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Gold price has set a new record in the domestic market today.

According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of precious yellow metal has increased by Rs 6, 900 per tola and is being traded at Rs 197, 900 per tola.

Likewise, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1, 970 per tola.

The National Examination Board has decided to hold the Grade 12 exams.

Amid growing uncertainty over whether the Grade 12 exams will be held on time owing to the teachers' protest, a meeting of the National Examination Board held this morning has decided to hold the Grade 12 exams as scheduled.  

But the agitating teachers have been saying that they would not participate in the Grade 12 exams.

The Nepal Teachers Federation had also appealed to the principals, teachers and staffers to not take part in the Grade 12 exams.

Board Chairman Mahashram Sharma informed that the meeting has decided to request all the concerned sides to help in conducting the exams.

He said that the meeting has also decided to urge the teachers to present themselves responsibly as exams are a sensitive issue.

“We are in a discussion. We will urge the teachers to present themselves responsibly as the exams are a sensitive issue. The Grade 12 exams will be held on time,” Sharma said.

The government is preparing to conduct the Grade 12 exams from April 24 by deploying civil servants even if the teachers do not participate in the exams.

The exams of 550, 000 students will be uncertain if the exams are affected by the protests of teachers.

The protests have even delayed the results of Secondary Education Examination (SEE) and affected the new admission process.

New Zealand First has introduced a member’s bill to Parliament that would legally define men and women based on biological sex, excluding trans individuals from legal recognition.

According to Reuters, the law, endorsed by party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, reflects the party's position on what it refers to as "biological reality."

Peters condemned the influence of the "deluded left," claiming that the bill will restore legal clarity. However, the law faces long odds because it must be picked from a ballot and passed with a majority vote in Parliament.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins criticized the idea as "typical populist politics," claiming it diverts attention away from more urgent national issues such as the cost of living and healthcare, Reuters reported.

The bill follows a recent UK Supreme Court decision that only biological women are covered by the Equality Act, sparking controversy about transgender rights.

The White House defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following reports that he disclosed sensitive military information in a signal chat with his wife and brother. While neither the administration nor Hegseth denied the communication took place, they dismissed the claims as leaks from disgruntled employees, insisting no classified material was revealed, Firstpost reported.

President Trump condemned the accusations as "fake news," blaming them on internal opposition: "He was tasked with eliminating negative individuals, so you don't always make friends." However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has demanded Hegseth's dismissal.

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Pentagon, with multiple senior officials departing and an ongoing internal investigation into information leaks. Notably, some of those who left were part of Hegseth’s original team, according to the Firstpost.

The incident follows an earlier Signal chat leak involving discussions of a military airstrike in Yemen.

Harvard University filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s proposed $2.2 bn in funding cuts, calling the move an unlawful overreach, according to BBC.

The lawsuit follows escalating tensions after Harvard rejected demands from the Trump administration aimed at curbing diversity programs and addressing anti-Semitism.

The administration’s demands included government-approved audits of Harvard’s curriculum, admissions, and hiring practices. Harvard President Alan M. Garber warned the consequences of the government’s actions would be “severe and long-lasting,” criticizing the intrusion into academic independence, BBC reported.

In addition to freezing federal funds, the Trump administration also threatened the university’s tax-exempt status and its ability to enroll international students.

South Korea’s customs agency has uncovered a rise in attempts to disguise Chinese goods as Korean exports to evade U.S. tariffs.

A recent investigation by the Korea Customs Service uncovered 29.5 bn won ($20.81 m) in origin breaches in the first quarter, with 97% of the shipments destined for the United States, according to Reuters.

This compares to 34.8 bn won in total violations in 2024, with 62% of that amount coming from items intended for the United States. The hike comes after President Trump imposed new tariffs, including a 25% duty on South Korean exports, which is presently postponed for three months.

South Korean and US officials met Monday to explore cooperative investigations amid fears that foreign corporations are using South Korea to avoid trade restrictions, Reuters reported.

The Trump administration plans to cut $1bn in Harvard research funding amid an ongoing clash over the university's handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the “Wall Street Journal” reports.

This follows earlier sanctions over alleged failures to address campus antisemitism, Reuters reported.

Harvard recently rejected White House demands for monitoring of school policy, forcing the administration to halt $2.3 bn in cash and threaten Harvard's tax-exempt status. Officials were stunned when Harvard made private negotiation demands public, according to Reuters.

Since January, Trump has targeted elite universities over protest responses, accusing them of tolerating antisemitism.

Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet U.S. President Trump at the White House on Thursday for talks on NATO, Ukraine, and bilateral trade relations.

The conversations take place in the midst of ongoing trade adjustments, including a recent tariff reduction by the United States from 15% to 10% on specified Norwegian imports for a 90-day period. According to Reuters, Stoere stressed the importance of collaboration between the United States and Norway, referring to America as a "key trade and security partner."

The presidents are expected to discuss ways to enhance economic connections while also addressing shared geopolitical challenges, notably in Europe's security picture.

Norway, although not being a member of the EU, has supported Western sanctions against Russia and increased defense spending in response to the Ukraine crisis, Reuters reported.