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The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) of Nepal and the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in research and dialogue on matters of shared interest.

The agreement – signed by the founder of AIDIA Sunil KC and CSR Chair Usmonzoda Khairiddin Usmon – allows joint studies, exchange of experts, and collaborative participation in academic and policy forums held in Nepal and Tajikistan, reads a statement issued by the AIDIA.

“Both institutions have agreed to undertake joint projects in areas that contribute to regional understanding, constructive engagement, and economic diplomacy,” said KC, after signing the agreement.

As part of the partnership, AIDIA and the CSR will co-host the ‘Dushanbe Dialogue’ – a forum established under the theme ‘Where Center Meets South’.

The dialogue will focus on key subjects including energy, security, artificial intelligence, and climate change, according to the agreement.

“It is intended to serve as a meeting ground for scholars, researchers, and policymakers to exchange perspectives on regional and global developments,” said Usmon, the statement further reads.  

KC stated that the collaboration represents a step forward in building sustained academic and policy ties between Nepal and Tajikistan.

Both organizations affirmed their shared commitment to fostering knowledge-based cooperation that contributes to peace, development, and mutual understanding.

Ramdular Sah, the priest at the Kabir Baba temple in Rajakpatti, Kachan- 8, Bodebarsain Municipality, Saptari, was shot dead this morning.

The 73-year-old priest was shot dead by an unidentified group at 2 am, said Ram Sundar Sah, a family member of the priest.

The priest had been living alone in a hut. Ram Sundar said an unknown group pulled the priest onto the road and shot him in the back.

Within a few minutes of the incident, the locals had reported about the incident to the police post in Kachanali.

Police teams from the District Police Office and the Area Police Office, Kadarbon have reached the incident site and started the necessary investigation.

The police have reported that two bullet casings were found at the scene.

Superintendent of Police Gautam Kumar KC, Chief of the District Police Office Saptari, said that the body has been sent to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for postmortem.

He added that a search has been intensified in the border areas of the district to track down the suspects.

A Nepali youth, who came to Portugal for work, has gone missing.

He is 34-year-old Jitendra Pandey from Pipalpani, Bhanu Municipality-9, Tanahun district in Nepal, who has been living in Portugal since the last two years.

Pandey's colleague, Bidur Tamang, said that Pandey has been out of contact and missing since last Monday from the Sintra area near Lisbon.

According to Tamang, Pandey had arrived at his house in the night last Sunday and he had left the house stating that his friend had phoned him. Tamang said Pandey has been missing after that.

"After Pandey went out of contact, we contacted his family in Nepal, and from there we received news that he had called a relative in the morning and said he would be out of touch for a few days. Currently, there is no contact with him," Tamang said.

He stated that the local police were informed on Tuesday through the employer of the search for Pandey.

Pandey's residency card, bank card, passport, and all belongings were found in the room where he stays.

Nepali Ambassador to Portugal, Prakash Mani Paudel, said that the local police administration had been notified immediately for a search as soon as the Embassy received the news of Pandey's disappearance.

Ambassador Paudel said that the Embassy is making every effort to search for him.

Pandey, who came to Portugal two years ago via Croatia, was working at a packing company in Sintra.

Pandey has elderly parents and sisters back in Nepal.

The Third Tihar Flora Expo has witnessed transactions of Rs 10 million.

The five-day expo organized by Nepal Nursery Entrepreneurs Association held at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, concluded on Saturday.

Laxmi Maharjan, Vice President of the Association and Expo Coordinator, said that more than 35,000 people visited the expo, which had a turnover of Rs 10 million.

Former Environment Minister Ganesh Sah, who participated in the Flora Expo closing program, underscored that everyone should support the 'Protect the Environment' campaign.

Actress Manisha Koirala stated that traditional and indigenous plants should be protected and promoted, emphasizing that this helps maintain environmental balance.

Association President Ramji Prasad Timilsina expressed a commitment to prioritize traditional local indigenous nursery plants in the upcoming expo.

