- Sunday, 18 January 2026
Kathmandu, Jan 18: On Sunday, the first trading day of the week, the price of gold has increased in the domestic market. However, the price of silver has decreased today.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is being traded at Rs 277,800 per tola (11.66 grammes) today against Rs 277,200 on Friday. The price of the yellow metal has gone up by Rs 600 per tola today.
Similarly, the Federation has fixed the price of silver at Rs 5,625 per tola today. It has decreased by Rs 20 per tola. The silver price was Rs 5,645 on Friday.
According to the Federation, the price of gold and silver in the domestic market has been affected due to the fluctuation of the price in the international market, dollar exchange rate and geopolitical uncertainty.
As per the international media, gold is being traded at 4,596 US dollar per ounce and silver at 90 US dollar per ounce.
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08- One person killed, another injured in motorcycle accident
Chandrapur (Rautahat), Jan 18: A motorcycle accident at Kachuawa Bridge, situated between Ward 3 and 5 of Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality in Rautahat, has led to the death of an Indian national and left another individual in critical condition.
The incident took place on Saturday evening at Kachuawa Bridge, along the Gaur–Gangapipra road, involving a motorcycle with the registration number (BR30AE 5138). Mintu Paswan, hailing from Mahnapur-6, Pipraadhi District, Bihar State, India, lost his life in the crash. The other individual who sustained serious injuries, Ramesh Paswan, is also from the same village, as reported by Bishnu Pradeep Basnyal, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Rautahat.
The cause behind the accident is over speed of the vehicle. The critically injured Ramesh was initially treated at Provincial Hospital Gaur before being transferred to SS Neuro Hospital in Bara for advanced care.
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09- Community forest supporting underprivileged school children
Kanchanpur, Jan 18: The Brindaban Community Forest located in Shuklaphanta Municipality-9 has been continuously supporting the education of children from extremely poor families for the past two years.
The community forest has been providing cash to provide scholarships and purchase school uniforms for talented, extremely poor children from indigenous and Dalit communities studying at Asigram Secondary School and Mangal Primary School as part of its social responsibility.
Mohan Singh Ayer, the president of the community forest users committee, said that they provided Rs 200 thousand to the Asigram Secondary School last year, and this year the amount has been increased to Rs 300 thousand. “Last year, we also gave Rs 200 thousand to Mangal Basic School, but this year, due to lack of money, the budget could not be arranged for that school,” he said.
Nearly 300 children have benefited from the funds provided to the schools.The community forest generates income by selling timber, firewood and grass, as well as by fish farming in the pond within the forest. President Ayer stated that a certain portion of this income is invested in the education sector.
This initiative of the community forest users’ committee has increased student retention in schools. Teacher Nainsingh Ayer of Asigram Secondary School stated that with the support of the community forest, the school dropout rate due to financial difficulties has ended.
He said, “Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have benefited more since they started receiving funds for uniforms, educational materials and scholarships.”The Brindaban Community Forest, spread over an area of 199 hectares, supports 643 consumer households.
Along with forest conservation, the contribution of this forest to social and educational development has become exemplary for other community forests as well.
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10- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier: Nepal defeated by Thailand
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Nepal was defeated by Thailand by eight wickets in the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
In the match held today at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Thailand chased the target of 123 runs set by Nepal and won the match losing two wickets in 16.5 overs.
For Thailand, Nathakan Chantham contributed an unbeaten 57 runs. She scored 57 runs off 29 balls, hitting nine fours and one six. Nanpat Koncharonkai scored 32 and Afisra Suwanchonrathi scored 28 runs.
Sita Ranamagar from Nepal took two wickets.Before that, having lost the toss and invited to bat first, Nepal lost all wickets in the allotted 20 overs and made a total of 122 runs.Bindu Rawal scored the highest 44 runs for Nepal. She made 44 runs off 56 balls, hitting four fours. Similarly, Samjhana Khadka scored 26 runs in 11 balls. Rubina Khatri scored 17 runs off 10 balls, including two sixes and one four, while Pooja Mahato made 12 runs.
Apart from them, no other player from Nepal could add double-digit runs.
Thipatcha Puthawang took the most wickets for Thailand. She took three wickets, while Onnita Kamchomple took two, and Chaninda Suttharuwang, Suliporn Laomi, and Sunida Chaturugratan each took one wicket.Nepal will play its second match against the Netherlands on January 22.
