: <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/tap-and-tour%20,3638" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tap and tour</a>, Clara BullockComputer vision (which enables computers to see and process images as humans would) can also help identify rotten fruit swiftly, and prevent <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/from-the-nepali-press/banned-pesticides-are-widely-used-in-nepal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">misuse of pesticides</a> by identifying areas on the farm that require chemicals, and the amounts needed. AI can also estimate future harvests, allowing farmers time to find markets for produce.Engineers at Fusemachines Nepal are working on Nepal’s first optical character recognition (OCR) system so forms filled out with Nepali handwriting can be digitised and translated into English. This will have huge scope in Nepal’s banking, hospital and government sectors, where pen and paper continues to be the norm.Sixit Bhatta, CEO of <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/three-toots-for-tootle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ride-sharing startup Tootle</a>, says Nepal is ripe for AI applications: “Our efforts now should be on preparing for a world in which machines perform skills-oriented tasks and for humans to take on the roles that require creativity and empathy. But before that, the government should design policies that allow AI to grow, and not restrict it.”Sumana Shrestha at Fusemachines Nepal says that as long as salaries for clerical staff are low, there is less potential for AI to flourish. But she adds: “The curse of cheap labour means companies will prefer to employ people to do repetitive work. But sooner or later, AI will be here. Nepal needs to develop despite government. And the private sector needs to prepare itself for disruption.”Coming to terms with AI Artificial Intelligence: Ability of computer systems or machines to make a decision like humans, or the ability to perform tasks requiring human intelligenceMachine Learning: A subset of artificial intelligence that provides a system with the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed, relying on patterns generated from dataDeep Learning: Machine learning that is applied on a large set of data, also known as deep neural learning that uses deep neural networks to model complicated dataNatural Language Processing: Interaction between computers and human languages, deals with programming computers to process and analyse natural (human) language, this field of AI processes, analyses, interprets and distills information from human languagesComputer Vision: Enables computers to see, identify and process images in the same way that human vision doesImage Processing: Part of computer vision that entails analysis and manipulation to find insights from a digitised imageBig Data: Extremely large data sets on which AI is applied to reveal patterns, trends and associations and make decisions<h2>Making Nepalis artificially intelligent</h2><figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221108181144/636a95ec9c7e80680e05dc38jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="990"><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>During a visit to Nepal six years ago, Columbia University professor Sameer Maskey handpicked three students from engineering schools across Kathmandu who were able to solve a mathematical equation. The three went on to become the core of <a href="https://www.fusemachines.com/">Fusemachines</a>, a global company that aims to democratise artificial intelligence (AI) through education and software solutions.Headquartered in New York, Fusemachines has since opened branches in Canada, UK and the Dominican Republic to develop intelligent software solutions that have transformed brands and businesses around the world. One of its biggest operations is in Nepal, Fusemachines employs 100 top Nepali software engineers who work on projects that use AI applications in fields ranging from telecommunications and banking to hospitals and governance.Unlike other back office companies that work on outsourced software development, Fusemachines is a school in itself, training engineers while coming up with product solutions.“We employ senior engineers and industry experts with PhDs along with upcoming engineers, who work together to solve client-specific problems though AI,” explains <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/share-a-ride-Kathmandu,2738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sumana Shrestha</a> who heads Fusemachines’ global operations and strategy. “Such collaborative approach allows young talent to continuously learn and grow.”Following Maskey’s vision, Fusemachines tries to make AI accessible to everyone through education, which is why it initially offered training fellowships and then, to meet the demand for engineers, launched AI Shikshya — a year-long, in-house training program.“With our own proprietary platform and content we have partnered with engineering colleges in Kathmandu to offer AI,” says Shrestha. “The program is a blend of online and on-site, the course material is not too academic, is industry focused and instructors are seasoned engineers up to date with new algorithms.”The company also has its own AI schools, open to professionals who want to grow their business or anyone interested. Fusemachines also offers a foundation course, open to high school graduates. A year-long, micro-degree program consisting of four major courses — including machine learning, deep thinking, natural language processing and computer vision — will be the next step.“In school we were always presented with clean data sets to work on but that is rarely the case on the job. But this year-long training program gets people ready to take on real-life problems and provide AI solutions,” says Rojesh Shikharkar, engineer at Fusemachines Nepal and a post-grad at Pulchok Engineering Campus.Apart from training, Fusemachines has given engineers who would otherwise have migrated to work in the US and Europe an opportunity to find meaningful work in Nepal.Says Shrestha: “If you create opportunities here, people might actually stay, and once we have mass education in artificial intelligence, companies here will start adopting and see the value of AI products, ensuring more opportunities at home.”

