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The price of gold has increased by Rs 2, 200 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 166, 900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 164, 700 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 45 and is being traded at Rs 1, 975 per tola today.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has said that there will be no rainfall in Kathmandu Valley for the next three days.

The country is currently under the influence of a westerly low-pressure system and hence the weather will remain partly to generally cloudy in Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Karnali Provinces today. The weather will remain clear in the rest of the country.

In addition, there is fog in some places in the Tarai of the country.

According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly parts of the country this afternoon while the rest of the country will remain clear.

There is a possibility of light snowfall in some places in the high hilly and mountainous parts of Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces and in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous parts of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces.

Tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly parts and clear in the rest of the country. There is a possibility of light snowfall in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous parts of Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

Meanwhile, according to the department's meteorologist Binu Maharjan, there is no possibility of rain in the Kathmandu Valley for the next three days, but the weather will be partly cloudy.

The minimum temperature in Kathmandu this morning was 8.6 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature will remain between 21 and 23 degrees Celsius.

The Embassy of Nepal in Muscat, Oman has officially started to issue labor permits to Nepali workers who are legally working in Oman and have not got such permits from Nepal.

It was the first live enrollment for legalization of labor permits in foreign countries which started on January 31, 2025 in Salalah, Oman.

The provision of legalization of labor permits from the Embassy itself is expected to greatly facilitate Nepali workers to receive several benefits as per the policy of the Government of Nepal, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Embassy.

Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman Dornath Aryal expressed confidence that the legalization of labor permit service would greatly help Nepali workers of this kind to take several benefits. 

The Ambassador also highlighted the importance of the social security fund, remittance flow through legal channels and requested to strictly follow the rules, regulations, tradition, culture of the host country.

On the occasion, Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment, Surya Bahadur Khatri congratulated everyone on the first-ever legalization of labor permits provided by the Embassy abroad and shed light on its significance.

The Nepali Workers present at the event expressed their happiness as the Embassy regularly provides services such as passport renewal, legalization of labor permit, and various other services in Salalah itself, located about 1100 kilometers from Muscat.

Representatives from the Nepali Social Club, volunteers, and Nepali associations actively participated and supported the program.

Nepali workers, who are currently working in companies in Oman without obtaining labor permits from Nepal, can now obtain labor permits at the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat.

For the legalization of labor permits, workers need to create their profile through the FEIMS system, upload documents, submit an online application and thereafter, they must appear in person at the Embassy for biometrics.

Ambassador of Nepal to the Commonwealth of Australia, Chitralekha Yadav, presented her Letters of Credence to Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn AC amid a special ceremony organized at the Government House in Canberra on Wednesday.

Following the ceremony, Ambassador Yadav paid a courtesy call on the Governor General of Australia and conveyed warm greetings and best wishes of President of Nepal Ram Chandra Paudel.

Ambassador Yadav also reiterated the invitation of the President of Nepal to the Governor General of Australia to visit Nepal.

During the meeting, they shared views on various aspects of bilateral relations between Nepal and Australia, which is based on mutual understanding, trust and cooperation and fostered by growing people-to-people relations.

High-ranking officials from the Australian Government and staff of the Embassy of Nepal were also present at the program.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has conveyed that Beijing is prepared to provide support if critical areas in Nepal are affected by US President Donald Trump’s executive order, which has halted all humanitarian assistance for the next 90 days.

At least two leaders from Nepal’s major communist parties stated that CPC representatives have informally assured them that China is ready to step in, particularly in countries of the Global South. A senior leader of CPN(Maoist Center) requesting anonymity said: “A CPC representative told me that China is willing to provide assistance if Nepal faces challenges in key sectors such as humanitarian aid, health, and education.”

However, the Chinese side has emphasized that any formal action would require an official request from the Nepal government. While CPC leaders have conveyed their position informally, there has been no direct government-to-government communication on the matter. The Chinese side also highlighted that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework agreement, signed during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China last year, has laid the foundation for expanded cooperation across multiple sectors.

