Submit your Article

The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been arrested by police on suspicion of assault, before he goes on trial in Oslo on Tuesday on 38 charges, including the rape of four women, BBC reported. 

Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, was remanded in custody for four weeks. Police said the latest allegations against him involved wielding a knife and violating a restraining order, and there was a risk of reoffending.

His arrest on Sunday is the fourth time he has been detained by police since August 2024, when he was accused of assaulting a woman he had been having a relationship with, according to BBC. 

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, BBC reported. 

Bill Clinton's deputy chief of staff confirmed the news on social media, writing: "The former President and former Secretary of State will be there."

It comes as the Republican-led US House of Representatives was preparing to vote on holding both Clintons in criminal contempt for defying legal summonses, according to BBC. 

US President Donald Trump announced that he agreed to a trade deal with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the US will lower tariffs on goods from India to 18% from 25%, BBC reported. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India will reduce trade barriers to zero and will also stop buying Russian oil. An additional 25% tariff penalty imposed for Delhi's refusal to stop buying oil from Russia will be dropped. 

The announcement comes less than a week after India and the European Union announced a landmark trade deal that capped nearly two decades of on-off talks, according to BBC. 

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has clarified that there is no shortage of cooking gas in the market and the supply remains sufficient to meet the demand. 

Issuing a press statement today, the state-owned trading enterprises responsible for importing and selling petroleum products in Nepal, instructed the gas industries to ensure smooth and regular supply of the LP Gas cylinders to the market thereby normalizing the market.

The NOC informed that the gas-related industries in the country imported 47,304 metric tons of gas from Indian Oil Corporation in January this year. 

Previously, 47,264 metric tons  of gas were imported in November, 2025 and 48, 531 metric tons in December the same year. 

The Corporation stated that these volumes are adequate to meet the winter demand across the country. 

Manoj Kumar Thakur, Spokesperson of the Corporation, shared that minor supply issues have been reported by few industries and thus those concerned ones have been instructed to promptly facilitate the distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to normalize the situation. 

Taking into account the current market condition and the upcoming March 5 elections in the country, Spokesperson Thakur said that the Corporation has placed a requisition for an additional 2,000 metric tons of LP Gas under the regular quota for this month. 

The Corporation has urged the consumers to purchase gas cylinders only as needed and made it clear that the unnecessary stockpiling of gas cylinders should be avoided.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed the police organization to play a responsible role as per law and in a fair manner. 

Addressing the Police Inspector Basic Training 1-183rd Batch Pass Out Ceremony at National Police Academy, Maharajgunj today, Prime Minister Karki asked the police persons to hold the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives in a free, fair and calm environment. 

The HoR election is scheduled for March 5.

"The upcoming elections should be exemplary and standard for Nepali democracy.  Not a single person should be injured in the elections," she underlined. 

The Prime Minister clarified that the state would be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the police organization in the course of performing its duty. "The power of police does not lie in weapons, but in the law and conduct. The Nepal police, in a true sense, is the one which can exercise restraint and justice even at difficult circumstances," she argued.

She pointed out the need of making Nepal Police more credible, people-oriented and democratic in coming days, adding the Nepal Police is active in establishing itself stronger, more organised and reliable in recent periods despite challenges and criticisms. 

"The strong relationship between police and community has been further reinforced after September 8-9. Communities themselves reconstructed many police structures that were damaged during the Gen Z movement. This is the result of trust and credit that the police organisation earned till the date," PM Karki stated.  

Similarly, Inspector General of Nepal Police, Dan Bahadur Karki, directed the newly graduated police officers to perform their duties being responsible and accountable by protecting the rights ensured by the constitution.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki today addressed a meeting of the National Assembly (NA), the first address to the upper house session.

During her maiden address to the NA, the Prime Minister of the election government expressed confidence that the upcoming election would be conducted in an impartial, fair, and calm environment on the scheduled date, March 5.

Addressing the fifth meeting of the 19th NA session, which commenced on January 18, the Prime Minister apprised NA members of the preparations for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections, as well as the government’s efforts to promote good governance, one of its key priorities.

She stated that she assumed office amid various challenges and that she was not driven by personal aspirations for rule. 

PM Karki added that she is keen to hand over the responsibility of the government to a new government to be formed after the HoR elections.

