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The intra-party rift within the Nepali Congress has taken a new turn after the Supreme Court ordered that the hearing on the party's internal dispute be restarted from the beginning.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Justices Nityananda Pandey and Shrikant Paudel ruled that the Election Commission's decision should undergo judicial review again because it had upheld the decision on the party's special general convention without giving the Deuba faction an opportunity to present its case. The ruling has reignited debate within the Nepali Congress.

The party's establishment faction appears confident that it can produce all the necessary documents to establish the legitimacy of the special general convention. Meanwhile, leaders of the anti-establishment faction say they are confident that the court's decision will deliver justice.

However, the dispute within the party is more political than legal or constitutional. Regardless of the court's final verdict, the two factions will need to reach a political settlement if they want to preserve party unity. The rift, which began over the special general convention, continues to deepen, with the anti-establishment faction calling a meeting of its supporters to discuss the formation of a new political party.

For the first time since violence erupted in Sunsari and later spread to other parts of the country, Home Minister Sudan Gurung has appeared before Parliament. Addressing a meeting of the National Assembly, he responded to a series of questions from lawmakers. Members of the current government have generally been reluctant to appear before Parliament and engage with legislators.

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has instructed lawmakers not to wear black sunglasses during parliamentary sessions. The directive comes as Prime Minister Balendra Shah and several government ministers have frequently been seen wearing dark sunglasses in the House.

Leaders of the Nepali Congress have said that former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to return home on August 11 after completing his medical treatment. The Deuba family is currently facing money laundering allegations, with the government issuing arrest warrants for his spouse and son. Earlier, in a press statement, Deuba alleged that the current government could use state institutions to pursue political revenge against him.

Editor, Kamal Dev Bhattarai

Greetings from Kathmandu, 

Nepal government has cancelled the International Association for Tibetan Studies Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from August 23–29, marking the first time the global academic event was planned in Nepal. The decision came after strong objections from the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, which had expressed concerns over the participation of representatives linked to the Dalai Lama. Beijing’s growing concerns over security issues in Kathmandu appear to have intensified following last year’s GeZ movement and the evolving political environment in Nepal.

Former Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Dhawal Shamsher Rana and medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai have announced the formation of a new political party, named the Jaya Nepal Party. The party’s main objective is to advocate for Nepal’s restoration as a Hindu state. The leaders are expected to register the party next week. Rana is a former senior leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, while Prasai has gained public attention for his criticism of political parties and allegations of corruption and misconduct among political leaders. Known for his provocative statements, including remarks criticized as hate speech, Prasai has faced legal challenges under successive governments. However, courts have granted him release in previous cases.

Three international human rights organizations — Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists — have come under scrutiny from the Nepal government and Parliament following a controversial statement regarding Nepal’s judiciary. The organizations had alleged that the government was threatening senior Supreme Court judges in connection with possible impeachment proceedings. The statement drew widespread criticism from political circles and legal stakeholders, who argued that the allegations were inaccurate and damaging. The Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of Parliament has instructed the government to seek clarification from the organizations regarding their statement. Lawmakers have also raised questions about the operations and funding of these organizations. Parliamentarian Shobita Gautam described such serious allegations against Nepal’s institutions as an attack on the country’s sovereignty. The controversy could have wider implications for non-governmental organizations operating in Nepal, as the government appears set to increase scrutiny of their transparency, funding sources, and activities.

Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has intensified efforts to prevent a possible split within the party. Thapa is preparing consultations with senior leaders Shekhar Koirala and Purna Bahadur Khadka as internal divisions continue to deepen. A rival faction is reportedly preparing to hold a national convention with the intention of registering a separate political party, raising concerns about a formal split in Nepal’s oldest Democratic Party.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has continued discussions with representatives of Nepal’s banking sector as part of efforts to address economic challenges. Wagle separately held consultations with chief executive officers and executive directors of banking institutions, as well as officials from Nepal Rastra Bank. However, the notable absence of government economic adviser Bishwo Poudel from the discussions has fueled speculation about internal coordination issues within the government.

A team from the high-level investigation committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs has returned to Kathmandu after a three-day field investigation. The team collected evidence, inspected relevant sites, and held discussions with stakeholders as part of its ongoing inquiry.

