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The Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, the second in Nepal, was inaugurated on Tuesday in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, with the stakeholders pledging more resources to make it a better platform for cooperation, Xinhua reported. Though it was initiated in 2019, the university's institute had a two-year hiatus from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Liu Yueming, the Chinese director of the institute. Addressing the inauguration ceremony via video link, Nepali Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel noted that the Nepali side has recognized the importance of the Chinese language and listed it as an optional course for students from grade nine to 12 starting this year. Paudel said the learning of languages and cultures can help elevate the relationship between the two countries. He voiced hope that the Confucius Institute will be helpful for language teaching, cultural exchanges, bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding. "The Chinese language has become very necessary for Nepal's economic and social development, investment, tourism and higher education," Leela Mani Paudyal, former Nepali ambassador to China, said during the institute's inauguration. "We believe that China's development is an opportunity for us." More than 30,000 learners have been registered with the Confucius institutes at Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University, contributing manpower to Nepal's tourism, infrastructure, business and trade sectors in particular, said Hou Yanqi, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal. Also addressing the inauguration ceremony via video link, Hou voiced hope that the two institutes would become a window for showcasing the Chinese culture, a bridge to promote cultural exchanges and a bond for China-Nepal friendship. Dharma Kanta Baskota, vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, said the Confucius Institute focuses on high-quality language and cultural projects, according to Xinhua. In June 2007, Hebei University of Economics and Business and Kathmandu University jointly established the first Confucius Institute in Nepal. The Chinese university oversees Chinese language and cultural programs for the institute.

Annapurna Media Network, in association with USAID and National Democratic Institute (NDI), conducted a Climate Journalism Training Program on September 3-4. The training was dedicated to enhancing the skills of the journalists across Nepal to cover a much needed and vigorous reporting on climate change and its overall effect on the ecosystem.  The program, on the first day, was divided into three folds. Firstly, Arjun Dhakal, a climate change and policy expert, gave the trainees a brief idea on the policies in and out of Nepal that govern the issues related to climate change. He talked about the outcomes of those policies, as well as the challenges faced, specifically in Nepal, due to lack of a proper policy that properly mitigates the problems caused by the changing climate.  Biraj Singh Thapa, environment and technology expert, gave a detailed explanation with datasets, showing the increasing effect of climate change all across the world, especially South Asia. He presented the concept of hydrogen as a source of fuel. “It is expensive to completely shift towards a hydrogen based fuel system, especially in the context of Nepal,” he said, “Nevertheless, it is a long-term investment as well as environment-friendly.” The training ended with the presentation of Sujata Karki, climate communication expert. She presented the fellow journalists with proper ways to properly communicate while reporting on a story involving climate and ecosystem.  The second day was more of a practical session. The training started with a presentation from Siromani Dawadi, station manager at Radio Annapurna Nepal. His presentation was followed by a practical work where trainees worked in teams to form a sample report for radio broadcast.  Tikaram Yatri, Editor-In-Chief of AP1 HD television, had a Q&A session with participants related to interview skills. The program came to an end with the presentation of Akhanda Bhandari, editor of the Annapurna Post, where he discussed the dos and don’ts in journalistic writing. 

The National Examinations Board has published the results of the grade 12 on Friday. As per the results, 4,171 students secured GPA between 3.61 to 4. Similarly, 30,107 students obtained GPA between 3.21 to 3.60. None of the students secured GPA 4.0. Around 40, 000 students had appeared the examinations held from May 30 to June 8.      

