KATHMANDU: Stay informed with Nepal News’ daily evening briefing, covering the most significant developments from Nepal and around the world. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we bring you a concise summary of the day’s top stories.

Kathmandu’s Air Quality Reaches Hazardous Level, No Concrete Government Action Yet: Kathmandu’s air quality has once again reached a hazardous level, with the AQI recorded at 262 on Monday evening. Due to wildfires, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution, the city now ranks among the most polluted in the world. Experts are urging the government to take immediate action, but no concrete steps have been taken. Elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses are most affected, with hospitals reporting a 15–20% rise in related cases. Experts stress the need for long-term policies and inter-agency coordination.

Nepal and India Supreme Courts Sign MoU to Strengthen Judicial Cooperation: Nepal and India’s Supreme Courts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral judicial cooperation. The agreement was signed in the presence of Nepal’s Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and India’s Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The MoU aims to promote mutual exchange of legal knowledge, judicial visits, training, and use of technology in the justice system. A joint task force will be formed to implement this cooperation. India has signed similar MoUs with several countries including Israel, Singapore, and Bangladesh.

RPP Stages Protest in Kathmandu, Security Chiefs Coordinate Unified Response: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) held a protest rally in Balkhu, Kathmandu on Tuesday. Ahead of the demonstration, the heads of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department held a joint meeting to coordinate a unified security strategy. They agreed to ensure smooth information flow and prevent security lapses, referring to past weaknesses like the one during the March 28 protest in Tinkune. RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden assured the protest would remain peaceful and non-violent. Senior officers later briefed field commanders.

RPP Protest and Other Demonstrations Set for Tuesday in Kathmandu; Traffic Diversions Announced: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) will hold a protest rally in Kathmandu on Tuesday, converging in Balkhu with administrative approval. Teachers’ associations and cooperative victims will also stage separate demonstrations at Maitighar and Shantibatika. To manage traffic flow, police have announced key diversion points including Kalanki, Balkhu, Kirtipur, and others, with parking zones designated at TU Gate–Chobhar Road, Saneepa Corridor, and more. Authorities have urged motorists to use alternative routes, especially near protest sites like Maitighar, Baneshwor, and Shantibatika.

RSP President Lamichhane Sent to Jail: President of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Gorkha Media Network’s the then Managing Director, Rabi Lamichhane, has been remanded to the District Prison, Rupandehi.

Before this, he had remained in the custody of the District Police Office, Rupandehi for two days. The former Home Minister was presented to the District Court, Rupandehi this morning and sent to the prison following the completion of the necessary proceedings.

According to the District Prison’s administrator Suresh Bhandari, before putting him at the Block Number 4 of the prison, his medical checkups were conducted for around one hour. Now, he remains in a separate structure of the prison. Lamichhane was taken under control from Kathmandu on Friday night and brought to Bhairahawa on Saturday morning.

Rabi Lamichhane Sends 4 Messages After Prison Sentence: Rabi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who has been sent to prison, has sent four messages through his close associates. In his message, Lamichhane stated, “I respect the court’s order. I will exercise the rights granted by law and will follow the procedure to appeal to a higher court against the lower court’s order.”

He expressed confidence that justice would prevail, saying, “I am confident that no injustice will occur in the temple of justice.” Lamichhane also mentioned that he is a victim of political revenge and stated, “Everyone’s turn will come.” He referred to this as his first test, saying, “I am the first student in this exam. Just as I am being tested, others will have to take the same test.”

PM Oli Urges Balanced Foreign Policy, Warns Against Tilting Toward Any One Neighbor: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced relationship with Nepal’s neighboring countries and avoiding any political leanings that favor one over the other.

Speaking at the Himalayan Dialogue event in Kathmandu on Monday, PM Oli stated, “We must be mindful of the legitimate interests and concerns of our neighbors. We should maintain equal and respectful relations with both.” He emphasized that Nepal should not pursue a policy that appears to lean towards one side — “It’s wrong to tilt this way, and it’s wrong to tilt that way,” he remarked.

Teachers Hold Silent Protest with Black Masks, Demand School Education Act: Teachers continued their protest in Kathmandu on Monday by organizing a silent march wearing black masks, demanding the immediate enactment of the School Education Act. The demonstration, part of an ongoing movement that began on Chaitra 20, stretched from Maitighar to Baneshwar as educators walked in silence to draw the government’s attention.

This is the latest in a series of protest tactics employed by teachers, who have previously staged sit-ins, slept on the streets, and blown whistles to pressure the government.

The protest was organized under the leadership of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation. Teachers have warned that if their demands are not addressed by Chaitra 25, they will initiate a full-scale educational strike across the country.

Notion of India Restoring Monarchy in Nepal Mere Misconception Says NC President Deuba: Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has acknowledged the significant contribution of Indian leader Chandrashekhar in bringing democracy to Nepal. He mentioned that the strong relationship between Chandrashekhar and Ganeshman Singh greatly supported Nepal’s democratic movement.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Ganeshman Singh Foundation, Deuba said, “When Chandrashekharji came to Nepal, it greatly inspired the Nepali activists, leading to a significant movement in the country.” Deuba also clarified that the notion of India bringing a king to Nepal was a mere misconception, and the Indian embassy had clarified that there was no such involvement from India.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party to Hold Mass Assembly in Balkhu on Tuesday: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has announced plans to organize a mass assembly in Balkhu this Tuesday.