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11- National Assembly’s 19th session begins
Kathmandu, Jan 18: The 19th session of the Upper House began at the old building of the National Assembly located at Federal Parliament Secretariat premises, Singha Durbar.
Announcing the commencement of the 19th session, NA Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal welcomed the members.
On the occasion, NA Chair Dahal read the letter sent received from the Office of the President regarding commencement of the session. Soon after it, one minute silent was observed to pay tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives for democracy.
The NA meeting also passed condolence motion in demise of its member Baldev Bohara. Born in 2008 BS, Bohara of Kanchanpur passed away on January 14.He was Constituent Assembly member in 2070 BS and was elected as NA member in 2080 BS.
The election for 19 new members is taking place on January 25. The NA will meet next on January 22.
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12- RSS former staffer Singh passes away
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Former employee of , the National News Agency, Hera Bahadur Singh, has passed away.
According to his family source, the 72-year-old Singh, who had been suffering from respiratory problems for a long time, died during treatment on Saturday.
He served at RSS for nearly three decades, including as a technician. Singh’s mortal remains were cremated yesterday at Teku Pachali Ghat. Singh is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.
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13 – Three NA members resign
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Three members of the National Assembly (NA), the upper house of the Federal Parliament, have resigned.
Leaders of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Bamdev Gautam and Narayankaji Shrestha, and Bhagwati Neupane of the CPN (UML) have submitted their resignations to National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, according to the Parliament spokesperson Ekram Giri.
Gautam, Shrestha and Neupane have resigned to run as candidates for the House of Representatives elections from Bardiya-1, Sarlahi-3 and Tanahun-1 respectively. Their term was until coming March 4.
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14- Election Commission’s decision on NC challenged in Supreme Court
Kathmandu, Jan 18: The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction of the Nepali Congress has filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court, challenging the Election Commission’s decision to grant official status to the party’s Gagan Thapa group.
The Supreme Court Administration has stated that the preliminary hearing on the writ petition will take place next Tuesday.
The petition was filed by Shrawan Kumar Shrestha as a representative of Congress leaders Deuba and Purna Bahadur Khadka.
The writ petition has sought annulment of the Election Commission’s decision, suspension of the candidate nominations for the election on January 20, arguing that the NC’s newly-elected Central Working Committee was unlawful.
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15- Finance Minister Khanal stresses making election frugal
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal has stressed that the election to the House of Representatives should be frugal.
During the meeting with office-bearers of the Election Commission here today, Finance Minister Khanal laid emphasis on the need of holding election at minimal expenditure.
However, he expressed commitment to mobilise necessary means and resources to conclude the election successfully.
Sharing that the Finance Ministry has focused its attention in the election, the Finance Minister lauded the engagement of all EC office-bearers and employees round the clock to conclude the election successfully.
Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari opined that the election code of conduct would be implemented soon and the Cabinet and high-ranking officials would be informed about this.
Likewise, commissioners Sagun Shumsher JB Rana and Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut, as well as EC high-officials briefed Finance Minister Khanal about the election preparation.
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16 – Capital expenditure of Karnali Province government minimal
Kakrebihar (Surkhet), Jan 18: The Karnali Province government has spent 13.74 per cent budget in six months of the current fiscal year.
A total of 7.90 per cent budget towards capital expenditure and 23.83 per cent budget towards current expenditure have been implemented.
The Karnali Province government had allocated Rs 19.98 billion budget towards development headings and Rs 1.57 billion has been spent so far. The Karnali government had allocated Rs 32.91 billion budget in the fiscal year 2024/25.
According to Chief of Karnali Province’s Comptroller Office, Ratna Subedi, only 13.74 per cent budget has been spent till mid-term view of the current fiscal year.
He said, ” Out of total budget of Rs 12.39 billion budget towards current expenditure, Rs 2.95 billion (23.83 per cent) has been spent so far. This is three folds more as compared to implementation of development budget.”
A total of Rs 10.73 billion budget has been allocated for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Urban Development in the current fiscal year, only Rs 1.8 billion has been spent.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development has been seen very weak in budget implementation. It has spent only Rs 205.9 million budget out of Rs 3.55 billion.
Likewise, Social Development Ministry has spent Rs 194.3 million so far out of Rs 2.78 billion budget while the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment spent Rs 51.8 million out of Rs 1.43 billion towards capital expenditure.
