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The local administration in Baitadi has urged all concerned to submit the licensed weapons registered in individual names in the wake of forthcoming elections to the House of Representatives.

For the purpose of making the HoR elections scheduled for March 5, the district administration urged the people for arms submission if they have kept the arms and ammunition with license.

Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Thapa issued a directive to all concerned ones to provide the individual licensed weapons to the authority. They can submit the weapons to the District Police Office and local administration or any police office at their convenient places before February 3.

The District Administration Office, Rupandehi has issued a similar directive to submit the weapons kept individually by taking license. The district people bearing such weapons are asked to hand over the weapons before January 29.

The District Administration Office, Lamjung has given a February 3 deadline for the submission of the licensed weapons. It is said more than 1,000 persons have possessed such weapons in the district.

The local administrations have warned of legal actions if the licensed armed and ammunition are not handed over to the authority. The offices made it clear that the weapons would, however, be returned to the respective persons after the HoR elections are held successfully.

The districts have been making other security arrangements for the safety at poll centers and security to candidates in the March 5 HoR elections.

The nominations under the direct election, first-past-the-post, of 165 members of HoR were conducted peacefully across the country on Tuesday.

The country is currently witnessing a partial effect of westerly wind. 

The Weather Forecasting Division has predicted foggy weather in some places of the Tarai belt later today. 

It will be partly cloudy in the upper hill and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces. 

The Tarai region is forecasted to have a thick fog during morning and evening.

Owing to thick fog and haze, visibility in air flight will be affected, warranting alertness, according to the weather service.

India on Tuesday handed over the first tranche of election-related assistance to Nepal during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Kathmandu.

The assistance was formally received by Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal. 

India’s Charge d’Affaires in Kathmandu, Dr. Rakesh Pandey, handed over more than 60 double-cab pickup vehicles along with other logistical supplies for use in preparations for Nepal’s upcoming elections, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. 

Home Minister Aryal thanked the Government of India for the support and said it reflected the longstanding cooperation between the two countries.

India has been providing election-related assistance to Nepal since 2008 at the request of the Nepali government. 

According to officials, the support has included the supply of around 2,400 vehicles to various government bodies, including the Election Commission, the statement further reads. 

For the forthcoming elections, India has committed to providing about 650 vehicles, which will be delivered in phases over the coming weeks.

Officials said the assistance is part of broader bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal.

The Ambassadors Club Nepal honoured United Nations Resident Coordinator to Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, with the ‘Recognition Award 2025’ at a special ceremony organized at its office premises in Bishalnagar on Monday.

Ambassadors Club Nepal President Amb. Dr. Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, announced the award to Hanaa.

“In recognition of her (Hanaa’s) distinguished leadership, dedicated service, and lasting contribution to Nepal’s development journey, the Ambassadors Club Nepal will present the Recognition Award 2025 to Her Excellency Hanaa Singer-Hamdy,” President Dhakal added, who is also a former ambassador to Spain and Oman.

Pushkar Sapkota, Law and Human Rights Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, presented the award to Hanaa on behalf of the Ambassadors Club.

After receiving the award, UNRC-Nepal Hanaa thanked the Ambassadors Club Nepal and President Amb. Dr. Parajuli. 

“Thank you very much for honouring me. This is amazing—what you’ve done, always so graceful and always so appreciative,” Hanaa said.

Hanaa further added, “Nepal for me is my Maitighar (mother’s home). I have been coming to Nepal since 1997. I have visited Nepal around seven or eight times, and I have lived and worked in Nepal for around six years. I have travelled to over 54 districts, and I have been overwhelmed by emotions.” 

She further said that  she will always come back to Nepal because there is a kind of magic found only here—and a big part of that magic is the people.

Ambassadors, diplomats, Government of Nepal officials, officials from other diplomatic missions, and leaders of the private sector were also present on the occasion.