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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Thapaliya has highlighted the role of media in serving election related activities among the general people and the voters. Thapaliya said so while inaugurating the ‘Province-level Media Related Orientation’ organized by the EC with collaboration of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) in the context of House of Representatives and Province Assembly Member Election-2079 here today. Saying the EC would take action if the election code of conduct formulated by the EC in a practical way in order to reduce unnecessary expenses in the election is found violated, Thapaliya shared, “Seeking clarification on the issue of violation of the election code of conduct is not action.” He stressed that candidates should not give enticement to voters during the election. Thapaliya added that 123,624 candidates who did not submit election expenses on time in local-level election faced action. Stating that the voter education has been started from the social media as well, the Chief Election Commissioner urged voters not to be enticed by post, money, access and personal benefit while selecting the people’s representatives. “The election is important for promoting the national unity. Free speech and the election fairness contribute to strengthen democracy,” he said, adding that the election becomes credible and transparent when it is backed up by integrity. CEC Thapaliya called on the media to play a role in enhancing the dignity of the elections. Chief District Officer of Morang, Kashi Raj Dahal stressed that all the security units would be mobilized to ensuring the fairness of the election and holding it in a free and fearless environment. Chief Election Officer of Morang and District Court Judge, Durga Prasad Dhungel said the election offices set up at the election constituencies have been carrying out all the election-related works in a smooth manner. Executive Chair of Rastriya Samachar Samiti, the National News Agency, Dharmendra Jha urged the media to build a culture of self-regulation during the election and to internalize the election process and system.

Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has argued that the current electoral alliance of the ruling parties was forged to safeguard democracy and constitution. “Defeating regressive forces is the key challenge of the time. There is no option but to make this alliance strong,” the NC leader added. Inaugurating the liaison office of the electoral campaign in Vyas Municipality-2 this morning, Poudel said constitution’s safeguard could be ensured only if the alliance was advanced in a sustainable way. The NC leader was of the view that people’s status could not change as expected due to our failure to manage the regime chance. Leader Poudel pointed out that employment opportunities in the villages and income generation were key challenges and added that he was effortful for addressing these twin challenges.

The Ninth National Games held in Gandaki Province concluded last night in the presence of thousands of people at Pokhara Stadium. At the concluding ceremony of the Ninth National Games, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba handed over the flag of the 10th National Games to Social Development Minister of Karnali Province Yagya Bahadur BC. Earlier, the 115th board meeting of the National Sports Council had decided to hold the 10th National Games in Karnali Province. The 10th National Games will be held in Karnali Province after two years. The Karnali Province has got the responsibility to organize the 10th National Games from November 17-24, 2024. The concluding ceremony was marked amid a grand fanfare along with cultural programmes, processions, marches and others, which was attended by thousands of people at Pokhara Stadium. Played in eight different districts of Gandaki Province, a total of 36 games were played in the 9th National Games that started on October 14. Over 6,000 players took part in those events and some sports persons also made new records. The Tribhuvan Army Club of Nepali Army topped the medals tally of the 9th National Games with 172 gold medals and became the champion of the tournament. The army won 371 medals including 172 gold, 110 silver and 89 bronze in 36 games. In the last seventh and eighth national games too, Tribhuvan Army Club of Nepali Army emerged the champion. Likewise, the APF Club of Armed Police Force Nepal won 219 medals including 65 gold, 72 silver and 82 bronze to finish second in the national tournament. Nepal Police came third with a total of 195 medals including 61 gold, 61 bronze and 73 silver medals. The host Gandaki Province came fourth in the tournament and the first among the seven provinces. Gandaki is fourth overall with 120 medals including 32 gold, 31 silver and 57 bronze medals. Likewise, Bagmati Province finished fifth with 145 medals including 24 gold, 47 silver and 74 bronze medals. In the event, Province No. 1 came sixth with 10 gold, 23 silver and 50 bronze medals. Sudurpaschim Province managed to win 63 medals including 10 gold, 10 silver and 43 bronze medals to finish seventh. Likewise, the NRNA won a total of 26 medals including 10 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals while Lumbini won 68 medals including six gold, 22 silver and 40 bronze. Madhes Province won 39 medals including five gold, eight silver and 26 bronze while Karnali province won 18 medals including two gold, four silver and 12 bronze medals.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has urged the media and social site users to refrain from disseminating content likely to taint the election and democracy. CEC Thapaliya was addressing a virtual training for media persons organized by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, today. The training was held at the request of the Election Commission in view of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Province Assembly elections slated for November 20. He said the Commission emphasizes that the media should self-regulate and self-restraint when it comes to disseminating election-related news and content. Stating that the Election Commission has for the first time described the false news, misinformation and hate-speech and made provisions in the election code-of-conduct for its regulation, the Chief Election Commissioner stressed on the need of support from all sides in this as the Commission has sought to have the media and the social sites regulated and not to control them. A Press Office has been set up at the Election Commission, he said, for maintaining the dignity and fairness of the election and for facilitating the dissemination of election-related information through a systematic channel.