The main opposition Nepali Congress on Tuesday submitted a 15-point memorandum to the government, raising concerns over governance, transparency, public accountability, the economy, security, and citizens’ livelihoods. The party reiterated its commitment to political stability and said it was prepared to cooperate with the Rastriya Swatantra Party-led government in the national interest. However, the Congress emphasized that cooperation would not prevent it from holding the government accountable. The party argued that while elected governments have the mandate to govern, protecting democracy, constitutional values, and citizens’ rights remains the responsibility of all political forces. Political parties have once again entered into negotiations over coalition arrangements in provincial governments.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is engaged in efforts to manage internal party differences, while the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party has decided not to participate in the political calculations surrounding provincial government formation. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party holds a decisive position in Bagmati Province, where the UML and Maoist parties are struggling to secure enough support to form a government.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai

Editor
 

In this digital world most of people’s data and information are being shared, stored, posted, downloaded, forwarded and published on digital spaces that has raised a big concern of privacy and dignity. New forms of Human Rights are emerging every time. One of them is Right to be Forgotten (RTBF). The Right to be Forgotten refers to an individual's right to request the removal, deletion, or de-indexing of personal information from online platforms, search engines, or digital databases when the information is no longer necessary, is inaccurate, outdated, unlawfully processed, or disproportionately infringes upon the person's privacy and reputation. This right is associated with internet privacy. RTBF is derived from the broader category of the right to privacy. 

This right has gained limelight after the case of Google Spain SL, Google Inc v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos, Mario Costeja González (2014), in which the CJEU held for the first time that EU citizens have a right to be forgotten. Costeja objected to the data that was being processed and displayed by the tech giant Google when his name was entered on their search engine on the ground that it is irrelevant in contemporary times and is harming his reputation in the society. The CJEU held that search engine operators must remove links to webpages displayed following the search of an individual’s name that are inadequate, irrelevant, or no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes of the processing, thereby ruling in favor of recognizing a right to be forgotten. Another instance is on May 29, the Delhi High Court ruled in a batch of over 30 consolidated petitions, led by Laksh Vir Singh Yadav v Union of India. The core issue was whether informational privacy could justify the de-indexing or masking of judicial records in a system committed to open justice. The court held that the right to be forgotten flows from Article 21’s guarantees of dignity and informational privacy. 

For the first time, RTBF is codified and to be found in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in addition to the right to erasure. The GDPR provides statutory recognition to the right to be forgotten in the form of the right to erasure under Article 17, Recitals 65 and 66. The individual or “data subject”, as is defined under Article 2 of the GDPR, is granted the right to ask the “controller” to erase the private data without undue delay. Many countries in Europe such as Germany, Sweden, France, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Portugal, Austria, and Spain have developed notable legal provisions regarding the right to be forgotten in their domestic legislation. 

Exploration of the scope of the right to be forgotten and its implications for internet search engine providers is critically important. In the digital age, personal information can remain accessible on the internet indefinitely through search engines, social media, news archives, and online databases. The right to be forgotten seeks to balance the individual’s rights to privacy, dignity, reputation, and data protection against competing interests such as freedom of expression, the public’s right to information, and the public interest. It does not provide an absolute right to erase all online information; rather, each request is assessed based on factors such as the nature of the information, its accuracy, the public interest, and the individual’s role in public life.

In the context of Nepal, the laws dealing about the protection of individual privacy such as the Privacy Act, 2075 (2018), Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (ETA) and The National Penal (Code) Act, 2074, does not incorporate the provision regarding the RTBF. Fundamental rights under the constitution of Nepal recognizes the legal basis of the right to be forgotten. Article 16 (1) provides that every person shall have the right to live with dignity. The right to be forgotten is an integral part of the right to life with dignity. To live a respectful and dignified life in this digital era erasing, deleting, or de-indexing personal information that are irrelevant, outdated, unlawfully processed, damaging individual reputation and career is one of the most fundamental aspects. 

