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There is an influence of the low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere of the country at present.

The Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated that the weather across the country is likely to remain mainly fair today.

The fog and mist will persist today in parts of the Tarai region.

Likewise, the weather will be mainly fair in the hilly and mountainous areas of the country, according to the Division.

Tonight, mist will continue to occur at a few places in the Tarai region. Furthermore, the weather will remain mainly fair in the hilly and mountain regions of the country.

Candidates listed in political parties’ closed lists under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections can withdraw their names until 4 pm today.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the candidates included in the closed list submitted by the political parties on December 28 and 29 could withdraw their names as per the deadline set for today.

The Commission will inform the concerned party about the candidate who has applied to be withdrawn and the party will be allowed to send the name of another candidate.

The closed list will be made public on January 18 for objections and claims, which will be investigated and the final list shall be published on February 3.

A total of 64 political parties had submitted their closed lists in the EC.

Names of 3,424 candidates of 64 parties have been included in the closed list for 110 places under the PR system. Out of 64 political parties, 54 political parties are using their own election symbols while remaining 10 parties would use a common election symbol.

A total of 93 political parties had filed applications in the EC to file candidacy under the PR system.

The EC had given time to the political parties from January 5-11 to make corrections after investigating the closed lists of the parties on January 4.

Fog and mist will persist until midday at some places in the Tarai region today.

Likewise, there will be partly cloudy conditions over the high hilly and mountainous areas of Koshi Province while the weather in the rest of the country will be mainly fair, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

Tonight, mist will continue to occur at a few places in the Tarai region. Furthermore, weather will remain mainly fair over the hilly and mountain regions of the country.

Meanwhile, Meteorological Analysis by the Division states that at present there is the influence of the low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere in Nepal.

The special central general convention of the Nepali Congress is starting from today.

The special general convention is being held after the majority of the general convention delegates signed a call for it.

The convention is being held under the leadership of General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma.

The two-day special general convention is scheduled to be inaugurated at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu at 1 pm today.

Before the inauguration, leaders and cadres will gather in Sundhara, Ratna Park, Shankardev Campus, Kamalpokhari, Kupandol and other areas of Kathmandu at 11 am and leave for Bhrikutimandap with a rally, shared Jagadishwar Narsingh KC, coordinator of the special general convention public mobilization committee.

It has been decided that the special general convention will be chaired by Congress Kathmandu President Krishna Sabuj Baniya.

The organizing committee has stated that most of the delegates have already arrived.

The registration of the names of the participating delegates will be held from 8 am, informed Secretariat Coordinator Manoj Mani Acharya.

According to Ramesh Dhamala, Coordinator of the Accommodation and Food Management Committee, accommodation has been arranged for 3,600 delegates in various places in Kathmandu.

After the inauguration of the special general convention, the closed session will be held in the Bhrikutimandap assembly hall from January 12.

The special general convention, however, has not been supported by the establishment faction of the party, including its current President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The 304th Prithvi Jayanti was celebrated across the country by organizing various programs on Sunday.  

On the occasion of Prithvi Jayanti National Unity Day, President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, ministers and other dignitaries paid homage at the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah in front of Singha Durbar.

Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has raised concerns over provisions related to voter information included in the “House of Representatives Member Election Directive, 2082” issued by the Election Commission.

In a statement, DRN said the directive’s Chapter 4, Clauses 10 and 12, which allow political parties and independent candidates to receive digital copies of the voter register, are inconsistent with constitutional provisions and the Right to Privacy Act, 2075. According to DRN, the voter register contains sensitive personal details such as voter ID numbers, gender or gender identity, age, and parents’ names, which could make individuals easily identifiable and pose risks to personal privacy.

DRN also expressed concern that personal details including voter numbers, age, gender, and names of spouses and parents are already publicly accessible on the Election Commission’s website. It warned that distributing digital copies of voter lists containing such information to private devices could further increase the risk of misuse, not only during the election period but also afterward.

Citing the Right to Privacy Act, DRN noted that voter identification details are defined as personal information and that gender identity is classified as sensitive personal data protected from publication or dissemination in ways that could affect an individual’s private life. The organisation stated that the exceptions allowing limited disclosure under the law—such as explicit consent of the individual, self-disclosure, court orders, or criminal investigations—do not apply to the provisions in the election directive.

DRN said the protection of voter data is directly linked to fundamental rights, public trust, and the credibility of democracy. It added that the inclusion of details such as gender identity, age, and parents’ names in a single dataset could enable the creation of detailed personal profiles, raising additional concerns, particularly for gender minorities.

The organisation has called on the Election Commission to immediately suspend the digital distribution of voter data, review and limit the scope of personal information made public on its website, amend the directive in line with constitutional principles and the Right to Privacy Act, and consult with civil society, legal experts, and human rights organisations before finalising any revisions.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has strengthened engagement with key stakeholders from India’s travel, corporate, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), and wedding tourism sectors by participating in MTM and LLTM 2026 held in New Delhi.

The event took place at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity on Jan 8–9, where the board participated as a focus partner. During the programme, NTB presented Nepal’s potential as a destination for corporate events, incentive travel, conferences, and wedding tourism, with India positioned as a priority source market.

According to the organisers, the Jan 9 program functioned as a decision-focused and targeted networking platform, bringing together selected corporate buyers, established brands, and senior industry leaders. Discussions focused on evolving priorities in tourism and the MICE sector through structured and forward-looking interactions.

A key feature of the event was the “reverse marketplace” format, which facilitated one-on-one meetings between buyers and sellers. NTB stated that this platform enabled direct engagement with Indian corporate and MICE decision-makers, helping to expand business linkages and strengthen confidence in Nepal as a destination.

Through destination presentations, the board promoted Nepal as an attractive option for incentive travel, conferences, experiential travel, and festival- and celebration-focused tourism. Citing India as Nepal’s leading tourist source market, NTB Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi said such strategic participation is expected to support long-term tourism growth.

On the second day, the “MTM Star Awards for Wedding Planners” recognised organisations for excellence in India’s wedding and celebration economy. On this occasion, Nepal highlighted its growing presence in wedding and destination celebration tourism and expressed optimism about further expansion in this segment.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, participation in targeted international platforms such as MTM and LLTM 2026 is expected to further strengthen tourism cooperation with India and contribute to positioning Nepal as an emerging destination for corporate, MICE, and wedding tourism.

The National Heritage Conservation Foundation Nepal has honoured taekwondo athlete and international referee Dipendra Dhakal at a special ceremony held in Kathmandu.

The honour was conferred during the “National Heritage Outstanding Athlete Award–2082” programme organised by the foundation at the Nepal Tourism Board auditorium in Bhrikutimandap. Minister for Information and Communication Jagdish Kharel presented the award to Dhakal, recognising his contribution as an international taekwondo referee and athlete.

According to the organisers, Dhakal has played a significant role in representing Nepali taekwondo at the international level through his participation as a referee and athlete in various global competitions. He has served as a referee in tournaments held in South Asia, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain. He also officiated at the Seventh World Military Games held in Wuhan, China, in 2019.