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Is turning the 1.5°C target from the Paris Climate Accord into reality still possible? The answer seems to be a resounding no. Despite strides in renewable energy, global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions persist in shattering records.

The most recent Emissions Gap Report by the UN Environment Program (UNEFP) paints a stark picture, highlighting the urgent need for global low-carbon transformations. To achieve a 28 percent reduction in predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions for a 2°C pathway and a 42 percent reduction for a 1.5°C pathway, substantial action is required. Shockingly, global greenhouse gas emissions hit a new high of 57.4 Gigatonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent, marking a 1.2 percent increase from 2021 to 2022.

A damning report from UN Climate Change emphasizes that current national climate action plans fall short of restraining global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a crucial goal of the Paris Agreement. The report underscores the necessity of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

It's evident that major countries aren't doing enough to cut the emissions. The UN report says: “Countries with greater capacity and responsibility for emissions—particularly high-income and high-emitting countries among the G20—will need to take more ambitious and rapid action and provide financial and technical support to developing nations.” 

On November 30, governments worldwide will convene in Dubai for COP28, the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This critical summit aims to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on low- and middle-income countries, predominantly from the Global South.

Despite the 2010 pledge to provide $100bn annually to the least developed countries through the Global Climate Fund, the targets are unmet, with figures indicating less than 10 percent fulfilled. The broken promise of climate finance will be one of the major agenda in COP28. 

The conference is poised to conclude the inaugural Global Stocktake, assessing progress toward the Paris Agreement's goals, including limiting warming to 1.5°C or above pre-industrial levels, enhancing adaptations to climate change, and increasing climate finance flows to developing. 

A significant focus of COP28 is the transfer of technology and knowledge. Low-income countries, including Nepal, advocate for a post-2023 roadmap, aligning with the 1.5 °C target. To this end, the UN Secretary-General plans a pivotal event in 2025, where countries can present Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)  in line with the 1.5°C target.

Following COP27's agreement to establish a fund compensating vulnerable countries for climate-induced loss and damage, COP28 faces the challenge of defining and operationalizing this crucial fund. 

Compensation for climate change-induced loss and damage is a right, not a request for assistance, says Rupak Sapkota, foreign affairs advisor to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. 

“The prime minister will prominently draw the attention of the international community about this issue both at the main session as well as in other sideline events.”

There has been an agreement regarding the operationalization of Loss and Damage Fund and a framework in this regard was finalized on Nov 4 this year. But concerns persist over the World Bank's role as an interim host, prompting reservations from developing countries.

As the global community grapples with loss and damage, Nepal remains a vocal advocate, emphasizing the devastating impact of climate-induced disasters on its population. The COP28 agenda includes a final decision on the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.

A briefing prepared by LDCs states: “Ensuring support to address loss and damage remains a critical issue of LDC, which is already suffering from the adverse impacts of climate change. This includes the cost (both economic and non-economic) resulting from devastating cyclones in Malawi, sea-level rise in Kiribati and Tuvalu, glacial lake outbursts in Nepal and Bhutan. The COP28 is expected to take a final call on operationalization of loss and damage funds.”

Nepal's 2021 national framework on climate change underscores the urgency, revealing that climate-induced disasters contribute to 65 percent of annual disaster-related deaths. With the average annual economic loss at 0.08 percent of GDP, and extreme events like the 2017 Tarai floods, causing a 2.08 percent loss. Besides, multiple other studies have predicted an increase in loss and damage caused by climate-induced disasters in the future. So the need for urgent action is undeniable.

Nepal is taking center stage in international forums, specifically highlighting the plight of mountainous regions. Prime Minister Dahal’s invitation to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to witness the impact of climate change in Nepal's Himalayas speaks volumes. Guterres is likely to raise the issue of mountains in COP28. 

To highlight the plight of the mountains In COP28, Nepal plans high-level events on the sidelines of the conference to champion the causes of mountainous countries. On Dec 2, Nepal is set to organize the event titled Call of Mountain: Who saves us from the climate crisis. 

Sapkota says Nepal is projecting itself as a champion of agendas of mountainous countries. 

“Though Nepal has been raising the issue of mountains for a long time, the international community has not paid much heed. This time the prime minister is trying to raise this issue in clear and unequivocal terms.” 

