- Sunday, 18 January 2026
Kathmandu, Jan 15: Gagan Kumar Thapa has been elected unopposed as the President of the Nepali Congress.
Sitaram KC, Coordinator of the Central Election Committee, informed that Thapa was elected unopposed as the party president at the second special convention of the pro-faction currently held in Kathmandu.
“Since Thapa was the only candidate for the president position, I announce that he has been elected unopposed,” said Coordinator KC while announcing the election results.
After being elected to the position of president, addressing leaders, cadres, and well-wishers at the special convention venue, Thapa expressed his determination to make the party one that its members are proud to be part of.
“With the trust you have placed in me to take on the responsibility of the presidency, I will not let anyone bow their head down before anyone. I will uphold the dignity of the Nepali Congress party. I will ensure that all members who join this party feel proud to be part of the Nepali Congress. T
he party will work to ensure citizens know that Congress is there for them in difficult times,” said newly elected president Thapa.
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02- MagheSankranti enhances brotherhood and tolerance: President Paudel
Kathmandu, Jan 15: President RamchandraPaudel has conveyed his belief that festivals such as MagheSankranti enhance feelings of brotherhood, mutual harmony, and tolerance among all Nepalese.
On the occasion of MagheSankranti and the Maghi Festival, 2082 BS, he offered his best wishes for happiness, peace, and prosperity to all Nepalese brothers and sisters, both within the country and abroad. President Paudel remarked, “I believe that festivals like MagheSankranti not only aid in fostering ethnic harmony, respect for diversity, and national unity in Nepal’s multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multicultural society but also nurture feelings of brotherhood, mutual harmony, and tolerance among all Nepalese.”
The MagheSankranti or MakarSankranti festival is celebrated joyfully by various communities in Nepal, each in their unique manner. Notably, the Tharu community observes the Maghi festival as their New Year. Families traditionally enjoy the festival by indulging in delicacies such as ghee, chaku, tarul, laddus, sel roti, dhikri, and khichdi.
President Paudel also highlighted that it is customary for people to take a holy bath in sacred rivers and confluences like Barahkshetra, Devghat, and RidiKshetra, and to worship at temples on this day. He emphasized that such festivals, as unique intangible cultural heritage, play a significant role in showcasing our country to the world.
In his message of best wishes, he expressed, “I hope that MagheSankranti and the Maghi festival motivate all of us to preserve our culture and create a civilized, cultured, and egalitarian society.”
Similarly, while extending the best wishes on the occasion, Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav has emphasized the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. He has highlighted that all citizens and relevant stakeholders must be conscious about the conservation and sustainable use of resources.
Vice President Yadav stated, “In Nepal, the day of the Maghi festival is also observed as National Agricultural Biodiversity Day. All three levels of government have been given the responsibility for conservation, and since Nepal is a signatory to international treaties, the importance of biodiversity conservation has increased even more.
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03- HoR Election: 49 days remaining as province-level security workshop wraps up
Kathmandu, Jan 15: A province-level security workshop has successfully concluded, focusing on essential security strategies to ensure the upcoming House of Representatives election is conducted in a fair and fear-free manner.
The workshop, which commenced in Rupandehi, Lumbini Province on November 25, wrapped up on Tuesday in Janakpur, Madhesh Province. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the federal government and the provincial government, this annual workshop has been a staple for years. This year’s discussions reportedly placed a greater emphasis on internal security and election-specific safety measures.
During the Madhes Province-level security workshop in Janakpur, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal affirmed that the current government is committed to holding the House of Representatives elections on the scheduled date. As per the Home Minister’s Secretariat, he has directed all four security agencies to ensure the elections are conducted in a clean, fair, and fear-free environment.
The government has rolled out the Integrated Security Plan-2082 to guarantee that the House of Representatives elections, set for March 5, are executed in a clean, fair, and fear-free manner.
In addition, the Election Police Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Deployment Procedures, 2082, have been approved and are currently being implemented. Consequently, the Nepal Police is advancing with the selection of 133,980 election police personnel.
For this election, approximately 88,000 personnel from the Nepali Army, 77,000 from the Nepal Police, and around 34,000 from the Armed Police will be deployed. The Nepal Police have categorized 2,845 polling stations as general, 4,442 as sensitive, and 3,680 as highly sensitive, and have established security measures accordingly.
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04- MagheSankranti Enhances Social Unity: Speaker Ghimire
Kathmandu, Jan 15: Speaker DevarajGhimire stated that the MagheSankranti festival promotes mutual harmony, social goodwill, and national unity, while also bolstering democratic values and the spirit of coexistence.
On the occasion of MagheSankranti and the Maghi festival, he conveyed his best wishes for happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity to all Nepali brothers and sisters, both at home and abroad, expressing his confidence in these sentiments.
Speaker Ghimire remarked, “On the occasion of MagheSankranti and the Maghi festival, I offer my sincere greetings with the hope that these celebrations motivate all Nepalis towards positive thinking, social responsibility, and a prosperous path.”
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05- Maghi Festival fosters religious and social harmony: NA Chair Dahal
Kathmandu, Jan 15: National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal has stated his conviction that the Maghi festival significantly enhances national unity, alongside fostering religious and social harmony, while also promoting respect for diverse identities and cultures.
He shared these thoughts while offering his warm wishes on the festive occasion of MagheSankranti, which is celebrated in accordance with the historical traditions and cultures of various communities, including the Tharu festival of Maghi and those of the Magar community.
Chair Dahal further emphasized that this festival underscores the importance of honoring Nepal’s ancient society, the historical evolution of human civilization, and the value of hard work.
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06- MakarSankrantiinspires everyone to come together for stability and prosperity: PM Karki
Kathmandu, Jan 15: Prime Minister SushilaKarki has conveyed her best wishes, expressing hope that the Maghi or MakarSankranti festival inspires everyone to come together and work towards peace, stability, and prosperity.
Prime Minister Karki offered her greetings to all Nepali sisters and brothers, both at home and abroad, emphasizing the increased necessity for unity, harmony, and mutual trust among all.
“Today signifies 1stMagh, Maghi, MakarSankranti, MagheSakranti, although the names may differ, the core meaning remains the same,” Prime Minister Karki remarked in a message posted on her social media platform Facebook mentioning that this festival promotes love, harmony, tolerance, and the spirit of unity among allNepalis.”
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07- Five people lost their lives when cargo truck overturns
Itahari (Sunsari), Jan 15: This morning, five individuals were killed and three others sustained injuries when a cargo truck overturned on the Postal Highway in BhokrahaNarsingh Rural Municipality, Sunsari.
The truck (1Kha 4541), which was transporting marble from Biratnagar to Rajbiraj, lost control and overturned on the roadway, leading to the fatalities of five residents from the same locality in Barju Ward No. 1, as reported by the District Police Office, Sunsari.
DSP Chandra Khadka stated that the truck accident resulted in the deaths of 32-year-old BirendraGurung, 55-year-old BrahmadevGurung, 50-year-old TekbahadurGurung, 28-year-old NisuGurung, and 55-year-old ChandraBahadurGurung, all hailing from Barju Ward No. 1.
There were nine occupants in the truck: four in the front cab, including the driver, and five in the rear. The five individuals seated in the back were crushed by the marble and perished.
The three injured persons in the cab are currently receiving treatment at Narsingh Home in Biratnagar. The driver has absconded.
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