Sonia Awale

Bringing Silicon Valley to Kathmandu Valley

The monsoon has got bad press because Nepal’s tourism operators actively told visitors to avoid <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/managing-the-monsoon?%2F">the rainy season</a>. It is time to change that. The reason can be found right here in the vast alpine meadows of Central Nepal where this time of year you can walk on velvet grass of pastures abloom with delicate pink, red and yellow flowers as the mist rolls up the valley. There is no sound except the hum of bumble bees. &nbsp;&nbsp; There are dozens of places across high Nepal called Chaurikharka, which means yak pasture. But this particular Chaurikharka in Rukum East located at an altitude of 4,000m stands out for its serene beauty, rustic charm and bucolic setting. There is just the occasional chime of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/when-yaks-go-so-does-culture">yak bells</a> in the distance, and the sharp whistle of herders corralling sheep. &nbsp;&nbsp; The grass shoots are so fragile that one hesitates to step on them, the rounded ridges appear and quickly vanish in waves of mist. With the<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/before-the-next-monsoon"> arrival of monsoon</a>, these meadows are a soothing shade of green dotted with millions of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/review/the-anatomy-of-a-flower?%2F=">multi-coloured flowers</a>. Until very recently, it took a week or so to hike up to places like Chaurikharka, but with the expansion of the road network even to these far-flung mountains in the lap of Dhaulagiri, they are much more accessible. It is just a three-hour uphill from the Mid-Hill Highway on the border between Baglung and Rukum East.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250802130828_a0b06b494d751b2144ffbbf10894ea64b29e8aed844bc8c66171783abfaf4e16.jpg" data-media-id="editor_4" data-image-id="20250802130828_a0b06b494d751b2144ffbbf10894ea64b29e8aed844bc8c66171783abfaf4e16" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="Visit Nepal in the monsoon"> </figure>  Purists would say that such easy access devalues the sanctity of these remote high meadows, but it also means more people will be moved to treasure the experience, appreciate <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/natures-fragile-gift-to-nepal">the value of nature </a>so they can take steps to protect it.&nbsp; To be sure, the <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/deadly-monsoon-in-nepal-turns-deadlier">monsoon season can be challenging for road travel</a>. The roads are rough even at the best of times, and in the monsoon they become muddy and treacherous, often blocked by<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/monsoon-deluge-in-nepal"> landslides</a>. But that could be precisely the kind of adventure that the more intrepid visitors crave. Improved road connectivity has already made Chaurikharka and places like Badimallika &nbsp;and other sacred lakes in the mountains of western Nepal popular with domestic tourists. What is driving this traffic is the urge to go to exotic new places and share videos and selfies on social media. Several of Nepal’s travel vloggers have visited Chaurikharka and popularised the place, enticing followers on TikTok or YouTube to retrace their footsteps. But even as they become more popular, these fragile and once-remote places should be protected from over-tourism.