समाचार

A report presented in Butwal today revealed that 51% of farming households in Lumbini Province are unable to sustain themselves through their own harvests. The data points to a continuous decrease in rice cultivation area, falling from 1.4 million hectares a decade ago to just 1.2 million hectares currently.

A financial review released today shows that Bagmati Province has utilized only 8.99% of its capital budget in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Sluggish progress on development works remains a concern, despite the recent approval of 46 new multi-year infrastructure contracts.

Official results from Biratnagar confirm that CPN (UML) candidates Roshani Meche and Somnath Portel have won the National Assembly seats from Koshi Province. Meche secured 7,173 weightage votes in the women’s category, defeating her nearest rival by a significant margin.

The seventh edition of the Arghakhachi Mahotsav concluded today, drawing over 70,000 visitors to the week-long exhibition of local agriculture, tourism, and industry. Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya highlighted the event as a key driver for promoting domestic products in the Lumbini region.

The Weather Forecasting Division issued an alert for Sudurpashchim Province today, predicting moderate rain and light snowfall in high mountainous areas. Travelers and election campaigners in the Darchula and Bajhang districts have been urged to take precautions as westerly winds disrupt local transport.

Gandaki and Koshi provinces have finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to “supercharge” inter-provincial tourism. The agreement includes joint promotional packages, government employee exchange visits, and infrastructure collaboration to create a sustainable tourism circuit between the two eastern and central hilly regions.

The Koshi Province Council of Ministers met today in Biratnagar to approve new standards for the Public Housing Program. The federal government has allocated Rs 770 million in capital funds for this initiative, which aims to secure housing rights for disadvantaged citizens across the province.

The Bagmati Provincial Government announced today the approval of a NPR 3.233 billion multi-year funding package for 46 strategic projects. The package includes 43 bridge and suspension bridge projects across districts like Makwanpur, Dhading, and Sindhupalchok, with contracts mandated to be awarded within the current fiscal year.

The Madhesh Province Election Office today completed its security categorization, labeling 1,246 out of its total polling stations as “highly sensitive.” This province remains the most contested battleground, with 1,054 candidates vying for 32 House of Representatives seats, including high-profile figures like Madhav Kumar Nepal and Bimalendra Nidhi.

Heavy snowfall has completely blocked the Nara and Nyalu passes, isolating the Hilsa and Limi villages in Humla. Local officials reported today that ballot boxes for the three polling centers in Limi will likely require helicopter transport, as the 3-foot deep snow is not expected to melt before the March 5 election.

Following a series of attacks on judicial infrastructure in late 2025, the Supreme Court administration announced today it will formally file police complaints against identified individuals involved in vandalizing courtrooms. This move follows a security audit showing damage to 14 district courts during the recent political unrest.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has finalized the security classification for 10,892 polling centers for the upcoming elections. Thousands of centers have been labeled “highly sensitive” due to potential criminal interference or political clashes, prompting the deployment of specialized “election police” starting February 10.

An elderly couple was found murdered in Chishankhu Gadhi-6, Okhaldhunga, marking the second such double-killing of senior citizens in the district within 30 days. Local residents have launched protests demanding increased security and the immediate arrest of the fugitives.

Morang District Police arrested two men in Biratnagar-4 for the possession of brown sugar and prohibited pharmaceutical drugs. The arrests are part of a month-long “Clean Border” initiative aimed at curbing the flow of narcotics across the Nepal-India border.

District Police in Syangja apprehended three individuals during a targeted search operation in Biruwa. Officers recovered four “Bharuwa” (muzzle-loading) muskets and ammunition; the suspects are being investigated under the Arms and Ammunition Act.