Canada PM Mark Carney says old relationship with US 'is over'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada's old relationship with the United States, "based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over".
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after a cabinet meeting, Carney said Canadians must "fundamentally reimagine our economy" in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, BBC reported.
He said Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the US.
Trump announced on Wednesday he would target imported vehicles and vehicle parts with a 25% tax, stating: "This is permanent."
NHRC urges protesting groups to organize tomorrow’s demonstrations peacefully
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged one and all to exercise the right to freedom of expression and demonstration in a peaceful manner while putting forth their demands.
The statement of the NHRC comes ahead of the separate demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow by the political parties in the Socialist Front and pro-monarchists.
In a press statement by NHRC Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokhrel, the demonstrating sides have been urged to remain sensitive to abide by the constitution and the provisions stated in the national as well as international laws for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and speech. The NHRC has asked both sides to ensure peaceful demonstrations and to remain aware of the infringement of others' rights.
Likewise, the NHRC has urged the government and the security agencies to remain sensitive to human rights while making arrangements for law and order, considering the possible consequences of the situation.
The NHRC has stated that it discussed with the chief district officers of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts, Chief of Kathmandu Police and representatives of the Human Rights Cell of Nepal Police in regard to the law and order situation of the Kathmandu Valley.
On the occasion, NHRC Chair Tapa Bahadur Magar directed the officials and stakeholders to consider the principles of human rights while ensuring and managing law and order.
Similarly, the NHRC is to monitor the demonstrations on Friday in the Capital City.
Birgunj customs sees imports worth Rs 390 billion in eight months
Imports amounting to over Rs 390 billion took place via the Birgunj customs in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
The imports are more by 11.40 percent (Rs 39.92 billion) in the corresponding period last fiscal year.
According to Birgunj Customs Office Chief Customs Administrator, Dipak Lamichhane, the imports of petroleum products, raw soybean oil and motor vehicles were relatively high in the current fiscal year.
Petroleum products (five types) worth over Rs 122 billion were supplied into the country between July 16 and March 13. The amount was Rs 120.53 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Similarly, the raw oil of soybean amounting to Rs 29.29 billion entered the country against the volume of Rs 5.78 billion last year.
Likewise, the imports of iron and iron materials are noticeable in the current fiscal year, with the office registering the imports worth Rs 22.51 billion compared to Rs 21.94 billion last year.
Similarly, the office recorded the imports of machinery and their parts worth Rs 21.67 billion in the given period against Rs 18.65 billion in the first eight months of the last fiscal (2023-2024).
The imports of motor vehicles amounted to Rs 11.68 billion during the period while it was worth Rs 10.10 billion in the same period last year.
Canada will react to Trump's 'attack' soon, could impose tariffs, says Carney
Canada will soon respond to new tariffs on imported vehicles announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and could impose retaliatory measures against the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Carney said Trump's move was "a direct attack" and told reporters he would be convening a high-level cabinet meeting on Thursday to decide on a response.
"We will defend our workers, we will defend our companies, we will defend our country, and we will defend it together," he said in Kitchener, Ontario.
The tariffs look set to damage the highly integrated North American auto industry.
Canada has already announced a package of retaliatory tariffs totaling C$155 billion that it said would be imposed in stages depending on what Trump did, according to Reuters.
Trump officials attack journalist after Signal leak published in full
The White House reacted furiously on Wednesday after The Atlantic magazine published messages between national security officials in a Signal group chat in their entirety, BBC reported.
President Donald Trump called the reporting "all a witch hunt" and declared the publication a "failed magazine".
Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist who was inadvertently included in the chat among senior cabinet leaders, shared texts in which US defence secretary Pete Hegseth provided sensitive information such as detailed timetables and unit information ahead of a US strike in Yemen, according to BBC.
Goldberg said he decided to publish the information after the Trump administration accused him of lying that classified information was shared.
Trump announces 25% tariffs on car imports to US
US President Donald Trump has announced new import taxes of 25% on cars and car parts coming into the US in a move that threatens to widen the global trade war, BBC reported.
Trump said the latest tariffs would come into effect on 2 April, with charges on businesses importing vehicles starting the next day. Charges on parts are set to start in May or later.
The president claimed the measure would lead to "tremendous growth" for the car industry, promising it would spur jobs and investment in the US.
But analysts have said the move is likely to lead to the temporary shutdown of significant car production in the US, increase prices, and strain relations with allies, according to BBC.
Most parts of the country likely to see fair weather today
There is now a partial influence of westerly winds and local winds in country's weather
The weather, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces and fair in the rest of the provinces.
In the afternoon, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region while the rest of the country will see partly cloudy to fair weather.
Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces. Also, there are chances of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces.
Similarly, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali provinces tonight. Light snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali provinces.
In the next 24 hours, light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces.
In view of possible light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali provinces, the Division has cautioned about partial impact on daily life, agriculture, health, road and aviation sector.
5.1 percent GDP growth rate in second quarter
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.
