Kathmandu: A two-day international conference on digital crime control is set to begin in the capital on Thursday, organized by the Office of the Attorney General. Representatives from 13 countries will participate in discussions on emerging trends in digital crime, investigations, and justice.



The conference aims to facilitate international experience exchange and strengthen institutional capacity in tackling technology-driven crimes. Experts will present working papers on "Crimes of the Digital Age: Anticipation and Response," addressing the rising challenges posed by cyber threats.



Attendees will include researchers, criminologists, AI specialists, prosecutors, legal experts, and judges from Nepal, India, China, Sri Lanka, the UK, and other nations. Key topics of discussion will cover technology-based sexual violence and abuse, cybercrime, cryptocurrency-related offenses, and crimes committed using artificial intelligence.



The event underscores growing global concerns over digital crime and seeks to foster international collaboration in devising effective responses.

International conference on Digital Crime Control begins Thursday in KTM

Kathmandu: Nepal imported 1.229 million smartphones worth Rs 18.98 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY 2024/25), according to the Department of Customs (DoC). The government collected Rs 3.35 billion in customs duty on these imports between mid-July and mid-February.



The latest figures show an increase of 126,000 units compared to the same period last fiscal year, when 1.05 million smartphones were brought into the country. The total import value of smartphones this year is Rs 1.6 billion higher than last year’s Rs 17.38 billion.



Smartphones priced between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 dominate the market, with rising imports indicating a growing number of users in Nepal, according to the DoC.



Despite fluctuations, Nepal recorded its highest mobile phone imports in FY 2020/21, with devices worth Rs 28.38 billion brought in from mid-July to mid-February. In comparison, the country imported mobile phones worth Rs 14.76 billion in 2022 and Rs 12.60 billion in 2020.



Over the past five years, the volume of mobile phone imports has declined, but the total value has increased. In the same seven-month period five years ago, Nepal imported 2.6 million mobile sets, but their customs value was significantly lower at Rs 12.60 billion. The shift from bar phones to higher-priced smartphones has contributed to this trend.

Nepal imports 1.23 million smartphones worth Rs 19 billion in seven months

Kathmandu: The government has launched an online labour permit approval service for Nepali migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative, operational from the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi, makes it the second diplomatic mission to offer this service after the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat.



Labour, Employment, and Social Security Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari officially inaugurated the service at an event in Dubai on Thursday, the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi confirmed.



Minister Bhandari emphasized that the move aims to streamline services, improve accessibility, and integrate technology to support Nepali migrant workers.



With this provision, workers can renew their labour permits without returning to Nepal, reducing disruptions to their employment and businesses.



The minister further stated that the online service will be expanded to other diplomatic missions.



Acknowledging the significant contribution of foreign employment to Nepal’s economy, he underscored the need for stronger policies to safeguard migrant workers and improve migration governance.



Nepal’s Ambassador to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Oli, reiterated the Embassy’s commitment to protecting the rights of Nepali workers despite challenges posed by limited resources.



The launch event saw participation from diaspora representatives, the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), and other stakeholders. An interactive session on labour issues was also held.



Minister Bhandari’s visit to Dubai coincided with his participation in the World Government Summit 2025, taking place from February 11-13.

Nepal govt launches online labour permit approval for UAE-based Nepali workers

Kathmandu: Nepal’s export of Information Technology (IT) goods and services has seen a steady rise, reaching over Rs 28.5 billion in the first six months of the Fiscal Year 2024/25, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).



In the five months from mid-July to mid-December, IT exports totaled Rs 22.89 billion. The data indicates a significant monthly increase of Rs 5.16 billion in exports from mid-December to mid-January alone. Meanwhile, IT-related imports during the same six-month period amounted to Rs 3.52 billion.



NRB compiled the figures based on the transactions recorded through banks and financial institutions by individuals and companies exporting IT services from Nepal.



Comparative figures show consistent growth in Nepal’s IT sector. In FY 2023/24, exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services stood at Rs 1.554 billion. The previous fiscal years saw exports worth Rs 15.80 billion in 2022/23 and Rs 14.53 billion in 2021/22, highlighting an upward trajectory in Nepal’s IT exports.