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250731110736_f97110b7cdc3e7f80d5877690948fc9f4c95a09c583deb23b07355491e6c5446.jpg" data-media-id="editor_8" data-image-id="20250731110736_f97110b7cdc3e7f80d5877690948fc9f4c95a09c583deb23b07355491e6c5446" data-rendition-name="original" width="1083" height="699" loading="lazy" alt="Visit Nepal in the monsoon NT"> </figure>  <h2>INCREASING FOOTFALL</h2> Chaurikharka is located in Bhume Rural Municipality of East Rukum, near the scenic valley of Dhorpatan in Baglung district. Even in the <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/monsoon-culture">middle of the monsoon</a>, there is a steady stream of Nepali hikers trooping to these high pastures – especially during festival days like Saune Sankranti which this year was on 17 July and actually marks the auspicious beginning of the monsoon here. “This year the rains have not been as heavy and there have been some clear mornings when we could see everything from Dhaulagiri to Machapuchre,” says Khageswar Bhandari, who trekked up here from the road. “The flowers, the greenery and the snowy mountain views make this an incredibly unique place.”&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250802130824_1b9e26f2e9853fdfe69154bb42a7c9ea6da4bf4940efc1da99b304dcfbd7d3d9.jpg" data-media-id="editor_10" data-image-id="20250802130824_1b9e26f2e9853fdfe69154bb42a7c9ea6da4bf4940efc1da99b304dcfbd7d3d9" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1152" loading="lazy" alt="Visit Nepal in the monsoon"> </figure>  Chaurikharka is worthwhile to get to in any season, but it has a different charm during the monsoon. Word has spread and because it is now easy to get to from Baglung or even Pokhara, people have been flocking here.&nbsp; “Holidays and Saturdays see the largest crowds, with up to 500 visitors every day,” says ward chair Mankaji Pun of Bhume.&nbsp; There was a time not too long ago when local herders brought sheep, goats, cows, buffaloes, horses, and mules to graze here during the monsoon. Although there are still livestock around, animals have been replaced by visitors taking selfies. Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-monsoon-and-nature-s-arithmetic">The monsoon, and nature’s arithmetic</a>, Tom Robertson Ward Chair Pun says infrastructure development is his main priority. A foot trail to Chaurikharka was built last year by the Tourism Division Office in Kohalpur, but access via the Raniwas-Koipa road section still remains challenging.&nbsp; “If we get more budget, we can improve the road and facilities to make Chaurikharka the main tourist attraction of this region,” says Bhume Municipality Chair Hom Prakash Shrestha. “After that, we hope to promote Chaurikharka as a top tourist spot.”&nbsp; Economic activity is also picking up with the arrival of visitors, but there seems to be a need to manage the makeshift sheds made of corrugated sheets that spoil the beauty of the place. Tea shops and lodges are also available but facilities are basic. Kuldeep Neupane took a three-day trip from Ghorahi in Dang to visit Chaurikharka recently, and says: “This is an ideal trip to make a quick getaway and let nature recharge your mind and body. And it is much more fun with a tent, to watch the sunrise over the Himalaya or the mist blowing in.”

