- Friday, 20 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The level of air pollution 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, According to the Standard.
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12- Basu Rimal ‘Yatri’ Memorial Award goes to Bhatta and Karanjit
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The Basu Rimal ‘Yatri’ Memorial Award–2082 BS, institutionalized by the Employees’ Association, is to be jointly presented to Siddha Raj Bhatta, Chief of RSS Sudurpaschim Province, Dhangadhi, and Gauri Karanjit, Office Assistant at the RSS Koshi Province Office, Biratnagar.
The awards were announced on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Rastriya Samachar Samiti, which falls on Fagun 7 in the Nepali calendar each year, according to Association General Secretary Chhabilal Kumal.
Bhatta has been associated with the RSS for the past 30 years, while Karanjit has served the organization for 11 years.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 7,777 each along with a letter of appreciation.
The late Basu Rimal ‘Yatri’, a litterateur and the founding Chair of the RSS Employees’ Association established in 2047 BS as the first trade union of the RSS, passed away on July 16, 2009. The award was instituted in his memory after his spouse, Sharada Rimal, made a financial contribution to establish the revolving fund for the award, according to Association Chair Pabitra Guragain.
The award is presented annually to two RSS employees on the occasion of the RSS anniversary.
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13- Dreams turn into reality as Gurkha soldiers complete Attestation Parade
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Soldiers of the Queen’s Gurkha Signals have successfully completed their Attestation parade, marking the culmination of one of the most demanding military selection and training processes in the world.
The ceremony, held at Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton, on February 16 represented a significant milestone in the soldiers’ journey and formally welcomed them into their Regiment, according to a press release issued by the British Army Communications, Army Press Office East Anglia and Midlands in the UK.
The soldiers’ journey began more than a year ago in Pokhara, Nepal, where they were selected from over approximately 14 thousand young men competing for only a few hundred places in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
After travelling thousands of miles and overcoming extraordinary competition, they earned their place in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
As the February weather cut through the parade ground, the chill could not dampen the pride of 21-yearold Signaller Sujan Magar.
“It was freezing but I was so proud to be there,” he said.
Sujan’s journey from Eastern Nepal to the British Army has already taken him through the rigours of basic training at Catterick, North Yorkshire. Now he is getting his first taste of the trade that will define his military career and it’s exactly what he hoped for.
“I got my first choice – network engineer and I’m really pleased about that,” said Sujan.
His next stop is trade training at 11 (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, Blandford, where he will develop the specialist skills to build and maintain the communication networks that keep military operations running.
For Signaller Priyash Gurung standing on the parade ground was the realisation of a dream that began thousands of miles away in Western Nepal.
“It was my childhood dream to join the British Army,” said the 20-year-old. “My grandfather served in the Indian Army, and he inspired me. Being on parade was such a proud moment.”
Priyash is training to become an Information Services Engineer — a highly-skilled specialist responsible for configuring, deploying and maintaining secure IT and communication systems. It’s a role that will see him at the heart of military operations, keeping vital networks running.
Life in the Army has meant sacrifice. “I do miss my parents,” he admits. “But as a soldier, it’s my responsibility to fulfil my duties here, and I enjoy it.”
For Signaller Seeman Rai, the parade wasn’t just a ceremony — it was a moment to take stock of how far he had come.
“It was a day full of pride,” says the 22-year-old. “I was standing tall, reflecting on everything I’d done and everything I’d achieved.”
Seeman is set to train as a Power Engineer, a role that will see him responsible for keeping military operations running — quite literally. For without power, nothing works meaning no communications, no systems, and no mission.
During the next phase of his training in Blandford, Dorset, he will learn the specialist skills to deliver energy solutions in some of the most demanding environments imaginable.
Addressing the soldiers on parade, Brigadier Mike Fayer, the Colonel of the Regiment, Queen’s Gurkha Signals, said: “Today is a proud day but also an important one as we recognise new talent joining our ranks and our Officers’ Corps.
The Queen’s Gurkha Signals, alongside our Royal Signals brothers and sisters, are central to winning in an ever-dangerous world. We are essential to enabling command and control, essential to our targeting capabilities and essential to our logistical systems. We deliver the competitive edge that enables us to win.”
During the ceremony, the recruits pledged their oaths in both English and Nepali.
The event also included the commissioning of four officers into the Regiment.
Captain Nirmal Rai was one of the commissioning officers. He vividly remembers his own attestation on a cold January morning 22 years ago.
“I’m a third-generation Gurkha soldier. When I first enlisted into the Brigade of Gurkhas on 18th December 2003, my father told me: ‘You have to be loyal and work hard in everything you do. Think about the reputation of the Brigade and the Regiment, and you will do well in your career.'”
Since then, Captain Rai has completed numerous overseas deployments, exercises, and training courses. In 2024, he led the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Contingent on public duties – one of the highlights of his career.
Now, as Training Officer at 4 Squadron, 11 (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, in Blandford, he will take the 40 new recruits under his guardianship. He said: “It’s my responsibility to ensure they uphold the professionalism and reputation of the Regiment – the same values my father impressed upon me all those years ago.”
