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Page 2 n THE ASIAN REPORTER ASIA / PACIFIC December 4, 2023 Nepal bans TikTok, saying it disrupts social harmony KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government has banned the popular social media app TikTok, saying it was disrupting “social harmony” in the country. Foreign minister Narayan Prakash Saud said the app was banned immediately. “The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill, and flow of indecent materials,” Saud said. He said that to make social media platforms accountable, the government has asked the companies to register and open a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes, and abide by the country’s laws and regulations. It wasn’t clear what triggered the ban or if TikTok had refused to comply with Nepal’s requests. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has faced scrutiny in a number of countries because of concerns that Beijing could use the app to harvest user data or advance its interests. Countries including the United States, Britain, and New Zealand have banned the app on government phones despite TikTok repeatedly denying that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and would not do so if asked. Nepal banned all pornographic sites in 2018. Toyota selling part of Denso stake to raise cash TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is selling a part of its stake in components maker Denso to raise cash for its drive toward electric vehicles (EVs) and other innovations, Japan’s top automaker said. The move is estimated to raise about 290 billion yen ($2 billion), given recent share prices. The number of shares Toyota Motor Corp. plans to sell total more than 124 million shares, lowering its stake in Denso Corp. from 24.2% to 20%, while remaining the top stakeholder. “We don’t want to just hold on to our assets. We want to make them living assets that feed into the growth of our company,” said Masahiro Yamamoto, an executive in the accounting group at Toyota. Toyota said the money will also go into developing smart-driving technology and a wide range of other initiatives ongoing in the industry. Yamamoto did not give a specific date for the sale, but it’s expected to happen soon. All the world’s major automakers are working on strengthening their lineup of electric vehicle and other green cars, as concerns grow about climate change. That requires a great deal of investment. Toyota affiliates, Toyota Industries and Aisin, are also selling a portion of their Denso shares, officials said. Toyota officials have acknowledged they have fallen behind in the industry shift toward electric vehicles, and they have been aggressively playing catch-up. Toyota, which makes the Camry sedan, Lexus luxury models, and the Prius hybrid, leads the world in hybrids, which switch back and forth between a gas engine and electric motor to deliver a fuel-efficient drive. It also has a strong lineup in fuel cells, which run on hydrogen and are zero-emission. In July, Toyota sold a part of its stake in telecoms company KDDI Corp., raising nearly 250 billion yen ($1.7 billion). Toyota officials hinted other such offers may be in the works but declined to give specifics. 127 Malaysians suspected job-scam victims rescued KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — More than 120 suspected victims of job scams have been rescued after being stranded by fighting in northern Myanmar between the military and armed ethnic groups, Malaysia’s government said. The number of Malaysians rescued surged from an initial 26 to 127, foreign minister Zambry Abd Kadir told local media. The foreign ministry earlier had said the group was stranded in Laukkaing, a town known as a notorious hub for online scams, gambling, and other major organized crimes. Fighting has continued in northern Myanmar after an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups launched a surprise offensive. They have seized control of several border crossings to China, in a major disruption to trade. Fiji hopes to work with China to upgrade its shipyards, ports WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fiji’s leader says that after meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, he hopes to collaborate with China on upgrading his nation’s shipyards and ports. Sitiveni Rabuka made the remarks to lawmakers in parliament in late November. Rabuka is generally viewed as leaning less toward China than his predecessor Frank Bainimarama, and in a visit to Australia in October, Rabuka emphasized he was “more comfortable dealing with traditional friends” such as Australia. But in his recent remarks, Rabuka highlighted the economic ties his small South Pacific island nation has forged with China over 50 years of diplomatic relations. Rabuka said that in his meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation confer- ence in San Francisco, he discussed how China’s assistance was pivotal to Fiji’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Rabuka said China’s Belt and Road Initiative aligned with Fiji’s development agenda and that China had contributed toward a number of grants and assistance packages. “As we navigate economic challenges, discussions are underway to address our debt crisis responsibly,” Rabuka said. He said a key focus of creating sustainable economic growth in Fiji was the com- prehensive upgrade of infrastructure, particularly port facilities and shipyards. “I anticipate potential collaboration with China in that endeavor, given China’s globally competitive shipbuilding,” Rabuka said. