| Stakeholders Condemn Suspension of Journalists’ Passes
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has raised concerns over the Federal Parliament Secretariat’s decision to suspend the press passes of journalists Kishor Shrestha and Prakash Oli for questioning the Prime Minister on February 16 about whether he was imitating infamous dictator Hitler by bringing bills that stifle freedom of expression and undermine democratic norms. FNJ emphasized that only Press Council Nepal has the authority to assess whether journalists violate the code of conduct.
The Online TV Journalists’ Association has also strongly opposed the suspension, calling it undemocratic and a violation of press freedom. The association warned of strong protests if the decision is not reversed, with its president, Jeevan Bhandari, accusing the government of adopting a dictatorial approach. Draft National Transport Policy 2081 Unveiled
The government has released the draft of the National Transport Policy 2081 BS, aiming to modernize transport management by replacing the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act 2049 BS. The policy focuses on making transportation technology-friendly, safe, and environmentally sustainable. It proposes the adoption of intelligent transport systems with traffic signals, CCTV surveillance, control rooms, and speed monitoring devices to enhance road safety. Public vehicles will be equipped with GPS tracking for better monitoring and passenger security, while an electronic fare payment system will be introduced for hassle-free transactions. To ensure road safety, alcohol and drug testing devices will be regulated, and a system will be implemented to remove damaged vehicles promptly, with private sector involvement encouraged. NRB Introduces New Directives for Digital Payments and Cybersecurity
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directive on Payment Systems 2080 with Unified Directive on Payments 2081, introducing key changes to enhance digital payment security and governance. Digital payment service providers must now allow users to disable and reactivate electronic payment services via apps or web portals, strengthening account control and cybersecurity. Additionally, payment system operators must transition into public limited companies by mid-July 2085 to improve transparency and governance.
To enhance cybersecurity, NRB has restricted mobile and internet banking logins via unauthorized VPNs and mandated DC-DR drills every two years for financial institutions. The directive also requires payment organizations to adopt international security standards like ISO 27001 and implement AI-driven fraud detection systems. Furthermore, financial institutions must improve systems to combat money laundering and terrorist financing through enhanced customer identification and transaction monitoring. Nepal Sees Surge in 4G and Fiber Internet Subscribers
Nepal has added over 2.9 million new 4G subscribers in the last seven months, bringing the total to 25.1 million by February 2025, covering 86.4% of the population, according to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority. However, Nepal Telecom’s market share has declined to 54.2%, while Ncell has grown to 45.8%, up from 36.45% last year.
Meanwhile, the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) market is also expanding, with over 224,000 new subscribers in the same period, totaling 3.29 million users. WorldLink leads the FTTH market with a 31.78% share, followed by Nepal Telecom at 11.43%, with DishHome and other ISPs also competing. This rapid digital expansion reflects Nepal’s growing demand for high-speed internet services. UK Investigates TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur Over Child Privacy Protection
Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over their handling of children’s personal data and age verification practices. The probe will assess how these platforms safeguard 13–17-year-olds’ privacy and whether their algorithms amplify harmful content.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, claims to have strict privacy measures for teens, while Reddit has stated it will comply with UK regulations and plans to introduce age-assurance updates. Imgur has yet to respond.
In 2023, TikTok was fined £12.7 million for violating UK data protection laws by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. The UK has recently strengthened regulations requiring social media platforms to implement stricter age-checking measures and reduce exposure to harmful content. | 