Here is a list of the main negotiating groups at the COP:

G77 (and China) 

This group of 77 countries was founded in 1964 and has since grown to 134 countries, often aligned with China.

It is the largest negotiating bloc and functions throughout the UN system, beyond the UNFCCC.

Its party chair rotates annually, with Cuba currently at the helm for the first time.

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 

The LCD group consists of 46 countries and brings together—as its name suggests—the world’s poorest nations. It is currently chaired by Nepal.

The topics at stake in the COP negotiations sometimes result in the LDC taking a different viewpoint from the G77.

Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)

CVF brings together 58 countries with a combined population of 1.5bn people that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming.

Founded in 2009, it is currently chaired by Ghana.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

SIDS is a coalition founded in 1990 of 40 low-lying islands or archipelagos threatened by rising sea levels. It is chaired by Samoa.

Despite its small size, it is widely recognised for its vocal role in the climate talks.

European Union (EU)

The EU bloc groups the 27 member states to agree on one common negotiating position.

The presidency of the European Council is held by Spain until the end of the year.

Umbrella Group

This group formed following the 1997 adoption of the Kyoto Protocol and is made up of a number of developed nations: Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Norway and Ukraine.

It is generally opposed to the G77 or the LCDs.

BASIC

The BASIC bloc groups four large newly industrialized nations: Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

It came together in 2009 during COP15 in Copenhagen. 

Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC)

AILAC was established as a formal negotiating group in 2012 and represents a coordinated position for the countries of the North and South, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala (its current chair), Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Chile. 

This list is prepared by AFP

The first ever elected Constituent Assembly of Nepal officially abolished the 240-old monarchy in 2008, but the pro-royalist forces, no matter how nebulous and insignificant, never disappeared. 

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, a right-wing, pro-Hindu political force led by Kamal Thapa, continued to advocate for restoration of monarchy and Hindu state. What the RPP was demanding at the time was nothing more than a mere whimper of protest. 

With just a handful of seats in parliament, it had no chance of bringing back monarchy. The three major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center)—thought as much. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Same goes for many political pundits, columnists and commentators. 

Today pro-royalist groups are no longer vestiges of the past. Initially subdued, their voices for restoration of monarchy and Hindu state have grown louder in recent years.

While former king Gyanendra Shah has not publicly supported the ongoing movement, he has been known to offer patronage to royalist parties and pro-Hindu groups. He leans towards royalist sentiments, but he hasn’t aligned with any specific party. It seems the royalist forces need Shah more than he needs them.

A close associate of Shah acknowledges the impracticality of restoring monarchy without major party consensus. “He sympathizes with those raising the issue, but he is also aware that they lack the political strength and mass appeal.”

In the latest pro-royalist rally led by medical businessman Durga Prasai, thousands flooded the streets of Kathmandu, advocating for monarchy and a Hindu state. Prasai enticed supporters with promises of loan forgiveness. Yet, his true motives seemed detached from the cause. He had nothing to do with monarchy and Hindu state. 

Prasai used individuals burdened by micro-finances as pawns to join the rally. He made restoration of monarchy and Hindu state part of his key demands to garner strength from some pro-royalist and Hindu groups. But his divisive rhetoric provided a pretext for the authorities to quell the movement. 

No matter the motive behind the rally spearheaded by Prasai, it has unmistakably bolstered and galvanized the groups that wish to bring back monarchy and Hindu statehood.    

Just days after Prasai held a mass rally in the streets of Kathmandu, former king Shah made a public appearance in Jhapa to unveil the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who is credited for unifying various principalities to create modern Nepal. The former king was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic supporters, a scene reminiscent of when he visited Bhaktapur in September. 

The events concerning Prasai’s rally in Kathmandu and Shah’s visit to Jhapa should not be taken lightly. Observers say they underscore the growing public frustration with major political parties and the current government's perceived failures. If major political parties and the government fail to mend their ways, individuals like Prasai could exploit the disenchanted masses to further discredit the current political system. 

Upbeat by the size of the crowd at Prasai’s rally, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden said: “The foundation of the republic has been shaken. It will soon topple.”