Visit Nepal in the monsoon

Nepal is graduating to become a developing country on 24 November 2026 after half-century in the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. By 2030, the country hopes to transition to middle-income status.&nbsp; Everone from Prime Minister K P Oli have boasted that this is a matter of national pride, and will have a multiplier impact on trade and economy.&nbsp; But will it make any difference to the average Nepali? Not unless improved governance <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/why-invest-in-nepal">spurs investment and creates jobs</a>.&nbsp; Countries need to meet at least two of the three criteria in two consecutive triennial reviews to be eligible for graduation from LDC. Nepal has consistently met the thresholds for the Human Assets Index (HAI) and the Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) in 2015, 2018, and 2021. But Nepal was recommended for graduation before meeting the per capita <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/nepals-great-income-divide">Gross National Income (GNI)</a> threshold of $1,306. “A major implication of LDC graduation is the loss of preferential market access available through Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and other arrangements,” explains economist Sameer Khatiwada. “But over two-thirds of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/nepal-doesnt-produce-its-2-biggest-export-items">Nepal’s exports</a> are to India, and the preferential market access to India is through a bilateral trade agreement. This has nothing to do with our LDC status.”  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250815060832_f5eabe7628a8cdf84f33b25d7cef3c4dc8913a26d8e5b253ea52a36e176b8a85.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20250815060832_f5eabe7628a8cdf84f33b25d7cef3c4dc8913a26d8e5b253ea52a36e176b8a85" data-rendition-name="original" width="640" height="470" loading="lazy" alt="LDC graduation "> </figure>  Furthermore, a provision under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) allows Nepal to export to India duty-free if the items are at least 30% value-added. Nepali traders take advantage of this by re-exporting edible oils without meeting that requirement, falsely boosting Nepal’s exports.“ Following graduation from LDC, the value addition threshold might increase to 40%,” says Kalpana Khanal of the Policy Research Institute. “This is supposed to work to our advantage, because on paper value addition inherently means <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/staying-home-to-create-jobs">job creation at home</a>.” But Nepal’s exports to other major destinations will face <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/nepal-and-the-us-india-tariff-tiff">tariff increases</a> with the graduation. A South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SWATEE) study shows that while tariff increase in the US market is relatively low (see page 5) it is considerably higher in Europe. The International Trade Centre (ITC) in a 2022 study also estimated that graduation could result in a 4.3% decline in Nepal’s projected exports, but this is excluding the impact of changes in ‘rules of origin’ provisions in preference-granting countries such as the UK and Europe.&nbsp; Nepal’s top export to these preference-granting countries is <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=1482">carpets</a>, and will not be impacted, but other items such as textiles and apparel will be heavily affected due to higher cost of production. The impact will felt mostly by small and medium enterprises which represent the largest share of exports to LDC-specific preference-granting countries. As for the service exports, Nepal never really made use of the World Trade Organization’s LDC services waiver anyway, hence the effect will be minimal, if any. There is also concern about Nepal’s graduation at a time when the global economy is topsy-turvy, amidst <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/turning-point-in-us-india-relations">tariff wars and conflicts</a>. This affects Nepalis abroad directly and may impact <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/more-remittance-more-than-remittance">remittances </a>which hit $11 billion in 2024. In comparison, Nepal only received $350 million in foreign loans and grants last year.&nbsp; Tourism arrivals have finally reached pre-pandemic levels, but bad publicity about pollution, poor infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles hinder further growth. Manufacturing continues to struggle, while hydropower and the IT sector have taken off.