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The Election Commission (EC) is to depute volunteers in all wards across the country for voter education. 

The election to the House of Representatives is taking place across the country on March 5. 

According to the EC, volunteers are going to be deputed in all 6743 wards of the country through the District Election Offices.

Assistant Spokesperson of EC, Kul Bahadur GC, said experienced child development facilitators, women health volunteers and community service center operators would be appointed for voter education. 

The process for appointing volunteers has begun, he added.

The EC has already approved the voter education related program on February 2 for this purpose. Preparation has been made to impart orientation on February 15 in all seven provinces by appointing volunteers for voter education.  

The volunteers would be deputed in all 6,743 wards of 753 local levels from mid-February, added EC.

At least 18 miners have died and one is severely injured after an explosion at an illegally-operated coal mine in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya, police say, BBC reported. 

Rescue operations are on and some people are still feared trapped, police say, adding that the blast occurred around 11:00 local time (5:30 GMT) on Thursday in the East Jaintia Hills of the state.

Superintendent of the state police Vikash Kumar told reporters that the accident happened due to rat-hole mining - a hazardous method which involves the use of dynamite to break open narrow tunnels through which workers crouch to extract coal, according to BBC. 

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 4, 200 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 291, 000 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 295, 200 per tola on Thursday. 

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 270 and is being traded at Rs 4, 710 per tola.

Ademola Lookman starred on his debut for Atletico Madrid, scoring and assisting in a 5-0 demolition of Real Betis on Thursday to seal a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, Reuters reported. 

The 25-year-old Nigerian international, who signedfrom Serie A side Atalanta earlier this week, delivered a confident performance as Atletico ran riot at Seville's La Cartuja Stadium.

Goals from David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann, Thiago Almada, and Lookman consigned Manuel Pellegrini's Betis to a humiliating defeat in front of their home fans, according to Reuters. 

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been handed a two-match ban for insulting a match official during last week's 4-2 Champions League lossat Benfica, European soccer governing body UEFA said on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

Brazilian Rodrygo was shown two yellow cards in stoppage time as he angrily protested perceived time-wasting tactics employed by the Portuguese side.

UEFA's disciplinary committee said Rodrygo was suspended for directing insulting or abusive language at the referee, according to Reuters. 

Leicester City have been docked six points in the current Championship campaign after an independent regulatory commission found they had breached the English Football League's spending rules, the Premier League said on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

The deduction leaves Leicester 20th in the second-tier table, above the relegation zone on goal difference.

The Premier League referred Leicester to an independent commission in May over the alleged breach of EFL profitability and sustainability rules in the three years up to 2023-24. A week-long hearing took place in November, according to Reuters. 

Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and grabbed an assist on his debut for Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal as they thrashed lowly Al-Akhdoud 6-0 on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

The 38-year-old joined Al-Hilal on Monday after reports said he turned down an offer to extend his contract with Al-Ittihad, who he joined on a free transfer in 2023 after 14 years with Real Madrid.

The former France striker made an immediate impact for his new side as he broke the deadlock in style with a back-heel touch after seizing on a loose ball inside the area shortly after the half-hour mark, according to Reuters. 

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Genital Mutilation is being observed on Friday. 

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly had decided to observe February 6 every year as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. 

The objective of the day celebration is to further consolidate the efforts underway to end the practices around female genital mutilation. 

The day empathizes with continuous engagement and investment from all-country governments, civil society organizations, communities, philanthropic agencies and international organizations. 

According to the UN, over 230 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to FGM and require access to appropriate care services. 

The stakes are high: an estimated 22.7 million additional girls are at risk of undergoing FGM by 2030 unless action is accelerated. 

Every year, approximately four million girls are subjected to this practice, with over two million occurring before the age of five.

In his message on the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for renewing our promise to protect the rights of women and girls everywhere, and ensure that they can live free from violence and fear. "Together, we can end this injustice once and for all", he noted. 

While progress has been made, half of the progress over the last 30 years was achieved in just the last decade, it is not enough, the UN said. 

The rate of decline must be 27 times faster to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target by 2030.

Ending FGM requires sustained investment. For every $1 invested to end FGM, there is a return of $10. 

Conversely, inaction is costly; treating the health complications of FGM costs health systems an estimated USD 1.4, it is stated. 

Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation that infringes on the fundamental rights of girls and women. The injury of female genitalia for non-medical reasons can have short-term to lifelong health impacts on physical, sexual, and mental health, spanning from childhood, reproductive years, and into old age.