The Prime Minister, whose government was formed following the September 8–9 Gen Z movement, also congratulated the winners of the recent National Assembly elections. 

She further responded to queries raised during discussions on the National Good Conduct Policy Study Report, 2082 BS, presented by Kamala Devi Panta, President of the Committee on Development, Economic Affairs, and Good Governance. 

President Ram Chandra Paudel has called on the Japanese business community to explore investment opportunities in Nepal. 

He reminded that the Government of Nepal is committed to providing all possible support to Japanese investors, according to the President’s Secretariat.

The President made the remarks while addressing an interactive program with the Japanese business community in Tokyo today. 

The event was held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. 

On the occasion, President Paudel expressed Nepal’s desire to build a close partnership with Japan’s private sector.

“We have created an overall economic environment that offers lucrative returns to investment along with easy procedures for repatriation of profits and capital. The Government of Nepal is committed to providing full support to foreign investment, facilitating it without conditions, and ensuring the security of investments,” the Head of State underlined. President Paudel is currently on an official visit to Japan that began on February 1.

As Nepal and Japan celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations, the President said the moment is appropriate to begin deeper cooperation in the areas of mutual benefit. 

He added that Nepal and Japan share cultural ties dating back to ancient times and expressed appreciation for the philosophy of Gautam Buddha. Quoting Buddha, he said, “The victory of peace is one in which nobody loses.”

The President urged Japan again to invest in Nepal with confidence by exploring potential opportunities in agriculture, water resources, and tourism, thereby contributing to Nepal’s prosperity while ensuring benefits to the investors themselves.

“Japan’s investment in Nepal will serve two purposes: securing economic benefits and contributing to service and religious values at the same time,” he commented. According to the President, Nepal–Japan relations, founded on goodwill, friendship and cooperation represent exemplary bilateral relations.

He said the encouraging participation of the business community in such program would be fruitful in establishing robust trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Calling the 70th anniversary historic, the President said that bilateral relations are deepening at the people-to-people level beyond official engagements. 

He also praised Japan’s long-standing support to Nepal, describing Japan as a reliable development partner in Nepal’s socio-economic endeavours.

President Paudel shared that Nepal's efforts are focused on social justice, good governance and people's prosperity along with political stability. Nepal would be upgraded from the least developed country by the end of this year and its graduation to a status of middle-income country by 2030 would be another important achievement for Nepal, he argued.

He opined, "A huge resource is needed for such a campaign. Nepal has focused its attention on attracting maximum foreign investment in the areas of national priority, increasing Nepal's trade, diversifying inter-affiliation, promoting tourism and acquiring advanced technology." 

The Head of the State expressed the belief that no country would be prosperous without working together by government and private sector internally and partnership with other countries at present.

Nepal has opened almost every sector for foreign investment including manufacture, hydropower, tourism, service, information technology, mines and industry based on agriculture, to make trade smooth and to promote innovation by making legal, procedural and institutional reforms following the liberal economic policies, he made aware the business community.  

The President mentioned, "Investment Board Nepal provides a one-door service to big investors. The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and major international credit rating agencies through independent assessments have confirmed that Nepal offers one of the most favourable business environments in South Asia."

In his belief, Nepal's location in between two rising economic giants India and China could offer a huge advantage to the potential investors.

On the occasion, Charge d' Affaires of Nepal to Japan, Harihar Kant Poudel, welcomed President Paudel where Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Amrit Bahadur Rai, and Joint-Secretary Bhrigu Dhungana made presentations on the potentials of investment in Nepal.

Likewise, some of the members of the Japanese Business Community shared that they were happy after getting to know that there are many opportunities for investment in Nepal, expressing the view that it would contribute to open doors for investment.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 1. 53 points to close at 2, 695. 73 points on Monday. 

The sensitive index, however, dropped by 0. 75 points to close at 459. 16 points.

A total of 23,618,186-unit shares of 334 companies were traded for Rs 1. 56 billion.

Meanwhile, SY Panel Nepal Limited (SYPNL), Shreenagar Agritech Industries Limited (SAIL) and Him Star Urja Company Limited (HIMSTAR) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. 

Likewise, Mithila LaghuBitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MLBBL) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 52 trillion.