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The Election Commission has brought activities in the social networking platforms under the purview of the code of conduct with the aim of making the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives free and fair.

According to the Commission, the code of conduct prohibits anyone from operating an account in social networking platforms or opening a fake site with the intention of adversely affecting the elections. 

The code of conduct prohibits any act of belittling or spreading misinformation in social networking platforms with or without the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Similarly, the code of conduct prohibits the dissemination of misleading information, insults, and hate speech, or the making misleading comments.

Similarly, information or material published or broadcast for any purpose may not be modified or posted, reposted, commented on, live-streamed, tagged or mentioned in social media, with or without the use of artificial intelligence, with the intention of influencing the election.

The code of conduct prohibits any act that adversely affects the credibility of the elections or the reputation of the Commission, Commissioner or its employees. 

It also prohibits character assassination, personal defamation, or the production of similar materials in any form, and the publication or broadcast of such materials by any means.

It also prohibits the violation of the confidentiality of voters or any other act that affects the integrity or impartiality of the election. 

The Commission is preparing to implement the code of conduct from January 17.

The Lebanese army says it has taken over security in the south of the country, which for decades had been dominated by the Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah, amid fears that Israel could escalate its military offensive against the group, BBC reported. 

Lebanon has been under intense international pressure, particularly from the US, to disarm Hezbollah, a powerful militia and political party, since a ceasefire deal in November 2024 ended a devastating year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The army had set a year-end deadline to clear the area south of the Litani river, about 30km (20 miles) from the border with Israel, of non-state weapons in the first phase of a government-backed plan, according to BBC. 

Syria’s Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire on Friday after three days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Aleppo that displaced tens of thousands of people, Associated Press reported. 

The statement said the ceasefire was effective at 3 a.m. in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid and gave armed groups six hours to leave the area. 

It said departing militants would be allowed to carry their “personal light weapons” and would be provided with an escort to the country’s northeast, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, according to Associated Press. 

Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 13 people, according to health officials, as U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to announce the Board of Peace to oversee the fragile ceasefire, Associated Press reported. 

Health officials and family members said at least one child was among the dead in northern Gaza following several strikes there as well as east of Gaza City. 

Israel’s army said Friday it struck Hamas infrastructure and fighters in southern and northern Gaza in response to a failed projectile launched by militants from the Gaza City area, according to Associated Press. 

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has asserted that ministers in the incumbent government do not have liberty to favor any political party.

Addressing the Bagmati province-level security workshop jointly organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Bagmati Province, Minister Aryal noted that the present government’s ‘mandate’ is to hold elections on the stipulated date.

He urged all concerned parties not to harbour any doubt on holding the elections on the stated date.

Highlighting that the Gen Z movement was waged for establishing good governance, Minister Aryal said that the government is committed to maintaining good governance.

He warned that failing to hold elections on the designated date could lead the country to a crisis and requested all parties to encourage and boost up the government’s morale regarding its works, including for elections.

During the event, Chief Minister of Bagmati Province Indra Bahadur Baniya cautioned that the activities of ministers in the government could potentially disrupt the election environment.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has said that he believes there is now a "real threat" of US military action against Colombia, BBC reported. 

Petro said the United States is treating other nations as part of a US "empire". It comes after Trump threatened Colombia with military action. He said that the US risks transforming from "dominating the world" to becoming "isolated from the world." 

He also accused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like "Nazi brigades". Trump has significantly expanded ICE operations as part of what the administration says is a crackdown on crime and immigrants who illegally entered the US, according to BBC. 

A late Rafael Leao goal earned AC Milan a 1-1 draw with Genoa at the San Siro on Thursday where the hosts extended their unbeaten run in Serie A thanks to a penalty miss from the visitors on the stroke of fulltime, Reuters reported. 

Milan had gone 16 matches without defeat since their only league loss on the opening day of the season, but that impressive run looked like coming to an end with Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo scoring against his parent club in the 28th minute

Leao headed in from a corner in stoppage time to equalise but there was more late drama when Genoa were awarded a penalty at the death. However, Nicolae Stanciu sent his spot kick over the bar, according to Reuters. 

Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero as Paris St Germain clinched their fourth consecutive French Super Cup title, beating rivals Olympique de Marseille 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 2-2 draw in Kuwait on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

PSG looked to be cruising to victory after an early goal from Ousmane Dembele, who had also scored the late winner in last season's 1-0 final victory over AS Monaco in Doha.

However, Marseille stunned the French champions with two late goals to turn the game on its head. Mason Greenwood converted a penalty and a Willian Pacho own goal gave Marseille a shock lead, according to Reuters.