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The Government of Nepal has extended its sincere gratitude to the Government of the State of Qatar for the Amiri Amnesty granted to the 13 Nepali inmates on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar and the International Human Rights Day.

"The Ministry highly values the kind gesture of pardon granted on humanitarian ground as the manifestation of deepening friendship and cordiality in the existing bilateral relations between Nepal and the State of Qatar," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release on Thursday.

Daily life in western Tarai including Banke district has been affected due to dense fog and haze. 

Children, students, daily-wage workers, people from poor backgrounds, helpless and senior citizens have been affected the most due to the chilling cold.

People have been forced to confine themselves inside the house.

Driver Ram Prasad Tharu of Nepalgunj-16 said they have been facing problems to provide transport service due to thick fog and chilling cold.

Following the chilling cold, the number of people suffering from asthma, pneumonia, cold, cough and fever has increased in Bheri Hospital, said the Information Officer at the Hospital, Sanket Risal. 

More than 100 patients suffering from pneumonia, cold and cough visit the hospital every day in recent days, he mentioned.

Nepal welcomed a total of 1, 158, 459 foreign tourists in 2025, a slight increase than the previous year.

Altogether 1, 147, 548 visitors had visited Nepal in 2024, reported the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The NTB broke down the numbers of foreign tourists visiting Nepal this year, according to which, Indian tourists constituted the highest number at 292,438 followed by Americans at 112,316.

Similarly, Nepal attracted 58,684 Chinese tourists last year while 57,545 tourists arrived in Nepal from the UK.

Likewise, altogether 49,357 visitors came to Nepal from Bangladesh, 37,550 from Australia, 30,243 from Sri Lanka, 30,227 from Thailand and 24,763 from Germany in 2025, said the Board.

In the last December month alone, 98,190 foreigners arrived in Nepal, stated the Board.

Earlier, as the NTB put it, the highest number of foreign tourists to enter Nepal was in 2019 with a whooping 1,197,191 tourists.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 2, 900 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 262, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 259, 600 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 4, 525 per tola today.

Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have cancelled the party’s regular 15th general convention, which was scheduled to begin in the last week of Poush. Issuing a joint statement on Thursday, the two leaders said the party’s immediate alternative is now to move toward a special general convention.

According to the statement, a meeting held on Mangsir 15 had decided that the schedule for the regular general convention would be approved by a subsequent meeting. However, the general secretaries said the convention has been postponed through the same notice as preparatory tasks and earlier schedules could not be revised and accelerated in line with the target of holding the regular convention on time. As a result, they said, the entire schedule was affected and rendered ineffective, creating confusion and uncertainty within the party.

The statement further notes that a special general convention has again emerged as the viable option. It says that the primary intention was to address the demand for a special convention—submitted to the central office with signatures of 54 percent of general convention representatives—through the regular convention. However, as it is no longer possible to hold the regular convention within the stipulated timeframe, the special general convention has become the alternative. In line with Article 17(2) of the party statute, the general secretaries said addressing the demand for a special general convention is the responsibility of the central office and that related processes will be taken forward, as far as possible, through consensus.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has said that the election code of conduct will be enforced strictly this time, warning that violations could lead to severe action, including the cancellation of candidacies.

Acknowledging that violations increased in the past due to a largely awareness-oriented approach, Bhandari said the Election Commission would adopt a tougher, punitive stance in the upcoming polls. The commission has recently approved the election code of conduct and is preparing to enforce it from the first week of Magh. Describing elections as a “national campaign” and a “grand civic responsibility,” he said successful polls require collective integrity and participation from all stakeholders.

Bhandari also ruled out any possibility of postponing the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. He said the commission has intensified preparations since the President announced the election date, stressing that holding the election on the scheduled date is mandatory under the constitution and the law. “If the election is not held on the fixed date, it would be unconstitutional. Elections are the only way forward for the country—there is no alternative,” he said.

Stating that debates over whether the election will take place are now over, Bhandari said the commission has progressed too far to turn back. “The election will be held on March 5. There is no turning back,” he asserted.

Recalling that the commission recently held a joint discussion with representatives of 30 to 35 political parties amid prevailing uncertainty, Bhandari said none of the parties expressed unwillingness to participate in the polls. He added that the dialogue helped open channels of communication among leaders at various levels, and that the commission has already completed much of its work by publishing programmes and schedules.

Bhandari urged the media, civil society, and concerned stakeholders to promptly highlight any weaknesses in the election process. “If shortcomings become clear news, it will greatly support the election process,” he said, adding that the role of the media would also be crucial in identifying and exposing elements attempting to disrupt the polls.