Former king Shah, who had met Prasai a few months back, has remained silent on the recent rally in Kathmandu, fueling speculation about his involvement. Major parties suspect he may have played a role in backing the rally. 

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has urged Shah to enter politics openly instead of operating behind the scenes.

“You are free to register a political party, contest the election and secure the two-thirds majority needed to overturn the current system,” Thapa challenged Shah at a recent event.

As the number of protesters increases, questions arise: Is the discontent aimed at the political system or a frustration with corrupt and ineffective leaders? Lawmaker Amresh Singh argues it's the latter, emphasizing the need for better governance.

“The weaknesses of the current crop of leaders from major political parties are the reason why regressive forces are targeting the republican system,” he says. “But one must make the distinction that this is the manifestation of frustration against the political parties, not against the current political system.”

Now royalist parties too are planning to hold mass rallies demanding the reinstatement of monarchy and Hindu state. Some observers suggest that external forces, such as India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, may be supporting the movement, urging major parties to remain vigilant while also making sincere efforts to correct their ways.  

Congress, UML and Maoist Center already face challenges from newly formed political forces, particularly the Rastriya Swatantra Party which pulled off a major victory at their electoral bastions in the 2022 general elections. 

Before that the three parties were stunned during the local election in which independent candidates, such as Balendra Shah and Harka Sampang, won the mayoral seats in Kathmandu and Dharan. Pro-royalist forces like the RPP, under the leadership of Lingden, are also enjoying a moment of resurgence right now.  

All these developments do not bode well for the three major parties who have been dominating the national politics and governance since 2008, with little to show for. 

Ever since the country adopted a federal republic set-up, the Congress, UML and Maoist have all led the government, but they have little to show for it. Unemployment, corruption, poor governance and political instability have thrived under their rule.     

The delayed response from major political parties and the government to address genuine issues, such as financial exploitation by micro-finances and rampant corruption, exacerbates people's frustrations. It's crucial for parties to address these root causes seriously.

Youth leaders within major parties acknowledge internal problems but lack the capacity to bring change. 

“If the current leadership continues to carry on with its current attitude and working style, we are sure to face a difficult time in the next election,” says Nainsingh Mahar, a Nepali Congress Central Working Committee member.  

Last week, India organized the second edition of Voice of Global South Summit to share key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency this year. The summit discussed the common challenges faced by the countries of the Global South.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was also invited at the concluding session of the summit attended by more than 125 countries from the Global South . Addressing the session, Dahal said that the world is facing an unprecedented crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and deepening geo-political complexities. They have impacts on food and nutrition, health and education, economy and environment, and peace and security, he said.

“Developing countries, especially the LDCs, are the most affected by these crises. Rising food and energy prices, tightening financial conditions, and persistent cycles of vulnerabilities continue to add to their worries,” Dahal said.

In order to address the challenges facing the world, Dahal urged the international community to focus on common goals of peace, progress and prosperity. For this, building of trust, promoting partnership and collaboration and working in solidarity remain crucial, the prime minister emphasized.  

Dahal also called for the need to champion inclusive and sustainable global growth, in which the Global South receives a fair share to eradicate poverty and give their people a decent life. He also said tha Nepal remains steadfast in its commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at the center.

“Nonetheless, we believe that the existing global governance architecture needs a timely reform to make it relevant and reflective of today’s realities. Reform of the international financial architecture should be a top priority with full consideration to the voice of the countries in special situations, including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS,” Dahal said.

He added: “Climate change remains a grave threat to humanity. Climate-vulnerable countries like Nepal have been bearing the burden of climate change. The effect of climate change on the Himalayas has posed a severe threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living in our region. We all must commit ourselves to achieving the set ambitions in a time-bound manner.”

The prime minister further said that Nepal is graduating from the LDC status by 2026 and the nation is committed to making this process smooth, sustainable, and irreversible. 

“Sustainable Development Goals remain at the center of our development vision and priorities with integration into national policies and plans. But even the progress that we achieved so far has been threatened by the multitude of global crises,” he said.  “Hence, we have been calling for an enhanced level of international support from our partners such as development assistance, FDI, trade facilitation, technology transfer and technical assistance. South-South cooperation should also be forthcoming to lifting the neediest countries.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Global South wants its autonomy and it is ready to take up greater responsibility in global matters. 

