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Wednesday, 14 January 2026

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Photo: RSS

175 candidates withdraw from PR closed lists ahead of HoR elections

A total of 175 candidates representing 17 election symbols have withdrawn their names from the closed lists for the proportional representation segment of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5.

Photo: RSS

Nepali Congress Special General Convention to Hold Elections as per Party Statute

The event is being attended by factions within the NC that support the Special General Convention organized by the Party Publicity Committee.

Photo: RSS

Party set to reach consensus by tonight, says NC leader Ghimire

“Discussions are ongoing. We believe a consensus will be reached by tonight,” he said, adding that the party would be kept intact.

Photo courtesy: CAN

Nepal Cricket Team to begin pre-world cup preparations with Sri Lanka, India tours

Nepal will open their campaign against England on February 8.

Officials of participating teams brief on their preparations for the National League 2082 during a pre-match press conference at the ANFA Complex. Photo: Mausam Shah ‘Nepali’/THT

Teams scramble for readiness as ANFA launches National League after long hiatus

A total of 17 clubs—13 from the A Division and four from the President’s League—are slated to participate in the competition.

Two arrested with 1,260 Tramadol capsules in Rautahat

Nepal issues travel advisory for citizens in Iran

Build Up Nepal wins Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026

Vapes worth 22.4 million confiscated

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Press Council Nepal records 121 press freedom violations in 2025

Press Council Nepal has recorded 121 incidents of press freedom violations in 2025, according to data from the Council’s regular monitoring and registered complaints.

File: A view of Election Commission building in Kathmandu. Photo: RSS

85 PR candidates withdraw names

A total of 85 candidates listed under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections withdrew their names on Monday, the Election Commission (EC) said.

Hyatt Place Butwal

Hyatt Place Butwal enters market as city's first international five-star hotel

Hyatt Place Butwal has officially entered the hospitality market, becoming the first internationally branded five-star hotel in Butwal and marking a significant milestone in Western Nepal’s tourism and business landscape.

Kathmandu

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Photo: RSS

NC Special General Convention extended until Tuesday

The closed session of the Nepali Congress special general convention has been extended until Tuesday.

Photo: RSS

Israeli ambassador calls on PM Karki

Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sushila Karki today.

File: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Photo: RSS

Former Prez Bhandari urges unity and patriotism on Prithvi Jayanti

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari asserted that National Unity Day and Prithvi Jayanti further strengthen the spirit of patriotism and reinforce social harmony, tolerance, and national unity.

General Secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC), Gagan Kumar Thapa. Photo: RSS

NC must embrace questions, not silence, says Gagan Thapa

General Secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC), Gagan Kumar Thapa, has said that “questions must be allowed and valued within the NC.”

Nepali Congress Special General Convention. Photo: RSS

Nepali Congress Special General Convention commences

The inaugural session of the Special General Convention, organized by supporters of the Nepali Congress at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, has officially commenced.

Nepal

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Press Council Nepal records 121 press freedom violations in 2025

Press Council Nepal has recorded 121 incidents of press freedom violations in 2025, according to data from the Council’s regular monitoring and registered complaints.

File: A view of Election Commission building in Kathmandu. Photo: RSS

85 PR candidates withdraw names

A total of 85 candidates listed under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections withdrew their names on Monday, the Election Commission (EC) said.

File: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Anil Kumar Sinha. Photo: RSS

NMA cannot be given a monopoly: Minister Sinha

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Anil Kumar Sinha, has ruled out granting any form of monopoly to the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

Photo Courtesy: Koshi Province Police Office, Biratnagar

Police seize ambulance carrying nearly 460 kg of marijuana in Dhankuta

Police have seized an ambulance carrying a large quantity of marijuana from Bhedetar in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6 of Dhankuta district.

Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Open Climbing Competition

Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Open Climbing Competition to be held on May 29

The third edition of the Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Open Climbing Competition will be organised on May 29, 2026, organisers announced, rescheduling the event to coincide with the anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary.

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World

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a briefing at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Greenland official calls it 'unfathomable' that the US is considering taking over the island

Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources, said people in Greenland are “very, very worried” about the U.S. rhetoric.

FILE - Danish military forces participate in an exercise with hundreds of troops from several European NATO members in the Arctic Ocean in Nuuk, Greenland, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

How NATO works at a time of Trump's Greenland threats

Tensions have routinely spiked among some of NATO’s members over the decades, notably between neighbors Greece and Turkey.

