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Despite the ongoing deterioration of the United States’ decades-long diplomatic reputation under its 47th president and his foreign policy approach, one YouTuber and streamer is changing the game as a surprising representative of America to the world. iShowSpeed, aka Darren Watkins Jr., is an American YouTuber known for his high-energy IRL (in real life) livestreams, which at their peak draw over a million viewers. But he’s more than just another influencer—in many ways, he’s become an unlikely tool of soft diplomacy and cultural representation.

What is Track II diplomacy?

In simple terms, Track II diplomacy refers to any form of cross-border engagement, cultural exchange, soft power cultivation, or interaction between nations that occurs outside official diplomatic channels. This includes activities conducted by NGOs, think tanks, academics, artists, and even individuals. While the term originated in the world of international relations as a supplementary channel—often used in times when formal (Track I) diplomacy fails—its meaning has expanded with time to include new, more decentralized forms of global engagement.

The redefinition of Track II diplomacy

Track II diplomacy is informal and non-structured. Traditionally, public figures like influencers would not be seen as part of this framework. But with the evolution of people-to-people diplomacy, digital creators like iShowSpeed now fit squarely within this expanded definition.

Through his content, Watkins promotes Western values—not through propaganda, but simply by being himself. His livestreams integrate naturally with the local cultures he visits, bringing authenticity and spontaneity to cross-cultural encounters. His personality-driven interactions bring joy, surprise, and connection to millions. He makes foreign people and places feel familiar and real, and in doing so, helps shape international perceptions in ways formal diplomacy often can’t.

But who is this streamer?

Darren Watkins Jr., known online as Speed, began as a gaming YouTuber before rising to fame through provocative stunts, viral skits, controversial moments, and relentless content creation. His love for Cristiano Ronaldo made him especially popular across the Global South. But it was his international tours—from his Europe trip in 2023 to his recent tour of China in 2025—that cemented him as a household name among Gen Z internet-goers.

To date, he has visited more than 30 countries, including India and Thailand. With his spontaneous street encounters, humorous remarks, people-first approach, and genuine curiosity, he presents each country as it is to a massive global audience. His live streams—and the short-form content clipped from them—reach tens or even hundreds of millions of viewers.

So, can he be called a diplomat?

The simple answer is: no, he is not a diplomat in the official sense. But he is a representative—an unofficial cultural ambassador of sorts. With honorary mayor status in Lima, Peru, and a meeting with Albania’s prime minister under his belt, Speed is increasingly engaged in what can only be described as digital-era diplomacy.

According to Viewstats, his YouTube channel garnered 339 million views in the past 28 days alone. When you add in shorts, clips, and social media reposts, the number easily climbs to 500 million–1 billion views a month. That is an unmatched platform—an opportunity any tourism-reliant country should seriously consider tapping into.

His recent IRL streams from China gained huge traction online. Many western viewers even described his unfiltered portrayal of the country as a refreshing counter to decades of anti-China narratives. The Embassy of China in the US praised him in a tweet: “The 20-year-old… is bridging cultural gaps and creating alternative channels for foreign audiences to understand a vibrant China.”

A call for a lobby

Given Speed’s influence, and the fact that he has previously expressed a desire to visit Nepal (a clip is linked), this is the moment for Nepal to act. A joint initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), or other relevant agencies and stakeholders could use this opportunity to invite him. 

With Speed recently concluding his Mongolia visit and not having declared his next destination, now is the perfect time. Whether through official or unofficial channels, Nepal could become the next stage for a cultural spotlight of immense scale. His visit could bring unmatched global attention to our temples, mountains, food, traditions, and everyday people.

The changing world of engagement

As the world grapples with growing isolationism, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, the internet remains a rare unifying thread. In this climate, content creators—streamers, YouTubers, influencers—function as informal ambassadors. They shape narratives, build bridges, and create empathy across borders.

This is more than just tourism promotion. It’s people-to-people diplomacy. It’s democratic soft power in action. Through the web, we see that people everywhere laugh, cry, hope, and dream in similar ways. These shared human experiences matter more than treaties, summits, or statecraft. Speed may not be a traditional diplomat—but in today’s world, he represents something just as powerful: connection.

Dibya Deep Acharya, International Relations, MA, Tribhuvan University

On a beautiful, sunny day of April 1, I woke up happily. I was going to Pokhara for a trek with my mother, who was already there. I had lunch with my father, changed into a fresh pair of clothes, and we headed to the airport.

The next day, at around 10 am, more of my mother’s friends arrived. We all got into the car and hit the road. After about an hour and a half, we stopped at Birethanti for lunch. Another hour and a half later, we reached Thikhedunga. From there, our real trek began.

We walked from Thikhedunga to Ulleri. The stairs on the way were crooked and many of them wobbled. It was quite tough to walk on them. When we reached Ulleri, we stayed at Hotel Purnima.

