As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory urging Nepali citizens currently in Iran to relocate immediately to safer areas. The ministry has also advised those planning to travel to Iran to postpone their trips.

Q: With tensions rising between Iran and the United States, the Government of Nepal has issued a travel advisory advising Nepalis to leave Iran. What is your assessment of the current situation there?

Rather than issuing the advisory based on any specific intelligence about conditions inside Iran, we did so primarily with the safety of our citizens in mind. This is a precautionary step. Regardless of what may or may not happen, it is the state’s responsibility to ensure the security of its nationals. The safety of Nepalis in Iran is our foremost concern.

Q: How many Nepali citizens are currently in Iran, and what is their condition?

According to the information we have, there are 10 Nepali citizens in Iran at present. All of them are safe so far and remain in contact with us. They are also in touch with one another.

Through the travel advisory, we have urged them to move to safer locations as much as possible. At the same time, we have cautioned them not to put themselves at risk by travelling unsafely.

Q: How have Nepalis in Iran responded to the government’s advisory?

They have told us that they are currently safe, following the government’s advisories and information, and are making their own arrangements accordingly.

Q: Are they in Iran legally or illegally, and where exactly are they located?

They are all residing in Iran legally and are based in Tehran. During previous conflicts, some Nepali nationals had been detained in prisons, but that is not the case now.

Q: For what purpose did they go to Iran? Are there women and children among them?

They are there for work. One of them is in Iran with family members, while the others are there individually.

Q: When you say they should move to safer locations, where does that mean, and who coordinates this?

Nepal’s Embassy in Qatar is also responsible for overseeing Iran. Given that, citizens are advised to move to locations that are nearby, accessible, and relatively safer. In terms of air or sea connectivity, Gulf countries are generally the closest and most practical options.

Q: You have also advised people not to travel to Iran. Were there individuals preparing to go there from Nepal?

We do not have clear information on that. Immigration laws and regulations have undergone some changes, and there is no advance notification system. Still, we had already informed the public several weeks ago that they should avoid travelling to Iran. At present, we do not have information about anyone preparing to go, but if anyone is planning such travel, we strongly advise postponing it.

Out of the 64 political parties that submitted their closed lists for the proportional representation system for the upcoming House of Representatives elections, 22 parties have filed candidacies for all 110 seats. In the closed list submitted to the Election Commission on December 28 and 29, only 22 parties have nominated 110 candidates for the proportional representation system.

Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that out of a total of 64 parties that submitted their lists, 58 parties have filed candidacies for 58 election symbols. The political parties fielding candidates in all (110) seats are Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, Mongol National Organization, Democratic Socialist Party, CPN (ML), Labor Culture Party, Federal Democratic National Forum, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Janamat Party, Miteri Party Nepal, Nepal Communist Party (United).

Similarly, Nepali Janata Dal, National Democratic Party, Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), Progressive Democratic Party and some parties have submitted closed lists for 110 seats by organising joint elections and combining their lists. In the upcoming election of members of the House of Representatives to be held on March 5, parties have filed candidacies based on the percentage of inclusive groups as per the 2021 census.

In the meantime, as some parties have agreed on unity and cooperation, the process of submitting closed lists continued until late at night. Out of 93 political parties that applied to the Commission to file candidacies under this system, only 64 parties have filed candidacies.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has urged officers of the Nepali Embassy in the Republic of Korea to carry out activities becoming a guardian of all Nepalis there. Visiting the Nepali Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, today, the Communications Minister stressed that the Nepali Embassy officers should play effective role for the rights and welfare of Nepalis staying in South Korea as well as facilitate to resolve their problems.

He also requested the Nepali Ambassador to South Korea Dr Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe to play role to create environment to bring in foreign investment in Nepal by further strengthening Nepal-Korea relations.

Minister Kharel urged the Nepali Embassy to play effective role in expansion of relations and cooperation between the two countries, and to take initiatives related to mutual welfare and cooperation between the two countries at a time when various complaints about the issue of Embassy’s role are being received.

Similarly, Ambassador Tumbahamphe shared that they have not been able to carry out effective works due to limited staffs and dispute of some Non-Resident Nepali Association. She opined that she was committed to carrying out activities for the welfare of Nepal and Nepalis.

On the occasion, Minister Kharel drew the attention of the Nepali Embassy to take initiative for the operation of Nepal Airlines’ flights to Seoul as well as to take initiatives to resolve different types of problems Nepali migrant workers in Korea have been facing due to mental health issues.

The Communications Minister also expressed commitment to take initiatives to send additional human resources at the Nepali Embassy as per quota. Minister Kharel, leading a Nepali delegation, left here for South Korea on November 11 to participate in the 11th Global ICT Leadership Forum organised at Seoul of South Korea.

More than 30,000 new voters were added in a single day as the Election Commission of Nepal began registering voters based on National Identity Card data.

According to the Election Commission, as of 8 pm Wednesday, the total number of new voters had reached 239,940, with 30,373 added that day alone. The deadline for voter registration is set for November 16 (Kartik 30). Officials said the number of new registrants has been steadily increasing as the deadline approaches.

From Thursday, the commission has started incorporating citizens into the voter list using details from the National Identity Card database. The new provision allows individuals with a National ID number especially those unable to visit election offices in person to register more conveniently.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said technical preparations and system testing were completed overnight on Wednesday to ensure a smooth launch of the new system.