Originally, the party had sought permission to hold the event at Bhrikutimandap. However, the Kathmandu District Administration Office denied the request, citing ongoing protests by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation and other groups in the Maitighar-Baneshwor corridor. Authorities instead suggested that RPP hold its program either in Balkhu or at Sifal ground.

Maoist Center Removes All Provincial Co-Incharges Amid Internal Discontent: Following growing internal dissatisfaction over the party’s provincial co-incharges, the CPN (Maoist Center) has removed all of them at once. There was discontent within the party, with senior central members feeling disrespected by being appointed as provincial co-incharges. On Sunday, General Secretary Dev Gurung sent an eight-point circular to the central members, informing them of the removal of all co-incharges.

Police Arrest Ani Kunwar in Connection with Violent Protest in Tinkune: Police have arrested Ani Kunwar in connection with the recent violent protest by royalist groups at Tinkune and the suspicious death of journalist Suresh Rajak. A video circulating on social media showed Kunwar descending from the same building where Rajak was later found dead.

“She was seen coming down around the same time the journalist died. That’s why she’s been brought in for questioning,” said an official from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. Police have also accused Kunwar of unauthorized entry into a private residence.

NEPSE Index Falls Below 2700 as Market Sees Broad-Based Decline: On Monday, Nepal’s stock market index, NEPSE, fell below the 2700 mark. Opening at 2,703 points, the market closed with a drop of 33.33 points, settling at 2,670.

While the share prices of 23 companies increased, 221 companies saw a decline, indicating widespread bearish sentiment. Alongside the fall in the index, the overall transaction amount also shrank. Compared to the previous day’s turnover of NPR 7.84 billion, today’s turnover dropped significantly to NPR 5.65 billion.

All sectoral indices ended in the red. The trade sector recorded the highest loss at 3.1%. Other sectors also saw notable declines: Banking fell by 0.97%, Development Bank by 1.11%, Hotels and Tourism by 1.35%, Finance by 2.26%, Hydropower by 1.37%, Investment by 1.69%, Life Insurance by 0.83%, Manufacturing by 1.42%, Microfinance by 1.03%, Non-life Insurance by 1.22%, and Others by 0.44%.

Nepal Rastra Bank Plans to Withdraw 35 billion Rupees Again: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to withdraw 35 billion rupees from the banking system once again. This decision comes as excess liquidity in the banking system is observed. The central bank will withdraw 35 billion rupees from the system on Chaitra 25 (April 7th).

According to the monetary management department of Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank plans to withdraw the liquidity through a deposit collection tool, which will be in effect for a period of 23 days. Banks and financial institutions interested in investing in this deposit collection tool will be able to apply for the total amount to be raised, with a minimum of 10 million rupees and a maximum of 50 million rupees per institution, ensuring the remaining amount goes unclaimed.

Transport Minister Devendra Dahal Vows Action Against Vehicles Operating Outside Legal Standards: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, has announced that action will be taken against vehicles operating in violation of standards, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Speaking at a discussion with transport entrepreneurs and workers on Monday, he emphasized that the Department of Roads and Transport alone cannot enforce the regulations, making coordination with the Home Ministry essential.

Minister Dahal also stated that ensuring traffic flow around construction sites will be a priority, with proper arrangements for alternative routes and diversions. He highlighted that repair of the BP Highway, which connects Kathmandu with eastern Nepal, have been expedited. Additionally, he mentioned that the repair of the Kanti Lokpath — an alternative route — is also being prioritized.

Business Community in Rupandehi Demands Action Against CAAN DG Over Flight Suspension at GBIA: Following the suspension of international flights from Bhairahwa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), over two dozen business and tourism organizations in Rupandehi have demanded disciplinary action against Pradeep Adhikari, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Local business leaders, under the umbrella organization Siddhartha Network, accused DG Adhikari of making repeated “negative and discouraging” public remarks about the airport’s viability—comments they say directly contributed to the discontinuation of flights. International flights at the airport came to a halt from April 1. Until March 29 (Chaitra 16), the airport still saw some activity, but since then, it has remained largely deserted.

Cooperative, Microfinance, Bank, and Loan Shark Victims Stage Protest in Kathmandu: Victims of cooperatives, microfinance institutions, banks, and loan sharks took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday, staging a protest march from Shantibatika to the vicinity of the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas.

The protesters, many of whom have lost savings or are trapped in exploitative lending systems, initially planned to stage a sit-in directly in front of Sheetal Niwas. However, police barred them from entering the restricted zone. Chanting powerful slogans like “End all forms of financial exploitation!”, “Down with political parties protecting financial mafias!”, and “Seize the property of fraudsters who embezzled victims’ savings—compensate the victims immediately!”, the demonstrators expressed growing public anger at what they call systemic financial abuse and government negligence.

