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Journalist Dinesh Sitaula died on Sunday while being treated  on a ventilator, informed Dr. Vinod Bijukchhe, Medical Director of Grande Hospital. Sitaula was brought to Kathmandu by helicopter for treatment after he suddenly fainted while campaigning in Achham with senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Balen Shah.

Sitaula was kept under joint observation in the ICU by the critical care and neurosurgery team as per the established protocol for severe subarachnoid hemorrhage, the hospital said. Despite severe intensive care, the family was informed after there was no sign of recovery of neurological condition and brain function after 48 hours, said Medical Director Bijukchhe. Despite treatment with special monitoring, journalist Sitaula could not be saved, the hospital said.

Police have categorized 441 polling stations of 351 voting centers of 10 districts in Karnali Province as highly sensitive. 

Out of 1437 polling stations in the province, Karnali Province Police Office has placed 301 polling stations on the general list and 651 on the sensitive list, said Office Spokesperson Ram Prakash Shah. 

Shah mentioned that plans are afoot to mobilize 14,719 police personnel across the province for election security.

Preparations are being made keeping in mind the problems that may arise in conducting elections as well as to bring ballot boxes due to poor road condition in some places of Karnali Province, he added.

The month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani concluded today.

The festival began on the full moon day of the Nepali month of Paush.

The recitation of dialogues between two mythical characters Kumar and Agashtya Rishi  narrated in the Skanda Puran, is a major part of the festival.

Offerings such as holy threads, beetle nuts, fruits, delicacies, flowers, red sandalwood, vermilion powder and clothes were offered to goddess Swasthani on the concluding day of the festival.

It is believed that strict observance of rituals during the festival brings the separated couple together, helps one overcome troubles and get a good spouse, among other things.

The Swasthani Katha, which has 31 chapters, is a story of how Goma Brahmani is reunited with her son Nawaraj, who later became the king of Lawanya as a result of her going through Swasthani fasting rituals. It also narrates the story of goddess Parvati, who had observed the Swasthani rituals wishing to get Lord Shiva as her husband.

Those who did not conclude the fasting at mid-day today can conclude it on Krishna Panchami, it has been said. 

The US Embassy Nepal concluded the Creator’s Mela 2026: Vision to Venture, which began on Jan 30 in Kathmandu with a two-day session. The Kathmandu program follows the series of programs earlier held in Chitwan and Nepalgunj, marking the expansion of a multi-city platform aimed at strengthening Nepal’s digital creator ecosystem.

The Kathmandu edition brings together digital creators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and corporate decision-makers for two days of panel discussions, hands-on workshops, live performances, and networking sessions designed to transform creative passion into sustainable business ventures.

A key highlight of the program is the flagship “Pitch to Success” platform, where selected creators present their business ideas directly to a panel of leading corporate executives from Nepal. Participants receive real-time feedback, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help scale their creative ventures into commercially viable enterprises.

The 2026 theme, “Vision to Venture,” reflects the Mela’s shift from content creation toward enterprise building. By integrating US expertise in technology, platform monetization, and digital business development, the initiative provides creators with a practical roadmap to convert digital influence into long-term careers and businesses.

The Kathmandu edition featured a diverse lineup of speakers and performers, including Cabinet Shrestha, Anand Bagaria, Ashwin Neupane, Mansi Agrawal, Kabita Nepali, Ujan Shakya, and Neetesh Jung Kumar, representing voices from entertainment, digital media, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. The opening day witnessed the participation of around 11,000 aspiring and emerging content creators, highlighting the growing momentum of Nepal’s digital creative community.

The US Embassy Nepal concluded its multi-city Creator’s Mela 2026 with a two-day finale in Kathmandu on January 30–31 at Aloft Hotel. Since its inception in 2023, Creator’s Mela has evolved into a premier hub for Nepal’s digital landscape. Now in its fourth edition, the Vision to Venture initiative reaffirms the US Embassy’s commitment to professionalizing Nepal’s creator economy and supporting economic growth across the country

More than 1,400 employees are to be deployed in Baitadi for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5. 

According to the District Election Office, 1,442 employees will be deployed in 214 polling stations.

Election Office Chief Khagendra Bharati shared that details have been requested from government offices here for the mobilization of employees for the elections. He said that the work of collecting details of employees to be deployed in the elections and mobilizing them will be taken forward within a few days.

There are 11 candidates in Baitadi standing for a lone constituency in the district with 156,372 voters. 

Out of them, 78,987 are men, 77,383 are women and two fall under the 'other' category. 

Eight employees will be deployed in polling stations with more than 500 voters and seven in centers with less than that, shared Information Officer Naresh Dayal.

From a security perspective, 33 polling stations in the district have been placed on the highly sensitive list. According to the District Security Committee, out of 129 polling stations, 33 have been classified as highly sensitive, 28 as sensitive and 68 as general.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 18, 800 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 300, 000 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 318, 800 per tola on Friday.  

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 1, 565 and is being traded at Rs 5, 500 per tola.

Two tankers suspected of illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers were detained and more than 512 million ringgit (US$129.9 million) worth of crude oil seized 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head, Penang last week, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said on Saturday, Reuters reported. 

The agency did not specify the origin of the oil being transferred.

The waters off Malaysia are known as a regular site for illegal ship-to-ship transfers, where oil is shifted between tankers at sea to obscure its origin. Malaysian authorities said in July last year they would more tightly enforce rules around the practice, according to Reuters. 

Pakistan' military says it has killed at least 92 militants blamed for deadly co-ordinated attacks in the south-western Balochistan province on Saturday, Reuters reported. 

The military said 15 security service personnel and 18 civilians were also killed. It accused India of supporting the militants. Delhi has repeatedly denied such accusations.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebel group had earlier claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying dozens of soldiers were killed, according to Reuters.