- Monday, 8 June 2026
Kathmandu, Jan 23: Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to go for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls by advancing party President Gagan Kumar Thapa as the prime minister after the polls.
The central working committee meeting of the NC held today approved the proposal tabled by NC Vice President Bishow Prakash Sharma.
Sharma said NC will propose Thapa as the prime minister in the upcoming HoR polls scheduled for March 5. Likewise, the NC has decided to join the election campaign by addressing the people’s aspirations in the changed political context.
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21- NA Elections: EC says preparations complete
Kathmandu, Jan 23: The Election Commission (EC) has said that all preparations for the National Assembly (NA) elections scheduled for Sunday, January 25, have been completed.
The EC shared this information during its weekly press meet held here on Friday. According to EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the processes of nomination registration, claim and protest, investigation, publication of the final list of candidates, and allocation of election symbols have all been completed.
Likewise, ballot papers have already been dispatched to the respective Offices of the Election Officers. Voting will take place from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday at the designated polling centers in the respective provinces.
Through the election, a total of 18 new National Assembly members will be elected. However, Sunil Bahadur Thapa of the Nepali Congress has already been elected unopposed. Voting will therefore be held for the remaining 17 seats.
Voters in the NA election include members of the Province Assemblies, mayors and deputy mayors, and chairs and vice-chairs of local levels. The names of local-level representatives who have resigned from their posts to contest the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 have been excluded from the voter list.
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22- Child-led photography exhibition kicks off
Kathmandu, Jan 23: UNICEF and the Government of Finland today opened Jhalko: Glimpses of West Rukum, a child-led photography exhibition that amplifies children’s voices on the critical role education plays in protecting children’s rights, wellbeing and futures after a crisis.
The exhibition is part of the longstanding partnership between the Government of Nepal, UNICEF and the Government of Finland to strengthen Nepal’s education system and ensure learning continuity for children affected by emergencies, according to a joint press statement issued today by the organizers.
“When crises strike and schools are damaged or destroyed, education becomes a life-saving intervention – offering children safety, structure, psychosocial support and a sense of normalcy,” Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Petri Puhakka. “Nepal has shown strong commitment to ensuring children continue learning despite challenges posed by earthquakes, floods and other natural hazards.”
Recognizing children as active participants in their own recovery, UNICEF and the Government of Finland supported a three-day photography workshop in November 2025 for children studying at Shree Bheri Dobhan Secondary School in Rukum Paschim District. The school was one of the 746 schools damaged or destroyed during the 2023 earthquake, which had its epicenter in Jajarkot District.
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23- Cabinet decisions: Govt accepts $ 2 million in grant assistance from AIIB
Kathmandu, Jan 23: The government has decided to accept a grant assistance equivalent to US Dollars two million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the Improvement Project of the Siddhartha Highway (Butwal-Pokhara).
A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday took a decision to this end, Government Spokesperson and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal shared this at a press meet on Friday.
Similarly, the meeting agreed to remove a ceiling on foreign investment under an automatic route in the determined enterprises/business. As per the meeting’s permission, Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Rajendra Parasad Mishra will attend the ‘First South Asian Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forecast Conference’ to be held in New Delhi of India from February 5 to 7.
The meeting has decided to endorse the Foreign Minister’s visit to Bangladesh, attending the funeral ceremony of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia last month.
The government decided to give permission for the construction of an office building of the Province Public Health Laboratory on its five ropani of land in Bhaktapur district, according to Minister Aryal.
Likewise, as per the cabinet decision, Water Supplies and Sanitation Division 3, Sindhupalchowk is allowed to use one ropani of land owned by the government in Kavre. Furthermore, the cabinet has decided to give an approval to a notice in the Nepal Gazette (Extraordinary Issue) regarding the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which was endorsed by the House of Representatives on 11 March, 2025.
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24- Serve in the best interests of nation, citizens: President Paudel tells APF personnel
Kathmandu, Jan 23: President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the primary duty of the security agencies is to maintain peace and order and to serve the best interests of the nation and its citizens.
Addressing a programme organised at the Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal headquarters in Halchowk on the occasion of the 25th APF Day on Friday, the Head of State lauded the APF for safeguarding people’s freedom, sovereignty and property, and for placing the national interest first through its high level of professionalism and competence.