“Geographically, the Global South has always existed, but it is getting a voice for the first time, and this is because of joint efforts. We are more than 100 countries but our priorities are similar,” he said. 

Modi also spoke of the 5 ‘Cs’, a commitment to which would power the growth of these countries. The 5 ‘Cs’ are “consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and capacity building.

The foreign ministers’ session deliberated on major global agendas, including climate change, energy transition, technological transformation, and restoring trust in multilateralism. 

Minister for External Affairs of India S Jaishankar said India took over its G20 Presidency in the backdrop of a very challenging global, and in its presidency, India’s anchor was the Global South.  

“Its voices inspired our priorities, fueled our efforts, and galvanized a path-breaking consensus,” he said. “Recognizing our shared past, the Global South will continue to make efforts for One Earth and to strengthen the voices of the developing countries, the Indian minister said, as one family, the Global South will continue to act with everyone’s interests in mind and drive transformation and building synergies.”  

In the summit, India also announced some initiatives. One of them is the Global South Centre of Excellence which will work as a think tank and will also work as a repository of knowledge and development initiatives in order to interface with the Global South and seek ways to forge collaboration with countries in this region. 

On Nov 22, India organized a G20 leader’s Summit to review the progress in the implementation of outcomes and action points from the New Delhi Summit. India has said that during the G20 presidency it articulated the voice of the Global South. 

Ahead of COP28, in the G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Modi urged the countries to take concrete actions on Global South’s priorities in the Global South.  

Foreign policy observers say Nepal can take the benefit from the initiatives but Nepal has not made any preparations on it. Climate change is one of the areas on which Nepal can get benefits.

Box

The proposal made by Modi:

• Climate action and climate justice with greater focus on adaptation
• Easy and affordable climate finance for vulnerable countries
• Raising climate finance from billions to trillions
• Just, inclusive and affordable energy transition
• Focus on alternative fuels
• G20 high-level principles on Hydrogen
• Tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030

India’s initiative for Global South

• Global South Center of excellence for research on development issues
• Arogya Maitri Initiative for supplying essential medicines and supplies for humanitarian assistance to global south
• India’s digital health service delivery stack to be made available to Global South
• Global South and Science and Technology initiative for the capacity building
• G20 satellite mission for environment and climate observation to share climate and weather data with Global South
• Global South Partnership Program for the students of global south in India
• Global-South young diplomat forum

The G20 Summit in September spoke at length about the voices of developing countries in the global decision-making process.

• Better integrate the perspectives of developing countries, including LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, into future G20 agenda and strengthen the voice of developing countries in global decision making.
• Recognize the importance of WTO’s ‘Aid for Trade’ initiative to enable developing countries, notably LDCs, to effectively participate in global trade, including through enhanced local value creation.
• Facilitate equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures, especially in Low-and Middle-income Countries (LMICs), LDCs and SIDS.
• Accelerate actions to address environmental crises and challenges including climate change being experienced worldwide, particularly by the poorest and the most vulnerable, including in LDCs and SIDS.
• Continue to support augmentation of capabilities of all countries, including emerging economies, in particular developing countries, LDCs and SIDS, for promoting disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure systems.
• Extend strong support to Africa, including through the G20 Compact with Africa and G20 Initiative on supporting industrialization in Africa and LDCs. Hold further discussions to deepen cooperation between the G20 and other regional partners.
• Increase resource needs of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and FATF Style Regional Bodies and encourage others to do the same, including for the next round of mutual evaluations. Timely and global implementation of the revised FATF Standards on the transparency of beneficial ownership of legal persons and legal arrangements to make it more difficult for criminals to hide and launder ill-gotten gains.

Seventeen years ago today, the Nepal government and the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), declaring an end to the decade-long armed conflict. 

It was the dawn of a new political chapter for Nepal. The CPA led to the epochal political changes, such as abolition of centuries-old monarchy in 2008 and promulgation of new federal republican constitution in 2015. 

Under the new constitution, Nepal has already held two periodic elections of three-tier governments—federal, provincial and local governments. The Maoist party has embraced parliamentary democracy and the management of Maoist combatants, one of the vital tasks of the peace process, has been completed. 

