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This week Ashok Raj Sigdel was appointed as the 45th Chief of the Nepali Army. He will be in charge effective from Sept 9. His predecessor, Prabhu Ram Sharma, had an average performance. During his tenure, Sharma effectively suppressed the debate on the need to right-size the Nepali Army, even causing senior politicians to backtrack on their positions. Sharma publicly accused certain individuals of deliberately fueling this debate to weaken the army.

The Nepali Army generally shows minimal interest in involving itself in politics, and politicians are typically eager to support any proposals the army puts forward. As a result, the appointment of the army chief has become a routine process, lacking the disagreements that are often seen in the Nepal Police. However, in recent years, senior army officials have faced increased scrutiny for allegedly manipulating key documents such as citizenship and educational certificates. This situation highlights the need for systematic investigations into these issues. Moreover, civilian oversight of the Nepal Army has weakened significantly, and media coverage of the army’s transparency has dwindled.

Talking about appointments, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha is set to retire next month, but there have been no preparations to recommend a new chief justice or fill the remaining judicial vacancies. The Nepal Bar Association this week urged the government to initiate the process. In recent years, Nepal’s judiciary has become highly politicized, leading to a loss of public trust in some cases.

In another story this week, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s directive to senior home ministry officials to facilitate the process of issuing citizenship to Prakash Tamang sparked a debate about government functioning. Any Nepali citizen can typically acquire citizenship from the district administration office without difficulty. However, the incident underscores the challenges Nepali citizens face in accessing basic government services and indicates a need for systemic reforms to ensure that eligible citizens can obtain citizenship without undue hassle.

This week, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal remained in the national spotlight. He expressed regret over breaking the alliance with the Nepali Congress (NC) last March and stated that his party would not passively witness the government’s misconduct. Dahal also warned the leaders of both the CPN-UML and NC not to approach him for support if their alliance encountered challenges. Despite publicly stating his reluctance to re-enter government, Dahal’s actions suggest otherwise. He has already begun forming alliances with fringe communist parties, positioning himself for future political maneuvering.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, scheduled for Sept 3-4, has been postponed due to political developments in the host country, Thailand. Prime Minister Oli was expected to attend the summit and meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, preparations are underway for Oli to visit New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, though it is unclear whether he will meet with US officials during his visit. There have been no updates on a potential visit to India, but after Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba’s meeting with Modi, Oli may be eager to meet with the Indian prime minister. Since the formation of the Oli-led government, there have been high-level exchanges with India and the US, but no visits to or from Beijing.

Onto politics, the ruling Nepali Congress plunged into another internal conflict this week. Senior leaders such as Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have taken positions advocating for term limits for prime ministers and ministers. Thapa insists that the party should officially decide not to forge any electoral alliances in the upcoming general elections. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, believes that these issues should be settled at the party’s general convention in 2026, just before the general elections. Another senior leader, Shekhar Koirala, has warned the party leadership not to delay the convention, noting that the NC has historically struggled to hold its conventions on time.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba also became a subject of discussion this week within Nepal’s political circles, especially within the NC. Her recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi during her visit to India has led to the speculation within the NC that this meeting could signal India’s endorsement of Arzu as a future leader of the NC and potentially as a future prime minister of Nepal. Over the past few years, her husband and NC President, Deuba, has elevated her position within both the party and national politics.

This week CPN (Unified Socialist), a splinter group of the CPN-UML, elected 16 office bearers through a ballot. While Madhav Kumar Nepal was unanimously continued as party chair, there were disputes over the office bearers. Ram Kumari Jhakri, a youth leader prominent since the 2006 people’s movement, was defeated in the intra-party elections, leading to speculation that she might join the CPN-UML. Jhakri was one of the leaders who strongly opposed Oli’s dissolution of Parliament in 2020, and she worked closely with Nepal during the party split in 2021. There are also talks of a possible party unification between the Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist), indicating that factionalism is a common trend in Nepal’s political landscape, even among fringe parties.

