- Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 15: President Ramchandra Paudel today attended a special ceremony organized by the Nepali Army (NA), marking Mahashivaratri Festival and Army Day- 2082 BS. Today marks the 263rd Army Day.
On the occasion, the Head-of-the-State observed the feu-de-joie and NA skill shows and performances. A contingent of NA presented a guard of honor to the President who also serves as the Supreme Commander of the NA.
The President laid a wreath at the NA memorial in Tundikhel. The NA celebrates its establishment in conjunction with the Shivaratri festival, which marks the birthday of Lord Shiva. According to Vedic beliefs, Shiva symbolizes peace and security.
As part of the celebrations, President Paudel also launched the annual magazine “Sipahi-2082 BS,” published by the NA Directorate of Public Relations and Information.
Additionally, President Paudel presented prizes to Lieutenant Colonel Bibek Bikram Shah and Corporal Ramesh Kumar Chaudhary who secured first and second place, respectively, in the ‘free fall jump’ competition. He also presented “Tokens of Remembrance” to the chiefs of military squads from India, the UK, and the US, who performed band displays during the event.
Before this, Skyhooks Army Aviation Services displayed banners, and an army helicopter showered flower petals on the occasion, also displaying a banner reading ‘Sena Diwas-2082 (Army Day-2026)’.
Soldiers of the Nepali Army marked the occasion with celebratory rifle and artillery fire, accompanied by grand parades. The event featured demonstrations of various military skills, floats displaying traditional army attire, and performances by music and dance ensembles. A Nepali Army contingent also took part in the march-past. In addition, a range of vehicles, equipment, and weaponry used by the Army were put on display.
Among the dignitaries present were Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, and National Assembly (NA) Chair Narayana Prasad Dahal.
The event was also attended by ministers and former ministers, heads and officials of constitutional bodies, senior government authorities, chiefs of security agencies, representatives of diplomatic missions based in Nepal, and other distinguished personalities from various sectors.
A large number of people gathered around the Tundikhel area to witness the celebrations, which were broadcast live by several media outlets, including Nepal Television.
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07- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Nepal to bat first
Kathmandu, Feb 15: Nepal has been invited to bat first against West Indies in today’s match held under ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026.
West Indies won the toss at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, of India and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal is playing its third match of Group-phase in the ongoing World Cup today.
Nepal has pressure to win today’s match as it has already lost two consecutive matches. Earlier, Nepal was defeated with England and Italy.
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Captain Rohit Poudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav and Sandeep Lamichhane are in Nepali team today.
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08- Birgunj Customs Office collects Rs 135.48 bn in revenue in seven
months
Samachar Samiti (RSS)
Birgunj (Parsa), Feb 15: The Birgunj Customs Office has collected Rs 135.48 billion in revenue in the first seventh months of the current fiscal year.
The office had set a target of collecting Rs 153.84 billion in revenue during the period. The revenue collecting during the period was 88.07 per cent of the target.
Information Officer at the Office, Uday Singh Bista, shared that the office gathered Rs 18.44 billion in revenue from July 17-August 16, Rs 20.73 billion from August 17-September 16, and Rs 19.9 billion from September 17-October 17.
Bista added that Rs 17.33 billion in revenue was collected from October 18-November 16, Rs 20.80 billion in November 17-December 15 and Rs 20.20 billion from December 16-January 14, 2026.
The Office had set a target of collecting Rs 21.29 billion in revenue from January 15-February 12. It collected only Rs 18.90 billion.
Bista mentioned that the Department of Customs has given a target for Birgunj Customs Office to collect Rs 273.39 billion in revenue in the current fiscal year.
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09- Jumla folks protest ambulance fare hike
Jumla, Feb 15: Local residents in Jumla district have voiced dissatisfaction over the arbitrary hike of ambulance fare.
The District Ambulance Committee has fixed ambulance fare from Jumla to Nepalgunj at Rs 25,000 which has drawn criticism from the local residents as they accuse that the Committee arbitrarily determined the fare.
The meeting on the Committee convened on January 8 had set the ambulance fares operating within Jumla district in accordance with the Ambulance Operation Directives-2082 BS, said Kiran Kumar Sharma, Coordinator of the Committee and Chief District Officer of Jumla.
