- Friday, 13 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 12: The Children as Zone of Peace (CZOP) National Campaign has requested all political parties to include children’s rights in their manifestos.
The Campaign drew attention to including issues related to child rights protection in the manifesto and handed over a 25-point suggestion to representatives of political parties.
CZOP has reminded all local levels, provinces and the federal government on implementation of Nepal’s Constitution to ensure children’s rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, the Child Rights Act, 2075, the Local Government Operation Act, 2074, and the National Child Policy
Similarly, it has requested the parties to prioritise child-friendly local governance, child marriage-free local units, child labour-free local units, nutrition-rich local units, environmentally friendly local units, child violence-free local units along with ensuring the rights and interests of children.
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08- Cow from Kamana Agriculture Farm adjudged best in cow show
Narayangadh (Chitwan), Feb 12: At the National Cow Exhibition Competition held in Chitwan, Arjun Dhakal’s cow from Kamana Agriculture and Livestock Farm in Ratnanagar has been declared the winner.
Scoring 362.5 out of 400, the cow won the first position. In Chitwan, a district which tops other districts in milk production, this is the first time a cow exhibition with such competitive evaluation has been organised.
At the international dairy exhibition-2082 held at Chitwan Exhibition Centre in Bharatpur, various breeds of cows were gathered in one place and livestock experts evaluated them based on the animal’s health condition, milk production, physical structure, gait and reproductive suitability.
A four-member panel of judges had evaluated the cows and allotted the scores. In the competition, Shivani, the cow of Shiva Prasad Paudel, the owner of Shivani Agriculture and Livestock Farm, secured second place with 353.5 points, while the cow of Chet Prasad Dhakal, the owner of Kalika Animal Development Centre, secured third place with 352.5 points.
The cow of Padam Tiwari, the director of Nova Agricultural Firm, has been placed in the shelter.
The chief judge of the cow competition was Associate Professor Dr Gokarna Gautam of the Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur. Similarly, Dr Uddhav Paneru of the Cow Research Programme, Rampur, Dr Khagendra Sapkota, Senior Livestock Development Officer of the Farmers’ Commission, and American animal expert Daniel Lee Lenny were the judging members.
The judges evaluated the 17 cows from different farms participating in the competition based on health status, breed-specific physical conformation, gait, lactation, and reproductive ability.
Dr Gautam said that all the cows brought to the exhibition were excellent.
On this occasion, Kishor Bagale, President of the Chitwan District Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited, stated that the cow competition is a new practice in Nepal. He said that it will be continued in the coming days as well.
The International Dairy Expo-2026, organised jointly by Chitwan Industry Association and Chitwan District Milk Producers Cooperative Ltd under the slogan ‘Technology in the dairy industry, prosperity in the economy’, is concluding today.
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09- Madhesh Province Assembly formulates 67 laws
Mahendranagar (Dhanusha), Feb 12: The Madhesh Province Assembly has so far legislated 67 laws, according to the Office of the Chief Attorney of the Madhesh Province.
Chief Attorney of the Madhesh Province, Dr Sunil Ranjan Singh informed that other laws are under formulation process.
It has been stated that the frequent changes in the governments have brought challenges in the formulation of other laws.
He further shared the free legal aid programme being operated by the Chief Attorney Office under the Madhesh province government has gradually become effective. Especially citizens belonging to poor and marginalized section have improved access to justice with the free legal aid service in place, he claimed.
Dr Singh expressed the confidence that the legal structure would further strengthen good governance and judicial system in the province.
Number of beneficiaries from the service that was launched focusing on Dalit, disadvantaged, and backward people who are likely to be deprived of access to justice due to financial condition is annually increasing, the office shared.
The province government has been providing legal assistance by mobilizing legal professionals in all eight districts of Madhesh.
According to the office, as many as 108 people had received the service in the starting year while the number increased to 110 in the year 2076/77 BS; 144 in the year 2077/78 BS; 238 in the year 2078/79 and 368 in the year 2081/82 BS.