Among other notable progress are greater representation of ethnic communities and women in state mechanisms and devolution of powers to the local level with decentralization of services. In fact, Nepal today is regarded as one of the most open, democratic, and inclusive societies in South Asia.

But it has not been all positives. 

The issue of transitional justice still remains pending and thousands of conflict victims are still awaiting justice; the social-economic transformation envisaged by the CPA still eludes the country; and the major parties’ failure to deliver, mainly on service delivery and economic fronts, has caused frustrations among people.

Put simply, Nepal continues to grapple with the age-old problems caused by poor political leadership. The country’s economy is in shambles, corruption is entrenched, and job opportunities are hard to come by. Successive governments, all led by the three big parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center)—at one time or another, have failed to address these issues. 

This failure has eroded people’s faith in the system, and some traditional rightist forces are trying to exploit this crisis of trust to undo the progress made so far. Talks about restoration of monarchy, dismantling federalism and reverting to a Hindu nation are gaining traction. 

Of late, there have been systematic efforts to sabotage the 2015 constitution, one of the major achievements of CPA. Already, there are indications of fraying social harmony and religious tolerance, something unprecedented in Nepal’s recent political history. 

“It is imperative that all political parties that champion democracy and republicanism  collectively stand up against regressive elements,” says CPN-UML leader Deepak Prakash Bhatta. 

He warns if the transitional period that began with signing of CPA prolongs, all the political gains for which the people and political parties fought for could be at risk.   Suman Adhikari, a conflict-victim, says leaders of major political parties used the peace process as a ladder to reach to power and abandoned the agenda of conflict-victims. 

“We are fed up with hollow promises and rhetorics. There has been little progress when it comes to providing justice to us.”  Adhikari adds: “The issue of weapon management was a threat to the politicians, so they resolved it immediately. But when it comes to us powerless victims, they are happy to stay quiet.”  The two transitional justice bodies formed to investigate and settle the conflict-era crimes are without any office-bearers for a long time, while the laws governing the transitional justice process also need amendments.  

But even after the amendments to the laws and formation of a fully functioning all-acceptable transitional justice commissions, it could take years to investigate all war-era cases.  Although Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking the support of political parties as well as the international community to conclude the peace process, it is easier said than done. 

Dahal wants to conclude the peace process under his leadership because he and other senior leaders from his party are the ones facing cases of war crimes and human rights violations. The Maoist prime minister wants to ensure safe landing for himself and his party leaders who could technically be arrested anywhere under the universal jurisdiction of human rights. 

While addressing the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) earlier this year, Dahal sought the support of the international community to conclude the peace process. He repeated this during his Beijing trip after meeting with communist party leaders as well. Amid pressure not to opt for blanket amnesty when it comes to cases of serious crimes and human rights violation, the prime minister has been assuring the international community that the transitional justice process will be in line with the international practice. 

“We are now closer to logically concluding our unique, nationally owned, and home-grown peace process. Completing the remaining tasks of transitional justice is on my top political agenda,” Dahal told the UNGA. “As prime minister and a co-signatory of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, I have been making serious efforts to bridge the gap and gaps and build consensus among key stakeholders.”

But not everyone is convinced, certainly not the conflict victims.  

“We are the major stakeholder in the transitional justice process, and yet they are the ones whose concerns and voices are being neglected by the government and major political parties,” says Adhikari. The Dahal-led government has presented an amendment bill related to transitional justice in Parliament which has again drawn criticisms from the international community for its shortcomings. 

The prime minister has defended the bill stating that it evolved through a wider consultative process, while taking a victim-centric approach and recognizing reparation as victims’ right.

In his address to the UNGA, Prime Minister Dahal said: “There will be no blanket amnesty for serious violations of human rights. The ultimate objective is to establish an enduring peace in the country and foster harmony in society through peace, justice and reconciliation.”  He also appealed to the international community for their goodwill and support to the conclusion of the final leg of the peace process and to duly recognize this rare example of successful conflict transformation.

But forging a consensus on the transitional justice process is still an uphill task for the Dahal government. He has yet to bring other political parties, including the main opposition, CPN-UML, into confidence on the contents of the law. Dahal worked very hard to endorse the transitional justice bill from the winter session of Parliament but he failed to do so.

