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The hilly region in the country is likely to be partly to generally cloudy today due to a slight impact of the westerly wind, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The Division said that most of the hilly belts of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces would remain partly to generally cloudy. The Division also said that light rain coupled with thunder and lightning is likely to take place at one or two places of the hilly regions. Tonight, it will be partly cloudy in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces while the weather will be fair in the rest of the country. Light rain or thunder and lightning are likely in one or two places of Gandaki Province this evening, meteorologist Barun Paudel said.  

A Shree Airlines plane bound to Bhairahawa has been diverted to Kathmandu after it showed a fire warning signal on Thursday. The aircraft made a successful landing in the Tribhuvan International Airport and the situation of flight is normal, said the TIA’s spokesperson Tek Nath Sitaula. The aircraft was diverted from Dhading district after a crew member informed the air traffic control tower in Kathmandu about the manifestation of a spark of fire in the engine, said the airport officials.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reiterated that the government has the policy of empowering women and their capacity building. Addressing a program organized by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to mark the 113th International Women's Day today, he said the state would accord priority to women empowerment and capacity development. PM Dahal said there has been an improvement in the status of women in terms of their reproductive health, education and other aspects, and that the government would facilitate in promoting women-friendly information technology, create a safe environment for women who are working in foreign countries and help them in case of any problems. "The constitution and laws have made significant and historical provisions for women's rights. Women are in the leadership position from the local level to the Head-of-State. The country is moving ahead in achieving equal political, social and economic rights for women," said PM Dahal. Noting that the Constitution has enshrined women's rights as the fundamental rights, he said the policy, legal and institutional structures have been improving. He recalled that the women's overwhelming participation in the People's Movement proved their capacity and political awareness. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said the International Women's Day has been celebrated as a symbol of solidarity, struggle and victory, and that the State has been making maximum efforts for enabling the women to lead a dignified life. She opined that although the constitution and the laws ensured women's right to parental property, there is a challenge to transforming that into full practice. The Communication and Information Technology Minister said women have not been able to use information technology in the right manner despite its rapid development in recent years. She stressed on making the technology women-friendly. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Tapa Bahadur Magar said the NHRC has carried out a multi-sector study on women rights and it has been receiving complaints on violence against women, monitoring women's rights and recommending to the government for action on the perpetrators. National Women Commission member Bidya Kumari Sinha said the Commission is active in protecting the rights and interests of women. Expert member at the Ministry Sabin Shrestha on the occasion presented a working paper entitled 'Journey of Gender Equality in Nepal'. The working paper states that women participation in foreign service, judicial service and security bodies has been increasing over the years in Nepal. The Shakti Group presented a dance carrying the message that women can work and are capable in every sector. The 113th International Women's Day (March 8) is being celebrated around the world on Wednesday with the slogan 'DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality'.  

Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding regions received light rain on Wednesday. The weather across the country is cloudy at present and Kathmandu received 0.2 millimeters of rainfall until 8:45 am, meteorologist Barun Paudel said. He added that snowfall is taking place in Dolpa and Humla while light rainfall is reported in Sarlahi and other districts. According to him, the weather is cloudy due to the influence of the Westerly wind and there are chances of light rainfall at some places of the hilly region, including in the Kathmandu Valley, today. Similarly, thunder and lightning is forecast at some places of the hilly region today. The weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region tonight. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light rain with thunderstorms is likely to occur in some places of the hilly region in Koshi and Gandaki provinces tonight. There is a chance of light snowfall in high hilly and mountainous areas of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali provinces today. As general influence of Westerly wind is still prevailing in the country, partial to generally cloudy weather would continue to occur in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini and Gandaki provinces. Brief rain with thunderstorms is predicted in the hilly region and light snowfall is likely to take place in some areas of high hill and mountainous areas, the Division said. Tomorrow's weather Light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of the hilly region and snowfall at one or two places of the mountainous region is forecast tomorrow as well. The Division has urged for precaution as there is possibility of thunder and lightning.

