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The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) began in Turkmenistan today. 

Hojamyrat Geldimyradov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, and Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the heads of the nations and the heads of the governments to the Conference venue at the Awaza-based Sports Complex. 

In his address to an inaugural session, the UN Secretary General stressed the need for collective efforts with essential support and coordination to increase the LLDCs' access to international competitive markets and to address challenges they are facing. 

The President of the host nation, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, stressed the need for South-South cooperation to address economic and social challenges being faced by landlocked developing countries. He also pressed the need for active engagement of parliamentary forums, youth, and civil society networks to address these challenges.

Similarly, the President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, also addressed the opening session.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to address the Conference as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and in national capacity today, itself. 

The Prime Minister will also co-chair a high-level roundtable of the Conference and address other events.

Besides, the Prime Minister will meet heads of delegations from various countries and other high-level dignitaries of the UN and other international organizations on the margins of the Conference.   

Prime Minister Oli arrived here on August 4, leading a Nepali delegation.

.The Prime Minister is accompanied by his spouse  Radhika Shakya, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister  Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Member of the Federal Parliament, Surya Bahadur Thapa Kshetree, Prime Minister's private doctor Prof Dr Dibya Singh Shah, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai  and other high-ranking government officials. 

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on August 8.

Who doesn’t love getting gifts? We all feel loved when someone surprises us with an elaborately wrapped present on a special occasion or even something small on a random day. There’s something about receiving gifts that instantly brings a smile on our face as it shows us that someone cares. 

But it can be quite tough to decide what to give to people when an occasion demands it or when you just want to remind a friend how much she means to you. You want to make sure the gift you are giving isn’t something generic and will be used and perhaps even treasured by the recipient. Books and flowers are easy choices but they aren’t very personal. So, what can you do? Here are some brilliant ideas. 

Customized art prints

These days, customization is all the rage. There are many small businesses that provide the service at affordable prices. Find and choose a nice photo of the person you want to give something to or of his/her family and get an arty version made of it. A sketch or painting will work. There are businesses that will have photos etched on wood as well though these tend to be slightly on the expensive side. Alternatively, you can also opt for keychains or lanyards. This is sure to become a prized possession for the recipient. 

Pressed flowers

A bunch of flowers will wither and die and is also quite run of the mill. But pressed flowers will last a lifetime and also add an element of intrigue to any home. You might have to prepare a little in advance if you want to give this a try but the effort will surely be worth it. Dry some flowers,  put it between two sheets of paper, and press it between heavy books or place them under your mattress. It might take a few days for the flowers to be ready. Once they are, arrange and glue them artfully on a sheet of paper. Get this framed and voila, your personalized gift is ready. 

An ‘open when’ set of letters

This is a great idea for a friend or cousin who is close to you and you just want to brighten their day and remind them of how much you value them. Basically, you write them a bunch of notes or letters for specific moods or days. These are notes they can open when the day is gloomy and they are bored, when they need a bit of encouragement, or when they are stressed etc. On each envelope, write down when they should open them hence the name ‘open when’. You can choose to write your own thoughts and feelings or even opt for motivational quotes and poems. The idea is to give them some words of hope and comfort that they can turn to when they need them. 

Something handmade

Frame a motivational quote or poem for that kind colleague. Knit your friend a scarf. Sew a lovely silk pillow cover for your aunt. Make a Ganesha painting for your religious grandmother. Nothing can beat the allure of gifts which are made by you especially for the recipient. Most people will appreciate the fact that you took time out of your busy schedule to do something for them, however small. Everyone can go to a store and buy a gift but not everyone will take the time to make something. So think about what the person you want to give something to might like and work on it yourself. You could even learn some skills like macrame or candle making and put those to use. Think how lovely a friend will feel to get a macrame dreamcatcher made by you or when his house fills with the wondering aroma of a scented candle crafted by your hands. 

The gift of time

In this day and age when everyone is busy and hard pressed for time, there can be no better gift than the gift of time. Take your friend out on a movie date or spend a few hours at the spa, indulging in a pedicure and a massage. If your time and budget allows it, you can even plan a short trip. We recommend a day trip to Chandragiri hills or a hike around Godavari or Shivapuri. It can be a great chance to catch up and relax and recharge as well. You can also make a coupon book where you give them several handmade coupons for a coffee outing, a movie night, a vent session, or a shopping trip that they can use at later dates. 