Another notable story this week was Prime Minister Oli facing questions from lawmakers in Parliament, including one related to America’s State Partnership Program (SPP), which has been pending for several years. Oli told Parliament that there has been no fresh proposal from the American side regarding the SPP. The previous government, led by Deuba, had informed the US that Nepal could no longer implement the SPP program. As usual, the Prime Minister Oli also faced questions about the details of the constitution amendment proposal.

A parliamentary committee investigating irregularities in cooperatives grilled Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane this week. Lamichhane denied any involvement in the embezzlement of cooperative funds during his time working at a television channel.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Bin Hamood Albusidi also visited Nepal this week to discuss bilateral cooperation. The two sides discussed finalizing a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering labor and manpower exchange, health cooperation, tourism, and diplomatic studies and training. 

That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend!

The Nepal Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park was officially launched on Tuesday at the Agriculture and Forestry University in Chitwan, Bagmati Province. This initiative is part of the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center.

The park was jointly inaugurated by the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song and Chitwan Mayor Renu Dahal. The park aims to enhance hybrid rice production in Nepal, while also fostering cooperation in rice cultivation, livestock and fish farming, and greenhouse vegetable production.

Ambassador Song noted that the park represents the latest progress in agricultural cooperation between China and Nepal. He emphasized that this project is a significant step toward realizing the agreements made by the leaders of the two countries last year.

“Chongqing has advanced agricultural science and abundant resources. Our agricultural cooperation can unlock greater potential for Bharatpur, driving forward shared development and prosperity for both our cities and countries,” Song said.

Mayor Dahal expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its collaboration with agricultural experts from the university. She highlighted that this partnership will significantly improve rice production and uplift the livelihoods of farmers in Nepal.

“Nepal Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park symbolizes the enduring friendship between Nepal and China. It stands as a center of knowledge, research, and innovation, utilizing advanced agricultural technologies to boost productivity,” Dahal remarked. She also extended her thanks to the Chongqing Municipal Government and Agricultural Committee for their technical and financial support, as well as to the China Foundation for Rural Development for managing the project.

Prof Dr Shardha Thapaliya, the academic director of the university, also expressed her appreciation for the Chinese government's efforts in launching the park. “As the largest and oldest agricultural and forestry university in Nepal, we are honored to participate in and support this project, working closely with Chinese agricultural experts to implement hybrid rice cultivation in Nepal,” she stated.

The event was attended by several key figures, including Wang Shijie, deputy director of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee, Han Ruichun, director of the International Cooperation Department of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee, and Zou Zhiqiang, director of the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development.

Shijie said that the park’s launch is another milestone under the ‘Light Up the Future’ initiative by the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center. Similarly, Zhiqiang pledged to ensure the successful implementation of the project by providing necessary services to all involved.

HIV is a retrovirus that targets the immune system and, if untreated, can cause AIDS. It is spread by bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk from an individual with a detectable viral load. The virus attacks the immune system by destroying the CD4+ T cells (which protect the body from infection). In 2023, almost 39m people were living with HIV. Nearly 39m individuals worldwide were HIV positive in 2023. Once infected, there is no complete cure for the virus; hence, eradicating it is impossible. Antiretroviral therapy, or ART, is a more recent treatment option. When taken as directed, it can help people live happy, healthy lives by lowering the blood virus load and preventing transmission. It is an epidemic in the world, and WHO (World Health Organization), the Global Fund and UNAIDS are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

The first case of AIDS in Nepal was reported in 1988. However, the ART service started in 2004 at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu. ART service is free of charge for people living with HIV in various centers in Nepal. Almost 80 ART sites are present in Nepal to provide free services and control infections. According to UNAIDS 2023 Nepal data, the new HIV infection decreased from 2100 (all age groups) in 2010 to less than 500 in 2022.

Notably, AIDS-related deaths declined from 1,700 in 2010 to less than 500 in 2022. People living with HIV who knew their status were 92 percent, and those who were on treatment were 78 percent. Today, people without HIV can take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV. It’s a strategy where you can take a daily dose of HIV medication and reduce your risk of getting HIV by 99 percent. Apretude is a new PrEP option that does not need to be taken daily. It is injected every two months to the uninfected partners, significantly reducing the infection.

