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An unidentified person shot dead a man near a postal highway in Siraha on Friday afternoon. 

The deceased has been identified as Premnath Yadav (40) of Siraha Municipality–1.

Yadav was killed while working on his farm that lies about 1.5 kilometers away from the district headquarters. 

The police said he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and died on the spot.

Spokesperson of the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Bahadur Pal said that a police team immediately reached the scene after receiving information about the incident, and an investigation is underway. Yadav was engaged in agriculture.

Police have not yet identified the assailant or determined the motive behind the killing. 

According to police, the attacker fled the scene following the incident.

Security has been heightened along border areas in Siraha and at major checkpoints. 

The lifeless body has been kept at Province Hospital, Siraha, for postmortem.

Over 400, 000  people across 12 local levels in Sarlahi district will be given medicines to prevent elephantiasis following a rise in infection in the area.

The District Health Office, Sarlahi aims to provide anti-elephantiasis drugs to a total of 430,941 people, covering about 80 percent of the total population in the 12 affected local levels. 

The District Health Office, Sarlahi has launched a special campaign after the lymphatic filariasis infection was found to be spreading rapidly in several local levels. 

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division at Teku, Kathmandu, in coordination with the World Health Organization had conducted the test last October by dividing 20 local rural municipalities of the district into two groups.

Balara Municipality, Ramnagar Rural Municipality, Dhanakaul Rural Municipality, Basabariya Rural Municipality, Chakraghatta Rural Municipality, Godaita Municipality, Bishnu Rural Municipality, Koudena Rural Municipality, Malangawa Municipality, Brahmapuri Rural Municipality, Parsa Rural Municipality and Haripurwa Municipality were put into a group and testing was conducted.

Out of 300 samples collected from local levels such as Balara, Chakraghatta and Brahmapuri, 28 cases of elephantiasis were confirmed.As the infection continues to spread, the local public health authority decided to administer preventive medication. 

Earlier last Wednesday, the Office organized an interaction program as a part of its special campaign on elimination of elephantiasis.

Dr Sashi Badel of the Division said although elephantiasis can cause serious damage to the body, it can be preventable if medicines are taken regularly on time.

President Ram Chandra Paudel is embarking on an official visit to Japan from February 1-4, leading a Nepali delegation.

He will leave for Japan on a Nepal Airlines plane on February 1 and is visiting Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations, said Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

The President is scheduled to return home on February 4. 

During the visit, President Paudel is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Japan's Emperor Naruhito at Tokyo-based Imperial Palace on February 3. 

Similarly, President Paudel and Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will hold a meeting on the same day, added Rai.

President Paudel will participate in the special welcome program to be organized by the Japanese government in the context of celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations on February 2.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Horii Iwao, will pay a courtesy call on President Paudel.

President Paudel is also scheduled to participate in a meeting with the Japanese Business community.  

According to the Foreign Ministry, the President will attend a reception to be organizes in his honour by Nepali Embassy in Japan. 

President Paudel will be accompanied by his spouse Sabita Paudel and high-level government officials.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki visited the Martyrs Memorial at Lainchaur and offered tribute to the known and unknown martyrs today on the last day of Martyrs Week.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister paid homage to the brave individuals who sacrificed their lives in various movements throughout history for democracy, the nation, and freedom on behalf of the people.

On the last day of the week-long program commemorating the Martyrs, a special tribute ceremony was held today at the Shaheed Uddyan, Lainchaur.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been marking a week-long program starting from 10th of Magh month every year.

A morning procession was organized from Shanti Batika on the Martyrs' Day today. 

The morning procession consisted of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force bands, a march past, and a carriage mounted with portraits of the martyrs. 

The procession reached the Martyrs Park in Lainchaur and transformed into a commemoration ceremony.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Karki, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, ministers, senior government officials, people's representatives and chiefs of security agencies.

Addressing the function, Acting Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, expressed the view that efforts and sacrifices made in the past for civil liberty, human rights, good governance, and dignity should not be forgotten.

The government has declared today as a public holiday on the occasion of Martyrs' Day.

Donald Trump said it was "very dangerous" for the UK to deal with China, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer continued his visit to Beijing to reset relations, BBC reported. 

The US president was reacting to agreements aimed at increasing business and investment between the UK and China, announced after Sir Keir met Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of a three-day trip.

"Well it's very dangerous for them to do that," Trump said at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania when asked what he thought of Britain increasing business ties with China, according to BBC. 

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the country now has stood at a historic turning point of change because of courage, awareness and resolution of the martyrs. 

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Martyr Day today, she expressed heartfelt tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their invaluable lives for civil liberty and democracy. 

The message states, "It is because of their courage, awareness, and determination that the country stands at a historic turning point of change today, and no mother might ever experience loss of womb again. Salute to the brave warriors who attained martyrdom in the Gen Z movement. It has rekindled hopes for justice, equality, accountable governance, and a bright future".  

In the message, Prime Minister Karki emphasized that the responsibility of building a nation-state based on governance values, ethics and respect for citizens should always remain in the memory of every ruler.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged the political parties, general public and all concerned to dedicate their sincere efforts towards realizing the aspiration of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of Nepal and Nepali people. 

In his message on the occasion of the Martyr Day, President Paudel wished that the Day provide inspiration and energy to translate the dreams of martyrs who obtained martyrdom for serving the country and the people. 

Paying heartfelt tribute to the great martyrs – Shukraraj Shastri, Dharmabhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand and Ganglal Shrestha – and all other known and unknown immortal martyrs, who sacrificed their invaluable lives for civil liberties, establishment of democracy and protection of nationality, he remembered today as a day to specially commemorate the great martyrs who offered their lives for the nation. 

“Each year on the 16th of Magh, we observe Martyrs' Day remembering the brave men and women who laid down their lives in various movements against feudal, autocratic and tyrannical regimes throughout different periods of history to make the Nepali people sovereign citizens”, the message reads. 

"I believe that progressing towards fulfilling the aspirations of sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity through the federal democratic republican system of governance achieved by the sacrifice of great martyrs will be the true tribute to the martyrs", the Head of the State noted in the message. 

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 20, 500 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.  

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 318, 800 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 239, 300 per tola on Thursday. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 7, 065 per tola.