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The Election Commission has prohibited election publicity activities from 12 midnight today.

Voting is taking place on January 25 for 19 seats in the National Assembly, the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament.

The Commission stated that the political party office-bearers, candidates, the sister organizations of the parties and other persons, institutions or agencies that have to abide by the election code of conduct should not hold any form of discussions, interactions, assemblies, workshop seminars etc during the time election publicity has been prohibited.

Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel urged all concerned to follow and have followed the code which bars soliciting votes and carrying out election publicity by any means, process or method and posting or sharing on social networking sites, online, print or any other media of any message, information or publicity materials in support of or against a political party or candidate during this period. 

The tenure of 19 members of the National assembly is ending on March 4. The law requires that elections should be held to the seats falling vacant before one month of the termination of the term.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has  pointed out the need of making legal and institutional arrangements to curb financial crime.

Addressing the Crime Investigation Review Seminar organized at National Police Academy, Maharajgunj, today, DPM Shrestha mentioned that necessary legal and institutional arrangements would be made as well as technical and capable human resources developed for the investigation of financial crimes. 

"Information has been received that the dealing of billions of rupees is being done through crypto. The government has considered it illegal. Transaction of foreign currencies is being done in a new way. A new trend to open letter of credit (LC) has been seen," he shared, adding it has created problems in the economy and use of crypto was also seen in the recent gold scam.

Underscoring the need to prepare capable human resources to investigate the crypto currency, the Home Minister said the government has realized the lack of legal provisions for the same. 

Cases of financial crime and cheating are increasing in the society after the cooperative turned into financial institutions being deviated from its main purpose, explained Home Minister Shrestha. He further said the government has made preparations to formulate laws to control cooperative fraud.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed that a process to take action against cooperative owners involved in financial crime and cheating and to give justice to cooperative victims, adding "The government to give justice to cooperative victims and cooperative will be forwarded as backbone of economy." 

Similarly, Attorney General Dr Dinmani Pokharel said a specialized structure should be made to investigate the financial crime at a time when cases of financial crime are increasing in recent periods. 

He laid emphasis on the need of strengthening investigation, prosecution and justice based on scientific, objective and reliable evidence.

Likewise, Inspector general Basant Bahadur Kunwar shared that police have started homework to establish a specialized bureau to investigate financial crime, adding Nepal Police was serious towards crime investigation.

Deputy-Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, stressed the need of capacity building of Nepal Police to face challenges created by digital crime.

She shared that the KMC is going to impart training on scholarship thinking that capable human resources related to cyber security should be developed.

The Patan High Court has issued an interim order asking the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), Governing Council to refrain from implementing its decision to appoint Laxmi Pun as the executive director of the PADT.

A division bench comprising judges Rhishiram Dawadi and Shyam Kumar Bhattarai on Sunday issued the verdict in this regard, disallowing the newly appointed PADT executive director from carrying out official duties.

Upon initial scrutiny, it was found that the academic qualifications and job experiences mentioned in Pun's bio-data do not match with the criteria specified in the rules. Hence, the court has withheld the appointment until the matter is finally sorted out by the court.

Pun was appointed to the post by the December 20 decision of the PADT Governing Council.

It may be noted that one Bharat Marasini on January 11 moved the court against the appointment of Pun as the PADT executive director. In the writ, it has been claimed that Pun failed to meet academic qualifications and criteria for the appointment to the post.

The criteria for the appointment require a Master's degree in any subject from a certified academic institution and a minimum of 15 years of experience as a second-class officer in the government service or an organized institution registered as per the existing law or an international organization. In case of a Bachelor's degree, the minimum required job experience is at least 20 years.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire and Chair of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have again requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to appoint general secretary of the Federal Parliament, stating that the absence of the office-holder for more than a month has been affecting the functioning of the parliament. 

The constitutional position has been lying vacant since Bharatraj Gautam tendered his resignation on Nov 10 last year.

Speaker Ghimire and NA Chair have tried to draw the president’s attention toward the matter through discussions with the latter’s legal advisor Baburam Kunwar.

Ghimire and Timilsina have recommended the appointment of Padma Prasad Pandey, secretary at the parliament, as the new general secretary.

Speaker Ghimire, after consultations with thematic committee chairs of the Parliament, told mediapersons: “I have already recommended the appointment of the general secretary and hope it will happen soon.” 

However, the Office of the President has not started the appointment process. The office has been arguing that it cannot initiate the appointment process as it is yet to accept Gautam’s resignation as HoR general secretary. 

President Paudel has also been facing charges of showing undue interest in the appointment.

Paudel, after consultations with Ghimire and NA chair Timilsina, had appointed Pandey as acting general secretary of the parliament on Nov 13 pending further arrangements.