International visitor arrivals (IVAs) in 2025 reached 1,158,459 between January and December, slightly higher than in 2024 and marking a 97 percent recovery compared to the pre-pandemic period. December 2025 alone recorded 98,190 arrivals, up seven percent from December 2024 and also representing a 97 percent recovery compared to December 2019.

India remained the largest source market with 292,438 visitors (25.2 percent), followed by the United States with 112,316 (9.7 percent), China with 95,480 (8.2 percent), the United Kingdom with 58,684 (5.1 percent), and Bangladesh with 57,545 (5.0 percent). 

Region-wise, South Asia accounted for the highest share of arrivals at 35.2 percent, followed by other Asian countries (21.9 percent), Europe (19.1 percent), the Americas (11.7 percent), Oceania (4.6 percent), the Middle East (1.8 percent), Africa (0.4 percent), and other regions (5.5 percent). 

Meanwhile, tourism-related foreign currency earnings during the first four months of fiscal year 2082/83 (Shrawan to Kartik) stood at Rs 27.15bn, while foreign direct investment commitments in the tourism sector reached Rs 30.26bn across 476 projects during Shrawan to Mangsir of the same fiscal year.

Lumbini Province has been officially declared a literate province, following the fulfillment of national literacy standards. The declaration was made during a special ceremony held in the provincial capital on Sunday.

Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya formally announced Lumbini as a literate province at the event.

Under Schedule 8 of the Constitution and the Local Government Operation Act, 2017, responsibility for secondary education, non-formal education, and literacy programs lies with local governments. As per Government of Nepal provisions aligned with UNESCO standards, a province can be declared literate when at least 95 percent of the population aged between 15 and 60 is literate. Literacy is defined not only as the ability to read and write, but also basic numeracy skills and practical competencies such as daily transactions, banking, mobile phone use, and understanding time and dates.

Lumbini Province met these criteria, leading to the declaration. All 12 districts of the province have already been declared literate. Districts including Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Dang, Rupandehi, Banke, and Kapilvastu have recorded literacy rates exceeding 96 percent.

The province has also seen notable improvement in academic outcomes. The Secondary Education Examination (SEE) pass rate increased from 38.65 percent in the academic year 2024 to 62.06 percent in 2025.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Acharya said education has been globally prioritized as a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that Lumbini Province has made significant progress despite its social and cultural diversity. He added that campaigns have been launched to improve education and that necessary laws are being formulated to facilitate educational reforms.

Former Chief Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, said the province has performed well in the education sector but stressed that sustainability is more important than declarations. Recalling the ‘Sakshar Laltein’ (Literacy Lantern) campaign he initiated during his time as a social activist, Chaudhary said Lumbini’s efforts should serve as a model for other provinces.

Social Development Minister Janmajay Timilsina highlighted that education, health, and per capita income are the main indicators of human development globally. Among them, he said, education plays the most crucial role and has a positive impact on other indicators as well. He added that the provincial government will continue to prioritize lifelong learning even after the literacy declaration.

According to Rishiraj Sharma, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Social Development, Lumbini Province has achieved notable progress through literacy campaigns, expansion of educational infrastructure, and improvement in learning outcomes. He said the next priority will be to expand quality, inclusive, technical, and employment-oriented education.

A wide range of institutions have been directly or indirectly involved in literacy, lifelong learning, non-formal, and alternative education programs in the province. These include the Ministry of Social Development, the Education and Social Development Directorate, education training centers, Lumbini Technological University, 12 Education Development and Coordination Units, six Social Development Division Offices, 109 local governments, a provincial-level Madrasa Education Coordination Committee, 4,439 community schools, 5,722 community-based early childhood development centers, and 329 community information centers.

Individuals and institutions contributing to the education sector were also honored at the event.

Education status

According to 2024 data, Nepal’s Human Development Index (HDI) stands at 0.622, while Lumbini Province ranks fourth nationally with an HDI of 0.608. Under the federal government’s ‘Literate Nepal’ campaign, the goal is to ensure minimum literacy for all citizens aged 15 and above. The Cabinet-approved ‘Literate Nepal Year 2020’ concept emphasizes building a foundation for lifelong learning.

The Second Periodic Plan targets increasing the literacy rate for the population aged five and above from 78.08 percent to 98 percent. Plans include linking literacy with skills and income generation, developing alternative programs for out-of-school children, and strengthening community information centers, early childhood development centers, and educational institutions.

Education is constitutionally guaranteed as a fundamental right. Article 31 of the Constitution ensures free and compulsory basic education and free secondary education for all citizens. It also provides for inclusive education for persons with disabilities, economically disadvantaged groups, and individuals with special needs, along with the right to receive education in one’s mother tongue.