“Whenever the nation faces a crisis, disasters, or border challenges, you are the first force to stand up,” he told the APF personnel.
The President also said that the upcoming election in the country is closely linked to the Constitution, constitutional norms and values, the strengthening of federal democracy, stability, good governance and development.
“I am fully confident that the security agencies will leave no stone unturned in supporting the government to conduct the election in an impartial and fearless atmosphere, with broad participation and with due consideration of the concerns of political parties and voters,” he said.
He further expressed hope that the APF would always move forward in fulfilling its duties with dedication.
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25- Patriots should unite, Prachanda says
Kathmandu, Jan 23: Coordinator of Nepali Communist Party and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the patriots and republican forces should unite to address the country’s crises.
Welcoming the entire District Committee of CPN (UML) OKhaldhunga in the Nepali Communist Party on Friday, Dahal claimed that his party has the strength to troubleshoot the country’s current challenges and hoped to get people’s support to this end in the upcoming polls.
On the occasion, Chairman of CPN (UML) OKhaldhunga District Committee Gyan Bahadur Khadka, vice-chairman Kamal Prasad Neupane, secretary Ashok Thapa, under-secretary Rajib Katuwal and other office-bearers and the leaders defected to the Nepali Communist Party.
During the programme, former Prime Minister and joint coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the socialist ideals carried by his party should be spread across the country, adding that his party was the mainstream of the communist movement in the country.
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26- Rain occurs in Western Nepal, likely to spread other parts
Kathmandu, Jan 23: At present there is the influence of the westerly wind in the country. The western Nepal has witnessed rainfall on Friday.
As updated by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is occurring at a few places in Sudurpashchim Province since Friday afternoon. The weather is mainly fair in the rest of the country.
According to Department’s Information Officer Dinkar Kayastha, the hilly and mountainous regions of Sudurpashchim Province as well as Gandaki, Lumbini, and Karnali Provinces are generally cloudy.
The data made available by the Department shows that in the past three hours, 10 millimeters rain was recorded in Shatbanjh of Baitadi, 5 millimeters in Darchula, 9.4 millimeters in Dadeldhura, 7 millimeters in Doti, 0.8 millimeters in Kanchanpur, and 0.4 millimeters in Kailali.
Today, Jumla recorded the lowest temperature (- 6.9 degrees Celsius) across the country followed by Jomsom’s – 3 degrees and Jiri’s – 0.9 degrees Celsius.
Tonight, moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, at some places of Lumbini Province and at a few places of Gandaki Province, the Department said in its regular bulletin issued this evening.
Light rain is likely to occur in some places of the high hilly and mountainous region while light snowfall is likely to occur at some places of the high hilly and mountainous region of Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province and at one or two places of the hilly and mountainous region of Bagmati Province.
Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds is likely to occur at one or two places of Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province. The Meteorological Forecasting Division said that the Cold will affect daily life, tourism, health as well as air and road transport, it is said.
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27- Role of APF Nepal remarkable to combat security challenges, PM Karki says
Kathmandu, Jan 23: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has praised the roles of the Armed Police Force (AFP), Nepal performed in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, independence and territorial indivisibility as well as in border security, disaster management and citizens’ security.
Addressing the 25th APF, Nepal Day at the APF Headquarters on Friday, the PM said that serving the nation with discipline, integrity, professional efficiency and top professionalism are the qualities of the APF, Nepal even in the country’s tough situation.
Besides defending the national territory by being deployed in the border areas, the role of the APF, Nepal to make the national economy robust through revenue collection is impressive, PM Karki added.
“Being dedicated to the nation’s service with integrity despite tough geographical location, risk-prone work stations and unfavorable conditions are the special identities of this force (APF, Nepal),” the PM stated.
Likewise, she appreciated the roles of the APF, Nepal performed in the past to conduct the polls in a free, fair and fearless manner and directed the APF, Nepal to make the upcoming election a success with top alertness and professionalism.
On the occasion, PM Karki said that the government has made full efforts to maintain stability in the country by ending the current transition, adding that the upcoming election to the House of Representatives (HoR) should be made a success through coordination and cooperation among the security agencies.
Likewise, she stressed to develop the APF, Nepal as an efficient, transparent, human rights-friendly and people-oriented security body while considering the changing security threats, technological advancement and rising expectations of the citizens.
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