But this appointment has not been without its share of controversies as Pandey faces charges of obtaining multiple citizenships. After receiving a complaint regarding the same, the parliamentary Public Affairs and Good Governance Committee has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the matter and get it the facts. 

The minimum temperature in the Kathmandu Valley has dropped to 3.2 degree Celsius today, making it the lowest recorded temperature till date this year.

Meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Saroj Pudasaini, said the temperature of Kathmandu valley has been recorded at 3.2 degree Celsius today.  The visibility in Kathmandu Valley has also decreased and it was 3,000 meters. 

With the decline in minimum temperature, Kathmandu folks have experienced a chilling cold today.

Similarly, Tarai area of the country is witnessing thick fog, affecting normal life there.

As per the weather data recorded on Sunday, Jumla recorded minus 5.6 degree Celsius, Jomsom minus five degree Celsius, and Jiri of Dolakha 1.0 degree Celsius.

There is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of high-hilly areas and mountainous areas of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces in the next 24 hours, according to the Division.

Anyone visiting Pokhara cannot remain unaffected by the bewitching mountains surrounding the valley. The Machhapuchhre peak casting its shadow in the Phewa Lake adds an extra layer of magic to this enchanting destination.

In Oct 2023, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres became a privileged guest of the city. He was greeted with snow-clad mountains and clear sky as he climbed up the Pumdikot hill from the Pokhara valley. 

​​Visiting Pumdikot wasn't originally on Guterres' schedule. However, compelled by curiosity, he ascended from the valley to explore the colossus of Lord Shiva, overlooking Phewa Lake and the majestic mountains. The joy on Guterres' face spoke volumes, radiating elation in response to the natural beauty that surrounded him. He found himself immersed in the beauty of nature. His gaze lingered on the mountains. 

Now the Pumdikot Development Committee has decided to dedicate the southwest part of the Shiva statue to the UN secretary general by naming it ‘Guterres Point’. From this vantage point, visitors can behold ridges of snow-clad mountains, including Annapurna I, II, III and IV, Khangsarkang, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Ghandruk Himchuli, and Mardi.

Chandra Kant Baral, chairman of the committee, said Guterres' visit has ignited local enthusiasm to transform Pumdikot into a modern tourist destination. 

Despite spending only 45 minutes at Pumdikot, Guterres' impact is evident. The 51-feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, a community-driven project, stands as a compelling tourist attraction. 

The committee envisions Pumdikot as the second most important pilgrimage site after the Pashupatinath Temple. Fundraising events, such as Maha Shiva Purana in 2017 and a mahayagya in 2022, have supported tourism promotion. Infrastructure development is accelerating, including administrative buildings, a monorail, a Shivalinga, a replica of Sumeru mountain, and an entrance. Future plans involve an electric chair car, a well-organized parking place, a Shanti Ashram, a senior citizens meeting center, and a garden.

Matrika Baral, a committee member, claimed that Pumdikot had become a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Pokhara. The arrival of VIPs and distinguished visitors, including Secretary-General Guterres has excited the local tourism industry. 

The government has collected Rs 3.15bn plus in royalty from different hydropower projects that are in operation.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been collecting the royalty amount on a regular basis as it keeps the royalty amount while paying the power developers for using their power. 

Likewise, the Electricity Development Department has asked some power developers to deposit the royalty amount as they were yet to clear their dues till the fiscal year 2022/23, Department’s Director General Chiranjivi Chataut said.

The projects failing to clear their dues would be charged by writing to the NEA. As per the provision, the royalty amount would be provided to the affected communities at the local level. 

The Department has collected Rs 1.15bn from license fees, Rs 8.7m from penalty and confiscation and Rs 4.2m from arrear. The Department collected Rs 4.31bn plus in revenue in the fiscal year 2022/23. 

Likewise, the Department has collected Rs 595.5m in royalty till the first six months of the current fiscal year while the amount from licensing is Rs 162.4m.

Two persons died and two others were injured when a commuter bus met with an accident in Dang on Sunday.

The ill-fated bus (Pradesh 3-01005 Kha 1791) was heading towards Kathmandu from Bardiya when the tragedy occurred near Rihar, Lamahi Municipality-9 along the East-West Highway at around 11 pm yesterday.

Inspector Lal Bahadur Shrestha of the Area Police Office, Amiliya said that Bhimnath Yogi (36) and Yuvaraj Chaudhary of Geruwa Rural Municipality-1 died in the incident.

He said that 47 persons were traveling in the bus. Among them, two were injured and other passengers were safe, police said.

Bus driver sustained minor injuries and he is undergoing treatment in Kohalpur.

The bodies have been kept at the Lamahi Hospital.

A few days ago, 12 persons had lost their lives when a bus fell off the Rapti Bridge at Bhaluwang of Dang.