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The tourism industry is struggling to reach the pre-covid numbers, with tourist arrivals via air dropping by 2.01 percent in the first quarter of 2025. 

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 298,558 international visitors arrived between January and March 2025, down from 304,693 in the same period of 2024. The decline, particularly pronounced in March, has been attributed to multiple factors, including a nighttime shutdown of Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s primary gateway, from November to March. The airport’s reduced operations to facilitate runway upgrades limited flight schedules during peak travel months, resulting in shortage of flights, lengthy transits and exorbitant ticket prices. Industry people say this forced tourists to divert to other destinations. 

While January 2025 showed a slight improvement in arrivals compared to January 2024, the momentum faltered in February and March. The most significant decline occurred in March when international arrivals fell to 121,687—a 5.05 percent drop from the 128,167 recorded in March 2024. This figure also fell short of the pre-pandemic benchmark of 127,351 visitors in March 2019.

March marks the beginning of the spring tourism season which is considered the best for trekking and mountaineering. The spring season sees a lion’s share of mountaineering expeditions coming to Nepal. Most of the expeditions on Mt Everest, the tallest peak on earth, are organized in this season.

According to tourism entrepreneurs, tourist numbers will continue to increase till May which marks the end of the climbing season and the beginning of monsoon rains. While tourist numbers dip during the three months of June, July, and August, it starts picking up once the autumn season begins in September. The autumn season continues through December. 

Tourist arrival figures released by NTB show March witnessed declines across most regions compared to the previous year. While arrivals from China fell by 5.4 percent, the number of visitors from South Asian (SAARC) countries fell by 13.4 percent and those from Europe decreased by 10.5 percent. India remained the top source country in the review month with 21,412 visitors, followed by China (11,443) and the United States (11,092). Other notable contributors included Sri Lanka (8,886), the United Kingdom (5,995), Thailand (4,986), Germany (4,709), Australia (4,228), Myanmar (3,754) and Bangladesh (3,576).

In terms of region, SAARC countries accounted for 35,287 tourists (29 percent), followed by Asian nations (except SAARC nations) 31,353 (25.8 percent), Europe 25,742 visitors (21.2 percent), the Americas 13,907 (11.4 percent), Oceania 4,643 (3.8 percent) and the Middle East 2,732 (2.2 percent).

Israeli attacks have reportedly claimed the lives of several more individuals on Gaza overnight after medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 77 Palestinians had died in strikes since dawn on Wednesday.

At least 22 people, including women and children, were murdered in a missile strike on a UNRWA medical center in the Jabalia refugee camp, which Israel has been chastised for, according to Al Jazeera.

Two rockets have been fired from Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims his forces are "seizing territory" to dismantle the Gaza Strip.

As stated by Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's war on Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 50,423 Palestinians and injured 114,638 others. The Government Media Office increased the death toll to more than 61,700, stating that thousands of individuals missing under the debris are assumed dead, Al Jazeera reported.

At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.

The Kathmandu Valley blanketed with a haze will continue to see it for some days. Air pollution has taken a toll on the valley weather.

However, with the improving pace of wind, the haze will be fizzling out from Friday, according to meteorologist Binu Maharjan. There is no chance of rainfall at present in the Kathmandu Valley, but the haze will be cleared gradually, she added. 

The Weather Forecasting Division has said the country has partial impact of westerly and local winds, causing partly cloudy in the hilly regions of the country, including Lumbini Province today.

Val Kilmer, the Hollywood star whose credits included The Doors, Batman Forever, and Top Gun, has died. He was 65.

Mercedes Kilmer, the actor's daughter informed that he died of pneumonia, BBC reported.

Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, and went on to study at the famous Juilliard School in New York, where he became the youngest actor ever enrolled at the age of 17.

Kilmer starred in some of the biggest movies of the 1980s and 90s, including Top Gun and Batman Forever. He also appeared in 1991's The Doors - playing the legendary band's frontman Jim Morrison - plus the Western Tombstone and crime drama Heat.

Kilmer was known to be tough at times, while he claimed he was demanding. He took a break from acting and was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, from which his daughter claims he recovered. His illness was clearly visible in the well-received 2021 documentary Val, narrated by his son Jack.

Kilmer reprised his role as Admiral Kazansky with Cruise in the 2022 smash Top Gun: Maverick, marking a tragic end to his playing career.