Observers say Prime Minister Dahal may not have his moment of glory by concluding the peace process so long as the other two main political parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—continue to use the issue of transitional justice as a political bargaining chip.    All political parties must take the onus to deliver justice to the conflict victims, but this has not been the case so far. 

Political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta says the CPA only managed direct confrontation between the state and non-state actors, while giving birth to a society-centric conflict.  “Nepali politics and parties failed to embrace the spirit of the peace accord. As a result, there are still problems in society. Some of the residues of conflict are yet to be addressed which is a prerequisite to achieve a durable peace in society.”  Nepal needs a wider political consensus to conclude its long-drawn-out peace process and to eventually embrace the path of growth and prosperity, which has not happened in the past 17 years.

The government decision to ban TikTok, citing disruption of social harmony, family structure  and goodwill, has left everyone puzzled. There is no clear answer as to why the government abruptly shut down the popular video-sharing app. This move contradicts constitutional provisions and international commitments to safeguard freedom of speech and expression.  

While the government has the authority to ban apps affecting national security, social harmony, and law and order, the lack of clear reasons for the TikTok ban is problematic. Currently facing 10 writ petitions in the Supreme Court, and more in the pipeline, the government's decision is under scrutiny. Advocate Dinesh Tripathi, one of the petitioners, warns that the government may extend the ban on other apps as well.

The misuse of TikTok has been a persistent concern for government agencies, prompting continuous discussions between TikTok and the Nepal government regarding content regulation.  On 3 November, TikTok representatives presented a detailed working process, moderation and model of collaboration to the Nepal government. Earlier, an internet safety summit was organized in the presence of TikTok representatives, civil society and government officials. Similarly, TikTok has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal Telecommunication Authority to create awareness about the misuse of the platform.

Also in June, TikTok provided access to the Trust and Enforcement Tool to Nepal to ensure the reporting of content that is in violation of local laws. TikTok says it has since removed around three million videos by Nepali users for violating community standards. It appears that the government's desire for complete control over the so-called objectionable content led to the ban.

According to one government source, the ban was prompted after TikTok refused to remove all the videos that were flagged by the government.  The government's decision lacks transparency, with no specific reasons shared with the public. Three major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center)—have by and large remained mum about the ban. Minister for Information and Communication Technology Rekha Sharma has suggested that there was an all-party consensus to ban TikTok. 

The silent position taken by major parties backs Sharma’s claim of all-party consensus. While some Congress leaders including Gagan Kumar Thapa, Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Shekhar Koirala have opposed the decision, the party President, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has not said anything.

In an all-party meeting held a few days ago, leaders expressed their concerns over the use of TikTok to disturb social harmony and religious tolerance. Following the discussion, the government came up with social media guidelines, asking the public to avoid the misuse of social media. Observers say, major parties may have agreed to ban TikTok after new political parties and rabble-rousers were heavily featured on TikTok clips where they defamed politicians and government. Security agencies have also expressed concerns about the misuse of TikTok to create social discord. A senior security officer says there were several videos on TikTok that created discord and disharmony among various religious and ethnic groups. 

But former deputy inspector general of Nepal Police, Hemanta Malla, says the government’s ban on TikTok cannot be justified. He notes that  there are far more objectionable contents on other platforms. Some experts say geopolitical factors may also have influenced the government’s decision to ban TikTok, as there have been global concerns about TikTok's potential threat to data security.  The ban has particularly hit small businesses, especially those led by women. For them, TikTok was a crucial platform to promote their products and brands. The app also helped to promote Nepal’s tourism destinations.

After India along with 59 Chinese-owned apps  banned TikTok in 2020, Nepal was the largest market for the platform.  The ban by India came shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at a disputed Himalayan border killed 20 Indian soldiers and injured dozens. 

As TikTok does not want to lose its user base in Nepal, its representatives are in Kathmandu to negotiate the lift on the ban. Experts suggest regulating the platform instead of a complete ban, but government officials argue that Nepal lacks sufficient mechanisms for content regulation. The plea for social media giants to open offices in Kathmandu echoes the need for better regulation rather than outright prohibition.

According to news agency AP, 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, according to AP.  It has 1 billion uses globally. Nepal has banned all pornographic sites in 2018. 