Further, article 17 (2) states that every citizen shall have freedom of opinion and expression and the right to information that at times negates RTBF, for example, when media coverage opposes an individual's dignity-that needs balancing between personal privacy and freedom of the press. Generally, both the CJEU and scholars agree that balance is needed between the right to be forgotten and the freedom of expression. What is undecided is how much weight one right should carry in relation to the other, and who should conduct the balancing. 

Most important Article 28 of The Constitution of Nepal guarantees the right to privacy that states “the privacy of any person, his or her residence, property, document, data, correspondence and matters relating to his or her character shall, except in accordance with law, be inviolable.” This article does not expressly recognize the right to be forgotten. However, it provides a strong constitutional foundation from which such a right can be derived, particularly in the context of the digital age. For instance, the inclusion of “data” and “matters relating to his or her character” is particularly significant. A person is arrested and prosecuted for a criminal offence. newspapers and online news portals publish reports identifying the individual. Several years later, the person is acquitted by the court, but search engines continue to display the earlier news reports whenever the person’s name is searched. The continued online availability of those reports may damage the person’s reputation, employment opportunities, and social standing. 

Based on Article 28, the individual could argue that the continued accessibility of outdated and prejudicial information infringes the privacy of matters relating to his or her character.

The new government which is in discussion of various legal amendments on existing laws must make explicit legal provisions regarding RTBF. Nepal needs to enact proper law for implementation of this right. Any future recognition of the Right to Be Forgotten in Nepal should not be absolute. It should be balanced against public interest, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the public’s right to information, and the principle of open justice. For example, information concerning public officials, corruption, serious crimes, or matters of significant public interest should ordinarily remain accessible unless exceptional circumstances justify otherwise.  

The Himalayas, stretching across the heart of Asia, are not only a magnificent natural barrier but also an enduring bridge connecting the peoples of China and Nepal. For centuries, trade, religious exchanges, and people-to-people interactions have crossed these mountains, fostering mutual understanding and cultural ties between the two civilizations. Today, in the digital age, emerging technologies—including the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence—are injecting fresh momentum into traditional tourism cooperation, enabling China and Nepal to move from simply meeting face to face to becoming digitally connected.

Nepal is home to some of the world’s most iconic tourist destinations, including Mount Everest, the Annapurna region, the sacred Buddhist site of Lumbini, and the Kathmandu Valley, renowned for its rich cultural heritage. China, meanwhile, is both one of the world’s largest sources of outbound tourists and a global leader in the digital economy. It has accumulated extensive experience in smart tourism, digital service platforms, multilingual public services, and mobile payment systems. By integrating digital technologies with the tourism industry, China and Nepal can develop a more convenient, efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable model of Himalayan tourism cooperation, opening a new chapter in bilateral exchanges.

Smart tourism platforms

Digital technologies are transforming the way travelers discover destinations, plan their journeys, and experience local cultures. In the past, visitors to Nepal relied primarily on traditional travel guidebooks and offline services. Today, digital platforms, online maps, intelligent tour guides, and AI-powered travel services have become the new gateways to tourism experiences.

China has developed extensive expertise in smart tourism. Through integrated tourism information platforms, online booking systems, digital destination management, and intelligent service terminals, travelers can conveniently access information on attractions, transportation, cultural heritage, and safety advisories. These experiences provide valuable insights for Nepal as it seeks to accelerate the digital transformation of its tourism sector.

For Nepal, developing smart tourism is not merely about adopting new technologies; more importantly, it is about strengthening tourism governance and service quality through digital innovation. For example, Nepal could establish multilingual tourism information platforms tailored to international visitors, integrating information on attractions, itinerary planning, accommodation, transportation, and other travel services into a single digital ecosystem. Big data analytics could be used to better understand visitor preferences and optimize tourism products, while digital technologies could also support the preservation of cultural heritage, ensuring that tourism development goes hand in hand with the protection of history and tradition.

Looking ahead, as China–Nepal digital cooperation continues to deepen, travelers will be able to explore the Himalayas and experience Nepal in increasingly intelligent and immersive ways. Digital technologies will allow visitors to appreciate the grandeur of snow-capped mountains and the richness of Nepal's cultural heritage even before they begin their journeys, creating a seamless connection between the virtual and physical travel experience.