While we witnessed Covid-19 vaccines being developed within months, creating a vaccine against HIV is challenging due to the unique nature of the virus. The HIV virus mutates rapidly, making it difficult to develop a vaccine that can effectively target all its variations. Almost 250 HIV vaccine trials have been done, but none proved promising. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institute of Health, had launched three mRNA vaccine phase 1 trials. The trial was completed in July 2023. Recently, researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute have successfully induced broadly neutralizing antibodies (which can recognize and block different versions of the virus) against HIV through vaccination for the first time. 

The neutralizing antibodies were produced within weeks, which usually takes years following a natural HIV infection. The phase 1 trial had to be halted due to a non-life-threatening allergy in one of the participants due to additives. Dr Barton F Haynes, director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, said, “We are not there yet, but the way is much clearer.” Dr Julie McElrath, the director of the vaccine and infectious disease division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, said, “An effective vaccine is the only way to provide long-term immunity against HIV, and that’s what we need.” As of now, there is no vaccine for HIV, and even after 20 years of failure in HIV vaccine development, there is still hope for one.

In March 2024, news about successfully eliminating HIV using CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2020) was circulated. 

CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive immune system found in most bacteria and prevents them from infection by viruses and other foreign genetic elements. Functioning like molecular scissors with the supervision of guide RNA (gRNA), CRISPR-Cas9 can cut DNA at assigned spots, which leads to either the deletion of unwanted genes or the addition of new genetic material into an organism’s cell, paving the way for advanced therapy. The research was only able to eliminate HIV from the infected cells in the laboratory and was not done on humans. However, if this technology can be successfully applied to humans, it could potentially provide a cure for HIV. In 2018, Dr He Jiankui announced the birth of two genetically engineered babies (Lulu and Nana) using the CRISPR Cas9 technology to make them HIV-resistant. 

He Jiankui, a professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology, claims to have disabled the gene for HIV entry into healthy cells. Despite the groundbreaking achievement, serious ethical concerns about using CRISPR remain.

We often hear that there’s no cure for HIV, but at the same time, we also hear about cases where people have been cured of HIV or are in long-term remission. These cases usually involve stem cell transplantation, which was initially done to treat cancer. Stem cell transplantation involves replacing the patient’s immune system with a new one that is resistant to HIV. The primary goal of the transplant is not to cure HIV because the procedure is risky and not suitable for everyone. However, it has shown promising results in some cases. Stem cell transplants replace cancerous cells with healthy stem cells responsible for creating blood, bone and muscle cells.

In this process, HIV can go into a latent stage and remain undetectable. A recent study published in the journal ‘Emerging Microbes and Infections’ found that HIV-virus-like particles (HLP) are 100 times more effective for people living with chronic HIV under cART. If this method is successful in clinical trials, it could potentially help millions of people to be free from HIV. HLP are inactivated HIV particles that can boost immune responses without infecting the person.

Despite extensive research, a cure for HIV remains elusive. Laboratories are continuing their research, exploring various methods in hopes of finding a cure. Currently, the primary treatment for HIV is combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), which involves taking a combination of drugs orally daily. While this regimen does not offer a cure, it has proven effective in reducing viral load and maintaining a healthy immune system. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 76 percent of people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2022, a significant increase from 27 percent in 2010. Additionally, in 2021, the FDA approved injectable drugs called Cabenuva and Vocabria for HIV treatment. Administered once a month via intramuscular injection, these drugs offer a more convenient alternative to daily oral medication. 

Considering that prevention is better than cure, taking preventive measures at a personal level can also play a crucial role in stopping the transmission of HIV. This can include using internal or external condoms, avoiding needle sharing, avoiding breastfeeding if you are HIV positive, and utilizing post-exposure precautions if you have been exposed to HIV.

The author is working in a virology lab focusing on HIV drug resistance

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba’s recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit to India has sparked significant discussion within Nepal’s political circles, particularly within her party, the Nepali Congress (NC). There are murmurs within the NC that this meeting could signal India’s endorsement of Arzu as a future leader of the party and potentially as a future prime minister of Nepal. Over the past few years, Arzu’s husband and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, has elevated her position within both the party and national politics.