The next morning, we clicked a group photo and continued our journey. The stairs this time were much better, though the first set had really tall steps that made us stretch our legs to climb. Along the trail, we saw a beautiful white flower on a tree. When we asked a local woman, she told us it was called Chaanpa. We paused for a while to admire it before moving on.

A bit further along, we found a tea shop and rested there for a while. I was sucking on a piece of ginger—my mother said it helps with altitude sickness. While walking again, I accidentally stepped on horse dung and said ‘ow’ instead of ‘eww’. It was so silly I burst out laughing!

We also came across a tap with drinkable water. It had a slightly sweet taste because of the minerals, and the water came from a natural spring. Later, we found a small waterfall that flowed into a stream. We decided to take a break and dip our feet in the water. We probably should have checked the temperature first—because it was freezing! My feet felt swollen, and when I pulled them out, the pain was so intense I screamed. The echo rang through the jungle. For the first time in my life, I wished I had socks on!

The trail to Nagthanti was tricky and a bit scary, but my mother helped me, and I luckily reached there in one piece. We had lunch, which was pretty good, and then resumed our trek. On the way, we saw a lot of buffaloes—and even watched two of them fighting! We continued walking with breaks here and there, and eventually reached Ghorepani. After a bit more walking, we arrived at our hotel: Hotel Snowland. It was one of the best places we stayed at—there was even a hot shower, which was a pleasant surprise in such a remote area.

The next day, we left early for Poon Hill. At the border of Ghorepani and Poon Hill, there was a ticket counter where we bought entry tickets. The hike took about an hour and a half, and luckily, we didn’t miss the sunrise. First, we viewed the mountains and sunrise from the ground, but then climbed up to the view tower. The view was absolutely mesmerizing.

On the way back, we walked through two Rhododendron forests filled with dark and light pink flowers. We reached Thapledanda and stopped for a snack break. It was nearly the same altitude as Poon Hill. Then we descended to Deurali, had lunch, and saw lots of ponies.

We walked through a narrow gorge and reached Banthanti for another break. After that, we continued on. I twisted my foot along the way, which really hurt, so I was limping the rest of the day. When we were near Tadapani, we heard thunder and hurried to our hotel. Just after we arrived, it started raining heavily. For dinner, I had noodles and lentil soup.

The next morning, the skies were clear, and we got some great mountain views—so we took more photos. We walked until we reached Ghandruk, where we had lunch and reunited with the rest of our group. We visited the Gurung Museum, dressed up in traditional Gurung clothes, and clicked hundreds of photos. The museum had lots of interesting items—some I already knew about, and some I had never seen before.

After the museum visit, we walked to the bus park. It took us about three hours to reach Lakeside, Pokhara. In the evening, we went window shopping, and my mother and her friends went for a foot massage.

On our final day, we went boating in Fewa Taal and visited the Tal Barahi Temple. After returning to the hotel, we headed to the airport. A short wait later, we boarded our flight and returned home. I loved the trek to Poon Hill!

Eneesha Dhakal

Grade IV 

Rato Bangala School

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government is organizing the 'Sagarmatha Sambaad (Dialogue)' to seek solutions to common problems related to the future of humanity and the Earth.

"Let us ensure the future of the planet and humanity; for this purpose, we will host the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18," PM Oli said in a video message today in the context of the Sagarmatha Dialogue.

The Prime Minister has expressed concern over the adverse situations arising from climate change and the continued growing pollution of our surrounding environment, mentioning that a dialogue is being organized to convey the message that everyone must be aware to prevent the deteriorating environment of the country from worsening further and to ensure its preservation.

"Our activities should not spoil the Earth's environment. Now, let us clean up the environment that has been damaged by our activities. And, may our future generations live in a clean, safe and beautiful environment tomorrow,' the Prime Minister stated in the video message.

He mentioned that the Sagarmatha Sambaad plays a crucial role in understanding the relationship between the mountains and the sea, contributing to environmental issues of the mountains, from the formation of rivers to cooling the environment, and that not understanding it properly or ignoring it is detrimental to humanity.

He emphasized that since environmental conservation is a global shared problem, a collective effort from the world’s inhabitants is essential for its solution.

"It is essential to work on controlling carbon emissions and other elements that harm the environment, and also to advance efforts to protect the environment. For this, people of the world, let us gather at one place to discuss, identify the problems, and strive to find solutions to them from a single forum," the Prime Minister stated in his message.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 53 points to close at 2,650.11 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 57 points to close at 446. 32 points.

A total of 24,011,014-unit shares of 300 companies were traded for Rs 10. 20 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) and Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sindhu Bikash Bank Ltd (SINDU) was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 45 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 40 trillion.

The government of India gifted 15 electric vehicles to the government of Nepal.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Sunday handed over the vehicles to Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba as a gift of India for logistical support to the government of Nepal for facilitating the effective organization of the first edition of the ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’.

The Sagarmath Sambaad is schedueld to be held in Kathmandu on May 16-18, 2025 on the theme of 'Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity'.