&nbsp; “Look at data -- <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/tourism-needs-a-new-push">tourism arrivals</a> are up, spending is up, IT exports are up, <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/why-nepal-needs-to-restore-ev-tax-subsidy">EV sales </a>are up, Europe still needs 85-90 million skilled workers. We are sitting on $16 billion in cash reserves, our balance of payment, foreign exchange reserve, tax to GDP ratio, credit flow are all positive, we have to build on these factors,” says Sujeev Shakya of the Nepal Economic Forum. He adds: “Our mindset creates negativity to promote rent-seeking behaviour, but this cynicism will go away after 2026 with LDC graduation. We must deal with data, look at trends, and projects which will bring in <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/from-the-nepali-press/why-there-is-no-foreign-investment-in-nepal">international investments</a>.” Khanal agrees that investment is not dependent on<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/regular-columns/backside/Nepal-not-the-least-developed-country,306"> LDC status</a>. The factors that that affect investment are policy stability, a strong legal framework, market potential and ease of doing business. She adds, “That is where our focus needs to be, and we need to retain <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/diaspora-diaries/migrant-worker-returns-to-create-work-at-home?fbclid=IwAR09xJfsClCwn8uRVAmz28CU658vdKpuyDwB_b1sNlvKtAFFnSldnA0JS2g">Nepalis with jobs at home</a> for our sustained growth.” After 2026, financing support from donors and aid agencies could be affected and Nepal will no longer be able to access Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) to adapt to the impacts of climate change. But the Global Environment Fund and Green Climate Fund will still be available.“ LDC status does not determine bilateral development aid, that is usually driven by broader <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/looking-beyond-two-boulders">geopolitical considerations</a>,” says Sameer Khatiwada. “The World Bank and Asian Development Bank, which provide concessional loans to Nepal, it is determined mainly by per capita income, not LDC status.” &nbsp;However, Nepal may lose some concessional terms for loans. Nepal is currently a lower-middle-income country as per the World Bank in the bracket for GNI between $1,036 and $4,045. The country is already receiving more loans than grants and in July the World Bank increased its interest rate on loans by 100% from 0.75 to 1.5%. “All this means that the impact of LDC graduation for Nepal might not be as earth-shattering as some tend to think. Countries that have recently graduated, such as Botswana and the Maldives, have shows that graduation is just a step in a country’s development path,” says Khatiwada. Sujeev Shakya also sees the glass as half full, explaining that LDC graduation is just a stepping stone if Nepal has the right policies in place. He adds, “Nepal’s biggest advantage is our<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/investing-in-people"> working age population</a> and we have investments coming in. These aided by how adaptive we are as a society are the very foundations on which Nepal will grow.”

Not poor, but not rich

Two weeks ago, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced jubilantly on social media that Nepal had achieved a historic annual growth of 81.8% in exports. He was right. Nepal’s trade did take a great leap forward compared to last year. But the dramatic rise was mainly due to processed soya bean oil.&nbsp; However, Nepal does not produce the edible oil it exports. In fact, the soya and palm oil that make up 44% of total exports are imported from Southeast Asia and South America, and simply re-exported, mostly to India.&nbsp; Under the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) Agreement, Nepal can export products to India duty-free if it has at least 30% value-added. Nepal’s traders have taken advantage of SAFTA even though the edible oils they export do not reach that value addition threshold. “The 30% value addition requirement is often only on paper,” says former commerce secretary Purushottam Ojha. “It is clear that simply packaging edible oils in Nepal does not fulfil the terms of the trade agreement.” Prime Minister Oli is aware of this, and even called Nepal’s export figures “fake” at an earlier event. The government is relying on other iffy figures to suggest that Nepal’s economy is strong and getting stronger. For example, the value of imports rose by 13.25% in 2024-25 compared to the previous fiscal year.&nbsp; Some of it was due to a jump in electric vehicle imports worth Rs 31.76 billion, but mostly it was because more wholesale soya oil was imported to be re-packaged and sold in India. The very fact that the government boasts about increased imports is an indication of how much it relies on taxing them for revenue. Touting such trade figures cannot be the basis to claim an economic rebound.&nbsp; “A jump in the value of imports can be interpreted as an increase in purchasing power, but it is not evidence of a stronger economy,” says economist Keshav Acharya. “Even though imports have increased, Nepal's domestic production and productive capacity have not improved.” Nepal Rastra Bank's semi-annual economic activity study report shows that industrial production was down in the first six months of the last fiscal year. This despite an increase in the number of new industries registered and investment commitments. Out of the Rs70.2 billion proposed foreign investment, Nepal received only Rs17.9 billion last year.