On the occasion of the 113th International Women Day, Tourism Entrepreneur Women Association Nepal (TEWAN) has initiated a tourism promotion program along the Korala checkpoint in Myagdi and Mustang from today onward. Representatives from tourism related organizations and mediapersons are participating in the promotional program organized with the support of the Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Gandaki Province and Pokhara Metropolis. TEWAN Chair Kamala Giri said that a four-day promotion program has been put in place to bounce back COVID-battered tourism industry. The programme includes capacity building of local tourism entrepreneurs among others. At the program, it was said that capacity building training and interaction would also be delivered for the youth and women entrepreneurs in Beni, Jomsom, Thini and Lomanthang. Giri further said that promotion of religious and historical sites including Muktinath and monastery would be put in priority in the promotional program up to Nepal-China border checkpoint, Korala. Program coordinator Shova Adhikari Poudel said that capacity building of local tourism entrepreneurs, digital marketing training, branding of local products and home-stay promotion would be gradually carried out.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has urged the electricity users not to install street lights on their own without its consent. Issuing a public notice, the NRA has urged the users to immediately install meters for measuring power supply to the street lights. Noting that street lights have a big share of electricity tariff dues, the NEA issued a directive to the concerned to clear the payment without any delay. "The NEA has to face a huge loss in absence of measurement of power consumption in street lamps and clearance of dues. The Authority calls for the concerned people to clear the tariff dues. Please do not install street lamps from the electricity line without consent from the NEA", the notice read.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said women's participation in main bodies of the state is ensured due to provisions of the Constitution of Nepal, promulgated from the Constituent Assembly. At a program organized by Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) on the occasion of the 113th International Women's Day here today, Speaker Ghimire mentioned that at last 33 per cent women representatives have reached the position of making laws due to constitutional provision. Stating that there was a need of much work for women's rights, he laid emphasis on long-term management and mobilization of natural resources for economic prosperity. Speaker Ghimire expressed the view that all should play a role from their places to make laws lacking for the protection and promotion of forest and environment and to implement the existing laws as well as to face challenges surfaced in this sector. Saying FECOFUN has played a significant role in development of women leadership, Chair Bharati Pathak pointed out the need of carrying out activities for financial independence of women in the coming days. FECOFUN General-Secretary Birsha Bahadur Shahi, Secretary Thakur Bhandari and Executive Director Dr Sita Aryal shed light on the FECOFUN's activities. On the occasion, incumbent members of the House of Representatives and Province Assembly, who were affiliated to FECOFUN in the past, were honored.

A song sung during the Holi festival in Tarai region is fading gradually with the declined interest of the new generation. There are few old people left here to sing the Jogira song, which is a worrying trend for the conservation of cultural song. Vibe of this special song has diminished sharply especially for a decade here. The song sung in tune with various musical instruments such as harmonium, damphoo and majira, used to give a message to the community that Holi was approaching. The song is also special because people exchange feelings of harmony, merriment, and fraternity by singing it. Love and satire are also shared via the Jogira song. Holi is the festival celebrated as a special occasion for the people to forget enmity, envy and discrimination, and to foster fraternity and harmony. The Jogira was such a mighty connection for this in the past. Unfortunately, Jogira is getting replaced by 'disco' music, thereby effacing the cultural originality, the locals worried. A resident of Lumbini, Birendra Mishra, viewed Jogira as an effective medium for the people to exchange happiness and sadness and to protect culture. "Willy-nilly, we are preserving the culture. But the new generation is indulging in new things and forgetting Jogira," he said, warning that once they pass away, the Jogira will also vanish. Moreover, Mishra vented ire that the present day youths are following indecent songs. He also regrets being unable to inspire modern youths to preserve the culture, the Jogira song. In the past, people used to throng public places and sing Jogira song till late at night. The Jogira had distinct melody. It helped people communicate and spread love in Tarai belt. Holiya, the singer of Holi songs, also said the aura of Holi festival declined with the decreasing Jogira song. The Jogira song also motivates young boys and girls to be open and show their talents. Radheshyam Pal observed that the atmosphere of Holi festival is different- even the soil emanates fragrance; it is the onset of the Spring Season as well. Pal, who is also the member of Lumbini Cultural Biraha Group, decries the invasive songs getting immersed among youths.