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing that China and Fiji are good friends and partners, and have previously cooperated on infrastructure. “The goal is to support island countries in making life better for their people and achieving development and prosperity,” Mao said. Fiji’s move comes as China looks to expand its influence in the Pacific. Last year, China fell short in an ambitious attempt to get 10 small Pacific nations to sign to a sweeping deal covering every- thing from security to fisheries. The attempt came after Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China, a move that raised alarm throughout the Pacific. LIGHT ACHIEVEMENT. Lamps light up the banks of the Saryu River on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali, in Ayodhya, India. Ayodhya city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh set a record by lighting more than 2.2 million earthen oil lamps during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali, creating a new Guinness World Record for lighting lamps in such a large number, according to the state tourism department. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Millions of Indians set a world record celebrating Diwali as worries about air pollution rise By Biswajeet Banerjee The Associated Press UCKNOW, India — Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali in mid-November with a Guinness World Record number of bright earthen oil lamps as concerns about air pollution soared in the South Asian country. Across the country, dazzling multi-colored lights decked homes and streets as devotees celebrated the annual Hindu festival of light symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. But the spectacular and much-awaited massive lighting of the oil lamps took place — as usual — at the Saryu River, in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, the birthplace of their most revered deity, the god Ram. At dusk, devotees lit more than 2.22 million lamps and kept them burning for 45 minutes as Hindu religious hymns filled the air at the banks of the river, setting a new world record. Last year, more than 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit. After counting the lamps, Guinness Book of World Records representatives presented a record certificate to the state’s top elected official, Yogi Adityanath. Over 24,000 volunteers, mostly college students, helped prepare for the new record, said Pratibha Goyal, vice-chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, in Ayodhya. Diwali, a national holiday across India, is celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts with family and friends. Many light earthen oil lamps or candles, and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations. In the evening, a special prayer is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring luck L and prosperity. Authorities ran extra trains to accommodate the huge numbers of people trying to reach their hometowns to join family celebrations. The festival came as worries about air quality in India rose. A “hazardous” 400-500 level had been recorded on the air quality index, more than 10 times the global safety threshold, which can cause acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks. But on that day, unexpected rain and a strong wind improved the levels to 220, according to the government-run Central Pollution Control Board. Air pollution levels were expected to soar again after the celebrations ended because of the fireworks used. Before the celebration, officials in New Delhi shut down primary schools and banned pol- luting vehicles and construction work in an at- tempt to reduce the worst haze and smog of the season, which posed respiratory problems for people and enveloped monuments and high- rise buildings in and around India’s capital. Authorities deployed water sprinklers and anti-smog guns to control the haze and many people used masks to escape the air pollution. New Delhi tops the list almost every year among the many Indian cities with poor air quality, particularly in the winter, when the burning of crop residues in neighboring states coincides with cooler temperatures that trap deadly smoke. Some Indian states have banned the sale of fireworks and imposed other restrictions to stem the pollution. Authorities have also urged residents to light “green crackers” that emit less pollutants than normal firecrackers. But similar bans have often been disregarded Continued on page 4 Asian Currency Exchange Rates Units per U.S. dollar as of 12/01 Tu Phan Branch Manager, NMLS #7916 Call about refinances & purchases Offering FHA/VA/Conventional Mortgages (503) 780-6872 <tu.phan@fairwaymc.com> <www.LoansNow.com> 12817 S.E. 93rd Ave. Clackamas, OR 97015 Copyright©2023 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Fairway is not affiliated with any government agencies. Equal Housing Opportunity. AZ License #BK-0904162. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, License No 41DBO-78367. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law, NMLS #2289. Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Residential Mortgage Lending Act License. Bangladesh Taka· · Cambodian Riel · · China Renminbi · · Fijian Dollar · · · · Hong Kong Dollar · Indian Rupee · · · · Indonesian Rupiah · Iranian Rial · · · · Japanese Yen · · · Laos New Kip · · · Malaysian Ringgit · Nepal Rupee · · · · Pakistani Rupee · · Papua N.G. Kina · · Philippine Peso· · · Russian Ruble · · · Saudi Riyal· · · · · Singapore Dollar · · South Korean Won · Sri Lankan Rupee · Taiwan Dollar · · · Thai Baht · · · · · Vietnam Dong · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 110.0 4100.4 7.1386 2.193 7.8145 82.244 15443 42002 147.21 20794 4.671 133.29 284.75 3.754 55.46 90.092 3.7512 1.3351 1300.9 328.08 31.384 34.96 24290
