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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.

Wildlife Week is being celebrated starting today by organizing community-centered awareness programs for the conservation of wildlife. 

The Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone Management Committee are going to organize a variety of events and activities throughout the week to generate awareness among the community about wildlife and the importance of their conservation.

The Wildlife Week starts today by hoisting a flag in the Park office and different community awareness raising activities will be carried for the next seven days, said Information Officer of Chitwan National Park, Abinash Thapa Magar. 

”If we can explain the importance of wildlife at the community level, conservation work will be effective,” he said. Poaching will be reduced and conflict between wildlife and humans will be mitigated.

As the community plays an important role in conservation of wildlife, flora and fauna, the Wildlife Awareness Week has been instrumental in guiding the community towards conservation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba has urged for the promotion of tourism in Nepal, highlighting its vast potential for the country's development and prosperity. 

She made this statement at a retreat organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Antu and Kanyam of Ilam for the heads of foreign missions in Nepal and representatives of various international organisations. "Nepal's unique culture, heritage and natural beauty are the major attractions to the world, and these invaluable assets are the basis of the country's development and prosperity."

Minister Rana praised Nepal's cultural and natural diversity, as well as its beauty, greenery, biodiversity and heritage, and mountain ranges.

 Explaining the importance of the Ilam region, she described Ilam as a land of tea plantations, mist-covered mountains, and warm-hearted local people, and urged everyone to experience tea gardens, clean air, traditions, and lifestyle of the tourist destination, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She urged the world community to invest in tourism and infrastructure development in Nepal, noting that foreign investment could further unlock the country's potential.

Minister Rana urged the visiting diplomats to become “ambassadors” for the country’s tourism. “I urge you to take the inspiring stories and beauty of Ilam and Nepal as a whole to your countries and people when you return home, and do your best to promote it,” she said to the diplomats.

Also speaking on the occasion, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai requested people to experience and appreciate the unique cultural and natural beauty of Nepal. 

The event was attended by ambassadors from over 15 countries, including the UK, Japan, and Australia, and heads and representatives of various international organizations.

Co-organised by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Suryodaya Municipality of Ilam, the event aimed to showcase Nepal's warm hospitality, and its diversity, rich culture and natural beauty to the world community. 

The program was organized coinciding with Nepali New Year, 2082, seeking to highlight Ilam's significance as a tourist hub by introducing its natural and cultural beauty and locality to promote tourism in Nepal.

A wave of Israeli strikes across Gaza on Sunday hit a hospital and other sites, killing at least 21 people, including children, as Israel vowed to expand its security presence in the small coastal strip, Associated Press reported.

The predawn strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was the latest of several attacks on northern Gaza’s last major hospital providing critical health care.

Hospital director Dr. Fadel Naim said the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings were severely damaged, affecting over 100 patients and dozens of staff.

One patient, a girl, died during the evacuation following an Israeli warning because staff were unable to provide urgent care, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. Israel said it struck a Hamas command and control center at the hospital, without providing evidence. Hamas denied the allegations, according to Associated Press.

Al-Ahli Hospital is run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which condemned the attack, saying in a statement it happened on “Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week, the most sacred week of the Christian year.”

Defending champions Real Madrid secured a nervy 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Deportivo Alaves in LaLiga on Sunday after a reckless foul by Kylian Mbappe had them reduced to 10 men late in the first half, Reuters reported.

Eduardo Camavinga gave Real the lead in the 34th minute, scoring from outside the box with a brilliant curled shot, after an earlier goal by Raul Asencio was ruled out following a VAR check.

Mbappe's violent tackle on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco left Real a man down before halftime. The player count, however, was level in the second half after Vinicius Jr was subjected to a similar foul by Manu Sanchez, who also was sent off.

Second-placed Real have 66 points from 31 games and are four points behind leaders Barcelona, who edged Leganes 1-0 on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Real, who on Tuesday were handed a shock 3-0 loss at Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, have struggled in all competitions this month as they still try to cut the gap to Barca.

Liverpool moved to within two wins of the Premier League title with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, while Manchester United's miserable season continued as they were beaten 4-1 at Newcastle United, Reuters reported.

Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at home against relegation-bound Ipswich Town, while an error-strewn performance by Tottenham Hotspur led to a 4-2 away defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah broke the record for most goal involvements in a season, to celebrate signing his new contract, and Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner as Arne Slot's team moved 13 points clear at the top of the standings.

Salah created the opener for Luis Diaz in the first half and after West Ham had scored an equaliser in the 86th minute, skipper Van Dijk settled the tight contest three minutes later to leave West Ham 17th on 35 points, according to Reuters.

Van Dijk scored his 24th Premier League goal; the most of any centre back since his debut in the competition in September 2015.