Nepal’s IT services export surpass Rs 28.5 billion in six nonths

Kathmandu: The Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) Education &amp; Sports Committee has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support major sports, fitness, and esports events in Nepal. The agreement, inked in the presence of NCC President Kamlesh Agrawal and Senior Vice President Deepak Malhotra, aims to strengthen Nepal’s esports ecosystem and promote the sports industry.



Under this collaboration, NCC will extend its support to three key events, each planned for five consecutive editions. The 5th Nepal Esports Championship &amp; Expo 2025, organized by the Nepal Esports Association (NESA), is scheduled for April. The event will bring together national and international gamers, game developers, and industry leaders, featuring competitive gaming, an expo on gaming advancements, and workshops on game development and esports careers.



Additionally, the 2nd Nepal Sports Conclave 2025, set for April, will be co-hosted by the Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) and MICE International Service. The conclave will focus on policy discussions and challenges in Nepal’s esports sector, gathering government officials, sports federations, industry experts, and athletes. It will include panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking sessions to drive policy formulation and industry collaboration.



In June, the 2nd Nepal Sports &amp; Fitness Expo 2025 will take place at Bhrikutimandap, showcasing innovations in the fitness and sports industry. Organized by MICE International Service, the expo will provide a platform for businesses in fitness equipment, sports apparel, nutrition, and wellness services, with live demonstrations and expert talks aimed at engaging fitness enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.



Speaking at the MoU signing, NCC Education &amp; Sports Committee Chairperson Rupak Rajbanshi emphasized the importance of fostering a strong sports and fitness industry in Nepal. NESA President Suraj Dangol highlighted esports' growing potential in the country, while NSJF Board Member Niranjan Rajbanshi reiterated sports journalism’s role in shaping policies. MICE International Service Managing Director Deepak Thapa underscored the need for stakeholder collaboration to develop Nepal’s sports industry sustainably.



The partnership reflects NCC’s commitment to enhancing Nepal’s sports, fitness, and esports landscape, with the endorsed events expected to attract both national and international participation. NCC anticipates that the initiative will not only strengthen Nepal’s esports industry but also contribute to the country’s economy by fostering global engagement and investment in the sector.

NCC signs MoU to boost E-sports, sports, and fitness industry in Nepal

Kathmandu: ChildSafeNet has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 14 schools across seven districts in Nepal, spanning Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, to conduct digital safety training sessions and workshops for students, teachers, and parents. This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with TikTok.



As part of this initiative, ChildSafeNet organised a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme for 28 teachers, including headmasters, from the participating schools in Sunsari, Morang, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Tanahun, and Kaski. The training equipped teachers with up-to-date knowledge and skills to conduct digital safety workshops effectively in their respective schools and communities.



The trained educators will conduct digital safety training sessions starting from February 2025, coinciding with Safer Internet Day (11 February 2025). The programme aims to equip students, teachers, and parents with essential digital literacy skills, fostering a safer online environment for children and young people.



The ToT programme was led by Anil Raghuvanshi, Founder and President of ChildSafeNet, as the lead trainer, along with Bimal Rawal, international child protection expert; Kapil Aryal, cyber law expert and Associate Professor at Kathmandu School of Law; and; Rupa Pradhan Chhetri, senior child psychologist.



Speaking about the initiative, Raghuvanshi stated, “In today’s digital world, children and young people need more than just internet access—they need the knowledge and skills to navigate the online space safely. This collaboration with schools and TikTok is a crucial step toward empowering students, teachers, and parents to address online risks and promote responsible digital citizenship.”



This partnership highlights ChildSafeNet’s commitment to ensuring a safer digital space for children and young people in Nepal by equipping them with the awareness and tools to protect themselves online. ChildSafeNet has conducted digital safety training in more than forty districts of Nepal.

ChildSafeNet and TikTok conducting Digital Safety Training for children in 7 districts

Kathmandu: The United Kingdom is set to become the first country to enact legislation targeting artificial intelligence tools used to create sexualized images of children. The move aims to tackle a growing issue, which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned is on the rise.



The government announced on Saturday that it will criminalize the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools that generate abusive images. Violators could face up to five years in prison. These AI-generated images are often created by digitally altering real photos of children or by superimposing their faces onto existing explicit material, according to government officials.