TikTok, owned by Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it doesn’t share data with the Chinese government. It says a project to store American user data in the U.S. will put it out of China’s reach and it disputes accusations that it collects any more user data than U.S. social media companies do, according to AP. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday addressed the second Voice of Global South Summit organized by India.  Addressing the session, PM Dahal said that the world is facing unprecedented crises generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and deepening geo-political complexities. They have impacts on food and nutrition, health and education, economy and environment, and peace and security, he said.  More than 125 countries from the Global South attended the Summit. 

Developing countries especially the LDCs are the most affected ones by these crises. Rising food and energy prices, tightening financial conditions, and persistent cycles of vulnerabilities continue to add to their worries, PM Dahal said, many countries of the Global South are under unsustainable debt burden which is straining investments in health, education, social justice, and other pressing national priorities. 

We believe that in order to address the challenges facing the world, the international community must focus on common goals of peace, progress and prosperity. For this, building of trust, promoting partnership and collaboration and working in solidarity remain crucial, PM Dahal said.  We need to champion inclusive and sustainable global growth, in which the Global South receives a fair share to eradicate poverty and give their people a decent life, PM Dahal said, that Nepal remains steadfast in its commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at the center.

Nonetheless, we believe that the existing global governance architecture needs a timely reform to make it relevant and reflective of today’s realities. At the same time, reform of the international financial architecture should be a top priority with full consideration to the voice of the countries in special situations, including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, PM Dahal said. 

“Climate change remains a grave threat to humanity. Climate-vulnerable countries like Nepal have been bearing the burden of climate change. The effect of climate change on the Himalayas has posed a severe threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living in our region. We all must commit ourselves to achieving the set ambitions in a time-bound manner.” 

PM Dahal further said that Nepal is graduating from the LDC status by 2026 and we are committed to making this process smooth, sustainable, and irreversible.  Sustainable Development Goals remain at the center of our development vision and priorities with integration into national policies and plans. But even the progress that we achieved so far has been threatened by the multitude of global crises, he said.  “Hence, we have been calling for an enhanced level of international support from our partners such as development assistance, FDI, trade facilitation, technology transfer and technical assistance. The South-South cooperation should also be forthcoming to lifting the neediest countries.” 

Addressing the Summit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Global South wants its autonomy and it is ready to take up greater responsibility in global matters. The Indian PM said that Global South wants its voice in global governance.  “Geographically, the Global South has always existed, but it is getting a voice for the first time, and this is because of joint efforts. We are more than 100 countries but our priorities are similar,” he said.   He also spoke of the 5 ‘Cs’, a commitment to which would power the growth of these countries.  The 5 ‘Cs’ are “consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and capacity building”. 

The foreign ministers’ session deliberated on major global agendas, including climate change, energy transition, technological transformation, and restoring trust in multilateralism. Addressing the Summit, S Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India, said India took over its G20 Presidency in the backdrop of a very challenging global, and in its Presidency, India’s anchor was the Global South.  Its voices inspired our priorities, fueled our efforts, and galvanized a path-breaking consensus, he said.  

Recognizing our shared past, the Global South will continue to make efforts for One Earth and to strengthen the voices of the developing countries, the Indian minister said, as one family, the Global South will continue to act with everyone’s interests in mind and drive transformation and building synergies.  

In the Summit, India has announced some initiatives. One of them is the Global South Centre of Excellence which will work as a think tank and will also work as a repository of knowledge and development initiatives in order to interface with the Global South and seek ways to forge collaboration with countries in this region.  

India is all set to host the second Voice of Global South Summit on Friday in a virtual formation. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is likely to attend the Summit.  

Earlier, India had hosted the inaugural Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13 January 2023, in a virtual format. This unique initiative brought together 125 countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Throughout its G20 Presidency, India has worked to ensure that the concerns of the Global South receive due cognizance and that the priorities of the Global South were duly factored in finding solutions to the most pressing global challenges.

The 2nd VOGSS would focus on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency, said the press release issued by India.

The challenges posed by global developments are also likely to be discussed. Further, the Summit will serve as a platform to discuss ways to sustain the momentum generated towards our common aspiration of a more inclusive, representative, and progressive world order, reads the press release.

