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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 14. 24 points to close at 2,634.86 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 47 points to close at 444. 66 points.

A total of 21,828,231-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 9. 63 billion.

Meanwhile, Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST) and Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Gurans Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GLBSL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 93 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 38 trillion.

Do all the things you throw away on a regular basis—plastic bags, straws, paper, wrapping paper, cotton buds etc.—make you feel guilty? Does your trash can overflow with stuff between pick-ups? Do you find yourself wishing you could cut back on unnecessary waste but don’t know where to start? If yes, then this helpful guide is for you. Some of the things in this guide might be stuff you are familiar with but still unable to put to practice. We will help you build habits that can make sustainability a part of your daily routine without you having to put too much effort into it.

The trick to using cloth bags

We are sure everyone knows the importance of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Most of us have at least a few cloth bags stuffed in random drawers in our homes. But what happens is that we forget to carry these when we go out shopping and we end up either using a plastic bag or buying another cloth bag which will eventually end up in the same random drawers. The trick to make sure you don’t use plastic bags is to always have a reusable bag with you. When you put away your groceries, don’t just toss your reusable bag in a drawer. Fold it away and put it in your bag, in the dashboard of your car, or next to where you keep your keys in your entryway. This way you’ll always have a reusable bag with you on hand. You can also hang a few on a hook in the kitchen so that when you have to make impromptu grocery runs, you can quickly grab one. Make sure your cloth bags are lightweight and strong.

Reusing whatever you can

Before you throw anything away, take a look at it with fresh eyes. Most of the time, we tend to throw things that can be reused in various ways. Whether it be empty cans or jars or wrapping papers and gift bags, everything can be repurposed and used for different things around the house. You can use empty cans and jars to store spices and grains. You can repurpose them to hold pens or remote controls. The reason most of these jars and cans end up in the trash bin is because they’re hard to clean. To get pesky labels off, immerse empty jars in a bowl of water overnight and then you can simply scrub them off with a steel wool the next day. Did you know that you can repurpose gift bags to make pretty boxes that you can use to store documents and little trinkets around the house? You can find many tutorials on Instagram and Pinterest. Wine and liquor bottles can be used to store oil, as water bottles, and even as flower vases. A great way to ensure that you reuse things and don’t toss them away is to make a list of all the ways you can do just that. It helps to have a reminder on hand.

Small actions

There are many little things you can do to live an eco-friendly life,  from carrying your own water bottle and metal straws to mending your clothes.

You just have to put a little thought into it but that is often easier said than done. Don’t try to make drastic changes overnight. Start with one thing at a time. For instance, in the month of May vow to not buy mineral water when you’re out. For this, you’ll have to carry your own water bottle. Invest in a steel or a glass bottle and carry water with you everywhere. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of doing this, pick up another action. Instead of carrying tissues, tuck a small handkerchief in your bag. Wherever possible, choose reusable options. Switching to a menstrual cup instead of tampons or pads can significantly lower your trash volume during your periods. The key here is not to start doing everything at once. Choose one action at a time and once you’ve mastered that move onto the next.

Buy what you need 

Most of us buy things without a second thought, and it’s not unusual for us to have multiples of everything, from notebooks and stationery to cookware and bags. Impulse shopping is something that we all succumb to every once in a while. One of the main things you have to do if you want to live a sustainable life is to look into your consumption patterns. Are you buying things because you need them or because you want them? Remember that things start to lose their appeal once you’ve bought them. The thrill only lies in the purchase. When you go out shopping, make a list of things you need and only buy what’s on it. Mend your clothes so that a simple tear or a popped button does not have you running to the store to replace the item. Try using what you have at home before you buy more things. This goes for items like bags, shoes, and clothes, as well as staples like pasta and grains among others. Don’t fall into marketing traps. Understand your needs and only buy things that you know you will use.

President Donald Trump has halved tariffs on small packages from China and Hong Kong, following a temporary trade truce between the two nations.

Tariffs on goods worth up to $800 have been reduced from 120 percent to 54 percent, with a $100 flat fee per item retained for shipments after May 2. A planned $200 charge set for June 1 has been cancelled, according to BBC.

The move impacts Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu, which previously benefited from the now-closed “de minimis” duty-free rule. The shift coincides with a 90-day tariff respite and restarted trade negotiations between the United States and China.

A visiting delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference (ISC) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar today.

On the occasion, views were exchanged on advancing peace and prosperity through parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation, the PM's Secretariat stated.

Prime Minister Oli stated that the Government of Nepal is eager to work together with the ISC in international forums for common goals.

Malaysian Senator Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Hatta Bin Md Ramli highlighted Malaysia's friendly relations with Nepal and wished to further strengthen it through parliamentary cooperation. ISC adviser Masaichi Hori invited Nepal to actively participate in the activities of ISC globally.

The delegation consists of three Malaysian lawmakers, Senator Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Hatta Bin Md Ramli, MP Rodciah Binti Ismail and MP Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien along with ISC adviser Masaichi Hori from Japan, among other international delegates.