Acknowledging the complaints pouring in from the public regarding fixed fares, Coordinator Sharma said that the rates could be reviewed in the upcoming meeting if necessary.
The Committee has fixed the ambulance fare within the Chandannath municipality at Rs 600. Likewise, within the district, the rate has been set at Rs 100 per km on unpaved road and Rs 90 km on paved roads for round trip, according to Sharma.
Explaining that the fares were determined based on distance and location, he added that it would cost Rs 20,000 to operate ambulance from any location in Jumla to Surkhet district while the service-seekers have to pay Rs 25,000 to avail ambulance service from Jumla to Nepalgunj (Banke district).
The Committee is at work to ensure uniformity in the fares given the operation of different categories of ambulances in various local levels of Jumla district including Karnali Academy of Health Sciences.
Local levels such as Sinja, Tila, and Hima rural municipalities, along with Chandannath Municipality, have already issued public notices stating they will implement the fares set by the District Ambulance Committee.
However, local residents in Jumla have voiced dissatisfaction over the revised ambulance fare, stating that the fare to Surkhet and Nepalgunj are excessively expensive.
They complain that making such an importance service for patients so expansive is putting the lives of poor and underprivileged people at risk.
Meanwhile, the Committee denied the claims of random and unfair fare increases, stating that the fares were set based on distance, fuel costs, maintenance expenses and driver’s allowance.
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10- Voter education volunteers mobilized in Jumla from today
Jumla, Feb 15: The District Election Office, Jumla has started mobilizing volunteers within the district from today to conduct a voter education programme in view of the March 5’s election to House of Representatives.
Dipendra Kandel, Election Officer at the District Election Office, Jumla shared that one volunteer will be deployed in each of the 60 wards across eight local levels in the district.
The voter education volunteers will be running the programme till March 1.They will be mainly focus on encouraging maximum voter participation in the upcoming election in the district that has a total of 71,739 registered voters and 89 voting centres and 110 polling centres.
They will also teach voters about proper voting procedures and correct methods to follow while casting their ballots to help reduce invalid votes, according to the Election Commission.
Furthermore, the volunteers will also educate the voters about the election code of conduct and encourage people to celebrate the election as a festival.
The voter education supervisors have already been oriented towards this.
Early childhood development facilitators, female community health volunteers, social mobilizers, maternal health workers and community learning centres facilitators will serve as a voter education volunteers, said the EC.
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11- Pedestrian dies after being hit by two-wheeler
Nawalpur (Nawalparasi), Feb 15: A pedestrian died after being hit by a two-wheeler at Sangam Marga of Gaindakot municipality-8 . the accent happened last night when a scooter ( Pradesh 3-02-014 Pa 1433) knocked down local Lakhan Tamang, 50, leaving him severely injured who later breathed his last this morning amidst the treatment at Chitawan-based Bharatpur College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.
District Police Office, Nawalparasi information officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anil Pundit, following the death of pedestrian, police took rider Prabin Thapa Magar, 26, of Gaindakot-8 for further investigation into the accident.
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12 – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – Nepal sets 134-run target for West Indies
Kathmandu, Feb 15: Nepal has posted a 134-run target for West Indies in today’s match held under ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Playing at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in India, Nepal was invited to bat first after losing the toss. They scored 133 runs at the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Dipendra Singh Airee was the top scorer for Nepal, hitting beyond a half-century with 58 runs. Sompal Kami contributed 26 runs followed by 13 from Lokesh Bam added 13. Aasif Sheikh and Gulshan Jha scored 11 runs each.
For West Indies, Jason Holder was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets. Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, and Roston Chase took one wicket each.
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13- Trial test of 132 kV transmission line begins
Rastriya Samachar Samiti
Gulmi, February 15: A trial operation of the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line connecting Tamghas, the district headquarters of Gulmi, to Burtibang began today. The trial test was launched by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
The transmission line was developed under the Burtibang–Paudi Amarai–Tamghas–Sandhikharka–Gorusinge 132 kV Transmission Line Project and has been extended through various local levels of Gulmi and Baglung districts.
