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The country's economic growth rate has been estimated to stand at 5.1 percent in the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2081/82 BS (2024/25 AD).  

Making public the forecasts of preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter on Wednesday, the National Statistical Office said that there has been a slight growth in GDP despite improvement in some sectors, including transportation. 

However, the growth rate has not reflected adjustment of weather impacts.  

The office informed that the GDP growth rate after adjusting weather impact in the second quarter was 2.2 percent. 

"Improvement in transportation, construction sector, agriculture, electricity generation and distribution along with increase in total value addition of financial intermediation are the main factors contributing to the positive economic growth in the second quarter", the office said. 

"The growth rate is expected to remain modest, especially due to sluggish progress in education, housing, food and other service sectors during the reporting period", the forecast stated. 

Based on weather impact adjusted data, negative growth is projected in two out of 18 industrial areas. The electricity and gas sector witnessed a negative growth of 4.8 per cent and housing and food sectors saw a negative growth of 2.7 per cent. 

According to the data, transportation and storage activities have the highest growth rate of 14.2 per cent, while mining and quarrying sector is the second highest growing industrial sector with 9.5 per cent growth rate.

Similarly, with the rise in import of construction materials and domestic production, the total value added growth rate of the construction sector is estimated to be 9.1 percent. 

The growth rate of the financial and insurance sector is estimated to be 6.6 percent due to the growth rate of manufacturing industries at 7.4 percent and the increase in deposits and loans. 

According to the preliminary estimate, the growth rate of the trade sector is 6.1 percent and the information and technology sector is 4.9 percent. 

The agriculture sector, which contributes the most to the country's economy, has grown at 3.2 percent. 

"The increase in the production of rice, vegetables, ginger, winter fruits and livestock products has had a positive impact on the total value addition in the sector", it is said. 

An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter Scale jolted Humla district and vicinity at 7:44 pm today. 

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur, the epicenter of the earthquake was at Kalika in the district.

Earlier this evening, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred around Tingri county of China at 6: 27 pm today. 

At least people died and 15 others were injured in a bus accident at Bhuwanpata of Shitaganga Municipality-2 in Arghakhanchi district this evening. 

Police Inspector of District Police Office, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, said three people died on the spot after a bus (Lu 2 Kha 303) met with an accident.   

Police said that seven injured ones have been sent to Lubmini Provincial Hospital and eight others at a primary health care center. 

Police Inspector Paudel shared that the rescue operation is ongoing.

Details of the road mishap are awaited. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asserted that no one has the power to usurp the rights achieved through the struggles of Nepali people.

Addressing the National Volunteers Gathering organized by the National Youth Federation Nepal here today, PM and CPN-UML Chair Oli said that if the people have not assessed the strength with the Youth Federation, it should demonstrate its capability for the country and the people even by taking on the regressive forces if need be. 

"No one has the power to take away the rights we fought for. The youths can tell this better. If anyone tries to trouble the country, the Youth Federation will pounce like a tiger," he said, adding that this activity of volunteerism is a good beginning. The PM urged the Federation to mobilize this power in an organized and dignified manner like the previous Youth Force.

"Let it be an unarmed permanent team; if any regressive force comes to fight head on or if the anti-development force obstructs our work, then let us strongly resist that,” he exhorted the youth volunteers on the occasion.

Prime Minister Oli said that some people are making a hue and cry when the government removed an employee and clarified that the Prime Minister need not give an explanation about it. 

"The Prime Minister has already replied. An employee was removed and another was appointed in his place. It's over. This is the reply. It is not our job to appoint whoever they want and who is of service to them," the PM said.

Prime Minister Oli expressed concern over the opposition parties obstructing the House to stop the passage of the bill to replace the ordinances by March 31.

UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, Chief of People's Organization Coordination Mechanism Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Politburo member Mahesh Basnet, Federation Chair Kshitij Thebe, among others, expressed their views on the need for the National Volunteer Campaign.

The 7th Annual Water and Peace Seminar 2025, titled "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Discourses: Exploring Potentials and Challenges for Inclusive Water Cooperation," is currently taking place from March 26-27 at Hotel Himalaya in Kathmandu, Nepal. It brings together experts, members of civil society, policymakers, and academics from around the world to discuss the future of water diplomacy, with a particular focus on South Asia.