The meeting was also attended by lawmaker Ek Nath Dhakal who was recently appointed as Secretary General of ISC, CPN-UML lawmaker Sunita Baral and PM Oli's chief political adviser Bishnu Rimal.

The ISC delegation is participating in a number of parliamentary exchange programs in Kathmandu, it is said.

The Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference (ISC) has been established as a multilateral, inter-parliamentary body committed to advancing peace and shared prosperity through parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the start of a three-day Middle East visit that will also include stops in Qatar and the UAE.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Trump on his arrival. This is his first official state visit of his second term, and the White House calls it a "historic return to the Middle East”, according to BBC.

The president's program prioritizes improving diplomatic connections and securing big financial investments. In Saudi Arabia, Trump hopes to finalize a $1trn investment contract in US industry, an increase from a previously pledged $600bn.

Key regional concerns, such as efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire and promote Saudi-Israeli normalization talks, are also anticipated to be addressed. A formal state dinner is scheduled in Riyadh as part of the visit, BBC reported.

Despite a notable rise in remittance inflow this fiscal year, Nepal is spending more foreign currency on imports and overseas education. According to recent data, the country received Rs 1.19trn in remittances in the first nine months of the current fiscal year—a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

However, the outflow of foreign currency has been even greater, primarily due to a surge in imports and spending on foreign education. Nepal’s total imports rose by 12.2 percent during this period, reaching Rs 1.39trn. Last year, imports had declined by 2.8 percent in the same timeframe.

Imports from India, China, and other countries increased by 7.7 percent, 14.4 percent, and 24.9 percent respectively. The major import items included raw soybean oil, rice, vehicles and spare parts, edible oil, and sponge iron. Meanwhile, imports of petroleum products, crude palm oil, aircraft parts, chemical fertilizers, and paper declined.

On the export front, the country earned Rs 188.2bn from goods exports—a 65.2 percent rise. While this indicates a slight improvement in foreign currency earnings through exports, the trade deficit remains significant. The trade deficit increased by 6.4 percent to Rs 1.21trn.

Another major drain on foreign currency is overseas education. In the first nine months of this fiscal year alone, Nepal spent Rs 103.84bn on education abroad, accounting for 60.94 percent of the total travel-related expenditure. The amount is a steep rise from Rs 95.85bn in the same period last year, and nearly Rs 15bn was spent in just one month (mid-February to mid-March).

Travel expenditure under the services account rose by 19 percent to Rs 170.39bn during this period, with education-related expenses comprising the largest share.

Economists have raised concerns about this trend. Economist Dilliraj Khanal said while remittance helps in the short term, its long-term impact is questionable if it is not utilized productively. He warned that relying heavily on foreign employment while failing to create domestic opportunities is making productive land idle and hindering national development. “If foreign employment stops due to global instability, it could have disastrous consequences,” he cautioned.

Despite these concerns, the rise in remittance has contributed to improved foreign exchange reserves and banking liquidity. By mid-April, Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves had increased by 18.9 percent to Rs 2.43trn, sufficient to cover 17.1 months of merchandise imports and 14.2 months of goods and services imports, according to the Nepal Rastra Bank.

The overall balance of payments remained positive, with a surplus of Rs 346.23bn. The current account also posted a surplus of Rs 210.22bn, compared to Rs 179.83bn in the same period last year. Additionally, foreign direct investment (equity only) reached Rs 8.96bn, up from Rs 6.49bn last year.

Meanwhile, consumer inflation eased, providing some relief to the public. According to central bank data, point-to-point inflation in mid-April stood at 3.39 percent, down from 4.61 percent a year ago. Prices of food and beverages, spices, and fish and meat decreased, contributing to overall price stabilization. However, prices of ghee and oil, fruits, pulses and legumes, and non-alcoholic beverages went up. In the non-food category, annual inflation in miscellaneous goods and services rose by 8.69 percent, clothing and footwear by 7.01 percent, alcoholic beverages by 6.07 percent, household furnishings by 5.59 percent, and tobacco products by 4.83 percent.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reports that 330 Afghan inmates jailed in Pakistan had been released and returned to Afghanistan in the last week. The returnees entered the nation via the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar province, according to Xinhua.

Pakistan has released thousands of Afghan captives in the last year and continues to repatriate them. Currently, around 7m Afghan refugees live abroad, primarily in Iran and Pakistan, with many lacking documentation.

The Pakistani government plans to expel Afghan nationals in 2025. Meanwhile, the Afghan interim government has urged its citizens to return and help rebuild the country, Xinhua reported.

Pakistan's military stated Tuesday that a border clash with India killed 51 people, including 11 soldiers and 40 civilians, despite a truce accord announced by US President Donald Trump over the weekend.

The army accused India of breaking the truce, which was intended to reduce tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Indian officials have yet to react on the incident, Reuters reported.