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The international launch of Captain Rameshwar Thapa’s book Into the Fire took place in New Delhi during a special ceremony. The event, part of the 4th Delhi edition of Kitab Jatra, was graced by Acting Nepali Ambassador to India Dr Surendra Thapa, former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, and renowned expert on India-Nepal relations, Ashok Mehta, along with other distinguished guests.

The ceremony also featured a panel discussion on Nepal-India relations. In his remarks, Acting Ambassador Thapa highlighted the importance of literature in understanding historical events, noting that Into the Fire sheds light on significant incidents from the past. “The study of literature is crucial, regardless of one’s profession or business,” he stated. Former Ambassador Puri praised Captain Thapa for providing valuable insights into the politics and geopolitics of Nepal, emphasizing that the book will serve as an important resource for the younger generation to understand the country’s past and present challenges. He urged the youth to read the book to gain a deeper understanding of Nepal’s complex history.

Captain Thapa explained that the book portrays Nepali society during the 10-year armed conflict, expressing confidence that the lessons learned from this period will help prevent a recurrence. He described the book as a significant document for future generations to understand the socio-political dynamics of that era. “Nepal and India share a long-standing, cordial relationship, and we must work to deepen it,” he remarked, stressing the need to enhance bilateral economic ties and cooperation.

Thapa also referenced Bal Aditya Guru, noting that the young prodigy often described Nepal and India as the land of gods. Guru, who has already published several books at the age of seven, was lauded for his contributions to the literary world, with Thapa highlighting his valuable insights into both Nepal and India’s histories.

Ashok Mehta emphasized the book's importance in understanding the Maoist conflict and its impact on Nepali society. He further advocated for continued dialogue between Nepal and India, particularly concerning the ongoing suspension of Nepali recruitment into the Indian Army, urging both governments to take action on the issue.

Atul K Thakur, Secretary of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised Into the Fire for its detailed account of Nepal’s past, stating that it offers a valuable perspective on the country’s history and current situation. He underscored the importance of strengthening Nepal-India relations.

Chairperson of the Kitab Jatra Foundation, Rishi Ram Adhikari, expressed his delight at the book’s release during the fourth edition of the festival, commending Thapa for his insightful depiction of Nepali society.

Prior to the international launch, Into the Fire was released in Kathmandu in the presence of Bal Aditya Guru, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The book is the English translation of Thapa’s earlier work Barud Mathi Udda.

Over 300 participants, including youths, farmers, women, people with disabilities, members of civil society organizations, and marginalized and indigenous people, gathered in Kathmandu for the People’s Climate March 2024. They called for accountability in climate finance, urging the Global North to #PayUp for its climate debt.

The march began at Jawalakhel at 8:30 am, passing through Damkal Chowk and Lalitpur Mahanagar Parisar, and ended at Pimbahal Pokhari at 10 am. 

A flash mob led by youth groups energized the concluding event at Pimbahal Pokhari, where speakers from diverse backgrounds shared their views. Moderated by Ojaswee Amagain of Climates Nepal and Susmita Baidawar of the Digo Bikas Institute, the session featured prominent voices, including Min Bahadur Shahi from the Human Rights Alliance, Lubh Raj Neupane of RYOM, Jharana Giri from Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), and Ganesh Dhami of Youth Advocacy Nepal (YAN).

“Today, we stand united with activists worldwide, demanding climate justice,” said one speaker. The rally participants emphasized the $5trn annual debt owed by the Global North to the Global South, calling for immediate action on climate finance as both a moral and legal obligation.

Supported by 24 civil society organizations and networks in Nepal, the march echoed global demands for climate justice and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, in collaboration with GIZ’s Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystems (GRAPE) Project, has successfully conducted Climate Resilient Agriculture Workshops for young farmers from Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. The workshops provided participants, aged 18 to 25, with critical insights into climate change, its effects on agriculture, and practical strategies for mitigation and adaptation tailored to their local environments.

As climate change increasingly threatens food security and agricultural systems, the initiative aims to drive positive change through dialogue and climate action. The workshop is part of a broader four-part series, culminating in a talk event titled “Adapting Agriculture to Changing Climates.”

Govinda Sharma, the lead trainer from the HASERA Permaculture Learning Center, highlighted the hands-on malt-making process as a key learning experience. Many participants, who had previously relied on traditional farming practices, found the workshop transformative. Learning to convert basic cereal grains into malt not only introduced them to new skills but also revealed income-generating opportunities for their communities.

Sharma also emphasized other practical skills taught during the workshop, such as biochar production, advanced composting techniques, and pest control—each tailored to the specific agricultural needs of the participants. The immediate impact of the workshop is already visible: one participant from Karnali has started producing malt from local grains and is eager to pursue quality checks, marking an early success in what promises to be a wave of innovation across the region.

One of the organizers of these workshops expressed optimism about the future of youth engagement in agriculture, saying, “Hearing these young farmers share their stories made me realize the resilience it takes to grow food in such challenging conditions and the vital role they play in feeding our communities.”

The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub is now looking forward to the upcoming talk series, which will further explore adaptive strategies for agriculture in the face of climate change and empower the next generation of farmers in Nepal.

For the first time in Nepal, an international-level engineering exhibition is set to take place with the Orbit Engineering Expo 2.0, organized by Engineers Vlogs. Scheduled for Dec 6-8, at Sagarmatha Engineering College in Sanepa, Lalitpur, the expo promises to be one of the biggest student-level technical festivals in Nepal.

Following the success of the Orbit Engineering Expo 2022, this year’s event will bring together over 100 futuristic projects from 8+ countries, with a target audience of 50,000+. Organizers also plan to involve Nepal Police and the Nepali Army to showcase their technologies, while for the first time, both engineering and medical professionals will present projects under one roof.

The event will feature major competitions like international Robo war, robot soccer, robot race, and a 48-hour hackathon. Additionally, participants can join various tech challenges, including a CAD competition, Survey Challenge, Tech-Debate, and more.

The expo will also include a free health camp, a grand Engineers Musical Night, and a closing ceremony with cash prize distribution. Engineers Vlogs hopes the event will demonstrate Nepal’s readiness to host international exhibitions and highlight the capabilities of Nepali students in AI and emerging technologies.