Buddhist monks who are participating in the, "Walk For Peace," are seen with their dog, Aloka, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Saluda, S.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Buddhist monks and their dog captivate Americans while walking for peace

Hailing from Theravada Buddhist monasteries across the globe, the 19 monks began their 2,300 mile (3,700 kilometer) trek at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth.

FILE - Tourists kayak at sea in front of Nuuk Cathedral in Nuuk, Greenland, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha, File)

Greenland's harsh environment and lack of infrastructure have prevented rare earth mining

Trump confirmed those geopolitical concerns at the White House Friday.

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran.

Iran warns against US strikes as activists say protest death toll reaches 203

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult.

Opinion

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The digital key to political stability: Government must adapt to the technology

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“Nepal’s youth are tech-fluent. The government is not.” I said this to a friend who recently asked if Nepal formed a government through discord. He was surprised.

Photo Courtesy: Freepik

Nepal's Universal Periodic Review: Reforms needed to safeguard media freedom

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Although the Constitution of Nepal guarantees freedom of expression, the right to communicate, and the right to information, these rights are increasingly ineffective for journalists and digital rights defenders across the country.

Photo Courtesy: Nepali Congress/Facebook

Nepali Congress' enduring legacy: From democratic pioneer to catalyst for renewal

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The recent youth-led protests in Nepal represent more than episodic unrest.

Business

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Hyatt Place Butwal

Hyatt Place Butwal enters market as city's first international five-star hotel

Hyatt Place Butwal has officially entered the hospitality market, becoming the first internationally branded five-star hotel in Butwal and marking a significant milestone in Western Nepal’s tourism and business landscape.

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Yak & Yeti celebrates Nepal's culinary legacy with cookout challenge

Hotel Yak & Yeti, in collaboration with Tasneem’s Kitchen, recently hosted the Legacy Cookout Challenge at the Lal Durbar Convention Centre’s Crystal Palace Courtyard, celebrating Nepal’s culinary heritage through live demonstrations and interactive cooking.

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Hyundai Nepal reaffirms customer-first focus as it enters 2026

Hyundai Nepal has entered 2026 with a renewed focus on customer confidence, advanced technology and long-term mobility solutions, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s most trusted automobile brands.

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NICCI holds 12th AGM, re-elects Sanjay Agrawal as President

The Nepal Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NICCI) held its 12th Annual General Meeting in Kathmandu on Sunday, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, investment, tourism and business cooperation between Nepal and Italy.

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Ncell launches 'Yuwa SIM' starter pack for Gen Z users

Ncell has launched a new starter pack, ‘Yuwa SIM’, targeting Gen Z customers with affordable voice and data services tailored to students and young users.

Photo Gallery

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt steps out of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival for the inauguration ceremony of a casino in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Photo/Skanda Gautam

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt steps out of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival for the inauguration ceremony of a casino in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Photo/Skanda Gautam

In Pictures: Sanjay Dutt in Nepal

Canadian American actress Sunny Leone walks towards a vehicle upon her arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport for the engagement of a casino in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Photo/Skanda Gautam

In Picture: Sunny Leone in Nepal

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In Pictures: Tamu Lhosar celebrations at Tundikhel

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In Pictures: Mountains view seen from Sailung View Tower

File: A majestic view of Tsho-Rolpa Glacial Lake in Dolakha district. Photo: Mausam Shah 'Nepali'/THT

File: A majestic view of Tsho-Rolpa Glacial Lake in Dolakha district. Photo: Mausam Shah 'Nepali'/THT

In Pictures: Tsho-Rolpa Glacial Lake - A Trek Through Peril, Majesty, and Himalayan Wilderness

Residents and cultural groups carry the historic Toran, a carved wooden structure stolen from the house of the Living Goddess Kumari and recently returned from the British Museum after being taken from Nepal two decades ago, back to its original shrine with traditional music and celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Residents and cultural groups carry the historic Toran, a carved wooden structure stolen from the house of the Living Goddess Kumari and recently returned from the British Museum after being taken from Nepal two decades ago, back to its original shrine with traditional music and celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday, November 21, 2025.

In Pictures: Stolen historic Toran returns home

Sports

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Nigeria's Alex Iwobi pulling the strings for Super Eagles at Africa Cup

Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams have all thrived on Iwobi’s input.

Nigeria players pose ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo: AP

Barcelona players celebrate after winning the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: AP

Barcelona beats Real Madrid again to win Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia clasico

Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 on Sunday in the final of the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia.