Head of State from Global South will attend the inaugural session which will be chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ Session is "Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust” and that of the Concluding Leaders’ Session is "Global South: Together for One Future”.

In addition, there will be 8 Ministerial Sessions, with the following themes:

· Foreign Ministers’ Session on "India & the Global South: Emerging Together for a Better Future”

· Education Ministers’ Session on "Making Human Resources Future Ready”

· Finance Ministers’ Session on "Financing People-Centric Development”

· Environment Ministers’ Session on "Sustainable Solutions for Climate Resilience and Climate Finance”

· Foreign Ministers’ Session on "Global South and One Development”

· Energy Ministers’ Session on "Affordable & Inclusive Energy Transition for Sustainable Development”

· Health Ministers’ Session on "Solutions from the Global South for One Health”

· Commerce / Trade Ministers’ Session on "Global South & Resilient Supply Chains”

 Last year, Nepal’s then Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel attended the Voice of Global South Summit. And, Nepal had attended the meeting of the Finance Tasks force held during the G-20 Summit. 

Amid the geopolitical tumult, American President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a historic talk that focused on a wide range of international, regional, and bilateral issues. The two major powers held talks at a time when the crisis in the Middle East was escalating and the Russia-Ukraine war continued.  

According to the Voice of America report, Biden and Xi have agreement on some vital issues. Xi agreed to help curb the production of the illicit fentanyl that is a deadly component of drugs sold in the United States. The two leaders have agreed to resume high-level military communications; China had severed the military hotline after then US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022. The relationship was further soured after the US accused China of sending a spy balloon in its airspace.

In the conversation, Joe Biden said their discussion was straightforward and frank, and I have always appreciated them. A readout from White House said: “We have not always agreed, which was not a surprise to anyone, but our meetings have always been candid, straightforward, and useful.”  I value our conversation because I think it is paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication, Biden said, we have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict, and we also have to manage it responsibly—that competition.

Regarding the understanding between two countries to resume military communication, Biden said: “We are back to direct, open, clear and direct communication.” The American President characterized the talks as some of the most constructive and productive discussions they have had. But Biden said that he still considers Xi as a dictator which is likely to annoy Beijing. He said: “Well, look, he is a dictator in the sense that he is a guy who runs a country that is a community country that is based on a form of government totally different from ours.”

President Biden reiterated the US One China policy in the meeting with Xi. "I reiterated what I have said since I have become president, and what every previous president of late has said: That we maintain an agreement that there is One China Policy." 

According to The Global Times, on the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it remains the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations, and China values the positive statements made by the US side during the Bali meeting. The US should implement its stance of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into concrete actions, stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification, according to the Chinese president, The Global Times reports.

According to Chinese news agency, Xinhua, Xi called on China and the United States to assume a new vision and build together five pillars for bilateral relations. Xinhua report says: China is consistently committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States, and China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.  And the critical global challenges we face, from climate change to counternarcotics to artificial intelligence, demand our joint efforts, Biden said.

Xi further added that the China-US relationship, which is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, should be perceived and envisioned in a broad context of the—accelerating global transformation unseen in a century. It should develop in a way that benefits our two peoples and fulfills our responsibility for human progress, Xi said.

The Chinese President further added that major-country competition is not the prevailing trend of current times and cannot solve the problems facing China and the United States or the world at large. Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed, and one country’s success is an opportunity for the other. We should heavy responsibilities for the two people, for the world, and for history, Xi said, I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views and reach new—reach new understandings with your on strategic and overarching issues critical to the directions of China-US relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development.

Ahead of COP28, the two leaders discussed climate change issues. According to The Global Times, they expressed their joint commitment to promoting the success of the COP28 and announced the China-US Enhancing Climate Action 2020s working group to accelerate specific climate actions. Despite the differences on a host of issues, China and America have similar positions on several climate change issues which has not gone well in the developing countries.

Chinese experts have said the talk continues the tone set in Bali last year. Speaking to The Global Times, Diao Daming, associate professor at the Renmin University of China said: Looking forward, it will be important to see whether the US can truly achieve a correct understanding. If the US can adjust its understanding and truly adopt a responsible perspective, recognizing each other’s position, effectively managing differences, and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, it will further stabilize the relations between the two countries.”