Additionally, possessing AI-generated “paedophile manuals” that provide instructions on using AI for child exploitation will be a criminal offense, carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison.



The new laws will also target individuals who operate online platforms facilitating the sharing of child abuse content or advice on grooming, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison.



“This is a deeply disturbing trend,” Cooper told Sky News on Sunday. “The spread of online child sexual abuse material is accelerating, and AI is now amplifying the problem.”



She explained that AI tools are making it easier for offenders to manipulate images of children, using them for extortion and further exploitation. “It’s one of the most appalling crimes,” she added. “No other country has introduced such measures yet, but I hope they will follow suit.”



Cooper also cited findings from a recent inquiry, revealing that approximately 500,000 children in the UK experience some form of abuse annually, with the online aspect becoming increasingly prevalent.



The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK-based non-profit dedicated to combating online abuse, has raised alarms about the growing volume of AI-generated child abuse content. In a 30-day period in 2024, IWF analysts identified 3,512 AI-generated child abuse images on a single dark web platform. The number of the most severe cases also increased by 10% within a year, the organization reported.



Source: AFP

UK to introduce groundbreaking laws against AI-generated child abuse images

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to establish legal safeguards to protect individual data on national identity cards, aiming to prevent misuse of personal and biometric data while promoting governance and service delivery reforms.



In a ruling on a case concerning the national identity card, the full bench of Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and Justices Abdul Aziz Musalman and Nripa Dhwoj Niraula instructed the government to secure citizens' details and create the necessary laws. The SC emphasized, “To guarantee the protection of information with electronic records, the government must implement more reliable legal, policy, structural, and managerial arrangements.”



The SC released the full text of its January 19 ruling on Friday. The case originated from a writ petition filed by Advocate Ram Bahadur Raut, who sought to annul the national identity card, arguing that the Constitution does not recognize it. The SC dismissed the petition, allowing the government to continue with the implementation of the national identity card system.



The court also instructed the government to enhance public awareness regarding the identity card process. It directed, “Reach the points near citizens' residences, collect and distribute personal and biometric details based on Nepali citizenship as soon as possible.” Furthermore, it urged authorities to eliminate obstacles that prevent citizens from accessing public services due to the lack of a national identity card.



The SC ordered agencies responsible for public services to set up sufficient collection and distribution stations to ease the process. It also warned against unauthorized access or misuse of data, advising agencies to maintain scientific record-keeping to ensure security.



Additionally, the court directed agencies to conduct security audits of systems using the national identity card number for services and to develop necessary policies and legal frameworks to ensure confidentiality and protection of electronic records.



Currently, the government is implementing the national identity card through policy decisions, infrastructure development, and financial investments. The SC clarified that while the identity card is crucial for streamlining public services, it cannot replace the citizenship certificate, which is tied to nationality.



The court emphasized that all Nepali citizens should have easy access to the national identity card and should not be denied government services due to its absence. Vulnerable groups, including children, disabled individuals, senior citizens over 90, and those unable to care for themselves, will continue receiving social security and other essential services even without the card.



Since its launch in 2018, 16.1 million citizens have received their national identity numbers. The government has been collecting identity card details from 653 units nationwide, though the SC noted that coverage remains insufficient relative to the total population. The national identity card, which contains an electronic chip, is designed to store citizenship details.



The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice on June 24, 2024, to enforce constitutional guidelines and the National Identity Card and Registration Act, 2019. A writ petition challenged this notice, but the Ministry argued in its response that the notice could not be annulled as long as the Act remains in force.



The government has mandated the national identity card number for services such as opening bank accounts, social security benefits, pensions, and passports. However, many citizens have yet to receive their identity cards, and the SC acknowledged the challenges faced by those unable to access essential services despite holding citizenship certificates.

SC directs government to safeguard NID Data

Kathmandu: Nepal's first-ever inter-school hackathon, Hack-अ-Thon, has commenced in Kathmandu, bringing together 235 students from 33 schools to tackle educational challenges under the theme "The Future of Learning." The event is organized by Adhyayan School and Leapfrog Technology, in collaboration with Code for Nepal and Veda.



Spanning from January 26 to February 19, 2025, the hackathon consists of four phases: orientation, boot camp, mentorship, and Demo Day. The orientation session was held on January 26 at Leapfrog Technology, marking the official launch of the competition.