Usha Khadgi Makes Film Debut 25 Years After Winning Miss Nepal Title: Usha Khadgi, who won the Miss Nepal title 25 years ago, has made her debut in films. Her acting debut is in the film Narsinmha Avatar, which is set to release on 9th of Jestha.

On Monday, the producers released a poster featuring Khadgi’s character look. The film, written and directed by Diwakar Bhattrai, also stars Rajesh Hamal, Nir Shah, Raj Katwal, Prashant Tamrakar, Saroj Khanal, Usha Khadgi, Niti Shah and others. The movie is produced by Deepak Dhakal, Narendra Maharjan, Dhruba Neupane, and Nem Maharjan.

Nepathya to Perform in Gokarneshwar on March 30: The popular Nepali music band Nepathya is set to perform live in Gokarneshwar, Kathmandu on Saturday, Chaitra 30 (April 12). Having recently returned to Nepal after completing a successful series of concerts in Australia, the band will now entertain local audiences with their much-anticipated performance.

This will be Nepathya’s first live concert in the Kathmandu Valley in two years. The band last performed in Kathmandu at Bhirkutimandap in December 2022. The upcoming concert is expected to be a major event for music lovers in the valley. The concert is expected to attract a large audience, especially among the youth in the Gokarneshwar area. Details regarding the venue, timings, and ticket arrangements will be released soon by the organizers.

Film ‘Pitambar’ Set to Release on Friday: The film Pitambar is all set to release in public theaters this upcoming Friday. With its star-studded cast, the film has been making headlines and generating significant buzz. Not just for the cast, but the promotional materials, including the film’s trailer, have also captured the attention of the audience.

The trailer, which was released a few days ago, has topped YouTube’s trending list for two days in a row. It has already garnered over 2 million views. The film is being produced under the banner of KP Films and Purushottam Pradhan Films, with direction by Krisha Chaulagain. The cast of Pitambar includes notable actors such as Pradeep Khadka, Dayahang Rai, Saugat Mall, Aryan Sigdel, Anup Vikram Shahi, Suraksha Pant, and Gauri Mall, among others.

Nepali Cricket Team Bid Farewell Before Leaving for T20I Tournament in Hong Kong: The Nepali cricket team was bid farewell ahead of their participation in the T20I tournament starting in Hong Kong this week. A farewell event was organized in Kathmandu on Monday to see off the team. The tournament will feature Hong Kong, Nepal, Kuwait, and Qatar. After playing one match each against the other teams, the top two teams will qualify for the final.

Nepal Wins 6 Medals, Including 2 Golds, at the 16th World Cup Yoga Sports Competition: Nepal has achieved remarkable success at the 16th World Cup Yoga Sports competition, winning 2 golds, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals. The event was held on April 5 and 6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 31 athletes from various age groups representing Nepal. In total, the Nepalese team secured 6 medals, including 2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze, marking a successful performance on the international stage.

Lumbini Provincial T-20 Cricket Tournament Kicks Off with Dang’s Win: The Lumbini Provincial T-20 Cricket Tournament began on Monday in Lamahi and Ghorahi. Organized by the Lumbini Provincial Sports Council and managed by the Dang District Cricket Association, the tournament saw Dang securing an impressive 10-wicket victory over Rolpa, earning a spot in the semifinals. At the Ghorahi Cricket Ground, Dang chased down Rolpa’s modest target of 26 runs in just 4.2 overs, without losing a wicket, advancing to the semifinals.

Market Panic Deepens as China Retaliates Against Trump Tariffs: Panic selling gripped global markets on Monday, as US President Donald Trump refused to budge on his swingeing tariffs despite China retaliating and global recession warnings growing louder. Countries across the world have been scrambling to blunt the edge of the new US tariffs, but Beijing signalled it was taking the levies head on, escalating the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Trump doubled down on his demand to slash deficits with the US’ trading partners, saying he would not cut any deals unless that was resolved. Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,” Trump said on Sunday. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that world leaders are “dying to make a deal. Trump announced last week a baseline 10-percent import tariff on goods coming into the United States and higher rates for many countries including allies the European Union, Japan and Taiwan.

Taiwan Records Chinese Military Incursions Around Its Territory: Taiwan recorded four sorties of PLA aircraft and eight Chinese vessels operating around its territory on Monday, as reported by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND).

MND said in a post on X that two out of the four sorties crossed the median line and entered into Taiwan’s Air defence identification zone. Sharing the details, it wrote on X, “4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

South Korea: Cabinet Meeting to Confirm June 3 Presidential Election Date Tuesday: South Korea’s cabinet is due to confirm the June 3 presidential election date to pick removed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s successor this week, Yonhap news said Monday.

Yonhap cited a cabinet official as saying that Acting President Han Duck-soo would confirm the schedule in a Cabinet meeting set for Tuesday. “Given the significance of the matter and the issue of designating the election day as a temporary public day, the decision will be approved during a Cabinet meeting,” the official said.