India handed over the vehicles at the request of the government of Nepal, saying that it would be useful in further augmenting the logistical arrangements for conducting the Sambaad, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Speaking at the program, the Indian ambassador noted that these vehicles would help facilitate the movement of guests and officials during the Sambaad. He recalled similar logistical support extended by the Government of India to the law enforcement agencies and the Election Commission of Nepal for the conduct of federal and provincial elections in 2022.

He extended his best wishes to the Government and the people of Nepal for the Sambaad, and reaffirmed India’s continued commitment to partnering with Nepal to promote mutual progress and development, according to the statement.

Receiving the vehicles on behalf of the Government of Nepal, Minister Rana expressed gratitude for India's support for facilitating the organization of Sambaad. She acknowledged India’s role as one of Nepal’s oldest and largest development partners.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is committed to initiating the Constitution drafting process on the basis of a broader political consensus.

He said so while addressing a meeting of the House of the Representatives (HoR) today, expressing commitment to make corrections of weaknesses seen in the implementation of the country's main law, he added.

He was addressing concerns raised during discussions on the government's policies and programs for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2025-26).

He said efforts will be continued for guaranteeing political stability by giving continuity to a healthy competition among the political parties, mutual dialogue, collaboration and co-existence.

The policies and programs make commitments to protecting the Constitution and strengthening the federal democratic republic by defeating all sorts of potential regressive efforts, according to the Prime Minister who hoped that the respected Parliament will remain intact in terms of the policies and programs aiming at recognizing people's sacrifices and institutionalizing the achievements.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 190, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 190, 200 per tola on Wednesday.

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,970 per tola today.

Storage is one of the most important aspects of every home. We all need it and lots of it too. But it’s often the one thing we lack. As we accumulate stuff over the years, we run out of space to keep them all and find ourselves struggling to manage our homes.

Proper storage can be a lifesaver. And the good thing is that you don’t need big homes for extra storage space. There are plenty of ingenious ideas that you can use to maximize storage space in your homes. Here we present some great storage solutions that can help you keep your home clutter free (and no, we aren’t going to tell you to stow things under the bed).

Functional coffee tables and ottomans

A great coffee table can make your living space come alive but it can also double as storage. These days, you can get tables with hidden storage space underneath them or those with shelves on the sides instead of legs. You can also customize your own coffee table to suit your needs. Build a deep one with storage inside or choose one where the top moves to varying heights depending on how much stuff you put underneath. You can also use ottomans as coffee tables. You simply have to put a wooden or metallic tray on top to display items you normally would like vases or coasters on the center table. Ottomans are great storage solutions as they look sleek and can be made in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Baskets and boxes

Pretty baskets and boxes can be used to store things out of sight. From towels and toilet paper to charging cables and makeup items, you can store almost anything in big wicker baskets or lovely paper boxes with interesting designs on them. This will help keep your home tidy as well as maintain a sense of order. Most of the time, similar things tend to be kept in different drawers and in many places. Grouping them together and storing them in boxes and baskets can save space and help you find them easily when you need them. We suggest you get paper boxes in the same color to store similar items. For example, get green boxes for cords and electrical items, yellow for makeup and other personal knick knacks, and blue for medicines and such supplies. This can help you identify items without having to open each box.

Hidden storage spaces

You can have a local carpenter build simple shelves and cabinets in unused spaces like below the staircase and forgotten corners of your home like the awkward space between two rooms or the landing of the stairs. You can find many great designs on Pinterest and even Instagram. You can also strategically stow filing cabinets in corners of your home to maximize space or build concealed shelves along the walls. There are plenty of sleek cabinet designs that merge seamlessly on the walls. If you have a window space that is unused, consider building a seating area along the length of it. You can have storage underneath the seats. This idea can also be used in dining table benches or your living room sofa. The key here is to look at furniture pieces with a fresh eye and figure out which can double as storage space.

Kitchen island

Kitchen spaces need to be functional and practical. But they also tend to be the most under-utilized space in terms of storage. Just because a kitchen is where you cook your meals doesn’t mean it can’t be a space where you can aesthetically store your utensils and equipment. A kitchen island can be a great way to incorporate functionality into your space while adding tons of storage to it. Consider building one in the center of your kitchen. The top can be used to do all the work like chopping and prepping for meals while you can store pretty much anything in the cabinets and drawers underneath. If you think having an island at the center of your kitchen might make the area seem congested, you can also build a smaller one on one side of the area to ensure it doesn’t get in the way.

Revamp your entryway

Oftentimes, the entryway in your homes is the most unused and empty space in the house. At the most, we will have a table there to drop our keys and wallets. Otherwise it’s just a place that connects your front door to the rest of the house, a space you don’t give much thought to while decorating. Make use of this space while trying to maximize storage in your home. You don’t need a large lobby area to do this. A simple bench with storage underneath to put your shoes and maybe a rack to hang your bags and coats can keep this area from becoming cluttered. You can also use a large cabinet to partition the area from the rest of your space and use this as additional storage.