The organizers stated that the Expo featured 70 stalls, including 62 commercial stalls, four official stalls of the Department of Plant Resources and the Floriculture Development Centre, and four competitive stalls.

Kaag Tihar is being celebrated today by worshipping and feeding delicacies to the crow.

Kaag Tihar is a part of the five-day Tihar festivities which is observed on the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik each year as per the lunar calendar.

This day is dedicated to the Kaag or the crow which is believed to be the messenger of the deity Yamaraj, the god of death, as per the Hindu mythology. According to scriptures, crows are considered as messengers of Yama because Yama learns about people's deeds through them.

On the day of Kaag Tihar today, crows are worshipped and offered delicious food with rituals to please them, hoping they convey 'good news' of people to the 'god of death'.

It is also a tradition in Nepali society to pronounce 'Shuva bol, shuva bol', meaning bring good news and auspiciousness, whenever crows craw at home, one's roof or around the house. If a crow caws around the house, it is even believed to bring some news.

Crows are offered rice mixed with curd and curry in the morning in reverence, in the belief that it is the crows' especial delicacy. The curd and rice are given to crows today in the belief that they will deliver good wishes of people to Yama.

On this occasion, a special worship ceremony will be held today at Kageshwari Mahadev Temple located in Kageshwari Manohara Municipality–1 in Kathmandu. Likewise, special worship of the crow will also be performed at Kageshwari Temple in Hanumandhoka.

Tihar festival is also associated with the belief that those who commit evil deeds are punished by Yamaraj and those who perform virtuous deeds are protected by Dharmaraj. Yamaraj is also known as Dharmaraj or the 'king of justice'.

The ritual of 'Yama Deepadaan' or paying homage to Yama by lighting butter lamps in the names of all family members for liberation from the torments of Yama has begun from Saturday evening.

There is a belief that making offerings of the 'Yama Deepadaan' leads to liberation from suffering in the afterlife.

Nepal are playing against Samoa today for the title of ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Oman.

The match will be held at 4:15 pm Nepal time in Al Amerat Cricket Ground of Oman.

This is the last match Nepal are playing in the ongoing tournament. Nepal are on the top spot of the score table with eight points.

Nepal will clinch the title of ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific tournament if they defeat Samoa today. Samoa have already been out of the World Cup qualifier.

Nepal have already qualified for the T20 World Cup to be organized in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

Nepal had entered the Super Six by defeating Japan and Qatar in Group-phase matches and won all matches in Super Six so far.

Rohit Paudel (Captain), Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-Captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Ashif Sheikh, Adil Ansari, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sandip Jora, Arif Sheikh, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Gulshan Jha and Sompal Kami are in the Nepali team for today's match against Samoa.

UAE are in second place with six points and Oman in third place with six points.  UAE and Oman have also qualified for T20 World Cup, 2026.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has reclaimed more than 208 ropani of the encroached public land.

KMC Mayor Balendra Shah informed about this through a social media post on Thursday that more than 200 ropani of public land, worth Rs 23 billion, that had been encroached upon, has been reclaimed.

Mayor Shah stated that with his taking leadership of KMC, the metropolitan city is working with the aim of returning 1,859 ropani 14 anna of encroached land worth about Rs 200 billion.

The Local Government Operation Act, 2074 has granted full authority to the local government for the protection, management, and recovery of public land and property.

Mayor Shah said that pursuant to the same policy, a campaign has been launched to end the tendency of encroaching, occupying and grabbing public land.

KMC is expediting the works of developing the returned land into open parks, sports fields, skateboard parks, pavilions, green areas and public use spaces to prevent its reoccupation.

The metropolitan city has stated that an implementation committee has been formed with the aim of bringing 1,859 ropani 14 anna of encroached land back into public use, based on the report prepared by the commission chaired by former Secretary Ram Bahadur Rawal, and the committee will start its work from today, to further prioritise the protection of public land.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 7, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 258, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 250, 900 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 75 and is being traded at Rs 3, 350 per tola today.