Officials expect the integration of National ID data to accelerate the registration process in the remaining days before the deadline.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held discussions with top Election Commission officials regarding preparations for the upcoming elections. During the meeting, the commission briefed the Prime Minister about the plan to begin voter registration through the National ID system from Thursday.

Director General of theDepartment of National Id and Civil Registration, Namaraj Ghimire, also attended the meeting and expressed readiness to provide the biometric data collected during the distribution of National Identity Cards to the Election Commission for voter registration purposes.

A total of 209,552 new voters have been added so far, with 23,638 registered on Tuesday alone.

According to data compiled by the Election Commission as of 8 pm Tuesday, the newly registered voters include 122,740 men, 86,785 women, and 27 individuals from other categories.

Following the interim government’s announcement to hold the House of Representatives election on March 5, the Election Commission began updating the voter roll targeting Generation Z on September 25. The registration process will continue until November 16.

Citizens aged 18 and above with a Nepali citizenship certificate can register their names at provincial or district election offices between 8 am and 6 pm on working days.

Eligible citizens can also update their details, change their voting location in case of marriage or migration, or correct any errors in the voter roll.

To manage the growing number of service seekers, the commission has arranged 12-hour daily registration services in two shifts in districts where more than 800 registrations are being recorded daily, said Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

In the Kathmandu Valley, 14 additional registration staff have been deployed from the National ID and Registration Department. Similarly, Chief District Officers outside the Valley have been asked to assign extra personnel as needed, the Commission said.

The ‘Gen-Z Movement’ has demanded the dismissal of Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, alleging irregularities worth Rs 430 million in a power purchase agreement with India’s PTC India Ltd.

The movement claims that Minister Ghising was involved in the deal that caused a financial loss of Rs 430 million to Nepal.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Movement Spokesperson Bijay Sah said, “Energy Minister Kulman Ghising must be immediately dismissed and a case filed against him at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Manoj Silwal should be suspended and investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The Electricity Regulatory Commission must form an independent probe committee and make all power purchase agreements public.”

The Gen-Z Movement has also demanded that those involved in the “anti-national agreement” be imprisoned and that the misused state funds be recovered through legal procedures.

The movement is coordinated by Rabi Kiran Hamal.

The dispute over the Chief Minister’s appointment in Madhesh Province has taken an intense turn. Both the Office of the Chief Minister and the Office of the Provincial Head have been vandalized, while party leaders and cadres burned tires and demonstrated in front of the Madhesh Building.

Leaders and cadres of dissatisfied parties have assaulted government employees in Madhesh Province over the issue of the Chief Minister’s appointment. The attack took place inside the Chief Minister’s office.

A video shows a male staff member trying to protect official records during the vandalism. The mob then surrounds him, punching him on the head. The file he was holding falls to the floor. Another employee then helps him escape the furious crowd and takes him outside the room.

Earlier in the morning, lawmakers, including those from the Nepali Congress, entered the Chief Minister’s office and vandalized property. During the chaos, one lawmaker even removed and threw away Nepal’s national flag.

Provincial lawmakers and cadres from the Nepali Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) have protested the appointment of UML leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister.

Provincial Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari had announced around 4 am on Monday that she was unwell and would be leaving for Kathmandu. Outgoing Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal saw her off, offering flowers and wishing her a speedy recovery.

However, after reaching Hotel Panas in Kalapani, Bardibas Municipality–3 of Mahottari, Provincial Head Bhandari administered the oath of office to UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister, recognizing him as the leader of the largest party. This incident has stirred political turmoil in Madhesh Province.

Dissatisfied parties have strongly criticized the move. Outgoing Chief Minister and LSP leader Sonal accused the Provincial Head of “robbing the dignity of Madhesh Province.”

Similarly, Janamat Party Chair Dr. CK Raut said this is the right moment to declare Madhesh autonomous. He has called for the Madhesh Provincial Assembly to hold its session, even on the streets if necessary, to announce autonomy.

The second and final phase of Bihar’s state assembly elections is taking place today.

Voting has begun in 122 assembly constituencies across 20 districts, including those bordering eastern Nepal. A total of 1,302 candidates are contesting in this phase.

In view of the elections, border checkpoints between Nepal and India have been closed. The Morang and Sunsari district border points were sealed from Saturday evening and will reopen after voting concludes, according to the Morang District Administration Office.

More than 37 million voters, including 17.4 million women, are eligible to vote at 45,399 polling centers.

The first phase of elections was held on November 6 across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, with a voter turnout of 65.08 percent.

The final phase of polling will determine Bihar’s new government and its political future.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Madhesh Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna on Tuesday.

Karn was appointed as the Chief of Madhesh Province on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, according to President’s Office Spokesperson Pradeep Kumar Koirala. The appointment was made in accordance with Article 163(2) of the Constitution.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and other officials.

On Monday, the Cabinet had dismissed Sumitra Subedi Bhandari from the post of Madhesh Province Chief.

Bhandari had earlier drawn controversy by appointing CPN-UML’s Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister in Bardibas, Sarlahi, and administering the oath in a hotel early in the morning, in violation of constitutional procedure.

Her move sparked widespread protests in Janakpur, the provincial capital, on Monday, during which disgruntled provincial lawmakers vandalised the Chief Minister’s Office.