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The 27th Flora Expo hosted by Floriculture Association of Nepal has kicked off today. 

The expo that began with the main slogan 'Floriculture for Clean Environment, Employment and Economic Prosperity' is to be run in Bhrikutimandap exhibition hall up to March 22, it is stated. 

Inaugurating the fair, Bagmati province Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Madhusudan Paudel expressed the province government's ever readiness to support to prosper floriculture business. 

He urged the concerned stakeholders to provide further program and policy recommendations to that end. 

"Floriculture and nursery is a competitive enterprise. It has to be made tech-savvy. The plants need to be protected and new to be promoted," he said. 

President of the Association, Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha, said that floriculture is currently being carried out in about 270 hectares across 52 districts and that more than 53,500 people are employed directly or indirectly in the flower business. 

He mentioned that some agricultural policies have been modified and implemented, which has led to policy issues in imported flowers and flower-based products that need to be produced domestically.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed her gratitude to all employees, security personnel, and Nepali citizens who contributed to the successful conduct of the recent House of Representatives (HoR) elections.

The Prime Minister visited Karnali Province today and extended her thanks to everyone involved in ensuring the elections successful, according to her press advisor, Ram Bahadur Rawal.

Formed on September 12 following the historic Gen Z movement held on September 8–9, 2025, the election government’s Prime Minister had been unable to visit Karnali prior to the polls..

She arrived at Rara Lake in Mugu this morning and later traveled to Khalanga in Jumla, where she interacted with district-level security chiefs. During these interactions, she praised the efforts of security forces and government employees for successfully conducting the elections despite limited resources and challenging geographical conditions.

In a meeting with local residents, she especially thanked them for the unity, goodwill, and cooperation they demonstrated in ensuring that the elections were conducted peacefully and successfully.

“The democratic process has been further successful despite adverse conditions in the country, and the credit goes to all Nepali citizens,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister also visited the Karnali Technical School in Jumla. Established in 2037 BS, the institution is considered Nepal’s first technical school. Students, teachers, and local residents welcomed her warmly by presenting bouquets of rhododendrons.

According to her press advisor, the purpose of the visit was to thank all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the elections and to express gratitude for the public support extended to the government formed for a specific purpose.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) surged by 64. 69 points to close at 2, 877. 03 points on Thursday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 11. 63 points to close at 494. 19 points.

A total of 56,920,608-unit shares of 342 companies were traded for Rs 1. 66 billion.

Meanwhile, Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL), Salapa Bikas Bank Limited (SABBL) and Reliance Spinning Mills Limited (RSML)​​​​​​​ were the top gainers today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Similarly, Nepal Life Samriddhi Lagani Yojana (NSY) was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 12 points. 

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 87 trillion.

The Election Commission on Thursday distributed certificates to Members of Parliament elected under the proportional representation (PR) system following the House of Representatives elections held on March 5.

The Commission distributed certificates to 110 proportional representation lawmakers of six political parties amidst a program held at its office this afternoon.

The election body had made public the list of 110 proportional representation lawmakers on Monday.

Under the PR system, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 57 seats, Nepali Congress 20, CPN-UML 16 and nine by the Nepali Communist Party.

Likewise, Shram Sanskriti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party won equal four seats under the PR system.

Under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, the RSP secured 125 seats, followed by the NC with 19, UML with 9, NCP with 8, Shram Sanskriti Party with 3, RPP with 1, and one independent candidate.

As per constitutional provisions, the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament, consists of a total of 275 members, including 165 elected through the FPTP system and 110 through the PR system. 

Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan, the site of the country's core LNG processing operations, caused "extensive damage", while the UAE shut gas facilities after intercepting missiles early on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

The attacks, which drew a furious response from U.S. President Donald Trump, came hours after Iran issued evacuation warnings for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, following strikes on its own energy infrastructure ​in South Pars and Asaluyeh.

QatarEnergy, the world's second-largest LNG exporter, said in a statement that its emergency response team was deployed ​immediately to contain fires caused by the attack. By early Thursday, all fires at Ras Laffan had been ⁠brought under control, with no injuries reported, Qatar's interior ministry said, according to Reuters. 

President Donald Trump may use a White House meeting with Japan’s prime minister on Thursday to press for help in the war on Iran, placing Sanae Takaichi in an awkward ​position as Tokyo weighs how much support it can provide, Reuters reported. 

Trump has lashed out at allies for their lukewarm support for the U.S.-Israeli military campaign ‌and said the U.S. doesn't need any help. However, he is still pushing for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed by Iran in the conflict.

Trump hosts Takaichi for a long-scheduled White House visit aimed at burnishing the decades-old security and economic partnership between Washington and its closest East Asian ally, according to Reuters. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said an angry Israel had "violently lashed out" and attacked Iran's major gas field, a significant escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war, but said Israel would not make further such attacks unless Iran retaliated, Reuters reported. 

Wednesday's attack on the huge South Pars gas field drove oil prices higher and prompted a threat by Iran to attack oil and gas targets across the Gulf, while it fired missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The escalation heightens the unprecedented disruption of global energy supplies that has raised the political stakes for Trump, who joined Israel in attacking Iran nearly four weeks ago, according to Reuters. 

President Donald Trump's administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against Iran, said a U.S. official ​and three people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported. 

The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third week.

Those options ‌include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, the sources said. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials, according to Reuters.