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With 36 days left to go for voting in the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR), the Election Commission has assigned the officers for monitoring the election code of conduct. 

EC Spokesperson Narayan Prsad Bhattarai informed that assistant chief district officer in each district has been assigned to monitor the enforcement of election code of conduct in a bid to ensure free and fair elections to HoR scheduled for March 5. 

The assistant chief district officer is given such responsibility except financial aspect. 

The officers from comptrollers' office are named as election monitors to look after the financial issues.

The election code of conduct is in force since January 18. 

Earl J. Wilkinson, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the International News Media Association (INMA), visited Annapurna Media Network (AMN) office on Tuesday.

While visiting the AMN headquarters in Tinkune, Wilkinson emphasized the increasing difficulty of ensuring the sustainability and continued advancement of news media amid rapid digital transformation.

INMA is headquartered in Texas, USA, and works globally to strengthen news media organizations.

AMN Chairman Captain Rameshwor Thapa, Director Sachan Thapa, Editor-in-Chief Balkrishna Basnet, Group Chief Executive Officer Pankaj Baskota, and heads of various departments welcomed Wilkinson at the office. 

During the visit, Wilkinson presented a paper examining the current state of the global news media industry, highlighting emerging trends, the importance of balance and credibility in journalism, and evolving revenue models.

He noted that while the industry faces significant challenges, new opportunities are also emerging.

“Opportunities have begun to emerge in the media industry along with challenges with the change in time,” Wilkinson said. “We must not delay in transforming these opportunities into result-oriented solutions while addressing the challenges facing the media sector.”

He added that INMA is actively working to integrate global best practices, innovative revenue models, readership strategies, and market insights to help media organizations navigate ongoing challenges.

INMA currently has more than 24,000 media companies as members from across 103 countries.

On the occasion, AMN Chairman Captain Rameshwor Thapa said that Wilkinson’s visit would further strengthen the relationship between Annapurna Media Network and INMA.

“The innovative initiatives undertaken by INMA to address recent challenges in the media industry can serve as effective solutions for media organizations worldwide,” he said.

Editor-in-Chief Balkrishna Basnet emphasized the need for continued efforts to enhance the credibility of journalism and to make media organizations more digitally adaptable.

The Spanish government has announced a plan to legalise the status of undocumented migrants, a measure expected to benefit at least half a million people, BBC reported. 

Regularisation will be available to foreign nationals who do not have a criminal record and can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months prior to 31 December 2025.

"This is an historic day for our country," said Elma Saiz, Spain's minister of inclusion, social security and migration, according to BBC. 

An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India's West Bengal state has sparked concern in parts of Asia, with some tightening screening measures at airports, BBC reported. 

Thailand has started screening passengers at three airports that receive flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also begun screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India.

Two cases have been confirmed in West Bengal since December, reportedly in healthcare workers. Some 196 people who were in contact with them have been traced and tested negative for the virus, India's health ministry says, according to BBC. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned as "terrorism" a Russian drone attack on a passenger train that local officials say killed at least four people, BBC reported. 

Zelensky said another four people were missing after the train with more than 200 people on board was hit in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region on Tuesday.

Earlier, officials in Ukraine's southern port of Odesa said three people were killed in an overnight Russian drone attack, according to BBC. 

The trade deal between India and the European Union is as much about geopolitics as it's about intercontinental business relations, BBC reported. 

The EU is already India's largest partner with trade in goods reaching $142.3bn (£104.07bn) in 2024, amounting to 11.5% of the South Asian nation's total trade. India is the EU's ninth largest trading partner.

These are impressive numbers and reflect strong relations. And yet, trade talks were stuck for two decades, according to BBC. 

The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarification from the election candidates and political parties for violation of the election code of conduct.

The candidates and political parties sought clarification are Januka Pathak (Shova Pathak) of the Jana Sewa Party, same party candidate Kamal Bhusal (Dr Nicholas), and the Shram Sanskriti Party. 

Pathak violated election code by spreading hate speech and Sanskriti Party by using children in election campaigns- donning them in t-shirts with party logo and flags.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Balendra Shah was sought clarification over his social media response to a post by UML chairman relating to public debate.

Even some institutions and schools are asked why they violated election code. 

Various provisions of the Election Code were drawn for seeking clarification.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 42. 58 points to close at 2, 726 . 51 points on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 7. 37 points to close at 464. 46 points.

A total of 30,262,710-unit shares of 333 companies were traded for Rs 1. 55 billion.

Meanwhile, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 8. 56 percent.

Likewise, Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 6. 93 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 57 trillion.