The end beneficiaries have been receiving legal aid for their services from the District Court, the High Court, the Supreme Court and the Administrative Court.
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10- National Assembly’s current session prorogues from midnight on February 13
Kathmandu, Feb 12: President Ramchandra Paudel has prorogued the current session of the National Assembly to be effective from midnight on February 13.
President Paudel has prorogued the session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on February 9, in accordance with Article 93 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.
The current session of the National Assembly was convened on January 18.
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11- HoR polls: EC asks FPTP candidates to submit election manifestos by February 15
Kathmandu, Feb 12: The Election Commission (EC) has called on all first-past-the-post (FPTP) candidates for the March 5 election to the House of Representatives (HoR) to submit a copy of their election manifesto to the respective Election Officer’s Office by February 15.
The EC has written to all FPTP candidates, directing them to make their election manifestos public and submit one copy to the Election Commission Office in accordance with Clause 37 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS.
Similarly, Election Offices in all provinces and the respective Election Officers’ Offices have been instructed to maintain records of the submitted manifestos and provide the details to the Commission. Earlier, the EC had also written to political parties, urging them to unveil their election manifestos by February 15.
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12- No alternative to election: PM Karki
Solukhumbu, Feb 12: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that conducting voting in the mountainous and hilly districts on March 5 is possible under any circumstances.
The Prime Minister arrived here today to assess election preparations, relevant security arrangements, and geographical challenges.
On the occasion, she stated that there is no situation that would warrant postponing the election, emphasizing that the election must be held as scheduled.
“There is no alternative to holding the election on March 5 to free the country from the cycle of instability,” she said. Acknowledging the challenges of conducting elections in mountainous regions, she added that the government has already made necessary arrangements to address such adversities.
The Prime Minister urged voters, political parties, and candidates to remain confident that the election will be conducted in a fearless, peaceful, and impartial atmosphere. According to her, the government’s entire focus is now on ensuring the election is held in a cordial environment. She also called on all concerned bodies to concentrate their efforts on the polls.
During a briefing with the District Security Committee, the Prime Minister specifically directed authorities to create an environment where voters can cast their ballots without fear, pressure, or influence.
She instructed the concerned authorities to leave no stone unturned in guaranteeing security at remote polling stations in the mountainous areas, and directed them to mobilize additional security forces if necessary.
On the occasion, Chief District Officer Leela Kumari Pandey KC presented a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister, highlighting the district’s overall security situation, the physical status of polling centers, and their accessibility.
After reviewing the details, the Prime Minister directed the authorities to take special precautions regarding security, transportation of election materials, and the safety of ballot papers, according to CDO Pandey.
Solukhumbu, the part of Koshi Province, has 123 polling stations. The District Administration Office stated that alternative plans have been prepared in view of possible snowfall, climate conditions, and geographical challenges.
The Prime Minister said it is the constitutional responsibility of the government to ensure the voting rights of people in all areas, including mountainous regions. She assured that necessary arrangements would be made to enable the voters of Solukhumbu to cast their ballots in an easy and accessible manner.
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13- HoR polls: 15.77 million ballot papers printed
Kathmandu, Feb 12: The Election Commission (EC) has said that the printing of ballot papers for 124 electoral constituencies in 58 districts has been completed. So far, 15 million 778 thousand ballot papers have been printed.
According to the Election Commission, ballot papers have been printed for Dolpa, Mugu, Kalikot, Humla, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum (West), Salyan, Surkhet, Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Doti, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Baitadi, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Panchthar, Ilam, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Khotang, Dhankuta, Baglung, Gulmi, Jhapa, Gorkha, Myagdi, Parbat, Nawalparasi (Susta West), Morang, Udayapur, Mustang, Lamjung, Tanahu, Syangja, Bardiya, Rukum (East), Dang, Banke, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Rupandehi, Rolpa, Manang, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Rasuwa and Sindhupalchowk, among others.
Till Wednesday, ballot papers for 53 districts had been printed, and today printing was completed for an additional five districts.
