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On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their respective visits to New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The India-Nepal friendship is very robust, and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology, and trade,” Modi said while sharing pictures with Oli on his X account.

Prime Minister Oli also met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and explored ways to further strengthen ties between Nepal and Kuwait.

On Sunday, PM Oli delivered a compelling address at the “Summit of the Future” session at the UN headquarters in New York. Representing the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), he highlighted the pressing global challenges facing LDCs, with a focus on poverty, industrialization, and climate justice.

In his speech, PM Oli emphasized the urgent need for industrialization and increased production to combat poverty, a shared challenge for LDCs. He noted that while these countries contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. He called on developed nations to increase their investment in climate financing, underscoring the need for global solidarity.

“Millions of children in LDCs go hungry every day, deprived of their basic rights to food and education,” PM Oli said, stressing that poverty is a significant barrier to a sustainable future for the world’s most vulnerable. He urged for concerted international efforts toward poverty alleviation and highlighted the moral imperative for wealthier nations to address growing inequality.

PM Oli also expressed concern over unmet commitments to Official Development Assistance (ODA), delayed international support, and rising debt distress in LDCs. He raised the issue of the digital divide, which continues to widen the gap between rich and poor countries, and criticized the global financial and trading systems for being fundamentally unfair to LDCs.

Despite these challenges, PM Oli spoke optimistically about the future, welcoming the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” as a blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. He called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and stronger global governance structures that include LDCs in decision-making processes.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging global leaders to invest in productive capacities, sustainable development, and rural upliftment, advocating for meaningful partnerships to ensure equitable progress for all nations.

In addition to his discussions with Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Oli held a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday. During their conversation, Guterres expressed gratitude for Nepal’s vital contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. Nepal has long been recognized as a steadfast contributor of troops and police to UN missions, reflecting the country’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security.

The two leaders discussed several critical issues, including Nepal’s leadership role as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Guterres highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change, particularly concerning mountain regions, which are especially vulnerable to environmental changes. The conversation also emphasized the importance of advancing Nepal’s transitional justice process, an issue of significant national importance.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Oli described the meeting as productive, focusing on essential topics such as transitional justice and climate justice. He expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships for a better future, highlighting Nepal’s commitment to social justice and sustainable development.

According to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, the discussions covered various aspects of Nepal-UN cooperation. Guterres commended Nepal for its unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the UN Charter. He reiterated that addressing climate change is a top priority for the UN, particularly the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist vulnerable mountain countries like Nepal. The Secretary-General emphasized that adequate climate finance is essential for developing countries, including LDCs, to effectively engage in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Prime Minister Oli informed Guterres about the recent enactment of Nepal’s transitional justice law, which adopts a victim-centric approach and aligns with guidance from the Supreme Court and international norms. He assured the Secretary-General of the government’s commitment to implementing this law smoothly to resolve transitional justice issues once and for all.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on Nepal, specifically mentioning the permafrost issues in Thame, Solukhumbu, that have arisen due to global warming. He stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges and indicated that Nepal would be convening the Sagarmatha Sambad—a dialogue platform focused on the mountain ecosystem—inviting Guterres to participate.

Oli also articulated Nepal’s ambition to graduate from the LDC category by 2026 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged Guterres to advocate for enhanced development assistance from the international community to support this goal.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security, as the country is the largest Troops and Police Contributing Country (TPCC) to UN peace missions. He appealed to Guterres for the appointment of high-level positions for Nepal both at the UN headquarters and in the field.

Guterres expressed deep concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers and the resultant damage, assuring Prime Minister Oli of his commitment to enhancing resources within the Loss and Damage Fund to support affected countries.

Prime Minister Oli was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Joint-Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

In addition to his meetings, Prime Minister Oli addressed the “Parliamentary Forum on Financing the Future: Aligning Finance with the Promise of the Paris Agreement” as the keynote speaker. In his address, he stressed the critical importance of phasing out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climatic disasters that are becoming more frequent and severe. He urged for increased investment in green and renewable energy technologies, advocating for a just transition to renewable energy and better access to climate funds for vulnerable countries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Undersecretary-General Rabab Fatima, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Oli. During their discussion, they exchanged views on the Nepal-UN partnership, the ongoing efforts to help Nepal graduate from the LDC category, and preparations for the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).

Prime Minister Oli arrived in New York on Friday on a 10-day visit, marking his first foreign engagement since his reappointment as Prime Minister on July 15.

The first half of this year was perhaps the worst ever in terms of reading. I must have completed 10 to 12 books at the most. Ideally, I would have read double that number in six months. I left the others midway because they didn’t grab my attention, I couldn’t wrap my head around the plots, or it felt like the wrong time to be reading certain books as I was feeling triggered by many things I read.