&nbsp; Meanwhile, the rate of capital formation was limited to 24% last year, which is lower than the year before, suggesting that new investment, job creation and economic expansion all declined. If domestic production does not improve in relation to this year’s inflated trade figures, the outflow will put pressure on foreign exchange reserves like it did three years ago. At that time, Nepal borrowed from the IMF under its Extended Credit Facility Program to kickstart the economy.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2025080710084_2cdaaa5795828c4a7de93a0604ba884ef0a8b8f24cccd939f6c24e279ab6058f.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="2025080710084_2cdaaa5795828c4a7de93a0604ba884ef0a8b8f24cccd939f6c24e279ab6058f" data-rendition-name="original" width="1633" height="723" loading="lazy" alt="Nepal's bubble economy NT"> <figcaption>Source: NEPAL RASTRA BANK</figcaption> </figure>  The macroeconomy is on firm footing with foreign exchange reserves at a comfortable Rs2,520 billion in May, up 23% from last year. This was largely due to remittances, and partly due to a falling NPR exchange rate. Real estate transactions and the stock market index have also been climbing as a result of government policies to revive the sector.&nbsp; However, former executive director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa cautions: “This is not organic growth, it is the result of deliberate policy decisions to relax rules on real estate and stock markets transactions.” In reality, the sharp rise in land prices have increased the cost of production, and excessive monetisation of the real estate has become the main source of Nepal’s economic woes. The central bank has announced a slew of new policies, shifting the terms of loan repayment for industrialists and entrepreneurs, reducing interest rates, and injecting more working capital — all designed to inject adrenaline into the real estate and stock market sectors.&nbsp; When he was governor, Mahaprasad Adhikari made several financial reforms during the latter half of his tenure to stimulate the economy, including tightening credit flow.&nbsp; By the last fiscal year, additional financial reforms had resulted in a credit expansion rate of around 8%. As the pace of credit expansion slows, real estate prices have started to fall. This is actually beneficial to the economy, because it lays the foundation for improvements in land-related entrepreneurship, production, and the construction sector. Just because real estate and the stock market transactions increase, it does not indicate an economic turnaround — especially when manufacturing and productive sector continues to languish.&nbsp; “It is foolish to believe that real estate and the stock market have magically revived our economy. Agriculture employs more than half of the population, but it is in decline. Investment in the productive sector has not increased, and job creation has not increased.” Two years ago, Nepal’s industrialists, business leaders, and political leadership predicted a recession amidst a sluggish business, declining market demand, large-scale job loss, and a shrinking real estate and share market.&nbsp; Still, the economy grew by 3.36% in fiscal year 2023/24. In fact, Nepal’s economy has grown nominally over the last two decades even when all sectors of the economy are in decline.&nbsp; Says Keshav Acharya: “The growth in trade, real estate, and the stock market are bubbles. The real economy remains stagnant.”

Nepal’s bubble economy

The final investigation report on the crash of a Saurya Airlines jet on 24 July 2024 at Kathmandu airport has revealed flaws in the carrier’s technical operation procedures, poor monitoring by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and gaps in the airport’s emergency response. Eighteen people including a child were killed, and only the captain survived as the plane plunged seconds after takeoff, crashing within the airport perimeter. This was the latest in a series of aircraft accidents in previous years, and further tarnished Nepal’s already poor aviation safety record and contributed to the country being retained in the EU’s air safety list. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The circumstances in the Saurya crash were different from the Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara in January 2022 that killed all 72 on board, and two Tara Air crashes in February 2016 and May 2022 on approach to Jomsom that together claimed 45 lives. However, all four tragedies were a result of negligence of carriers and crew, failure to follow procedures, regulatory slackness, and overconfidence. The Saurya crash, especially, was a glaring example of how an ailing airline broke its own rules to allow passengers, including non-employees, a joy ride to Pokhara on a maintenance ferry flight. CRASH REPORT The Final Investigation Report prepared by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission and released on the first anniversary of the crash last week carried a long list of rules that were ignored or broken, and of regulatory failure. The first mistake was to cram spares, tools and inflammable chemicals needed for the aircraft’s C-Check in Pokhara into the cargo hold flouting its own ground handling procedures.