India's Virat Kohli plays a shot during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India. Photo: AP

Virat Kohli hits 93 to lead India to 4-wicket win over New Zealand in first ODI

Virat Kohli scored a masterful 93 off 91 balls as India won the first ODI against New Zealand by four wickets on Sunday.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, right, scores his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco. Photo: AP

Salah scores and Egypt eliminates Ivory Coast to join Nigeria in Africa Cup semifinals

Morocco and Senegal booked their semifinal places on Friday with wins over Cameroon and Mali, respectively.

Australian team celebrate with the Ashes trophy following the final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia. Photo: AP

Australia wins Ashes series 4-1 with a five-wicket victory in Sydney

The Australians retained the Ashes with wins in the first three tests, but England was determined to narrow the margin after its drought-breaking win in Melbourne.

Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo: AP

The Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal lineup is completed

The Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal lineup was finalized Tuesday with Algeria and defending champion Ivory Coast booking the last places.

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Entertainment

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Amy Poehler poses in the press room with the award for best podcast for "Good Hang with Amy Poehler during the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. Photo: AP

Complete list of 2026 Golden Globe Award winners

The revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” won best picture, musical or comedy at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards.

Singer and actor Prashant Tamang. Courtesy: Prashant/Facebook

Singer and actor Prashant Tamang dies at 42

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 11Singer and actor Prashant Tamang passed away from cardiac arrest on Sunday morning at the age of 42.News of Tamang's sudden demise sent shockwaves through Nepali-speaking...

This combination of photos shows Sabrina Carpenter, left, Taylor Swift, center, and Bad Bunny. Photo: AP

Taylor Swift leads the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Award nominations, followed by Bad Bunny and more

NEW YORK, JANUARY 8Pledge allegiance to her hands, her team, her vibes: Taylor Swift once again leads the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Award nominees with nine. She's followed by Bad Bunny, Sabrina...

Composer Aavaas performing at the last Paleti of 2025. Photo: Nepalaya

Final 2025 Paleti resonates with Aavaas's collaborative tunes

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 4Composer Aavaas's creative performance was successfully staged at Paleti on Friday and Saturday evenings at the 'r' sala of Nepalaya.In a press release, Nepalaya...

FILE - Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton pose for photographers upon arrival at the Season 2 UK Premiere of The Night Manager in London, England. Photo: AP

English actors Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton welcome their second child

NEW YORK, JANUARY 1English actors Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton have welcomed their second child.Hiddleston confirmed the news to GQ in a feature published Monday. He described birth as the "most...

Cover image of December Paleti with Aavaas. Photo: Nepalaya

Composer Aavaas to feature in December Paleti

KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 24Nepalaya's monthly musical program Paleti, held on the last Friday of each month at 'r' sala, is set to feature the musical creations of singer and composer...

Lifestyle

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Jyamchang bhote

IFMGA guide Jyamchang Bhote summits Vinson Massif for 15th time

Renowned Nepali mountaineer and IFMGA-certified guide Jyamchang Bhote has successfully scaled Vinson Massif (4,892m) in Antarctica for a record 15th time, further strengthening his reputation as one of Nepal’s most experienced polar and high-altitude guides.

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Abiral Rai becomes first from Rai community to summit highest peak in Antarctica

On January 6, 2026, at 10:00 pm, Nepali mountaineer and IFMGA-certified guide Abiral Rai stood atop Mount Vinson (4,892m), the highest peak in Antarctica, marking a historic first for the Kirat Rai (Thulung Rai) community.

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Nepali-American author's pandemic memoir wins Kirkus Reviews recognition

Passang Nuru Sherpa, a Nepali-American author based in New York, has earned critical acclaim from Kirkus Reviews for his pandemic memoir Behind the Mask: A Pandemic Memoir, marking another milestone for the immigrant storyteller whose work chronicles the COVID-19 crisis through the lens of his Jackson Heights community.

Photo Courtesy: Abiral Rai/facebook

History made: Gurkha veteran Hari Budha Magar becomes first double above-knee amputee to complete Seven Summits

Former British Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar has made mountaineering history, becoming the first double above-knee amputee to summit the highest peaks on all seven continents after reaching the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica on January 6, 2026.

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More than just futsal: Nepal Toastmasters Futsal Tournament Season 3 celebrates sport and community

On December 27, 2025, the grounds of Premier International School in Satdobato came alive with energy, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship as Division A of District 41 hosted the third season of the Nepal Toastmasters Futsal Tournament.

Science and Tech

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FILE - Workers install lighting on an "X" sign atop the company headquarters, formerly known as Twitter, in downtown San Francisco, July 28, 2023. Photo: AP

Malaysia and Indonesia become the first countries to block Musk's Grok over sexualized AI images

Malaysia and Indonesia have become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk's company xAI, as concerns grow among global authorities that it is being misused to generate sexually explicit and nonconsensual images.