The seminar's discussions revolve around the importance of transboundary water cooperation, inclusivity, and fostering sustainable and effective cooperation over shared water resources.

Prof. Sanjay Chaturvedi, Vice President (Outreach), South Asian University, in his welcome remarks, said that this event being held in Nepal is very significant as Nepal is home to the Himalayas, which is the largest source of freshwater in the world; hence Nepal can be a bridge for these types of dialogue and discussions, reads a statement issued by Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement.

Medha Bisht, Associate Professor of South Asia University and convener of the seminar,r feels that Water Diplomacy in the Himalayan rivers needs a paradigmatic shift in South Asia. Deliberation on the same would make participants learn about best practices from other regions and understand limitations and challenges on themes around inclusivity and participation.

Susanne Schemeir, Head of Department, Water Governance at IHE Delft, said, "It's great to have the 7th Water and Peace seminar here in Nepal, a country where a lot of water management and water cooperation is happening. This year we are focusing on inclusivity, a critical topic regarding water sharing and cooperation. Because different actors, such as government actors, civil society representatives, women, youth, and indigenous communities, are involved in the decision-making processes. So we want to bring all of them together and bring out new ideas." 

For Nepal, water diplomacy is of particular importance. 

“It allows the country to engage in constructive dialogues, ensuring equitable access to water resources, reducing tensions, and promoting sustainable development across borders. As Nepal continues to address complex transboundary water issues, creating inclusive and cooperative frameworks is crucial to safeguarding its water future and fostering regional harmony.”

Pramod Jaiswal, Research Director of NIICE, shared, "This event is the first of its kind here in Nepal and it has managed to bring together more than 60 in-person participants and over 50 online participants from 30 countries. It is an important platform to generate new ideas for fostering sustainable and safe cooperation over water resources. It will foster inclusivity by bringing together the experience of various stakeholders". 

The seminar is jointly organized by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, South Asian University (SAU), and Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE). This week-long program will continue with the seminar till tomorrow, the 27th of March. The Young Water Diplomat Workshop preceded it and will be followed by the research method school on water diplomacy.

Citizens of India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, among others, come to Nepal for eye care and treatment. 

Foreign patients have come to 28 eye hospitals and 224 eye treatment centers run by Nepal Netrajyoti Association. 

Association's Executive Director Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra said that 907,071 foreign nationals underwent eye tests and 162,845 underwent surgeries in 2024. 

In total 3,268,034 eye patients had received eye test services while 258,575 underwent surgery In 2024. 

As many as 34,425 eye patients had received surgery service free of cost through the Association's hospitals and various external programs. 

The Association has so far treated 46,868,060 people, including Nepalis and citizens of other countries, through its network, while 5,392,224 people have undergone eye surgeries, said Executive Director Mishra.

Shreyas Iyer shone with an unbeaten 97 as Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 11 runs in their Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Chasing 244 to win, Gujarat Titans fought hard to make 232 for 5 but the target proved to be beyond their batters despite Sai Sudharsan making 74, Shubman Gill hitting a quick 33 and Jos Buttler scoring 54.

Sherfane Rutherford also played a quick knock of 46 but his effort was not enough.

Earlier in the first innings, Shreyas Iyer missed out on a maiden IPL century but his 97 not out off 42 balls (9 sixes, 5 fours) and Shashank Singh’s 44 not out off 16 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) helped Punjab Kings post 243 for 5.

Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat Titans with 3/40 but the home team bowlers generally struggled to keep the run flow in check.

At the top, young Priyansh Arya struck seven fours and two sixes to make 47 off 23 balls.

US President Donald Trump and his intelligence chiefs have played down a security breach that saw a journalist invited into a Signal group chat where he reported seeing national security officials plan airstrikes in Yemen, BBC reported.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe denied at a Senate hearing that any classified information was shared in the message chain.

But Democrats on the panel rebuked the cabinet members as "incompetent" with national security.

Over at the White House, Trump was joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was at the centre of the leak. The president stood by him and insisted the incident did not affect the military operation, according to BBC.