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14- President applauds role of Sherpa people in promoting nation’s prestige
Kathmandu, Feb 17: President Ramchandra Paudel has applauded the role of the Sherpa community in enhancing the prestige of Nepal and Nepali globally.
Addressing a programme organized at Shital Niwas, the Office of the President, today on the occasion of the 2153rd Gyalpo Lhosar, hosted by the Nepal Sherpa Association, the President made these remarks.
“The Sherpa people, who have earned global recognition in Nepal’s tourism and mountaineering sectors, are regarded as an honest, hardworking, and nature-loving community. This community, which spread from Nepal’s mountainous regions centuries ago, has now reached across the world and significantly contributed to enhancing the prestige of Nepal and its people,” the Head of State said.
Stating that Nepal is home to diverse communities across its distinct geographical regions of mountains, hills, and Terai, the President said that the Sherpa community has its own unique traditions, culture, civilization, and identity. He said the community has played a significant role in promoting national pride and prestige.
“Our distinct national identity includes the presence of diverse castes, languages, cultures, customs, traditions, and festivals,” the President added.
He further said that such festivals contribute to strengthening mutual goodwill, unity, friendship, and integrity. “It is our shared responsibility to strengthen the feeling of national unity while preserving the identities of all Nepalis,” he asserted.
According to the President, peace, stability, national unity, and prosperity will be further strengthened in the country through good governance. “Elections are the best means of obtaining and endorsing the citizens’ mandate in a democracy, and I hereby call upon all to contribute to making the election to the House of Representatives a success,” he said.
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15- Ministries hold coordination meeting for energy development, environment conservation
Kathmandu, Feb 17: A coordination meeting was held today between the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.
The meeting was held with the participation of Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaulagain and Energy Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, along with secretaries, department and division heads, and other senior officials of both ministries.
In the meeting held detailed discussions on issues that were halted due to land ownership rights within forest areas related to energy and hydropower projects, approval processes, and procedural complications.
The discussion focused on how to facilitate projects that have been delayed primarily due to issues such as forest area usage permits, environmental approvals, and lack of coordination among various agencies.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Department of Electricity Development.
The participants presented their views on the legal, administrative, and technical obstacles observed during the implementation of the programme.
During the discussion, it was agreed to strengthen mutual coordination to remove obstacles observed in the implementation of hydropower and energy projects while maintaining the necessary balance between environmental protection and energy development.
The meeting concluded that prioritising environmentally friendly development and making the related processes swift and effective should be the focus.
On the occasion, both ministries have expressed their commitment to strengthen cooperation by resolving the problems of stalled projects through a regular coordination mechanism in the coming days, achieving sustainable energy development, environmental protection, and national development goals.
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16- Sadhus arrived Pashupatinath for Mahashivaratri bid farewell
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Sadhus and ascetics who had arrived at the Pashupatinath Temple to observe the Mahashivaratri festival were given a ritualistic farewell today by the Guthi Sansthan and the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).
The farewell ceremony was held at 11:00 am at the western gate of the temple.
According to Guthi Sansthan spokesperson Janak Pokharel, the saints were offered cash amounts ranging from Rs 551 to Rs 11,000 each.
During the Mahashivaratri Festival 2082 BS, observed on February 15, more than 4,000 Sadhus and ascetics from Nepal and various parts of India gathered at the Pashupatinath Temple. The farewell ceremony is traditionally held on the new moon day of the month of Fagun.
The PADT bears the cost of food, accommodation, and other necessary facilities for those who come to observe the festival.
The offerings provided to them include 21 ritual items such as a lota (a round water pot), chamar (a traditional ceremonial fly-whisk made from the long, soft tail hair of the Tibetan yak), radi (a traditional woolen rug), and cash assistance, as previously announced by President Ramchandra Paudel.
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17- Janakpurdham Art, Literature and Int’l Drama Festival kicks off
Dhanusha, Feb 17: The Janakpurdham Art, Literature and International Drama Festival organised by Maithili Development Trust began from today.
The four-day festival was formally inaugurated along with a cultural procession at Rangabhumi ground.
The cultural procession taken from Rangabhumi ground concluded by going through different places. There was remarkable presence of artists on Maithili costumes, representatives of local community, students and general people.
Trust Chairperson Jibnath Chaudhary shared that the festival aims to promote multi-faceted cultural heritages of Janakpurdham in national and international levels.
“We have made efforts to strengthen our original identity by presenting cultural reflections of different ethnicities and communities,” he added.
Various events like literary seminar, poetry recitation, book release, painting exhibition, drama presentation and interaction would be organised during the festival.
Artists, litterateurs and artists from local level to national as well as international levels would participate in the festival, according to the organizer.
Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi had participated in the cultural procession and lauded the role played by the Trust in promotion of Maithili language, literature and culture.
Wishing for the success of the festival, Nidhi expressed the belief that such programme would strengthen cultural unity and social harmony.
The organizer has organised the festival in its building this year. The festival was organised with an objective of presenting Janakpurdham’s cultural heritages, religious importance and historical background before the world through the medium of literature and drama.
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