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The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on April 30.

The meeting will be held at the party's central office, Sanepa.

The CWC office bearers, members and invitee members have been requested to attend the meeting, said Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel.

The agenda of the meeting is to discuss contemporary issues and latest developments.

Various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley, experienced light rainfall this afternoon.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light to moderate rains were recorded in most areas of the Koshi and Bagmati Provinces today.

Min Kumar Aryal, a meteorologist at the Division, said that the rains were triggered by the influence of the Westerly winds and the increased activity of local winds. However, no significant rainfall is expected in the coming days. This weather condition is likely to persist until Thursday.

The Division also predicts that light to moderate rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, will affect parts of the hilly regions in Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces, with a few locations in other areas expected to experience similar conditions by Wednesday morning.

In the highlands and mountain regions, light rains and snowfall are possible, which could impact daily life, agriculture, health, roadways, and aviation services.

 The public has been advised to take precautions against the potential challenges posed by these atmospheric changes.

Four members of a single family were injured in a lightning at Sathimure in Khandbari Municipality -9, Sankhuwasabha last night.

The injured have been identified as Kopila Shrestha, her son Gagan (18), daughter-in-law Babita (18) and daughter Niruta (13), according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dakshya Kumar Basnet. 

They are undergoing treatment at District Hospital in Sankhuwasabha. All of them are out of risk.

South Korea announced on Tuesday an increase in its support package for the country's vital semiconductor industry to 33 trillion won ($23.25 billion), up about a quarter from a 26 trillion won package unveiled last year, Reuters reported.

The measures come in response to calls on the government to expand support at a time of growing policy uncertainty under the current U.S. administration and rising competition from Chinese rivals, the government said in a statement.

Seoul will also ramp up a financial assistance programme for the chips industry to 20 trillion won, versus the previous 17 trillion won, according to the joint statement from various ministries including the trade ministry.

South Korea's decision to pump more money into its key chips sector is designed to help companies cope with heavier costs as they compete globally, it said.

Asia's fourth-largest economy is home to the world's top memory chip makers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, though they have fallen behind some rivals in areas such as chip design and contract chip manufacturing, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration has said it is freezing more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in federal funds for Harvard University, hours after the elite college rejected a list of demands from the White House, BBC reported.

"Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges," the Department of Education said in a statement.

The White House sent a list of demands to Harvard last week which it said were designed to fight antisemitism on campus. They included changes to its governance, hiring practices and admissions procedures.

Harvard rejected the demands on Monday and said the White House was trying to "control" its community, according to BBC.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki has extended best wishes to the Nepalis living in the country and abroad on the occasion of the Siruwa festival, 2082 today.

Giving a message of best wishes, CM Karki said the Siruwa festival is not only of the indigenous community living in Koshi Province but of the entire country. 

"Siruwa festival signals change in season. It is the onset of summer season with rains. This festival is also called a Judshital. Many fairs are organized for a month, Baisakh, on the occasion of this festival. It is a unique festival," he said.

"Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country. I wish the Siruwa festival inspired all of us from diverse communities to foster harmony and unity," he mentioned in the message of best wishes. 

Koshi Province is observing the Koshi Visit Year, 2082 on the occasion of New Year, CM Karki said, adding that the province government was devoted to attracting as many tourists as possible from across the country and abroad.

He underlined the tourism promotion is not only for preservation of culture but also for creation of employment and progress. The provincial government is working actively for establishing identities of all ethnicities and cultures in the region.

A 4. 1 magnitude earthquake shook Jajarkot district on Monday.

The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, informed that the tremor occurred at 9: 31 pm with its epicenter at Paink of the district.

Paink is the center of Kushe Rural Municipality. However, details on any damage caused by the earthquake are awaited.

Earlier, the same locality had witnessed two earthquakes- of magnitudes 5.2 and 5.5- on April 3. Some houses were damaged in these quakes.

Moreover, Darchula and Humla districts also had the quakes in March and April.

The 'first red panda and thar festival' kicked off as part of the 'Mundum Trail Visit Year' in Khotang on New Year Day, 2082. The festival is organized by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality.

The event was held at Hurlung. It has aimed at protecting the endangered wild animals – red panda and thar. Thar is a rare Himalayan goat. 

The festival runs for two days. The event features cultural pageantries, cuisine of organic products, display of costumes and local produces.

The event held on the occasion of the New Year 2082BS also has photos and videos on endangered wild animals.

The locals are elated to have such an event in the locality where there is participation from diverse communities. Interestingly, the items put on display are managed by the locals themselves. They voluntarily attended the fair to perform cultural pageants.

Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, Bhupal Rai, inaugurated the festival. He stressed the need for conserving the endangered wildlife to protect the environment and ecosystem.

Local administrators, district and national level political leaders, economists, artists and researchers attended the inaugural function.

Municipality Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai informed that even the trekking route, 'Mudum Trail Red Panda-Thar Route', was opened on the occasion.