 Things changed in the second half of the year as I came across some fabulous books that I couldn’t put down. But I feel my reading pace picking up too. I think it was because despite facing a massive reading slump, I hadn’t completely given up on reading. I always had a book with me and a story in my head. 2024 was a bad year of reading for many of my friends as well. Some of them confessed they hadn’t touched a book in months. But I needed some distraction. I function better if there is a fictional character in my head. 

 This week, I thought I would share some tips on how to get over a reading slump as well as recommend some books that helped me stay sane when most fictional worlds weren’t making sense. These are tried and tested methods that worked for me and I really hope you find them helpful too.

 Reread your favorites

There is nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and your favorite book. You know you won’t be disappointed. I read ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl, ‘A Man Called Ove’ by Fredrik Backman, ‘Roar’ by Cecelia Ahern, ‘Intimacy’ by Hanif Kureishi, and ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ by Mark Haddon when I didn’t feel like reading a new book. These books are on a separate shelf in my room and just looking at their spines makes me happy. Sometimes, i no t was just about letting familiar words and settings wash over me and soothe me. Rereading stories that I love made it easier to keep the ball rolling in terms of reading.

 Every reader has some absolute favorite books. I think it helps if you keep these by your bedside (if you have a small stack) or on a separate shelf or cupboard (if the stack keeps getting bigger) so that you can pick one up whenever you find that you aren’t reading anything. Rereading your favorite books also helps you reevaluate them and understand why you love them so much—oftentimes you will come to realize that they provide the comfort you crave, have a therapeutic effect or help you see the world in a different light.

 Try short books or stories

Short stories were my savior when I couldn’t read bigger tomes like ‘Tomb of Sand’ by Geetanjali Shree and ‘The Covenant of Water’ by Abraham Verghese. I’ve heard great things about both these books and will definitely be reading them. I guess the time wasn’t right when I picked them up because I just couldn’t concentrate. This was when I picked up short stories. I read ‘Her Body and Other Parties’ by Carmen Maria Machado, ‘The Diving Pool’ by Yoko Ogawa, and ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ by Mariana Enriquez. All these collections were surreal and had elements of horror in them and had me hooked.

 What I love about short stories is the fact that they are short and it takes very little time and effort to read one. If you are bored, you can read one on your phone right now. When you are done, you feel a sense of accomplishment that’s not very different from having finished a novel. At the end of the day, a story is a story. If you are looking for something short and by short, I mean stories that are a couple pages long then I suggest you read ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’ by Raymond Carver.

 Pick up mangas

Mangas are the new pop culture. Whenever I go to the bookstore, I see teenagers and youngsters checking them out or inquiring about them. There seems to be a manga craze among people who don’t read much as well. I recently heard a couple discuss how reading a manga was like watching a movie or a series. The images came fully formed in your head unlike reading a book when you have to conjure up the scenes yourself, the girl said. I don’t wholly agree with them—there’s a separate pleasure in being able to think up scenes and situations by yourself.

 But I have come to enjoy manga too. My favorite is ‘The Spy Family’ series. The drawings are great. I find myself looking at a page for far longer than it takes me to read what’s on it. ‘The Heartstopper’ series by Alice Oseman is another graphic novel that explores same-sex relationships in a heartwarming, empathetic, and realistic way. The biggest challenge of reading is that if you are new to it, you can’t visualize what is written or what the writer wants to convey. It’s an acquired skill that takes time.

 Mangas can come to your rescue as each scene is elaborately drawn for you. I have realized that mangas have unique storylines, characters, and plots. Also, most mangas read from right to left, the reverse of English, which reads from left to right. It makes for a fun and different experience. 

Read on the kindle or phone

Reading books on your kindle or phone works best when you find you can’t read much in a single sitting. This way you can find little pockets of time, for example during your commute or when you are waiting for a meeting to start, to read a couple of pages. For me, reading on the kindle helps me read at a leisurely pace as I don’t know how long the chapter or how big the book is (I turn the page setting off). That way I’m not overwhelmed by how much more there is to go. Also, being able to adjust the font and the brightness is helpful when the lighting is low.

The film industry worldwide is undergoing a significant transformation, and Nepal is no exception. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the landscape of filmmaking is evolving rapidly, offering new opportunities and challenges. AI’s integration into the Nepali film industry is not just a trend but a revolution that promises to redefine how films are made, distributed, and consumed.

Pre-production: Enhancing creativity and efficiency

In the pre-production phase, AI tools are proving to be invaluable. Scriptwriting, for instance, can benefit immensely from AI algorithms that analyze successful scripts and suggest improvements. AI can help writers develop more engaging plots, create realistic dialogues, and even predict the potential success of a script based on various parameters. This not only saves time but also enhances the creative process by providing writers with new perspectives and ideas.