If spending an afternoon at a cafe with multiple choices of board games to play and books to read is your idea of a perfect outing, then you should definitely check out Khushi Coffee House.  This establishment at Battisputali offers a variety of board games to choose from for the customers to enjoy along with their food and drinks. For the bookish types, there is a small collection of books to skim through while enjoying your coffee. The place does not lack in the entertainment department. That’s for certain. But food-wise, it could do better.  What stands out among their specials is the ‘Mixed Ramen’ served with well-balanced spice flavors. This one is definitely a hit, the standout dish that everyone should try. With your hot bowl of ramen order a glass of Green Lemon Iced Tea. They somehow go together really well. The hot spicy taste of ramen is offset, rather soothingly, by the iced tea without ruining your taste.       One of their other specials, Cheese and Chicken Pizza, falls short of expectation. A readymade packaged dough and generic flavors and toppings are what you get. The taste is best described as ‘doughy’—but you be the judge.   Their other special, Chicken Wrap with Onion Rings, is also, well, okayish. Perhaps, it is a good choice for those who love sour tasting food with a distinct taste of egg.  Their other drink called the Blue Lagoon is an acquired taste. Whether it is a hit or a miss, the jury is still out.    Khushi Coffee House is a great hangout place for a group of friends to enjoy a fun, entertaining afternoon. But do not expect too much out of the menu.   Their Special Mixed Ramen Chicken wrap with onion rings Cheese and chicken pizza Opening hours: 7:00am to 9:00pm Location: Battisputali Meal for 2: Rs 1,000 Online/Card Payment: Accepted Parking Spot: None 

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Friday urged all creditor nations to discuss Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, after the crisis-hit South Asian nation reached a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, Reuters reported. "It's important for all creditor nations, including China and India, to gather to discuss Sri Lanka's debt restructuring," Suzuki told a news conference. Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF for a loan of about $2.9 billion, the global lender said on Thursday, as the country seeks a way out of its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, according to Reuters.

Nepal logged 206 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths on Friday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 595 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 134 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 274  people underwent antigen tests, of which 72 tested positive. The Ministry said that 398 infected people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. As of today, there are 2, 891 active cases in the country. The Ministry said that 2, 735 people are staying in home isolation while 156 are in institutionalized isolation and 41 are undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit.

Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday was sentenced to three years in jail with hard labor after a court found her guilty of electoral fraud. Zabuthiri Township judge Maung Maung Khin handed down the sentence at a junta-controlled closed court in the Naypyitaw Detention Centre, News Agency, Myanmar Now reported. Apart from Suu Kyi, other two leaders (Win Myint and Min Thu) from the ousted civilian government, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party won the 2020 election in a landslide, were accused of violating Section 130 (a) of the Penal Code by unfairly influencing the election commission. The military council’s allegations were based on the report of 2,000 double votes, found after one year of investigation carried out since the February 2011 coup. Some 75 percent of Myanmar’s more than 37 million registered voters participated in the 2020 general election, according to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. However, the junta vowed to confront the alleged fraud with legal action against several NLD leaders and party members, as well as the more than 420 members of the previous Union Election Commission and nearly 2,500 members of local election commissions, reported Myanmar Now. Suu Kyi, 77, has already been sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption and sedition charges. Recently, in August, she was handed a six-year sentence for four corruption charges after the military accused her of abusing her position as party leader to benefit a private foundation named after her mother, Daw Khin Kyi, as well as an affiliated project. Notably, the military detained Suu Kyi in February 2021 as it seized power in Myanmar. Myanmar’s military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is the one who led a coup against an elected civilian government in 2021 and detained Aung San Suu Kyi over alleged election irregularities. In August last year, General Hlaing declared himself Prime Minister of a newly formed caretaker government. During an address to the nation on August 1, he repeated a pledge to hold elections by 2023. More than 1,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar security forces with thousands of others arrested, according to the United Nations, amid a crackdown on strikes and protests which has derailed the country’s tentative democracy and prompted international condemnation. In a recent update, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the conflict has intensified over the past month, with increased reports of army raids across Myanmar, especially in the northwest and southeast regions. (ANI)

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index plunged by 1. 67 points to close at 1,970.62 points on Friday. Similarly, the sensitive index fell 0. 74 points to reach 383. 20 points. A total of 1,801,273 unit shares of 219 companies were traded for Rs 6.98 billion. Meanwhile, Support Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 80 percent. Likewise, Siddhartha Investment Growth Scheme-2 was the top loser with its price dropped by 6. 16 percent. At the end of the day, total market civilization stands at Rs 2. 82 trillion.