Around 1.5 million ballot papers are being printed every day.
Similarly, 20,830,000 ballot papers for the proportional representation electoral system have already been printed. A total of 20,323,000 ballot papers are to be printed for the first-past-the-post electoral system.
The EC has said that ballot papers for 12 electoral constituencies in 10 districts of Karnali were dispatched today. They are for Salyan, Rukum West, Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Kalikot, Jumla, Jajarkot, Dailekh and Surkhet, according to Assistant Spokesperson Prakash Neupane.
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14- Parties have been cooperating when nation faces difficulties: NCP Coordinator Dahal
Galkot (Baglung), Feb 12: Coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, has said that despite political differences among various communist parties, there has been cooperation between them during difficult times for the nation.
Addressing the joint election rally of the NCP and the Rastriya Janamorcha held in Galkot, district today, he stated that cooperation has been established in Baglung to send a message of unity across the country.
Coordinator Dahal shared that the electoral alliance with Janamorcha has sent a message of unity across Nepal and that this cooperation will continue even after the elections.
“There are political differences among various communist parties, but in times of national crises, we have cooperated in the past. This time too, there will be working unity and coalition to steer the country out of crisis,” he said, adding that considering the situation after the movement on September 8 and 9, they have moved forward with party unity and cooperation. “Cooperation with the People’s Front has occurred in that context,” the NCP Chair said.
General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Masal), Mohan Bikram Singh, expressed his belief that the country is in a serious crisis and that the election will take it on the right path. He urged people not to take the election on March 5 lightly and encouraged them to identify and vote for those who work in the interest of the country.
It was announced at the programme that among the two constituencies here, the NCP would support Krishna Adhikari of Janamorcha in Constituency No 1, and the Janamorcha would support NCP’s candidate Gyamanath Gaire in Constituency No. 2.
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15- 80.70 billion cubic metres gas deposit confirmed in Jaljale, Dailekh
Dailekh, Feb 12: Mineral gas deposit of 80.70 billion cubic metres has been confirmed at Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1 of Dailekh district.
This is confirmed in the final exploration report submitted to the Government of Nepal by the Chinese Company, China Geological Survey.
Spokesperson at the Department of Mines and Geology Dharma Raj Khadka stated that the storage data was released after a comprehensive study by the Chinese team.
In the preliminary report made public earlier, it was estimated that there could be 1.12 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the area.
He said further testing and the final study have proved larger quantity of gas than previously estimated.
The Department has stated even if storage is confirmed, the actual information about its commercial production and extraction capacity will only be obtained after ‘well testing’.
Spokesperson Khadka said, “So far, we have only determined the size of the storage. Until the well testing is carried out, it is not possible to finalize how much gas can be extracted and which technology would be suitable.”
According to him, in the next phase, other equipment will be used at the ‘drilled’ site to break the rock or displace the natural gas.
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16- Agriculture Ministry urges farmers to take precautions against African swine fever
Kathmandu, Feb 12: In view of the increased risk for African swine fever in pigs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has urged the pig farmers to take high precautions.
As the Ministry said, no vaccine is available as of now against the disease. The farmers have been urged to take bio-safety measures in the pig farms. If any animal dies of an unnatural reason, as the Ministry said, it must be reported to the relevant bodies concerning livestock services at the federal, province and local levels.
Domesticated pigs and wild pigs may be infected with this viral disease.
High fever ranging from 104 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit and rashes on ear, tails, lower part of stomach and outer part of skin of the animal are the symptoms of African swine fever, according to the Ministry.
Development of blue rashes on body, loss of appetite and vomiting are the consequences of the infection. The fatality rate is also high from this disease, it is said. Though it is highly pandemic disease, it is not transmitted from animals to humans.
Dr Sanjeev Pandit of Agriculture, Information and Training Center, this disease is easily transmission able from one place to another from the transport of meat products from the infected animals.
The virus was first detected three years ago in Nepal. It is said the virus has been presently spread to over 10,000 pigs in the Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas.
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