Currently, she serves as a Central Working Committee member of the NC and a member of the House of Representatives. She played a crucial role in forming an alliance with the CPN-UML to establish the government, which led to her holding the powerful Foreign Ministry portfolio in the KP Sharma Oli-led government.

While she may not run for party president in the 2026 general convention, Deuba seems intent on securing her a significant position within the party. Deuba, who has already served as party president twice, is ineligible to run for a third term due to the party’s statute. Senior leaders such as Purna Bahadur Khadka, Gagan Kumar Thapa, and Shekhar Koirala are currently vying for the party presidency. It remains unclear who will succeed Deuba or emerge as the next leader from his faction. According to NC leaders, Deuba might retire after assuming the Prime Minister’s office again, as per an agreement with Oli, who is expected to hand over the premiership to Deuba in two years.

Some NC leaders speculate that Deuba may propose his spouse, Arzu, for the prime ministerial position due to his advanced age—he is already 80. Others, however, doubt that Arzu will become Prime Minister. Nonetheless, it is evident that Deuba is making every effort to elevate his spouse within the party. At nearly 60 years old, Arzu could remain active in party politics for at least the next two decades.

Deuba’s succession plan has been in motion for some time. He pushed for Arzu’s appointment as chairperson of the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives last year, followed by her appointment as Foreign Minister a few months ago. These moves have significantly bolstered Arzu’s standing both within the NC and on the international stage. There was little opposition within the party to these appointments. Even Deuba’s rivals, Gagan Thapa and Shekhar Koirala, did not object. NC insiders believe that Arzu is likely to secure a prominent position at the party’s upcoming general convention, positioning her as Deuba’s political heir.

Arzu is not new to NC politics. Her political journey began in earnest after her marriage to Deuba in 1993, despite her mother, Pratibha Rana, being a leader in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Arzu became actively involved in politics after Deuba formed the breakaway faction, Nepali Congress (Democratic), in 2002. Although she has made significant strides within the party, her progress has been closely tied to her husband’s influence. To counter criticisms that Deuba was using his power to elevate her, Arzu contested an election from Kailali district but was defeated. In the 2022 election, she was elected under the proportional representation (PR) quota and is reportedly preparing to contest future elections from Kailali. If Deuba does not run in future elections, Arzu might even contest from Dadeldhura, where Deuba has won for the past three decades.

Arzu’s recent visit to India was a diplomatic success, earning her respect and recognition that few of her predecessors had achieved. Her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi, in particular, was seen as a significant accomplishment, enhancing her stature within Nepal's political landscape. This success, coupled with her increased visibility within the party, suggests that she is being groomed for a larger role.

There are clear signs within the NC that Deuba is positioning Arzu for future leadership. In a recent Central Committee meeting, NC leader Shashank Koirala noted how women seem to navigate political challenges more easily than men. Arzu’s growing acceptance within the party indicates that Deuba’s plan is progressing. Despite being relatively new to active politics and having faced opposition, she now enjoys substantial support. Her rank as the seventh in the cabinet hierarchy, ahead of several key figures, reflects the trust and confidence the party leadership has in her abilities.

However, the path to leadership will not be without challenges. Several factions within the NC, led by figures like Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh and senior leaders such as Shekhar Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, and Krishna Prasad Sitaula, may resist Deuba’s efforts to elevate Arzu. Influential general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma also command considerable support within the party. While Deuba’s close allies may not oppose Arzu’s rise, there is no guarantee that the rest of the party will follow suit, which could deepen existing divisions. With leaders like Dr Koirala and General Secretary Thapa already positioning themselves for party leadership, Arzu’s ascent is unlikely to be smooth.

Arzu’s success would mark a significant milestone for female leadership in Nepal, but it could also be perceived as a continuation of dynastic politics within the NC. Whether Arzu can secure party leadership will depend on her ability to navigate the party's complex dynamics, garner broad support, and prove that she can lead independently of her husband’s legacy. 

While her recent achievements suggest she is a formidable contender, it remains to be seen whether she can overcome the challenges ahead. Notably, Prime Minister Oli’s remark about wanting to see a female Prime Minister may indicate that even the CPN-UML chairman is aware of Deuba’s plans for a leadership transition.