Submit your Article

A total of 12.25 million ballot papers have been printed so far for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

The printed ballot papers are for 100 electoral constituencies of 44 districts, according to the Election Commission. 

EC Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC said that the printed ballots papers are for Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, 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, Gorakha, Myagdi, Parbat, Bardghat Susta East (Nawalparasi), Morang, Udaypur, Mustang, Lamjung, Syangja and  Bardiya. 

These ballot papers have already been packed and packed boxes number 10,759.  

The printing has been continuous since the morning of January 30.

It is said that the EC requires printing over 20 million (total 20,323,000) ballot papers for the HoR direct election. 

The printing of ballot papers has been underway at the Janak Education Materials Centre, Sanothimi since January 6. In the first phase, over a million (total 1,098,200) sample ballot papers were printed and distributed to various districts.

Meanwhile, under the proportional representation of the electoral system, over 20 million (total 20,830,000) ballot papers have been printed, packed and verified. 

They are now ready for the dispatch.

Thousands gathered across Australia on Monday to protest the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is on a multi-city trip aimed at expressing solidarity with Australia's Jewish community following a deadly mass shooting last year, Reuters reported. 

Herzog is visiting Australia this week following an invitation from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the aftermath of the December 14 shooting at a Hanukkah event at Sydney's Bondi Beach that killed 15. 

The visit has attracted the ire of some people in Australia, who accuse Herzog of being complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza. Pro-Palestine groups have organized protests ‌in cities and ‌towns across the country on Monday evening, according to Reuters. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 26. 05 points to close at 2, 672. 39 points on Monday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 02 points to close at 455. 65 points.

A total of 26,766,347-unit shares of 324 companies were traded for Rs 1. 52 billion.

Meanwhile, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 97 percent.

Likewise,  Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited (MKHC) was the top loser as their price fell by 5. 40 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 48 trillion.

A joint team of the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal and the Birgunj Customs Office raided a warehouse in Adarshnagar, Birgunj Metropolitan City-10. During the raid, a clash broke out between traders and security personnel following a tip-off about revenue fraud. Three Armed Police personnel are injured.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Bikash Adhikari, working at the APF Nepal, the proposed Border Security Force, and Birgunj Customs, a team including armed personnel had reached the warehouse of ‘Babita Enterprises’ run by Pramod Kumar Kanu in Adarshnagar based on a special tip-off.

Right after the search began, local traders protested saying they were harassed for no reason, claiming that they had clear invoices for the goods. The Armed Police Force stated that the clash broke out after a group of traders angrily pelted stones at the Armed Police.

During the raid, the Armed Police Force seized five packs of saris, kurthas and trousers from the warehouse. Although the value of the seized goods is estimated to be around Rs 500,000, the detailed details and exact quantity of the goods have not been made public yet.

Currently, the work of collecting the goods is underway. Deputy Superintendent Adhikari informed that further investigation is underway to determine who owns the warehouse and whether the goods are legitimate or not. Security has been tightened in the area after the incident.

Two persons died in a motorcycle accident in Dang on Monday. 

The deceased have been identified as bike rider Gyanendra Budhathoki (28) of Tribeni Rural Municipality -7 in Rolpa  and pillion rider Kamal Oli (39) of Tulasipur Sub-Metropolitan City-17, said Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Dang, Resham Bohara.  

The accident took place when the motorcycle (Lu Pra 02-001 Pa 1102) heading towards Tulasipur from Ghorahi fell into a ditch near an under-construction bridge at Sewar rivulet this morning. 

Both of them were rushed to the Ghorahi-based Rapti Institute of Health Sciences but doctors declared them dead on arrival, said police.

Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator and former Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal has said that fresh election was also the demand of his party as it was reformed in line with the spirit of Gen Z movement. 

"We have constituted the NCP by incorporating a total of 26 big and small parties with a vision of uniting the entire communist forces within the country," he said while welcoming entrants to the party amidst a program organized  by the NCP Kathmandu constituency-5 today. 

He utilized the time to say that in the name of populism on cyber space, democracy is being attacked.  

NCP candidate from Kathmandu-5, Kalpana Sharma, said political course has changed in the country in the aftermath of Gen Z movement, underlining the need for the party's victory to what she claimed institutionalized such change. 

On the occasion, Dahal welcomed senior athlete Renuka Shrestha and others to the party. 

Seventy-five licensed weapons have been handed over to police in Banke district. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Banke, Deepak Patali, said that the licensed weapons were handed over to the police posts and offices in different places.  

The District Administration Office, Banke, had urged everyone concerned to handover the licensed weapons targeting the security for the elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5. The licensed weapons will, however, be returned after the conduct of the elections.

Meanwhile, preparations are afoot to impart voter education in villages. 

Election Officer of Banke, Tek Bahadur Shahi, shared that a circular was issued for mobilization of volunteers at local levels for the voter education. 

A total of  81 volunteers- one in each ward- would be fanned out for this purpose. 

The officer-level employees would be assigned as contact persons for voter education after imparting training to them. 

Banke with three constituencies has a total 350,371 voters, according to the District Election Office, Banke. There are 139 voting centers and 400 polling stations in the district.

The Nepali Embassy in Colombo organized a program titled “Nepal Community Support, Health Check and Consular Service Camp - Maldives 2026” at KAMANA MAALAM, Ma. Seeraazeege, Male on Friday, aimed at addressing consular, labour, and medical issues faced by Nepali nationals working in the Maldives. 

The day-long program commenced with the playing of the National Anthem of Nepal. 

Delivering the welcome remarks, Vijay Kumar Raut, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Nepal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, underlined the role and services provided by the Embassy for Nepali nationals in the Maldives. 

He highlighted the significant contributions of the Nepali community to the Maldivian medical, economic, construction, and tourism sectors. 

The keynote remark was delivered by His Excellency Abdullah Jihad, Former Vice President of the Maldives. 

He lauded the honesty and hard work of the Nepali community and addressed challenges regarding remittance, suggesting solutions for transferring income to Nepal. 

Raut delivered a detailed presentation on consular services and labour challenges, focusing on wage disputes, contract, demand attestations, exploitation, passport confiscation, and mobility restrictions. 

Discussions included Labor and Consular Issues such as Exploitation, recruitment fraud, and safety, Healthcare as Mental health and medical assistance and Community Support for Gender-specific vulnerabilities, particularly for women. 

The discussions featured insights from Ashiya Mohamed (President) and Saroj Sapkota (Secretary General) of the Nepal Helpline, along with medical professionals Dr Kiran Niraula (Neurosurgeon, ADK Hospital), Dr Rashmi Bhattarai(Pathologist), Bipin Dahal, Lila Thapa Magar, Bishal Tamang, and Sarita RanaMagar from different associations. 

Medical support for the camp was provided by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangha, Dr Naresh Pradhan from Eyecare (Sri Lanka), and Santosh Upadhayay (COO, Eyecare Pvt. Ltd). Dinesh Pandey (Senior Optometrist) and Pushparaj Bista(Ophthalmic Assistant) conducted health check-ups,distributing free eyedrops and glasses to needy individuals.

More than 150 Nepali nationals participated in the camp.