NIICE to organize Nepal–India Think Tank Forum 2026 on regional security cooperation
Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) is organizing the Nepal–India Think Tank Forum 2026, themed “Regional Resilience: Strengthening Nepal–India Security Cooperation,” to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.
The one-day event will be held on Tuesday at the Kathmandu Marriott Hotel.
The forum will feature three focused sessions that will examine the convergence, continuity, and future trajectory of Nepal–India security cooperation; address transnational threats, connectivity, and economic security challenges shaping bilateral relations and explore the role of think tanks, youth, and media in building resilient Nepal–India relations, reads a statement issued by NIICE.
Speakers from India include Ambassador Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister Modi who is heading a think tank called NatStrat; Former Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd.), Director General of the United Service Institution of India, that is the oldest security think tank of India; Capt. Dr. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of India Foundation which closely works with the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party; Prof.Sangeeta Thapliyal of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dr. Gaurav Saini, Co-Founder of Council for Strategic and Defence Research.
From Nepal, speakers Anurag Acharya, Director at Policy Entrepreneurs Inc., Dr. Angana Guha Roy, Associate Director at Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs; Maj. Gen. BinojBasnyat (Retd.), political and security analyst; and senior journalists Sanjeev Satgainya, Bibek Dhoj Thapa, Research Associate and Program Coordinator at NIICE and several others.
“At a time when our region is facing new and complex challenges, Nepal and India must work closely together to address shared concerns, "Sumitra Karki, Director of NIICE said, adding, "Platforms like this will create valuable space for dialogue, enabling experts and policymakers from both sides to sit together, exchange ideas, and jointly explore practical solutions to common challenges.”
Two held for taking youth hostage
Police have arrested two persons on the charge of taking a youth hostage in Siraha.
The accused allegedly lured the victim to India by promising him a lucrative job.
According to District Police Office information officer Ramesh Bahadur Pal, the arrestees have been identified as Suraj Mukhiya (26) of Kalyanpur Municipality-7, and Prashant Chaudhary (22) of Lahan Municipality-11.
Police said the alleged victim, Rishakesh Kumar Marik of Kalyanpur-7, was assured of a well-paying job in Gaya, India.
After he reached there, the two allegedly confiscated his mobile phone and academic certificates. The incident reportedly took place on January 4.
As stated by the victim, he was kept in a hostel, physically assaulted, and threatened with death while the accused demanded ransom from his family.
The accused allegedly collected Rs 217,000 from the victim’s family as ransom and also took Indian currency (INR) 30,000 from the victim himself.
Election police officer dies after falling off cliff in Baitadi
An election police officer died after falling off a cliff at Kharakte Salleri in Baitadi on Wednesday.
Fresh recruit Prakash Chand (32) of Dasharathchand Municipality 4 died in the incident, according to District Police Office Chief Deepak Kumar Rai.
The accident took place this morning while he was returning home after successfully completing the police training to serve in the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives.
Light snowfall likely in high hills of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki today
The weather today will be generally cloudy in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces today, while it will be partly cloudy in the rest of the areas.
Furthermore, there is a possibility of light snowfall and rain at one or two places in the high hilly and mountain regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.
Meanwhile, fog and mist will occur in some areas of the Tarai region.
Later tonight, mist will occur in a few places in the Tarai region.
The high hilly and mountain regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces will be partly cloudy, while the rest of the areas will remain mainly fair.
There is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.
Meteorological Analysis by the Division states that there is partial influence of a westerly low-pressure system over the country.