Students from grades 7 to 10 will use Scratch and Python to develop innovative solutions addressing issues in education, health, and society. They will receive guidance from 32 expert mentors throughout the process.



On the final day, the top seven teams will present their projects at Rastriya Nach Ghar, where the winners will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 1,00,000, Rs. 75,000, and Rs. 50,000 for first, second, and third places, respectively.



More than just a competition, Hack-अ-Thon aims to foster creativity, problem-solving, and social responsibility, shaping the next generation of tech leaders in Nepal.

Nepal’s first inter-school hackathon kicks off in Kathmandu

Kathmandu: OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has raised concerns that competitors, including Chinese firms, are using its work to rapidly develop their own artificial intelligence (AI) tools.



This comes after the sudden rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app that reportedly performs at a level similar to ChatGPT but at a much lower cost. Bloomberg has reported that Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, is investigating whether OpenAI’s data has been misused.



David Sacks, the recently appointed White House "AI and crypto czar," suggested on Fox News that DeepSeek may have used OpenAI’s models to improve its own through a technique called "knowledge distillation." OpenAI, in a statement, claimed that Chinese and other companies were "constantly trying to distill" the work of leading US AI firms.



Experts remain skeptical about DeepSeek's claims of developing its model from scratch. Naomi Haefner, a professor of technology management, stated that if DeepSeek had used OpenAI’s data, its claims of low-cost training would be misleading. Crystal van Oosterom, an AI expert, acknowledged that DeepSeek has built upon publicly available research from Western institutions but noted that AI development often involves building on existing work.



Security Concerns and US Response



The US government is also assessing the national security risks associated with DeepSeek. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the National Security Council is looking into potential threats. Meanwhile, the US Navy has reportedly banned its members from using DeepSeek due to "security and ethical concerns."



Adding to the controversy, DeepSeek claims it has been targeted by cyberattacks and has temporarily limited new user registrations. A notice on its website suggests ongoing large-scale attacks on its software.



With concerns over data safety and intellectual property rights growing, the debate over AI ethics and security is likely to intensify in the coming months. Source: BBC

OpenAI accuses rivals, including China’s DeepSeek, of copying its AI models

Kathmandu: In the last fiscal year 2023/24, 18 major social media and tech companies paid Rs 415 million in taxes to the Nepal government.



These companies include Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Adobe, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple. They earned Rs 2.76 billion by providing electronic services in Nepal.



According to the Large Taxpayer Office, a part of this revenue was paid as tax to the government.

Big tech companies pay Rs 415 mn in taxes to Nepal

Kathmandu: The National Cyber Security Center has issued a cybersecurity advisory aimed at safeguarding government offices and employees from potential cyber threats. The advisory, released on January 22, outlines 21 key measures, including regular website updates, password changes, antivirus updates, and network security.



The advisory emphasizes regular updates to government websites and applications and urges offices to address any issues promptly. It also highlights the importance of taking frequent backups of data and implementing a business continuity plan to ensure minimal disruption during cyber incidents.



Employees have been instructed to use strong, hard-to-guess passwords and update them every three months. The use of personal information such as birth dates or phone numbers as passwords is discouraged.



For device and network security, the advisory recommends regular updates of antivirus software, operating systems, and security devices. It strictly prohibits downloading or playing games on office computers to maintain system integrity.



On email security, the advisory advises employees to report and delete suspicious emails immediately and refrain from sharing sensitive information such as passwords, OTPs, and banking details through email or phone.



Regarding social media, the guidelines caution against oversharing personal information and urge users to verify friend requests and avoid clicking on unverified links.



The advisory also addresses mobile security, urging employees to verify app authenticity before downloading, review app permissions, and keep operating systems updated. It further recommends storing mobile IMEI numbers securely for recovery purposes in case of loss or theft.



In addition to digital measures, the advisory calls for physical security enhancements, including installing strong doors and CCTV cameras in areas where sensitive data is stored. Offices are also required to conduct annual audits of their internal systems and enable two-factor authentication for added security.



The National Cyber Security Center believes this comprehensive advisory will help protect government IT systems and mitigate potential cyber threats effectively.

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