According to Nepal’s communist party leaders, China is closely monitoring the potential impact of Trump’s policy on Nepal. China has already expanded its assistance in key areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, health, disaster relief, and poverty alleviation. In the health sector, China provides support to several major hospitals in Nepal, including BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Civil Hospital, and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital. Last year, Nepal and China renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on traditional medicine cooperation, agreeing to establish the China-Nepal Traditional Medicine Cooperation Commission. Additionally, Chinese medical teams have been visiting Nepal regularly to provide healthcare services in rural areas, conduct personnel training, and strengthen medical services.

The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), a government-supported non-governmental organization, has been active in Nepal since 2015, expanding its support in health, education, agriculture, and other socio-economic sectors. Through CFRD, China has been assisting Nepali farmers, healthcare workers, local schools, and municipal officials. In agriculture, China has significantly increased its involvement.

Additionally, China has proposed establishing a fertilizer plant in Nepal, but Beijing believes Nepal’s bureaucratic hurdles are delaying progress. Chinese universities have also been deepening their engagement with Nepali institutions. Overall, China has significantly increased its support in areas where the US previously played a major role.

On the global stage, China has expressed its readiness to support international organizations where the Trump administration has withdrawn funding. At a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting the World Health Organization (WHO), enhancing international cooperation in public health, and advancing global health governance. Geopolitical analysts suggest that China, as the US’s political rival, is strategically positioning itself to fill the void left by Washington, particularly in the Global South.

Tropilaelaps mite, which has become a big problem in beehives in Asian countries as well as India, has been seen for the first time in Nepal.

Foreign scientists, who arrived in Chitwan to participate in a three-day international conference organized by Agriculture and Forestry University here, found this mite in the course of monitoring beehives in the district.

A team comprising scientists of Korea and Taiwan had examined commercial beehives in eastern Chitwan.

According to Associate Professor at the University, Ram Hari Timilsina, such mite was found in course of examining beehives by a team comprising Honeybee and Pollination expert Dr Kedar Devkota, Chief of Honeybee Development Office, Chitwan, Sujan Amgai, Scientist of Andong University South Korea, and scientist of National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan.

The government should officially certify that it is mite after all evidence was submitted to the government.

The government has been saying that such mite was not found in mellifera reared commercially here so far. Devkota proved that the mite found in the course of monitoring by foreign scientists was Tropilaelaps. 

Devkota shared that the scientists have advised farmers and the Nepali experts as well to take precaution as the Varroa mite has also been found in that connection and it further breeds during June, July and August.

According to him, discussions were held during a conference on management of pest and disease of bees organized in the Netherlands three months back that Tropilaelaps mite is a big challenge in countries of Asia. The conference had also deliberated on ways of controlling this mite.

Nepal Beekeepers Association immediate past president Shiva Sharma, who was together with the scientists during the observation, said the beekeeper farmers should take precaution in view of the detection of the mite.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Arjun Kumar Shrestha said that various other important achievements have also been made in course of the conference. 

Along with Nepal, scientists from America, Taiwan, Korea, Bangladesh, India and Norway are participating in the conference. More than 50 working papers are to be presented in the conference that is concluding today.

Dr Shrestha said that more than 700 people have benefited from the conference that saw discussions on various researches carried out by the University and researches on agriculture conducted at the international level.

Future research topics to be conducted by the University were identified and prioritized and extensive interaction held to that connection in the conference.

Besides, the foreign scientists have carried out onsite observation of various aspects related to agriculture and provided their feedback.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister visited the Baluwatar-based Shivapuri Higher Secondary School and handed vaccination materials to health workers from the Kathmandu Metropolis-3. The nationwide campaign will run till February 18.

It targets girls from grade six to 10 and the Department of Health Service also ensures access to the vaccine for out-of-schools girls aged 10-14. 