A partial solar eclipse is taking place in Nepal on October 25, the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee said. Committee's Executive Director Surya Prasad Dhungel said that the eclipse would commence from 4.52 pm and the sun will set at 5.24 pm, 32 minutes after the eclipse commences. So, the eclipse will be visible from Nepal for around 32 minutes.

The US Dollar is continuously appreciating against the Nepali rupee of late. As per the foreign currency exchange rate determined by Nepal Rastra Bank for today, the buying rate of one US Dollar is Rs 132.54 while the selling rate is Rs 133.14. The buying rate of a unit of greenback was Rs 131.48 and the selling rate Rs 132.8 on Wednesday. Similarly, the Central Bank has fixed the buying rate of one Euro at Rs 129.65 and the selling rate at Rs 130.24 for today. The Nepali rupee has depreciated with the increase in the value of the US Dollar in the international market. The Nepali rupee is pegged with the Indian rupee at a fixed exchange rate and the Nepali currency is impacted as the Indian currency's value decreases when the US Dollar appreciates. Although the increase in the value of the US Dollar will have a positive impact on the income from remittances, tourism revenue and export trade, it will leave a negative impact on the overall economy, according to the economists. According to them, since the import is greater than the export, the appreciating US Dollars means the trade deficit would go up further. This will also have a negative impact on the balance of payment and foreign currency reserve. Likewise, the price of imported goods, fuel and other commodities as well as the principal and interest amount would rise with the increase in the value of the US Dollar.

Candidates from Rasuwa district have expressed their commitment to fully abide by the election code of conduct enforced by the Election Commission for upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. At an all-party meet held at the District Administration Office, Rasuwa on Wednesday, candidates from political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal Majdur Kisan Party, Mangol National Organization and Rastriya Swatantra Party as well as independent candidates made the commitment. Chief Returning Officer Ramchandra Poudel, Chief District Officer Nawaraj Jaisi, security agencies chiefs and District Returning Officer Shreeram Thapa were also present on the occasion. On behalf of the political parties, their district chiefs, Nepali Congress candidate for HoR member Mohan Acharya, Maoist candidates for Province Assembly Indra Prasad Gautam, Congress candidate for Province Assembly Prabhat Lama and RPP province candidate Hari Prasad Ghimire, among others had made the commitment to follow the election code of conduct. In the all-party meet, various materials produced by the EC on the code of conduct such as flag size, publicity period, use of polite language, and process to be adopted while disseminating information through media were presented. According to the Election Office, there are 39,459 voters in the district in upcoming election. Keeping into consideration the election security, the Rasuwa district police office has imparted training to temporary police.  

The 9th National Games held in different eight districts of the Gandaki Province is concluding today. According to the National Sports Council, the host, the 9th National Games will be concluded amidst a special ceremony at the Pokhara stadium after 2.30 pm today. Distinguished guests, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister for Youth and Sports Maheswor Jung Gahatraj and Gandaki Province Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali would attend the closing ceremony, it is informed. Earlier on October 14, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun had inaugurated the National Games. According to secretary of the National Games Publicity Sub-Committee, Khusraj Dahal, the closing ceremony would feature several cultural programs, artists' performances, processions, songs and dances. The Nepal Army (NA) has so far topped the list with 314 medals in the national games. With this, the NA is almost sure to become the champions in the national tournaments. So far, the NA has secured 150 gold, 94 silver and 80 bronze medals. Likewise, Nepal Police has maintained second position with 158 medals including 52 gold, 47 silver and 59 bronze. Armed Police Force has so far secured third position with 176 medals, including 42 gold, 57 silver and 77 bronze. The host, Gandaki Province, has so far won 29 gold, 28 silver and 49 bronze. With this the host has maintained top position among the provinces.