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The country recorded almost 79 percent of paddy seedlings transplantation until Sunday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development shared. 

Last year, paddy seedlings transplantation was 92.6 percent during the same period.  

As per the reports collected by the Ministry on Sunday, paddy transplantation is still taking place in some parts of the country. 

Among the provinces, Sudurpaschim is leading with 98.94 percent of its target already completed, while paddy transplantation is completed in 91.38 percent of the target in Karnali Province, according to the Ministry.

Paddy transplantation is completed in 80.39 percent in Koshi Province, 87.19 percent in Bagmati Province, 85.3 percent in Gandaki Province and 92 percent in Lumbini Province.     

However, the Madhes Province, the key area for paddy production in the country, recorded just 51.83 percent of its target in the paddy seedlings transplantation due to the longstanding drought this year.   

Tarai region is the most fertile and produces about 70 percent of the country’s total paddy, while the hilly regions contribute the remaining 30 percent.

During the previous Fiscal Year 2024/25, the country had witnessed a total rice production of 5.724 million metric tonnes. 

Unfavorable weather conditions, natural disasters, excessive rainfall, and droughts create adversities for paddy seedlings transplantation, deferring the schedule in some areas.

According to the ministry, 10 percent change in rice production can lead to about  1 percent change in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Thousands of Bolbam pilgrims have thronged Sundarijal early morning today, the second Monday of Shrawan month, for the Bolbam yatra.

The Bolbam devotees bring the sacred water from Sundarijal and offer it at the Pashupathinath Temple in the month of Shrawan every year.

Bolbam Kanwariya Association and Sanatan Yuwa Manch have organized the Bolbam yatra from Sundarijal to Pashupati today. 

Likewise, arrangements have been made for Bolbam devotees to offer water at the Pashupati Area too.

As many  as 10,000 devotees are expected to participate in today's Bolbam yatra, according to the Nepal Police Range at Sundarijal. 

Member Secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust Suvashchandra Joshi said that all four doors of the Pashupatinath Temple have been opened from 3 am today for the devotees.

An organization funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has pledged to support the Madhes Province that presently bears the brunt of prolonged drought.  

The government had declared the Province a crisis-ridden zone last Wednesday, publicly appealing for relief and assistance there. 

Prior to this, the Madhes Province government had recommended the federal government for this announcement. 

Subsequently, Start Fund Nepal being operated under the UK government has, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation, has expressed commitment to implementing the relief and aid programs targeting the Madhes/Tarai region. According to the Secretariat of the Madhes Province, the programs will be implemented at 10 local levels of Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari districts adversely affected by the drought. The schemes will be in place for 60 days where over 44,000 citizens of 8,355 households will be benefitted.  

There will be three-phase implementations, spending the budget of Rs 26.03 million. The supplies of water for emergencies, the feasibility for digging boreholes and the strengthening of irrigation systems and durable water supply systems will be focused during the aid programme.

Similarly, 'cash for work' initiative under livelihood restoration efforts and the technical aid in the irrigation repair and alternative crops promotion will be prioritized under the aid programs, according to press advisor to the Chief Minister, Awadesh Jha.

A Sudanese coalition led by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has announced it is establishing an alternative government in a challenge to the military-led authorities in the capital Khartoum, with the northeastern African country’s brutal civil war in its third year, Aljazeera reported.

The group, which calls itself the Leadership Council of the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS), said RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo will chair the 15-member presidential council of the government, which includes regional governors.

Sudanese politician Mohammed Hassan Osman al-Ta’ishi will serve as prime minister, TASIS said, according to Aljazeera.

Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg on Sunday, Russian authorities said, forcing the airport to close for five hours as Vladimir Putin marked Russia's Navy Day in the city, despite the earlier cancellation of its naval parade due to security concerns, Reuters reported.

St. Petersburg usually holds a large-scale, televised navy parade on Navy Day, which features a flotilla of warships and military vessels sailing down the Neva River and is attended by Putin.

Last year, Russia suspected a Ukrainian plan to attack the city's parade, according to state television.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that this year's parade had been cancelled for security reasons, following first reports of its cancellation in early July, according to Reuters.

Iran said Sunday it has executed two members of the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq after convicting them of carrying out attacks on public and civilian infrastructure, Associated Press reported.

The judiciary’s official news website, Mizan Online, reported that Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani were hanged on Sunday morning after being found guilty of using improvised mortar launchers to target residential areas, educational institutions and government buildings.

The report said Eslamlou had a long history with the group, dating back to the 1980s. He was previously imprisoned, rejoining the group after his release, according to Associated Press.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold talks in Malaysia on Monday in an attempt to negotiate an end to a conflict that has lasted four days, BBC reported.

Thailand said on Sunday a delegation led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai would attend, after US President Donald Trump called the leaders of both countries on Saturday to press for an immediate ceasefire.

The Thai government said it had been told by Malaysia that Cambodian Prime Minister Hum Manet would also attend.

At least 33 soldiers and civilians have been killed while thousands of Thai and Cambodian nationals have been displaced since border fighting broke out on 24 July, according to BBC.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 23. 93 points to close at 2, 958. 71 points on Sunday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 36 points to close at 512. 76 points.

A total of 58,653,762-unit shares of 323 companies were traded for Rs 26. 57 billion.

Meanwhile, Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMATA) and Trade Tower Limited (TTL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Narayani Development Bank Limited (NABBC) was the top loser as its price fell by 6. 34  percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 68 trillion.