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Currently there is partial impact of the westerly wind and local wind in the country.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi Province and other provinces while the weather is fair in the rest of the country.

The weather will remain partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi Province and other provinces and fair in the rest of the country this afternoon.

There are chances of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country, the Division informed.

Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the hilly region of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the hilly region of the rest of the provinces.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country tonight.

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

Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.

There is a possibility of light snowfall in one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous region of the country.

In view of possible light rain with thunder and lightning at some places of the hilly regions of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the hilly regions of the rest of the provinces, the Division has urged all concerned to take precautions since it may have partial impact on daily life, health, road and aviation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the United States was cancelling 83 percent of programs at USAID, as the Trump administration guts spending not aligned with its “America First” agenda.

In Nepal too, hundreds of projects launched under the USAID have faced closure. At the same time, the future of a $500m grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) hangs in the balance as the US is yet to make a decision about it. The USAID aid cut has significantly hit various sectors in Nepal such as health and education, human rights and gender. Following the USAID cut, the Nepal government is approaching India, China and other countries to fill the gap. Senior officials at the Ministry of Finance are exploring ways to prevent the possible impact on Nepal’s critical areas such as health, education, agriculture and support for minority groups. 

The USAID distributes humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries, and critics warn that any major downsizing of its operations will affect millions of people. “After a six week review, we are officially cancelling 83 percent of the programs at USAID,” Rubio said on social media platform X. “The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.”

US President Donald Trump, who has called for the agency to be shut down, signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to allow time to assess overseas expenses. Rubio said the remaining 1,000 programs would be administered by the State Department, delivering a seemingly fatal blow to USAID—where most workers have been placed on leave or fired since January.

Notably, Rubio on Monday thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which billionaire Elon Musk is leading in a drive to cut federal spending and jobs. Musk, whom Rubio has reportedly criticized over his aggressive belt-tightening, responded on X describing the USAID cuts as “tough, but necessary.”

The State Department had announced last month its intention to cut 92 percent of USAID contracts, identifying 5,800 grants to be eliminated. Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests, but aid groups argue much of the assistance supports US interests by promoting stability and health overseas.

Press Council Nepal Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet has suggested that the media should give special coverage to the issue of climate change.

He said so during a program held in New York, USA, on the theme 'Save the Mountains, Save the Earth', organized jointly by the Alpine Sports Association New York and the Sath Sathai Foundation.

Media persons and mountaineers attended the program organized recently at Jackson Heights, New York.

"The effects of climate change are seen clearly on our mountains. The white and shining mountains are turning into black," Chairman Basnet said. "The media should should increase coverage to draw the world's attention to the issue."

Chief Guest of the program Chairman Basnet, senior journalist Babita Basnet, Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalist Nitu Pandit, Nepal Television journalist Anita Bindu, Radio Kantipur journalist Kamala Panthi, Madan Puraskar winner writer Nilam Karki (Niharika) and Sath Sathi Foundation Head Prajita Karki among others were present in the event.

Temba Sherpa, advisor to the Parbat Sports Association New York and president of Sherpa Kidug, welcomed them at the program.

Conducting the program, Sanjog Acharya, the general secretary of the Association, expressed his happiness for being able to interact with the media on new issues that need to be raised.

On the occasion, guest speakers expressed their views on the initiatives needed to be taken to balance the Earth's environment and protect Nepal's mountains.

Similarly, Sath Sathai Foundation Chairperson Prajita Karki presented her important views on how to move forward from the community level for sustainable development of tourism and promotion of the Himalayan region in Nepal.

She said that since Nepal's mountains are world heritage sites, everyone should join hands in their protection and promotion.

Saying that Nepal's mountains are in crisis owing to climate change, senior journalist Babita Basnet stressed on the need for international initiatives for their long-term protection.

She also thanked the organization for reaching out to the masses and working on such profound issues.

During the program, participants highlighted the need for all parties to work together to promote tourism, economic development of local communities, and long-term conservation of the Himalayan region in Nepal.

Saying that Nepal's mountains are not only our heritage but also play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance of the earth, the participants said that their conservation is our collective responsibility.

A development economist, Dr Raghu Raj Kafle, has been appointed the Executive Director of Health Insurance Board.

Among three persons shortlisted and recommended by the selection committee, Dr Kafle was able to secure the post, according to the private secretariat of Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel.

A total of 10 candidates selected out of those applying for the post had made presentations and undergone interviews on March 2-3.

The selection committee recommended Dr Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Kamal Panthi along with Dr Kafle before the Council of Ministers.

Earlier, Dr Kafle was a member of the health insurance reform taskforce formed by Minister Paudel.

The taskforce had handed over a report to the Minister, suggesting how the health insurance scheme could be improved.

Moreover, the development economist has the experience of working as Vice Chairman of Gandaki Policy and Planning Commission, and Executive of the Foreign Employment Board.

He had also worked for over a decade at UNDP as a senior officer.

India is holding the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue from March 17 to 19. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon will jointly inaugurate India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomis on March 17. Every year, leaders in politics, business, media and civil society converge in New Delhi to discuss the state of the world and explore opportunities for cooperation on a wide range of contemporary matters.

The dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and academia, according to the organizer. Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba is scheduled to address the dialogue, said Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

Last year, then Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud attended and addressed the conference. Deuba is likely to meet here Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Raisina dialogue. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

The westerly and local winds now have partial impacts in the country.

The weather, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, is partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of the country, including Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces and mainly fair in the rest of the country.

As per the bulletin issued by the Department today, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and partly cloudy in the rest of the country.

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

In view of the weather condition, the Department has urged to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid its imminent impacts.

Former King Gyanendra Shah arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday.

He was given a grand welcome by his supporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden among party leaders welcomed him at the domestic terminal.

Prior to welcoming him, pro-monarchy supporters staged a protest outside the airport.

A person has died after being attacked by a wild elephant in eastern Chitwan.

The deceased has been identified as Suresh Mahato (35), a permanent resident of Khairhani Municipality and currently residing in Ratnanagar Municipality-7.

According to Chitwan National Park Information Officer Abinash Thapa Magar, Mahato was attacked by an elephant on Saturday behind the Chitwan Adventure Hotel in Laukhani, Ratnanagar-7.

Mahato died on the spot after being attacked by the wild elephant named Gobinde.

The number of deaths due to wild animal attacks has reached 11 in the current fiscal year.