Digital payment innovation

Tourism cooperation is not only about the movement of people but also about the connectivity of service systems. As digital payments become increasingly widespread, payment convenience has emerged as a key factor shaping international travelers’ experiences. In recent years, mobile payments have become deeply integrated into daily life in China. QR code payments and digital financial services are now widely used across transportation, dining, shopping, and tourism, significantly improving travel convenience. For Nepal, exploring cooperation in digital payments presents an opportunity to further optimize the tourism consumption environment and enhance the efficiency of tourism-related services.

Against the backdrop of expanding China–Nepal tourism exchanges, strengthening the interoperability of payment systems and promoting the digitalization of tourism consumption scenarios would reduce travelers’ reliance on cash, lower transaction costs, and improve the overall visitor experience. At the same time, the development of digital payment systems could help more of Nepal's small and medium-sized tourism businesses gain access to modern financial services, enabling local hotels, restaurants, handicraft vendors, and community-based tourism projects to benefit more fully from tourism growth. Digital finance is not merely a payment method—it is also a critical piece of infrastructure that facilitates people-to-people exchanges and supports sustainable economic development.

Deepening civilizational exchange

Nepal is home to an extraordinary wealth of cultural heritage, including historic architecture, religious traditions, and rich artistic legacies. Preserving these invaluable cultural assets while promoting tourism remains one of the country’s key development challenges. Digital technologies are opening new possibilities for cultural heritage conservation. Through 3D scanning, digital modeling, virtual exhibitions, and online dissemination, priceless cultural treasures can be transformed into digital assets, allowing people around the world to gain a deeper understanding of Nepal’s history and civilization.

In recent years, China has accumulated extensive experience in the digital preservation of cultural heritage, including the use of digital technologies to document historic buildings, establish online cultural exhibition platforms, and promote innovative ways of presenting traditional culture. These experiences can be combined with Nepal’s specific needs to jointly explore digital heritage conservation models suited to mountainous countries. For example, around important heritage sites such as Lumbini, the two countries could strengthen cooperation in digital exhibitions, smart visitor guidance, and international digital communication. Such efforts would enable visitors not only to “see the sites,” but also to develop a deeper appreciation of their historical significance and cultural value.

Green smart tourism

Nepal’s tourism industry is deeply rooted in its unique natural environment. World-renowned destinations such as Sagarmatha and the Annapurna region are not only key drivers of tourism development but also ecologically sensitive areas that require careful protection. Digital technologies can help promote greener and more sustainable tourism in mountainous regions. Intelligent monitoring systems can strengthen the management of ecosystems, visitor flows, and environmental carrying capacity. Digital services can reduce resource waste associated with traditional tourism models, while online promotion can bring greater international visibility to eco-tourism initiatives and community-based conservation projects.

In recent years, China has actively promoted the integration of the digital economy with green development, accumulating valuable experience in smart cities, smart tourist destinations, and the digitalization of ecological conservation. China and Nepal can expand cooperation in areas such as mountain eco-tourism, protected area management, and green tourism services, jointly exploring development models that promote harmony between people and nature.

Connecting the future digitally

Tourism has long served as an important bridge connecting the hearts and minds of people. As neighboring countries linked by mountains, history, and cultural exchanges, China and Nepal have consistently regarded tourism cooperation as a cornerstone of their bilateral friendship. The digital age has opened up new opportunities for this partnership, transforming traditional journeys of mountain exploration and cultural discovery into digital journeys of connection and mutual understanding.

Looking ahead, China and Nepal can further strengthen cooperation in digital tourism infrastructure, smart tourism talent development, tourism platform integration, and digital cultural communication. Such collaboration will support the modernization and upgrading of the tourism industry while enabling more Chinese visitors to discover Nepal and more Nepalis to better understand China’s development opportunities.

What now crosses the Himalayas is not only roads and air routes, but also the flows of information, culture, and people-to-people connectivity. Digital tourism cooperation is poised to become a new pillar of China–Nepal friendship in the new era, injecting fresh momentum into the building of an even closer China–Nepal community with a shared future.

 The author is Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, China