We all use our phones way too much than we would like to admit. And as much as we try to minimize its use, there’s no denying that we invariably end up reaching for it—to make a call, text someone, or simply scroll through social media or watch some funny videos on YouTube. One of our readers confessed that she constantly turns on her phone to check the time since she doesn’t wear a watch and that inevitably has her checking her messages or social media accounts even when she doesn’t really need to. 

A digital detox is a time when you intentionally reduce the use of your devices to promote well-being and take care of your mental health. It’s believed to improve focus and sleep and reduce stress. It’s a well known fact that disconnecting from screens before bed can improve your sleep quality and that staying away from social media can help you forge better real-life connections. But as well meaning as our intentions might be, the allure of a smartphone or tablet is more often than not all too great. 

There are, however, small steps you can take to spend some time tech-free and become more in control of your life. The first and foremost thing you can do to stop letting tech control your life is set a clear goal on how much screen-time you are allowed. You can set a time for device use, schedule tech-free time, or declare the bedroom as a no-phone or tablet area. 

Next up, consider deleting social media apps from your phone. One of the people ApEx spoke to says his screen time went down significantly once he uninstalled Facebook and Instagram from his android phone. This, he says, was because he became less inclined to open the sites through browsers as that was a long process. Social media wasn’t just a tap away and that inaccessibility acted as a deterrent. 

Another thing that can help you disconnect from digital devices is to find hobbies that you can engage in. Whether it’s gardening, reading, or crocheting, hobbies can help reduce the time you spend scrolling on your phone. After all, we are more likely to curl up on the couch with our phones when we are bored and find ourselves with nothing better to do. Engaging in mindful activities that bring you joy can change how and when you use tech. 

And finally, consider switching off your phone and tablets during specific times of the day or for a day every week to start with. If that sounds like a bit much, then at least put your devices on silent mode. You will definitely use them less when you aren’t constantly distracted by message pings and notifications. 

A study has found that heavy technology use on a daily basis is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems among young adults. It was also linked to increased symptoms of ADHD and decreased well-being. A digital detox, thus, can be a good way to help you focus on your mental and physical well-being and not let technology rule your life. 

Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations," the agency said.

On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers, according to Reuters.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered prosecutors to open legal proceedings into allegations of a so-called Russiagate conspiracy that Donald Trump has long claimed was concocted by political foes to smear him, BBC reported.

Bondi has ordered a federal prosecutor to seek a potential indictment, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

It is unclear, however, what the possible charges might be and who could be charged.

Last month, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama and his national security team of a "years-long coup" against Trump as she released a declassified report that Democrats branded false, according to BBC.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 800 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 198, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 196, 600 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 280 per tola today.

Dang, Bardiya and Banke have received extremely heavy rainfall. 

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,  Dang received 227 millimeters of rainfall in the past 11 hours.

Similarly, Sikta in Banke has also received 200 millimeters of rainfall, while Manpur in Bardiya received 167 millimeters of rainfall. 

Dang has received more than 25 millimeters of rainfall in the past one hour.

According to meteorologist at the Weather Forecasting Division Hari Prasad Dahal, more rainfall is likely in western Nepal this afternoon and tonight. 

In the last six hours, heavy rain has fallen in Tulsipur, Ambapur, Jalakundi in Dang, West Rapti in Banke, Sikta, Manpur Rainfall Center in Bardiya and surrounding areas. 

The Flood Forecasting Division has requested to adopt high alert as there is a risk of flash floods and inundation in low-lying areas in Babai, West Rapti River, Duduwa River and other small rivers flowing through the area.

Currently, the monsoon winds are affecting the country. The monsoon will remain active for a few more days in the country, adds the Division.

The weather in most of the country today is cloudy, with light to moderate rain occurring in most parts of Lumbini, Madhes, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces, as well as in some places in Koshi and Bagmati Provinces.

The Dang-Salyan road section along the Rapti Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by a heavy rainfall at Kapurkot, the border point of Dang and Salyan districts. 

Tankeshwor Bhattarai, Chief at the Kapurkot Police Post, said that vehicular movement along the route has been completely obstructed from early morning today due to a landslide.  

Bhattarai said that the landslide occurred at Kapurkot Rural Municipality-3 in Salyan district and added that efforts are underway to clear the debris.. 

People have been told to use alternative routes and apply precautions in the wake of road obstruction and landslides.