A couple of Bosch 800 Series fully automatic espresso machines are seen on display at the Bosch booth during the CES tech show Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Las Vegas. Photo: AP

'Worst in Show' CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells

The promise of artificial intelligence was front and center at this year's CES gadget show. But spicing up a simple machine like a refrigerator with unnecessary AI was also a surefire way to win the “Worst in Show.”

This image provided by Blue Origin, Michaela Benthaus poses after the Blue Origin's capsule landed on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in West Texas. Photo: Blue Origin via AP

Paraplegic engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to blast into space

A paraplegic engineer from Germany blasted off on a dream-come-true rocket ride with five other passengers Saturday, leaving her wheelchair behind to float in space while beholding Earth from on high.

FILE - This image made by the Cassini spacecraft and provided by NASA on March 12, 2006, shows two of Saturn's moons, the small Epimetheus and smog-enshrouded Titan, with Saturn's A and F rings stretching across the frame.

Saturn's moon Titan may not have a buried ocean as long suspected, new study suggests

Saturn's giant moon Titan may not have a vast underground ocean after all.

A illustration made in Sept. 3, 2025, of a gigantic 8 meter (26 foot) long mega-predatory lamniform shark swimming beside a long-necked plesiosaur in the seas off Australia 115 million years ago. Photo: Pollyanna von Knorring/Swedish Museum of Natural History via AP

Before megalodon, researchers say a monstrous shark ruled ancient Australian seas

In the age of dinosaurs — before whales, great whites or the bus-sized megalodon — a monstrous shark prowled the waters off what's now northern Australia, among the sea monsters of the Cretaceous period.

Mixed Bag

Health

Health Minister Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam launching the Community-Based Disease Surveillance System.

Nepal launches community disease surveillance system to catch outbreaks early

When unusual illnesses strike a village, it's often teachers who notice students falling sick in clusters. When livestock die unexpectedly, community health volunteers hear about it first.

Nepal

Nepali Mountain guides Riten Tashi Sherpa and Ashish Gurung receiving South Korea’s prestigious Golden Ice Axe from South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-Young on December 27 in Kathmandu. Photo Courtesy: Nepal Mountaineering Association

Nepali guides receive Korea's Golden Ice Axe for Mera Peak recovery

Two Nepali mountain guides have been awarded South Korea’s prestigious Golden Ice Axe for their role in a high-risk body recovery operation on Mera Peak last October, marking the first time Nepali climbers have received the country’s highest mountaineering honour.

Environment

File - Sacks of garbage collected from Mount Everest are seen in Namche Bajar, Solukhumbu district, on May 27, 2019. Photo: AP

As melting glaciers reveal decades of trash, Nepal moves to clean up the Himalayas

High above the clouds, where prayer flags snap in thin air, and climbers chase lifelong dreams, another, quieter legacy has been building for decades: discarded oxygen cylinders, torn tents, frozen human waste, and even the remains of those who never made it back.

Business

Hyatt Place Butwal

Hyatt Place Butwal opens as Nepal's newest international-brand hotel

Hyatt Place Butwal has officially opened its doors in Rupandehi, marking the expansion of the Hyatt brand in Nepal with its third property in the country after Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Business

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Robust remittances, soaring exports buoy economy as inflation cools

Nepal’s economy displayed a strong external performance coupled with subdued domestic inflation in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2025/26, according to the latest macroeconomic report released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Sunday.

Nepal

Tourists in Annapurna Base camp area. Photo: RSS

Tourist arrivals near pre-pandemic levels; Nepal records 128,443 visitors in October

Nepal’s tourism industry continues its strong rebound, with 128,443 international visitors arriving in October 2025, marking a 3.3 percent increase compared to the same month last year and a 96 percent recovery compared to pre-pandemic figures from October 2019, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Nepal

File Photo - Manaslu. Photo: 8K Expeditions

Autumn climbing season sees 1,450 climbers on Nepal's peaks, royalty tops USD 1.8 million

Nepal’s mountains have seen steady climbing activity this autumn, with 1,450 climbers across 175 teams receiving permits, according to a Department of Tourism report under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Kathmandu

The framed photo of 38-year-old Sauran Kishor Shrestha rests in the trembling hands of his wife, Rojita Shrestha, at their home in Dhungedhara, Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday, October 6, 2025. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

He went out for change and never returned: Remembering a father, a dreamer, a martyr

The framed photo of 38-year-old Sauran Kishor Shrestha rests in the trembling hands of his wife, Rojita Shrestha, at their home in Dhungedhara, Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday, October 6, 2025.

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