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Rhigendra Giri of Nepal Farm Byabyasayi Sangh and Anubandha Pradhan of Nepal Ganja Baidhanik Mahaabhiyan are on a hunger strike to pressure the court for a prompt hearing and verdict on a case filed four years ago.

The two associations demand the legalization of marijuana in Nepal, arguing it can improve the livelihood of common people, enhance health through medicinal use, and boost the economy and tourism. After rallies, agitations, and public sit-ins failed to exert enough pressure, the marijuana activists resorted to a hunger strike.

Today marks the sixth day of their protest, during which they continue to demand a prompt hearing and have stated they are prepared to accept any court verdict. Their hunger strike is taking place at the Jay Bageshwori Temple premises in Kathmandu.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu concluded its two-day Creator’s Mela on Saturday. This conference was designed to sharpen and develop the skills of Nepali digital creators and influencers, helping them launch and grow their online presence or businesses. The event was themed ‘Build, Brand, and Boost’.

Every session in the program provided information to inspire and transform young people in the context of our rapidly changing digital society. Influential speakers such as Priyanka Karki, Elise Hu, Oshin Sitaula, Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Shanta Nepali, Lemi, and Parakram Rana, among others, were invited to share their insights.

Journalist Hu emphasized the importance of prioritizing the audience over the content itself while Sitaula discussed the Instagram algorithm, the significance of watch time, and her own experiences blogging about food.

Addressing critical remarks, Karki stated, “I try to turn every negative controversial topic into positive points so that it won’t affect my health. But, after all, we are all human beings, and it does affect me at some point.”

Former Miss Nepal Khatiwada expressed her unease about the future of social media. “If you are involved in any type of social platform, you need to be true to yourself, be honest, and have the right intentions. Despite that, if someone judges you badly, that’s beyond your control, so you can voice it and move on,” she commented.

Sizzu, setting an example for young women, stated that everyone must exercise caution and never misuse their newfound freedom. She noted the changes and advances she has witnessed in the places she has traveled, which greatly motivate her. As a solo female traveler, she received the Solo Travel Award 2024.

More than 1,000 content creators attended the event over two days. This year, there were 31 sessions and acts, including 12 main stage sessions and 19 interactive sessions on topics such as podcasting, brand-building, monetization, and mental health. Performances, including fashion shows and music concerts, were also held on the main stage.

Sessions covered various topics, including podcasting, growing social media presence across different platforms, leveraging AI for social media success, visual storytelling, addressing social media regulations, attracting sponsors, Q&A sessions, food vlogging, Instagram stories and reel workshops, comedy writing workshops, travel vlogging, building personal brands, boosting presentation skills, and protecting online businesses.

The Nepali debate team has set a new national record at the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) by advancing into the knockout rounds and reaching the Round of 16 for the first time. The team concluded their historic run at the 36th edition of the Championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia, narrowly losing to Qatar in the Round of 16.

Team Nepal won five out of eight preliminary rounds and secured 13 ballots across all preliminary rounds. They achieved victories against Uganda, Argentina, Slovakia, Poland, and Japan, with losses to the Netherlands, Serbia, and England. In the knockout stage, Nepal defeated the UAE in the Round of 32.

Previously ranked 40th in the world for debate, the Nepali team finished as one of the top 16 countries out of the 68 participating in the World Championship, breaking all previous national records. The team members—Bishwojeet Bista, Sadhabi Mahat, Sangya Pandey, and Sujal Khadka—were coached by former national team member and DNN Board Member Pragyan Kumar Acharya. Debate Network Nepal (DNN), the national debating body, facilitated the screening and participation. The team was supported by Himalayan Capital Pvt Ltd and Lumiere Education.

Nepal first participated in the WSDC in 2010 in Qatar, followed by appearances in 2011 in Scotland and 2015 in Singapore. Since the 2016 WSDC in Germany, DNN has been facilitating the participation. This is Nepal's 12th participation and the ninth iteration managed by DNN.

The global tournament follows a three-versus-three WSDC format, with each round lasting an hour and featuring six main speeches and two reply speeches. Impromptu Points of Information (POIs) are exchanged during the main speeches and must be addressed by the speaker on the spot. The topics, referred to as motions, are considered to be proposed by the Government side in Parliament. The motion for the Round of 16 was “This house regrets the narrative that money cannot buy happiness.” Out of the three judges, the Chair Judge voted in favor of Nepal, but it was not enough for Opposition Nepal to advance to the quarter-finals.

The Honorary Consul Corps-Nepal (HCC-N) celebrated its Charter Day and convened the 17th Annual General Meeting at Hotel Marriott Kathmandu on Tuesday. On the occasion, Chandra Dhakal, Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Nepal, was elected as the new Dean of HCC-N. Outgoing Dean Vishnu Agarwal handed over the deanship and organization’s logo to Dhakal.

With 62 Honorary Consuls/Consul Generals representing countries without residential diplomatic missions in Nepal, HCC-N plays a pivotal role in promoting economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between Nepal and these nations, claims the organization. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, the Chief Guest of the event, acknowledged the significant contributions of Honorary Consuls and Consul General in enhancing Nepal’s international relations. She emphasized the importance of economic diplomacy in attracting foreign investment from the represented countries.

Outgoing Dean Agarwal underscored the values of service, volunteerism, and goodwill that define HCC-N’s initiatives. He highlighted that the Lumbini Conclave on ‘Global Peace and Prosperity’ was successful in promoting the message of peace, tourism, trade and mutual understanding among nations. The conclave, organized on the aegis of HCCN, was attended by 19 non-residential ambassadors and mission representatives. 

In his address as the new Dean, Dhakal outlined his vision for HCCN, emphasizing its role in advancing economic diplomacy and safeguarding the interests of sending states. He pledged to strengthen partnerships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to capitalize on emerging opportunities for Nepal’s economic growth and development. “I assure you the HCCN will actively lobby for increased FDI and the signing of BIAs with as many countries as possible. Our efforts will bring substantial investment into Nepal and contribute to our nation’s economic growth,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of a conducive investment climate in Nepal. 

The event also launched the HCC-N website (www.hcc-nepal.org).