Out of Rs 641.6 million budget towards capital of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative, Rs 223.3 million budget has been implemented in six months, added Subedi.
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17 – CNI calls for prioritizing economic issues in parties’ election
manifestoes
Kathmandu, Jan 18: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged political parties to prioritise economic issues in their manifestoes for the upcoming elections.
Addressing a programme held here today, CNI President Birendra Raj Pandey stressed that the country should get the government within the stipulated time and achieve both political and economic way-out.
He said, “It appears that only the political agenda is being prioritised at present, but a clear plan and roadmap are essential for improving the country’s economy.”
Pandey stated that, although political changes occur in the country almost in every decade, the country’s average economic growth rate has not significantly improved.
According to him, the trend of declining contribution of the production and industrial sectors to the economy and the increasing share of the service sector in recent years is worrying.
The CNI President said, “Increasing the contribution of the production sector to the economy is today’s need. Without this, long-term economic stability is not possible.”
He stated that the economic growth rate could not be achieved due to issues such as weak capital expenditure, investment not expanding despite sufficient liquidity, and policy instability.
CNI has suggested that to improve the economy, an investment-friendly environment must be created, annual changes in tax policy should be stopped, administrative hassles reduced, and the situation where multiple agencies have to be approached for the same task should be ended.
Pandey also mentioned that doing business is difficult due to the numerous regulatory structures. He emphasised that alongside political stability, accelerating the economy should be the main goal now. He noted that although political parties have good commitments in their manifestos, the implementation side tends to be weak.
CNI has suggested that policies promoting entrepreneurship should be adopted, good governance should be maintained, large infrastructure projects should be completed on time, IT-based enterprises should be prioritised, energy security should be strengthened and special attention should be given to promoting tourism.
Similarly, policies should be formulated to derive greater benefits from forest products, and political parties should also be serious about attracting domestic and foreign investment in the mining and mineral sectors, according to CNI.CNI Senior Vice President Nirvana Chaudhary said that unemployment within the country is currently the biggest problem.
He stated that discussions and interactions will be held with senior leaders of all political parties to create a clear roadmap for sustainable economic development along with political stability in the upcoming elections.
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18 – KMC Mayor Shah resigns
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah, has resigned from his position.
Mayor Shah’s Secretariat has stated that he has submitted his resignation to Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, effective from today.
Stating that he resigned voluntarily, Mayor Shah said in his resignation letter that he had tried to work honestly for the benefit of the metropolitan city and its residents during his tenure.
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19- Role of media crucial to make election successful: Minister Kharel
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has said the role of media including is very important to make the upcoming election to the House of Representatives a success.
Distributing the identity card related to affiliation to social security fund (SSF) for employees working at RSS on temporary, contract and daily wages basis today, Minister Kharel lauded the role played by RSS as the responsible and accountable professional media.
“The HoR election is scheduled for March 5. It should be made free, impartial and fear-free. The RSS had played important role to make election successful in past. I believe that the organisation will play such role this time again,” he argued.
On a different note, the Communications Minister Kharel mentioned that the interim government had carried out works having long-term importance amidst limited time.
Recalling that he had raised issues for the welfare of working journalists during his leadership in the Federation of Nepali Journalists, RSS Executive Chair Dharmendra Jha said he is happy for being able to affiliate the human resources working at RSS on daily wages and contract basis at the social security fund.
He suggested the social security fund to further widen social security procedure, drawing the attention of the concerned body to open the ways for affiliation of all working journalists working at RSS at SSF.
The RSS management is positive to incorporate other working human resources of RSS at SSF.
Similarly, SSF Executive Director Kabi Raj Adhikari, shared that affiliation at SSF is not only about savings, it is also security of life of contributors.
Stating that the Fund has brought different facilities in implementation for contributors, he opined that the SSF would take the responsibility of security of contributors and their families.
Likewise, RSS General Manager Sandip Rai said affiliating the human resources working at RSS on temporary, contract and daily wages basis at the SSF is the historic achievement.
Clarifying that social security programme was launched at RSS in course of creating work-friendly environment by ensuring financial and personal future of RSS workers, Rai thanked the Communications Ministry and SSF for this support.
RSS office assistant, Khila Prasad Dahal, on the behalf of beneficiaries, shared that their future has become secured with the affiliation at SSF.
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