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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.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea in separate deals with the US, after three days of peace talks in Saudi Arabia, BBC reported.

Washington said all parties would continue working toward a "durable and lasting peace" in statements announcing the agreements, which would reopen an important trade route.

They have also committed to "develop measures" to implement a previously agreed ban on attacking each other's energy infrastructure, the White House said.

But Russia said the naval ceasefire would only come into force after a number of sanctions against its food and fertiliser trade were lifted, according to BBC.

The country currently has witnessed partial influence of westerly winds and local winds. 

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the weather is partly cloudy in the hilly regions and fair in the rest of the country today. 

Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions. 

Similarly, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces tonight. 

With chances of light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions in the next 24 hours, the Division has urged all concerned to adopt alert measures. 

Granting permits has begun for spring mountaineering this year. 

According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 58 people, including 18 women and 40 men, from eight mountaineering groups have obtained permission for climbing various peaks, including the Annapurna-1. 

Climbers from 24 countries, including Nepal, have so far taken permission for mountaineering this season. 

Department Director Liladhar Awasthi informed that granting permission for climbing during the season has begun. 

"Permission will be given for scaling the world's highest peak, Mount Everest soon", he said. 

The climbing companies are engaged in the preparation to manage Everest climbing. 

"There has been an increase in climbing related activities in the Mount Everest region lately. The climbing companies have stepped up their preparation for climbing management here", the Department director further informed. 

Spring season is considered an ideal time for climbing peaks, including Everest. A significant number of foreigners turn up here to climb the world's summit this season. 

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has deputed an 'icefall doctor' to make way for climbing Mount Everest in the spring season. 

The SPCC has deployed a 10-member team to construct the road from the base camp to the second camp of Mount Everest. 

Similarly, skilled climbers have recently been deployed for 'rope fixing' from the second camp to the summit of Mount Everest. 

The Mountaineering Operators' Association has deputed 10 Sherpa climbers led by Ashok Lama to fix the rope to the summit. 

IME Group and IXI Corp have jointly established the Kathmandu Technical School (KTS). The school is brought into operation with an objective of producing skilled human resources in the job market. 

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, inaugurated the school amidst a programme organized at Dhumbarahi today. 

On the occasion, Minister Bahndari said the government has put partnership with the private sector in priority as problems of unemployment and poverty would be resolved only from the fusion of skill, employment, entrepreneurship and capital. 

"Producing technical human resources is the government's priority. The government is ready to collaborate with the private sector in skill development and producing technical human resources", he asserted.   

Similarly, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and IME Group Chair Chandra Prasad Dhakal said with the operation of the school, the IME Group has been moving ahead for producing technical human resources. 

He expressed the belief that the school would play a significant role to make thousands of youths self-employed. "The school was established with a target of starting a new era in technical and vocational education in Nepal. We expect that the school will have a positive contribution in employment, education, society and overall economy", mentioned Dhakal.  

Likewise, Chairperson of Kathmandu Technical School, Manoj Poudel, shared that the school would help the government's objective of producing more than 100,000 human resources in the next 10 years. 

The school would impart training related to hospitality, culinary arts, caregiving,  as well as other employment-oriented and self-employment categories.