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Hilton Kathmandu marked the beginning of the festive season with a joyful Cake Mixing Ceremony at its Lava Box coffee shop, drawing in guests, partners, and team members for a celebration filled with tradition and holiday spirit. This inaugural event embraced the rich aromas of spices, fruits, and spirits, officially kicking off Hilton’s seasonal festivities and creating an atmosphere of warmth and cheer.

The Cake Mixing Ceremony, a longstanding holiday tradition symbolizing unity and joy, encouraged participants to don Santa hats and aprons as they joined Hilton’s culinary team in blending dried fruits, nuts, and spices soaked in liqueurs. The spirited gathering highlighted the communal preparation of the fruit mixture that will soon become Hilton’s signature holiday fruitcake, bringing together friends, family, and the local community.

“We are delighted to introduce this cherished tradition to Kathmandu, celebrating joy, togetherness, and the anticipation of the holiday season,” said Sanjeev Jaiswal, Director of Food & Beverage at Hilton Kathmandu. “This event embodies the heart of Hilton’s hospitality – creating unique experiences that celebrate culture and connection.”

Guests, influencers, and media were in attendance, capturing the highlights and enjoying festive treats and signature cocktails crafted specially for the occasion. The Cake Mixing Ceremony is set to become an annual fixture, symbolizing Hilton Kathmandu’s commitment to celebrating community and holiday tradition.

The 5th Kathmandu Symposia on Advanced Materials (KaSAM) concluded at Park Village Resort in Kathmandu, gathering over 200 scientists, researchers, and students from around the globe. Organized by the Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), Tribhuvan University, College of Biomedical Engineering and Applied Sciences, India’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, and Germany’s Institute für Polymerwerkstoffe (IPW), the three-day event focused on interdisciplinary research in materials science.

Key sessions explored innovations in smart materials, sustainable technologies, and bio-based materials, underscoring the importance of material science research in societal applications. “This year’s conference was dedicated to disseminating Nepal’s latest scientific advancements globally,” said Rameshwar Adhikari, President of NPI and KaSAM-2024 Chair.

Distinguished speakers included Vice-chancellor Keshar Jung Baral of Tribhuvan University and Vice-chancellor Poonam Tandon of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, with attendees from Nepal, India, the USA, Germany, and Japan. The event featured 151 research papers and awarded standout presentations with the Best Poster Award. Notably, three MoUs were signed to foster institutional collaborations between universities and scientific organizations in Nepal, India, and Germany.

The event was supported by various Nepali institutions and private sector entities, including the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, NAST, and Nabil Bank. In the closing remarks, Hari Sharan Adhikari, Vice-president of NPI, announced that the sixth KaSAM conference will take place in Pokhara in 2026, aiming to further strengthen global partnerships and advance material science research in Nepal.

The GreenShift Nepal project, aimed at promoting a circular economy and tackling plastic waste, has completed its first year. The four-year initiative, funded by the European Union, spans nine municipalities across the Bagmati, Madhes, and Lumbini provinces. The project is being led by the Centre for Research and Sustainable Development (CREASION) in collaboration with consortium partners Restless Development and Youth Innovation Lab.

During its first year, GreenShift launched in Bardibas, Nepalgunj, and Lalitpur, partnering with schools, youth groups, waste management enterprises, and local governments. “Through a collaborative spirit, the project has already begun to make waves, shifting mindsets, behaviors, and local systems to embrace the principles of circular economy,” according to a press statement issued by CREASION.

One of the project’s key pillars, the Climate Smart School (CSS) program, empowered over 6,000 students in 12 schools, leading them to spearhead 95 green initiatives that inspire eco-conscious behavior in their communities. Additionally, three youth groups received grants to implement 34 community projects, ranging from waste mapping to organizing clean-up campaigns.

“GreenShift Nepal has also made strides in policy development, drafting waste management policies for Lalitpur, Bardibas, and Nepalgunj, which are set to be adopted in the project’s second year,” the statement added. “The project has already impacted thousands of students and individuals, training 79 local government officials on sustainable waste management practices, embedding the principles of circular economy across the provinces.”

A two-day event was held for the annual review and experience-sharing, where the European Union (EU) ambassador to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, emphasized the importance of the GreenShift campaign for climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development. She highlighted the role of youth in bringing about positive changes in society through the GreenShift campaign.

“The campaign is close to my heart, and every change the youth wants is possible,” she said. “Youth are the agents of change; they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. The achievements of this project in just one year are a vivid example.”

Encouraging the young students and teachers present, Ambassador Lorenzo stated, “You are the center of hope for change, and I call on everyone to work together for the protection and development of our environment.” She further stressed the need for the compulsory implementation of waste management and circular economy frameworks, noting that the circular economy holds significant potential for Nepal to become a regional leader in green energy.

Aanand Mishra, founder and president of CREASION, described GreenShift as more than just a project—it’s a comprehensive campaign. He highlighted the success of uniting all three levels of government, schools, students, teachers, youth groups, private waste entrepreneurs, and sanitation workers under a common goal, driven by collective leadership and a shared vision.

Pradeep Khatiwada, executive director of Youth Innovation Lab, praised the contribution of Waste Smart Fellows in creating data-driven policies, emphasizing the importance of data-based advocacy.

Anjali Bajracharya, deputy mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan Municipality, expressed gratitude to the EU, CREASION, and other organizations for conducting the project in the city, and highlighted the need to expand such campaigns on a larger scale.

Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has released an in-depth analysis paper on the government’s proposed ‘Social Media (Usage and Regulation) Bill 2080’. The paper, which critiques and provides recommendations based on Nepal’s constitution, international human rights laws, and expert consultations, was formally presented on Oct 6 to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, by Santosh Sigdel, the Executive Director of Digital Rights Nepal.

During the handover ceremony, Secretary of the Ministry, Radhika Aryal, expressed that the analysis paper will be instrumental in finalizing the bill. The bill, organized into eight chapters and 64 sections, outlines provisions for establishing a Social Media Management Council and Center, registering platforms, and enforcing penalties for prohibited activities.

The analysis specifically scrutinizes vague prohibitive clauses on social media content, criminal defamation provisions, mandatory platform registration, and regulations on content removal. Additionally, it raises concerns about the criminalization of anonymous or pseudonymous identities, stressing the need to protect freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

Sigdel emphasized that the Supreme Court recently instructed the government to draft laws on social media regulation, and the analysis paper offers valuable insights for developing rights-based and effective legislation. The full text of the analysis is available on the Digital Rights Nepal website.