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Forum of Neplease Journalist  has decided to confer the Shri Umakant Paudel Memorial Journalism Award on senior journalist Shiromani Dawadi. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Saturday at Lakuri Bhanjyang, Lalitpur. The Forum honored Dawadi in recognition of his nearly three decades of active contribution to various media outlets.

The award was established in memory of late Umakant Paudel, father of former General Secretary of Forum of Neplease Journalist, Ram Paudel. The award selection committee, formed under the coordination of Vice President Bimal Thapa, selected Dawadi for this year’s honor.

According to Forum President Yubaraj Bidrohi, the award will be formally presented to Dawadi during a special ceremony on Chaitra 30 on the occasion of the establishment day of Nepal Journalists Forum.

Meanwhile, the meeting also announced the establishment of the Shri Indraprasad–Yanakumari Acharya Memorial Educational Journalism Award, instituted in memory of the late parents of educationist Narayan Acharya—Yanakumari Acharya and Indraprasad Acharya. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 11,111, will be presented annually to one journalist who has made a significant contribution in the field of educational journalism.

The Forum expressed gratitude to the Paudel and Acharya families for instituting the awards and stated that Forum of Neplease Journalist has been honoring journalists with awards in 10 different categories every year in recognition of their contributions to journalism.

The US Embassy in Nepal has launched Creator’s Mela 2026: Vision to Venture, an initiative aimed at strengthening Nepal’s digital creator ecosystem by encouraging the transition from content creation to sustainable business development.

The program began on Saturday at Hotel Siraichuli in Chitwan, marking the start of a multi-city series. According to the organizers, the 2026 edition places greater emphasis on professional growth, entrepreneurship, and long-term career building for digital creators.

More than 800 young and emerging creators participated in the Chitwan event, which featured parallel sessions including panel discussions, spotlight conversations, workshops, live performances, and the Pitch to Success platform. Speakers and performers included Priyanka Karki, Ayushman Joshi, Cabinet Shrestha, Anand Bagaria, and Sandhya KC, along with digital creators such as 2B Gamer, Eva Giri, Shrishes Manandhar, Ekata Tandukar, Nepal 8th Wonder, and The K-OS. The event concluded with a live music performance by Yabesh Thapa.

Creator’s Mela 2026 will continue in Nepalgunj on Jan 24, followed by a two-day finale in Kathmandu on Jan 30 and 31. The Kathmandu program will include the Pitch to Success segment, where selected creators will present their business ideas to a panel of corporate executives for feedback and mentorship.

The theme Vision to Venture focuses on connecting digital creativity with enterprise development. The program integrates sessions on technology use, platform monetization, and digital business skills to support creators in building sustainable ventures.

Mike Harker, Public Affairs Chief at the US Embassy Nepal, said the initiative aims to support entrepreneurship and job creation by expanding skills and networks among creators across the country, while also linking Nepali creators to international opportunities.

Preparations for the celebration of Sonam Lhosar 2862 have reached the final stage. The organization also announced that Prime Minister Sushila Karki is scheduled to attend the event as the chief guest.

The Nepal Tamang Ghedung shared the update during a press conference, stating that arrangements for this year’s Sonam Lhosar, which marks the Year of the Horse (Ta), are nearing completion.

The two-day celebration will take place at Tundikhel on Magh 4 and 5. Ghedung’s Federal President Mohan Gole said preparations are in their final phase, adding that a rally featuring Tamba, Bombo, Lama, and Jhankri will also be organized as part of the celebrations.

Ghedung General Secretary Jagatman Dong said that, as in previous years, the event is being prepared on a grand scale at Tundikhel, with programs planned to honor various individuals. According to the organizers, 101 organizations are involved in coordinating the event.

National Ghedung President Bir Bahadur Yonjan said Sonam Lhosar has been traditionally celebrated at Tundikhel as a cultural festival. The program will also include performances by national artists and a DJ session by DJ Tenzing, the organizers said.

The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) organized the Geotechnical Model Competition and NGS Youth Symposium 2026 at the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Kathmandu, on Friday. The event was held as a preparatory program for the international conference GeoMandu 2027, scheduled for 17-19 March 2027, under the theme “Mountain Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development.”

The competition showcased physical and conceptual models addressing infrastructure challenges in Nepal’s geologically complex and mountainous terrain. Topics included landslides, sinkholes, earthquake damage, foundation systems, pavements, geogrid applications, hydropower structures, flood and water management, slope stabilization, and tunnelling. The event saw participation from four universities, eight engineering colleges, and eleven student teams, mostly undergraduate engineering students.

Pulchowk Campus won first prize for its model “Siphon Drainage System for Road Slopes to Reduce Landslides.” Universal Engineering and Science College secured first runner-up for “Smart Geotechnical Instrumentation and Early Warning System for Landslide,” while Himalaya College of Engineering placed second runner-up for “Stability Analysis of Cut Slope at Araniko Highway, Dhulikhel, Kavre.” Consolation prizes were awarded to Paschimanchal Campus for a model on smart water management for flood control and groundwater recharge, and to another team from Pulchowk Campus for “Static and Dynamic Analysis of Geogrid-Reinforced Soil in Foundations.”

Alongside the competition, the NGS Youth Symposium 2026 provided a platform for technical exchange and professional discussion. Chaired by Dhundi Raj Pathak, Convener of GeoMandu 2027, the symposium featured technical lectures and a thematic address focused on linking academic research with field practice. Presentations were delivered by Aadarsha Dhakal on modelling of laterally loaded pile foundations, and by Astha Bhatta on flow dynamics and energy dissipation in hydropower systems.

A thematic lecture by Rajan KC highlighted the role of geotechnical engineering in developing safe and resilient road infrastructure in Nepal. The program also included a panel discussion on strengthening transport infrastructure through geotechnical planning, design, and practice. Moderated by Abhash Acharya, the panel brought together experts from government, academia, and the private sector, who emphasized the need for early geotechnical involvement in infrastructure projects and systematic documentation of geotechnical challenges.

NGS General Secretary Kalpana Adhikari outlined the society’s ongoing work in capacity building, youth engagement, and international collaboration. NGS President Indra Prasad Acharya and Conference Chair Mandip Subedi said the event was part of long-term preparations for GeoMandu 2027, which will also host the 11th Asian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference and the 1st South Asian Conference on Geotechnics in Nepal.

The event concluded with an award ceremony, where awards were presented by Prof. Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Dean of the Institute of Engineering, and Bijaya Jaishi, Director General of the Department of Roads.