&nbsp; There was no check-in of passengers, some of whom were not even employees – even though regulations say only flight and maintenance crew should be on board a maintenance positioning flight. Many brought their own luggage into the plane and stored it unsecured in the cabin. There was no flight attendant to give a safety briefing to passengers. The load and trim charts given to the flight crew were rough estimates, and the total takeoff weight of the plane was 18,300kg plus or minus 200 kg. That would still have been all right, but there was a glaring mistake in the speedchart Saurya pilots were using to calculate the minimum takeoff speed (known as VR), and it had been wrong ever since the 21-year-old aircraft entered service with the airline in 2017. FAULTY DATA&nbsp; The Commission probed Flight Data Recorder inputs from previous takeoffs of the Canadian-built CRJ200-LR in 2023-2024 and found that the undetected error in the speedchart had caused the plane to pitch up at an abnormal rotation rate at least 18 times on previous takeoffs.&nbsp; Any rotation rate more than 3°/sec is regarded as unusual. But on at least two occasions, this aircraft with tail number 9N-AME had rotation rates of 5.8°/sec and 5.5°/sec, the second one was when the pilot who survived was flying in March 2024.&nbsp; On this particular day, the plane’s rotation rate was 6.5°/sec, causing it to go into a deep stall soon after takeoff, the Commission report said. Essentially, the plane was not flying fast enough down the runway to take off safely.&nbsp; It is not yet clear whether excess weight, unsecured luggage, wrong centre of gravity were also factors, but relying on a faulty speedchart for the given takeoff weight, the captain flying pulled back on the yoke before the plane had reached takeoff speed and at a pitch angle that was too steep. The investigation report says the plane then went into a deep stall and started banking right with the stick shaking. At this point, the flight officer on the right hand seat is heard on the cockpit voice recorder saying: “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sir, Sir, Sir…” It then banked left before the pilot flying turned the plane sharply to the right again in an evasive action to avoid the parking aprons of the international and domestic terminals. Had he not done so, there would have been a disaster of a much greater magnitude at Kathmandu airport that day. The plane scraped the runway with its right wingtip, collided with a container having helicopter spare parts, and plunged into a gully east of the runway, exploding in a fireball. The investigation also noted that the impact forces seemed to be survivable for some occupants. The fire trucks took unnecessarily long to reach the site even though it was inside the airport perimeter. The absence of an ICAO-standard runway strip, inadequate rescue drills, lack of training, and a blocked emergency service gate leading to the crash site were cited as other factors. &nbsp;&nbsp; <h2>Timestamp of a Disaster</h2>  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250731110724_39cdd04693994ce6e55a5b302905c0fa4884fe85bed21ff0779bb1439f3a5725.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20250731110724_39cdd04693994ce6e55a5b302905c0fa4884fe85bed21ff0779bb1439f3a5725" data-rendition-name="original" width="778" height="826" loading="lazy" alt="Flouting rules caused Saurya tragedy NT"> </figure>  11:10:34 - The Saurya Airlines CRJ200 on the takeoff roll from runway 02. It had a takeoff weight of about 18,300kg, but the pilot’s speedcard had a previously undetected mistake about the minimum takeoff speed. 11:10:55 -The plane with tail number 9N-AME goes into deep stall soon after takeoff because it does not have enough speed to lift its weight. The plane also has an abnormally steep nose-up attitude.&nbsp; 11:11:03 - Without enough speed to generate lift, the plane banks right, then left and right again in CCTV photos taken from the domestic apron (below). If it had not banked right, it could have hit the aprons and terminal buildings. Seen parked is Saurya’s other CRJ200 with tail number 9N-ANM.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250731110732_608132f7225c649125cca2691dd6a6bf930984c5b359e888d7ad9e5eacce3afd.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20250731110732_608132f7225c649125cca2691dd6a6bf930984c5b359e888d7ad9e5eacce3afd" data-rendition-name="original" width="770" height="555" loading="lazy" alt="Flouting rules caused Saurya tragedy NT"> </figure>  11:11:08 - The plane scrapes the runway with its right wingtip, and falls into the gully. The captain is thrown off the left side of the cockpit and survives. 11:11:15: Plane explodes in a fireball inside the airport perimeter. Firefighters take time to reach the site because of lack of access road and a blocked gate. Read the full investigation report <a href="https://www.tourism.gov.np/files/9N-AME%20AIC%20Final%20Report.pdf">here</a>.