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The Election Commission (EC) is set to use the popular social media platform for election publicity. 

In view of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives (HoR), the EC has come up with a campaign to create TikTik video messages. 

As informed, the EC is conducting TikTok video message creation competition so as to reach out among the voters with election messages. 

According to the EC, such competition has been advanced for election publicity and voters' education. 

A one-minute TikTok video based on topics such as election code of conduct and voter education has to be created and shared through one's social media. 

Likewise, the TikTok has also been sent to the EC's email by March 1. The EC will award the TikTok with the highest number of viewers among all the TikToks received by the commission. 

The EC will provide first award amounting to Rs 50,000 to the one with the most viewers, Rs 30,000 to the second, and Rs 20,000 to the third along with certificates.

The TikTok videos should be prepared in the context of the House of Representatives election, 2026. 

The videos should be interactive and message-oriented. Priority will be given to videos with original content, audio, and acting, the EC stated. 

The videos should provide general information about the election, need for the election, its importance, correct way to mark the ballot, compliance with the election code of conduct, and information about voters' rights and duties. 

The selection of the best video will be made by independent experts and the Commission, the notice stated. 

The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the U.N., a United Nations spokesperson said on Thursday as President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his "Board of Peace" initiative that experts say could undermine the United Nations, Reuters reported. 

"Last week, we received about $160 million from the United States as a partial payment of its past dues for the U.N. regular budget," the U.N. spokesperson said in a statement.

Trump said during his comments at the opening "Board of Peace" meeting that Washington would give the United Nations money to strengthen it, according to Reuters. 

Several countries which have signed up to Donald Trump's Board of Peace have contributed more than $7bn (£5.2bn) towards a Gaza "relief package", the US president has said, BBC reported. 

Trump made the announcement during the first meeting of the organisation that many of US's Western allies have refused to join, fearing the body originally meant to help end the war between Israel and Hamas may be intended to replace the UN. 

The second phase of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza, according to BBC. 

President Donald Trump says the world will find out "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether the US will reach a deal with Iran or take military action, BBC reported. 

At the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington DC, Trump said of negotiations with the Islamic Republic about its nuclear programme: "We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen." 

In recent days, the US has surged military forces to the Middle East, while progress was also reported at talks between American and Iranian negotiators in Switzerland, according to BBC. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, BBC reported. 

On Thursday morning, Thames Valley Police said it had arrested a man in his 60s in Norfolk and was carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

King Charles III said the "law must take its course" in response to Andrew's arrest and that the police had his "full and wholehearted support and co-operation". 

Bill Gates will not deliver his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, his philanthropic organisation said hours before the Microsoft co-founder was due to speak, BBC reported. 

The Gates Foundation said the decision was made after "careful consideration" and "to ensure the focus remains on the [summit's] key priorities", but did not elaborate.

Gates's withdrawal comes amid a controversy over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after he was named in new files released by the US Department of Justice in January, according to BBC. 

Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ram Prasad Bhandari appealed to all media outlets not to conduct any form of opinion polls ahead of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives. 

CEC Bhandari made the appeal while addressing a program organized by the Election Commission today to mark the 10th Election Day.

Bhandari reminded that since the Election Code of Conduct prohibits opinion polls, action will be taken against those who violate it. 

He also underscored the need for heightened vigilance during the election period, noting that misinformation can easily spread with false news presented as true and vice versa. 

Calling upon supporters of political parties to work towards conducting the elections by complying with the Election Code of Conduct, he emphasized that they should refrain from defaming others through social media. 

“Let us work based on truth and facts. As social media has become a sensitive issue during elections, let us be careful while using it,” he requested. 

Appealing to the voters, he urged them to elect the right representatives without yielding to pressure or undue influence.

On the occasion, he shared that a security meeting has been convened to devise election related security policies and strategies for the successful conduct of the elections. 

Furthermore, he cautioned that the Office of Election Officer in the respective districts could take action against those found campaigning in breach of the Election Code of Conduct. 

The Commission also reminded election observers to perform only the duties assigned to them.

He requested all involved, including volunteer educators engaged in voter education, staff assigned to the election process, security personnel and everyone associated, to work in a way that encourages maximum voter turnout and ensures that all cast votes are counted.

Bhandari emphasized that even a small mistake in elections can lead to major problems, so it is necessary to work attentively with high morale.

The CPN-UML has unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives. 

Chairman KP Sharma Oli unveiled the party's Election Manifesto-2082BS at the 'Desh Pahila (Country First)' program, organized by the UML Central Election Mobilization Committee. 

The manifesto includes the party's commitments by setting specific goals.

The UML has said that the victory is essential to fulfill the slogan 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis: National Aspiration is Our Destination'.

The UML has given main importance to good governance, development, employment, and social justice which were initiated when the party was in the government, but could not be completed.

The manifesto has highlighted 11 immediate tasks, five fundamental tasks, and 25 pledges.

Addressing the program, Chairman Oli claimed that the UML, with the determination to build rather than destroy and burn the state institutions, would lead the work of transforming the face of the country, based on the party's past experiences and practices.

He clarified that the UML has always been steadfast in support of independence and nationalism and stated that they would not focus on populism or stunts.