Under the vaccination drive, 1,688,900 girls will be administered the vaccine that protects against cervical cancer, it has been said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Nepal and on average, it causes four deaths each day. It is caused by persistent infection of human papillomavirus.

Bhupal Baniya, chief dietician, at Nepal Police Hospital in Kathmandu, believes food plays an integral role in how well our body functions. In his 11 years at the hospital, he has seen many people suffer because of bad food habits. It’s gotten worse in recent times when people’s food choices are dictated by what they see on YouTube and other social media platforms. It’s good to want to be healthy but you must also educate yourself and not blindly follow trends, says Baniya. In a conversation with ApEx’s Cilla Khatry, Baniya highlighted the importance of eating according to your body type and making sure you are getting enough nutrients.

What are the things one must keep in mind while eating?

Why do we eat? Food is what gives us energy. It helps our body function. It can also aid in cellular protection and repair. But it can do all this only if our food has all the nutrients our body needs. So instead of focusing on just calories and filling up our bellies, we must make sure our food has all the good nutrients in it. For example, we need carbohydrates and this can come from various sources, especially unhealthy ones. So we have to be mindful it comes from sources like rice, millet, amaranth etc. Next, we need protein and for that we must choose grains, lentils, eggs, and meat rather than processed meats and protein bars. The idea is to eat whole food whenever we can.

Are there things we can incorporate in our daily diets to stay healthy?

Fruits and vegetables, and at least two servings of each, is what I recommend to most people. These have vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are so essential for proper functioning of our systems. People tend to avoid fat, especially those who want to lose weight. But oil and ghee need to be included in our diets too. You need fiber for a healthy gut and good digestion. Have a helping or two of salad in every meal if possible. For those who like and can digest dairy products, yogurt is a good option. It has good bacteria. If not, fermented products like kimchi can also provide the same benefits.

Is there a proper way to go on a diet?

I think all diets are pointless. It’s important to eat well and eat according to your body type. Any quick fixes are sure to fail. But, having said that, some people might need to go on a diet to gain or lose weight or for various other health reasons. For them, I would recommend consulting a dietician first to determine what their body needs and how to tailor their eating habits. It’s important to remember that diets impact different people differently. What works for your friend might not work for you. You must also remember that food is the fuel your body needs to function properly and not starve yourself in order to lose weight. Many people tend to do that and that’s doing yourself a great disservice.

How can we ensure our food is safe for consumption?

The good thing is our government has started taking food safety seriously. It’s conducting random quality checks and ensuring the food that is out in the market is fit for consumption. The monitoring isn’t enough but it’s in place so that is a hopeful sign. Other than that, there are some things everyone can do to ensure the food they eat is safe. First, when buying vegetables, people tend to look for flawless ones that don’t have any marks or holes in them. This is wrong. These have definitely been sprayed with high levels of insecticides. Next, soak vegetables and fruits in a salt bath for 30 minutes before cooking. This is enough to remove most of the pesticides present in them.

As a nutritionist, what would you say is the best thing one can do for good health?

People need to educate themselves about food and the right way to eat. I would say don’t give in to fads and don’t be swayed by what you hear. Don’t follow what you see on YouTube and other social media. I have seen many people fall ill because something they thought would be good for them didn’t suit their bodies. Instead, learn what works for you. You can work with a nutritionist to find out what your body needs and how to make sure you are getting it. I would recommend ensuring you are getting all the nutrients you need and not just counting calories.

What can be done to make Nepalis aware of the importance of good eating habits?

Based on my experience, Nepalis seem to be warming up to the idea that food plays a crucial role in their health and wellbeing. But nutrition still isn’t being considered a part of treatment by the medical fraternity. There are full time nutritionists in many private hospitals but government hospitals don’t see the need to hire one. And these are the places where patients come in by the droves and most of them are unaware about how food affects their health and recovery. The Nepal government needs to come up with a plan to incorporate diet counseling into the health system.