According to the NEA, electricity at a capacity of 132 thousand volts will be tested and transmitted along the line stretching from the Tamghas Substation at Unaichaur in Ward 7 of Resunga Municipality, Gulmi, to the Burtibang Substation at Khaltubot in Ward 2 of Dhorpatan Municipality, Baglung.
Project chief Manoj Chaudhary said the transmission line will undergo the trial run for two days before being brought into regular operation.
The project was completed at a cost of over Rs 4.5 billion, according to project chief Chaudhary .
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14- HoR Polls: 19.12 million ballot papers for 155 constituencies ready for a dispatch
Kathmandu, Feb 15: As of now, the Election Commission has printed and packed ballot papers for 155 electoral constituencies of 67 districts.
Number of ballot papers such as of now totals 19,124,000 and they are ready for a dispatch. Such ballot papers are 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 Saturday, ballot papers for 66 districts had been printed. Now, printing and packaging of 1.19 million ballots for remaining 10 districts is awaited. It is likely to complete by a couple of days. The printing is taking place at the Janak Education Materials Centre (JEMC), Sanothimi, Bhkatapur.
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 of 10 districts in Karnali had already been dispatched. 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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15- T20 World Cup: Nepal eliminated from group stage
Kathmandu, Feb 15: Nepal has been eliminated from the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after suffering its third consecutive defeat. Today, Nepal lost to West Indies by nine wickets, marking its third straight loss in the tournament.
Earlier, Nepal had been defeated by Italy and England in its previous two matches.
The ICC T20 World Cup is currently underway at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. In today’s match, Nepal was invited to bat first after losing the toss. The team posted a 134- run target at the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
In reply, West Indies chased down the target in just 15.2 overs, losing only one wicket
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16- Voter education kicks off at all local levels in Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Feb 15: A voter education programme has been launched in all 138 wards across the 11 local levels that fall under 10 constituencies of Kathmandu district.
According to the District Election Office, Kathmandu, one volunteer has been mobilised in each ward to provide voter education in preparation for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections. The voting is scheduled to take place on March 5.
Election Officer Thakur Bhattarai said the programme will continue until March 1.As part of the initiative, volunteers will visit voters at their doorsteps to instruct them on the proper voting process. The programme will also educate voters about the importance of exercising their franchise.
The Election Commission (EC) has said that it has mobilised one volunteer in each of the 6,743 wards across 753 local levels nationwide.
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17- Political parties continue to overlook our agenda: gender and sexual minorities
Kathmandu, Feb 15: Gender and sexual minorities have said that they realised the need to unite politically by forming their own party, as existing political parties both fringe and mainstream have consistently overlooked their presence and concerns.
According to them, the failure of major parties to provide space in the upcoming elections has compelled them to establish a separate party and contest independently.
At a press meet here today organized by Mayako Pahichan Nepal, an association of LGBTIQ+ individuals, the proportional representation (PR) candidates for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections 2026 said that, although the Constitution guarantees the proportional representation of gender and sexual minorities in all state institutions, including their right to political participation, political parties continue to ignore this provision.
It is noted that a total of six candidates from gender and sexual minorities are contesting the HoR elections 2026.
Pinki Rai from Okhaldhunga-1 claimed that if given the opportunity to serve as lawmakers, they will continue advocating for the causes of their community. “The constitutional rights intended for sexual and gender minorities are yet to be fully implemented,” Rai said.
Surendra Pandey from Kathmandu-1 added, “Sexual and gender minorities have so far been treated merely as a vote bank by political parties, which have never recognized their needs in political or electoral agendas.” Pandey, who identifies as gay, expressed that individuals like him have endured a vicious cycle of discrimination, preventing them from living fully as human beings. “Now, we are determined to fight for our rights and secure representation in Parliament.”
The political identity of sexual and gender minorities as voters has largely remained in the shadows, as many are still hesitant to openly express their identities, it is said at the programme.
Sunil Babu Pant, executive director of Mayako Pahichan and the first parliamentarian (CA) member from the gender and sexual minority community, criticized political parties for failing to acknowledge and internalize the existence and political rights of gender and sexual minorities.
As a result, this community continues to face barriers in accessing state mechanisms. “Politics is a means of transforming society, and this community is campaigning to assert its existence and identities through political participation,” he asserted.
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