Moreover, AI can assist in casting by analyzing actors’ past performances and predicting their suitability for specific roles. This data-driven approach ensures that the right talent is chosen, which can significantly impact the film’s success. For directors and producers in Nepal, this means making more informed decisions that align with both artistic vision and market demands.

Production: Streamlining processes and reducing costs

During the production phase, AI technologies can streamline various processes, making filmmaking more efficient and cost-effective. AI-powered cameras and drones can capture high-quality footage with precision, reducing the need for multiple takes and extensive reshoots. These technologies can also handle complex shots that would be challenging or dangerous for human operators.

In addition, AI can assist in managing schedules, budgets, and logistics. By analyzing data from previous projects, AI can predict potential delays and suggest ways to mitigate them. This proactive approach helps keep productions on track and within budget, which is particularly beneficial for the Nepali film industry, where resources are often limited.

Post-production: Revolutionizing editing and visual effects

Post-production is where AI’s impact is most profound. AI-driven editing software can automate many tedious tasks, such as sorting through hours of footage, identifying the best takes, and assembling rough cuts. This allows editors to focus on the creative aspects of their work, such as refining the narrative and enhancing the emotional impact of scenes.

AI is also revolutionizing visual effects (VFX). Advanced algorithms can generate realistic CGI, perform complex compositing, and even create entire scenes from scratch. This opens up new possibilities for filmmakers in Nepal, enabling them to produce high-quality visual effects without the need for expensive equipment or large teams.

Distribution: Targeting audiences and maximizing reach 

AI’s role extends beyond production into distribution and marketing. AI algorithms can analyze audience preferences and viewing habits to predict which films will resonate with different demographics. This information can be used to tailor marketing campaigns, ensuring that promotional efforts reach the right audience.

For the Nepali film industry, this means more effective use of limited marketing budgets. By targeting specific segments of the population, filmmakers can maximize their reach and increase the chances of their films being successful. AI can also assist in optimizing release schedules, choosing the best platforms for distribution, and even setting ticket prices based on demand predictions.

Challenges and ethical considerations

While AI offers numerous benefits, its integration into the film industry also raises several challenges and ethical considerations. One major concern is the potential loss of jobs as AI automates tasks traditionally performed by humans. This is a significant issue in Nepal, where the film industry provides employment to many people.

To address this, it is essential to focus on reskilling and upskilling the workforce. By providing training in AI and related technologies, the industry can ensure that workers are equipped to take on new roles and responsibilities. Additionally, there should be a balance between automation and human creativity, ensuring that AI enhances rather than replaces human input.

Another ethical consideration is the potential for bias in AI algorithms. If the data used to train AI systems is biased, it can lead to unfair and discriminatory outcomes. This is particularly relevant in casting and scriptwriting, where biased algorithms could perpetuate stereotypes and limit diversity. It is crucial to develop and implement AI systems that are transparent, fair, and inclusive.

Future of AI in Nepali film industry 

The future of AI in the Nepali film industry looks promising. As technology continues to advance, AI will become even more integrated into all aspects of filmmaking. This will lead to more efficient production processes, higher-quality films, and greater opportunities for creative expression.

For filmmakers in Nepal, embracing AI is not just about staying current with global trends but also about leveraging technology to overcome local challenges. By adopting AI, the Nepalese film industry can enhance its competitiveness, reach a wider audience, and tell more compelling stories.

In conclusion, AI is set to play a pivotal role in the future of the Nepalese film industry. Its ability to enhance creativity, streamline production, and optimize distribution makes it an invaluable tool for filmmakers. However, it is essential to address the challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI to ensure that its integration benefits everyone involved. With the right approach, AI can help the Nepali film industry achieve new heights and continue to thrive in the digital age.

Nepal’s latest population census highlights ‘rapid demographic changes’, with an aging population and declining growth, particularly among the young and dynamic. A nation’s youthful, healthy, fertile and educated population is regarded as a vital ‘element of national power’, playing a key role in advancing national security, interests and economic productivity. The overall well-being of current generations, including their health, mindset, and values like humanism and compassion, directly impacts the future prosperity of societies and nations. Ensuring the welfare of today’s population is crucial for sustaining future generations.

As Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli prepares to attend the ‘Summit of the Future’ and address the 79th UNGA session, Nepal has the chance to capitalize on its internal strengths and promote its values on a global stage. By leveraging its ‘soft power’ in international forums, Nepal can enhance its foreign policy objectives, aligning with its mission of achieving ‘Happy Nepali, Prosperous Nepal’.