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The air pollution level in the Kathmandu Valley has increased. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI), which was 178 until Monday afternoon, has risen to 191 as of this afternoon. 

This level is considered unhealthy for everyone, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) standard.

According to the AQI standard, when the index ranges from 151 to 200, everyone may begin to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

With today’s AQI level, the Kathmandu Valley has been listed as the third most polluted city in the world. New Delhi has been categorized as the most polluted city with an AQI of 229, followed by Lahore, Pakistan, with an AQI of 203, placing it second.

According to the Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, the pollution level is likely to increase further if there is no rainfall. The prolonged absence of rain has contributed to the rising pollution levels.

Director General Subedi has advised all concerned stakeholders to follow sustainable and environmentally friendly measures to reduce the impact of increasing air pollution.

Environmental expert Barsha Parajuli said that the rising number of motor vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley, emissions from diesel- and petrol-run vehicles, dust from under-construction roads and infrastructure projects, forest fires, and prolonged drought have led to the escalation of air pollution levels. 

She warned that if the situation is not brought under control in time, it may become more challenging.

An AQI of 0–50, indicated by green, is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. Likewise, 51–100, highlighted in yellow, is considered moderate and acceptable; however, there may be moderate health concerns for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Similarly, 101–150, highlighted in orange, is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, who may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

An AQI of 151–200, indicated in red, is considered unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion, while others, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, as defined by the standard.

Similarly, 201–300, indicated in purple, is considered very unhealthy. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion, and others, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

An AQI of 300 and above, highlighted in maroon, is considered hazardous. Everyone may experience more serious health effects, and all people should avoid outdoor exertion. 

Printing of all ballot papers required for the election to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5 has been completed.

Managing Director of the Janak Education Material Centre Limited, Yadu Nath Poudel, shared that the JEMC completed its responsibility of printing ballot papers required for the election on Monday evening.

The ballot papers would be dispatched to respective provinces after their packaging from today itself, Poudel added.

He mentioned, "We have completed the printing of 20.3 million ballot papers under the first-past-the-post electoral system on Monday evening. The task of printing ballot papers has been completed within 40 days as we had a 42 days period for this purpose. We will dispatch ballot papers to all districts within the next 10 days."

The JEMC had been printing up to 1.5 million ballot papers every day.  It had already printed one million model ballot papers and the Election Commission had dispatched it to different places. 

Similarly, activities are underway to send 20.83 million ballot papers under proportional representatives (PR) electoral system, added the JEMC. 

Poudel opined that ballot papers have already reached Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces and activities are on to send ballot papers in the remaining places within 10 days.

Nima Dolma Lama, 35 from Tarkeswar Municipality got arrested on charges of cheating on people with a promise to send to the UK for employment. She was arrested by a team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. Police allege that she cheated two people by taking money on the pretext of sending them to the UK.

The 4th Mt. Everest Int’l Championships 2026 WT G-1 was inaugurated on 16 Feb 2026 in Kathmandu. The opening ceremony was attended by South Korean Ambassador Park Tae-young, which praised the event as a symbol of international friendship. He emphasized Taekwondo’s role in building discipline and respect while strengthening the bilateral cultural ties between Korea and Nepal.

The event will feature participation from 23 countries with a total of 1,200 players (Sr. player Poomsae 100 athletes, Kyorugi 247 athletes, Jr. Kyorugi-653 athletes and Jr. Poomsae 200 athletes). Participating nations include India, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia, among others. The South Korean Embassy actively supported sports exchange programs to promote social development and lasting international partnerships.

Iran’s Foreign Mini­ster Abbas Araghchi met with the UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Monday ahe­ad of high-stakes talks with Washington in Geneva today, coinciding with Tehran’s military drills in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported. 

The negotiations aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program as tensions remain at a boiling point following a wave of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran in June, with few clear signs of compromise despite Washin­gton joining Israel in the earlier aerial campaign. 

Adding to the friction, the US has bolstered its presence in the region with warships and aircraft. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard began a drill named “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” on Monday to test the readiness of naval units in the vital international waterway, according to Reuters. 

Donald Trump has said he will be "indirectly" involved in the talks between Iran and the United States which are due to begin in Geneva later on Tuesday, BBC reported. 

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US president added that he believed Iran wanted to make a deal over its nuclear programme. 

The second round of talks in Switzerland follows repeated military threats against Iran over the country's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests and the ongoing dispute over its nuclear programme, according to BBC. 

Two persons were arrested with 955 kg of marijuana from Bardanda of Dharan Sub-metropolis-20 on Monday. 

The suspects have been identified as Sandip Kumar Majhi of Kolhabi Municipality-8, Bara district and Nagendra Raj Shrestha of Chandragiri Municipality-8.

Such a quantity of marijuana was recovered from two vehicles (Bagmati province-01-027 Cha 1143) and (BAC 3236) during the regular police check, DSP Bhishan Babu Rai said. 

Police confiscated 495 kilograms of marijuana from the vehicle (Bagmati province 01-027 Cha 1143) Majhi was driving and 460 kilograms of marijuana from the vehicle (BAC 3236) Shrestha was driving. Both the vehicles were heading towards Bishnupaduka of Dharan from Dhankuta. 

Further investigation into the case is underway, said police. 

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 900  per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.  

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 301, 900 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 302, 800 per tola on Monday. 

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 25 and is being traded at Rs 4, 885 per tola.