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Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has assigned engineer Sahdev Chand as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) effective from February 11.

Engineer Chand has been working at NRB for over 24 years. 

He has extensive experience in the areas spanning the economic research department, banking department, non-bank financial institution supervision department, and the information technology department. 

Engineer Chand is currently engaged in General Ledger operations and Disaster Recovery Management.

As a CISO, Chand will lead initiatives to strengthen NRB’s cybersecurity framework, enhance protection of digital infrastructures, and ensure compliance with national and international regulatory standards. His responsibilities include advancing Security Operations Center (SOC) capabilities and reinforcing information security governance so that it would contribute to cyber resilience, according to NRB.

NRB Spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel said that Chand was assigned as CISO as per NRB's Cyber Security Policy, 2074.

The assignment comes amidst NRB's ongoing digital transformation. 

The new responsibility is expected to contribute to NRB’s strategic commitment to strengthening cybersecurity governance, enhancing institutional resilience and maintaining public trust in Nepal’s financial system in the wake of digital advancement at warp speed.

Chand, who holds BSc Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering from Khulna University, Bangladesh, also has the MA and MPhil Degrees in Economics from Tribhuvan University. He is currently pursuing PhD in Economics at Tribhuvan University. 

Chand has participated in numerous international training programs in cybersecurity, ICT policy, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and distributed ledger technologies across Asia, Europe and the United States.

India on Thursday handed over the third tranche of election-related assistance to Nepal. 

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava presented the assistance  to Minister for Home Affairs of Nepal Om Prakash Aryal at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu. 

The latest tranche includes more than 270 vehicles and other logistical supplies, among them 50 trucks designated for the Nepal Army, in line with Kathmandu’s request to support election preparedness.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel formally received the trucks on behalf of the Nepal Army.

Speaking at the program, Home Minister Aryal thanked the Indian side for the timely and significant nature of assistance provided to Nepal. He also conveyed his appreciation for the mutually beneficial and comprehensive nature of cooperation between the two countries, which is marked by mutual trust, friendship, and a shared adherence to democratic values.

The first two tranches of such election-related assistance, comprising over 310 vehicles and other supplies from the Government of India, have already been handed over to Nepal on January 20 and 29  respectively. Some additional deliveries are expected to take place in batches in the coming days, according to the statement. 

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that  voting in the mountainous and hilly districts will be held on March 5 under any circumstances.

The Prime Minister arrived in Solukhumbu today to assess election preparations, relevant security arrangements, and geographical challenges. 

On the occasion, she stated that there is no situation that would warrant postponing the election, emphasizing that the election must be held as scheduled.

“There is no alternative to holding the election on March 5 to free the country from the cycle of instability,” she said. Acknowledging the challenges of conducting elections in mountainous regions, she added that the government has already made necessary arrangements to address such adversities.

The Prime Minister urged voters, political parties, and candidates to remain confident that the election will be conducted in a fearless, peaceful, and impartial atmosphere. According to her, the government’s entire focus is now on ensuring the election is held in a cordial environment. She also called on all concerned bodies to concentrate their efforts on the polls.

During a briefing with the District Security Committee, the Prime Minister specifically directed authorities to create an environment where voters can cast their ballots without fear, pressure, or influence.

She instructed the concerned authorities to leave no stone unturned in guaranteeing security at remote polling stations in the mountainous areas, and directed them to mobilize additional security forces if necessary.

On the occasion, Chief District Officer Leela Kumari Pandey KC presented a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister, highlighting the district’s overall security situation, the physical status of polling centers, and their accessibility.

After reviewing the details, the Prime Minister directed the authorities to take special precautions regarding security, transportation of election materials, and the safety of ballot papers, according to CDO Pandey.

Solukhumbu, the part of Koshi Province, has 123 polling stations. The District Administration Office stated that alternative plans have been prepared in view of possible snowfall, climate conditions, and geographical challenges.

The Prime Minister said it is the constitutional responsibility of the government to ensure the voting rights of people in all areas, including mountainous regions. She assured that necessary arrangements would be made to enable the voters of Solukhumbu to cast their ballots in an easy and accessible manner.

The Election Commission (EC) has called on all first-past-the-post (FPTP) candidates for the March 5 election to the House of Representatives ( HoR)  to submit a copy of their election manifesto to the respective Election Officer’s Office by February 15.

The EC has written to all FPTP candidates, directing them to make their election manifestos public and submit a copy to the Election Commission Office in accordance with Clause 37 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS.

Similarly, Election Offices in all provinces and the respective Election Officers’ Offices have been instructed to maintain records of the submitted manifestos and provide the details to the Commission.

Earlier, the EC had also written to political parties, urging them to unveil their election manifestos by February 15.

Russia has ordered a block on WhatsApp, as the Kremlin continues to tighten restrictions on messaging apps, BBC reported. 

Meta-owned WhatsApp said the move aimed to push more than 100 million of its app users in Russia to a "state-owned surveillance app".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that the decision had been made "due to [Meta's] unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law". He has said Meta could resume operations if it "complies with [the law] and enters into dialogue".

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday, BBC reported. 

Little is known about Kim Ju Ae, who in recent months has been pictured beside her father in high-profile events like a visit to Beijing in September- her first known trip abroad. 

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it took a "range of circumstances" into account including her increasingly prominent public presence at official events" in making this assessment, according to BBC. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 8. 97 points to close at 2, 671. 07 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 51 points to close at 456. 72 points.

A total of 27,780,584-unit shares of 337 companies were traded for Rs 1. 52 billion.

Meanwhile, Madhya Bhotekoshi Jalavidyut Company Limited (MBJC) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. 

Likewise,  Kalinchowk Darshan Limited (KDL) was the top loser as its price fell by 7. 59 percent.

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

President Ram Chandra Paudel has prorogued the current session of the National Assembly to be effective from midnight on February 13.

President Paudel prorogued the session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on February 9, in accordance with Article 93 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.

The current session of the National Assembly was convened on January 18.