KATHMANDU: Police today arrested three Indian nationals with 11.27 grams of cannabis from the arrival tunnel gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

According to Abhi Narayan Kafle, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Spokesperson of Nepal Police, the arrested ones have been identified as Samina Akhtar Beg Mirza (43), Mohammad Junaid (24) and Afsana Amir Hussain Sheikh.

A joint team of police from the TIA security office and Narcotics Control Bureau apprehended Mohammad Junaid and Samina Akhtar Beg Mirza with approximately 3.87 kg of narcotic substance, informed DIG Kafle.

Likewise, police nabbed Afsana in possession of 7.4 kg of the illegal substance, he added.

They  have been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau for further investigation and legal action, police said.

KATHMANDU: Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley is decreasing.

This afternoon, air pollution has reduced and the air quality index (AQI) has reached 99.

Last Tuesday, the AQI of the valley had reached 191 at 1 pm, whereas on Wednesday at the same time it had fallen to 114.

The Department of Environment said that air pollution level in the Kathmandu Valley has decreased along with the rate of occurrence of wind.

As per the latest AQI, Kathmandu, which was listed as the third most polluted city in the world on Tuesday, has dropped to 18th place today.

At present, Lahore in Pakistan is in first place with 373 AQI, and Kolkata, India is in second place with 186 AQI.

Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyanaraj Subedi, said that air pollution increases during dry weather and decreases during rainfall and windy conditions.

AQI 101–150, highlighted in orange, is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, who may experience health effects.

KATHMANDU: United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Ram Chandra Paudel on the occasion of the National Democracy Day of Nepal.

In the message delivered on Thursday, the UAE President extended best wishes to President Paudel, as well as the Government of Nepal and the people on the occasion, the UAE Embassy in Kathmandu stated.

Likewise, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also sent messages of congratulation and best wishes to President Paudel on the occasion of the National Democracy Day of Nepal.

KATHMANDU: The westerly low pressure system presently has a partial influence in the country, the Weather Forecasting Division stated.

Fog/mist is prevailing in some places of the Tarai region during the morning. The Himalayan regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces will generally be cloudy, it  has been stated.

This afternoon the Himalayan region of Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces, as well as the hilly regions of the country, will be partly cloudy, while the weather in the remaining Tarai region will be mainly fair.

There is a possibility of light rain/snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and Himalayan region of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces.

Tonight there will be hazy conditions in a few places of the Tarai region. In the Koshi Province and the Himalayan region of Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces there will be partly cloudy, while the weather in the remaining region will be mainly fair.

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) is set to use the popular social media platform for election publicity.

In view of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives (HoR), the EC has come up with a campaign to create TikTik video messages.

As informed, the EC is conducting TikTok video message creation competition so as to reach out among the voters with election messages.

According to the EC, such competition has been advanced for election publicity and voters’ education.

A one-minute TikTok video based on topics such as election code of conduct and voter education has to be created and shared through one’s social media.

Likewise, the TikTok has also been sent to the EC’s email by March 1. The EC will award the TikTok with the highest number of viewers among all the TikToks received by the commission.

The EC will provide first award amounting to Rs 50,000 to the one with the most viewers, Rs 30,000 to the second, and Rs 20,000 to the third along with certificates.

The TikTok videos should be prepared in the context of the House of Representatives election, 2026.

The videos should be interactive and message-oriented. Priority will be given to videos with original content, audio, and acting, the EC stated.

The videos should provide general information about the election, need for the election, its importance, correct way to mark the ballot, compliance with the election code of conduct, and information about voters’ rights and duties.

The selection of the best video will be made by independent experts and the Commission, the notice stated.