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US President Donald Trump’s administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other colleges, Reuters reported.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement.

Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

Harvard said the move by the Trump administration - which affects thousands of students - was illegal and amounted to retaliation, according to Reuters.

The country is currently witnessing the impacts of Westerly and local winds. 

The moisture-laden winds originating from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea also have partial impact, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of the country including in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, and fair in the other parts this afternoon.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in a few places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, as well as in one or two places in the hilly regions of the remaining provinces. 

Light rain and snowfall may occur in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Department, it will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly areas of the country including in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim Provinces tonight, while the remaining areas will have clear weather.

Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur in a few places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim Provinces. 

Light rain and snowfall may occur in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Two back-to-back earthquakes struck Baitadi district in western Nepal on Friday.

The first earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded at 1.48 am, with the epicenter at Khalanga, the district headquarters, said Chintan Timalsina, the Head of the Earthquake Monitoring Centre, Surkhet.

This was followed by a second earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale at 2.00 am. After two consecutive tremors, the local residents here had scurried out of their homes.

The tremor was felt in Darchula, Bajhang, and Dadeldhura, said the Centre's chief Timalsina. 

Details of the damage caused by the earthquake are yet to be received.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the country's economy is moving towards a positive direction. 

Taking to his social media account, Prime Minister Oli noted that exports have increased by 73 percent compared to last year over the past 10 months, indicating that the economy is on a positive path. 

"In the past 10 months, exports have risen by 73 percent compared to last year. During this period, exports amounted to Rs 218 billion. The economy is moving in a positive direction," Prime Minister Oli mentioned.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who is on an official visit to Japan, held a meeting today with her Japanese counterpart IWAYA Takeshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. 

The meeting focused on various issues of Nepal-Japan bilateral relations, mutual interests and common concerns, marking the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan relations, which began in 1956, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

During the meeting, Minister Rana expressed her appreciation for Japan's long standing cooperation in Nepal's economic, social and other sectors. She also urged Japan to continue its support, especially as Nepal is set to graduate from a least developed country to a developing nation by 2026. 

Minister Rana extended an invitation to Minister Takeshi to visit Nepal next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Highlighting investment opportunities in Nepal, she requested Takeshi to encourage Japanese industrialists and businessmen to invest, ensuring investment security and assurance. 

She also requested the Japanese government to consider launching direct flights to Nepal, a proposal to which Minister Takeshi agreed to facilitate.

Referring to the centuries-old relationship between Nepal and Japan, she said, “The two countries have had ancient socio-cultural relations inspired by the teachings of Lord Gautam Buddha. Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is also a cultural bridge between Nepal and Japanese citizens.”

Acknowledging the inflow of thousands of Japanese tourists to Nepal every year particularly for study and observing the natural and cultural wonders of Nepal, including Lumbini, the two leaders discussed the possible cooperation in tourism in the coming days. 

Additionally, the Foreign Minister expressed her gratitude for Japan's active engagement in the recently concluded "Sagarmatha Sambaad" organised by Nepal this week (May 15-18) , praising the role of the Japanese delegation led by Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs IKUINA Akiko. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 19. 40 points to close at 2,688. 91 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 19 points to close at 458. 04 points.

A total of 22,396,329-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 9. 82 billion.

Meanwhile, Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Barahi Hydropower Public Limited (BHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 99 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 50 trillion.

The number of Sarus cranes in Kanchanpur and Kailali region has been decreasing every year.

Flocks of Sarus cranes used to be seen in the wetland areas have lately become difficult to spot. With the destruction of wetland areas for cultivation, the habitat of the cranes has been shrinking each passing year. This means that the food for the birds has also been dwindling.

According to Hirulal Dagaura, an ornithologist at the Nepal Bird Conservation Society, the existence of this bird is in danger due to farmers increasingly using chemical fertilizers along with pesticides for farming.

The hunting of the Sarus, stealing its eggs, along with climate change and environmental pollution, has created additional risks.

Ornithologist Dagaura said up to five Saras cranes have been recorded in Kailali and up to 22 in Kanchanpur.

This bird can be spotted in Kalikich lake of Shuklaphanta National Park and in the wetlands of Beldandi Rural Municipality. Sometimes during the rainy season, cranes can be seen searching for food in rice fields in other areas and in the Ramsar site of Ghodaghodi lake in Kailali.

Since cranes feed on insects that are considered harmful to crops, they can be viewed as beneficial birds for farmers. When insect-pest control is done, farmers can harvest more produce, but recently it has been observed that this bird itself is in trouble.

Since cranes eat insects that are considered harmful to crops, they can be viewed as beneficial birds for farmers. In this way cranes help control insects and pest infestation in crops, but recently it has been observed that this bird itself is facing an existential crisis.

When ferocious animals like tigers, leopards, foxes, and wild boars come nearby, this bird alerts with a loud call. Therefore, the crane is also considered a human-friendly bird.

This bird, according to ornithologist Dagaura, relies on paddy fields and wetlands to make its nest and feed.

“But in recent days, it is hardly possible to see this bird here. Therefore, it is essential for the municipality and local communities to pay special attention to protecting wetland areas. Along with the importance of this bird, awareness about its habits, behavior, and habitat should be raised to involve local residents in conservation efforts,” he said.

Experts suggest that it is necessary to encourage farmers to promote the use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides while discouraging the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture.

The Sarus crane is listed as a protected bird under the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has included it in the list of vulnerable species.

According to statistics, there are more than 600 Sarus cranes only in Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, and Nawalparasi. In South Asia, it is estimated that the number of this bird is about 10, 000..

Each traffic police officer in the Kathmandu Valley is responsible for managing an average of 1,787 vehicles, according to the latest report from the Auditor General. There are 2,084 kilometers of road across the three districts of the Valley, while the total number of vehicles registered in Bagmati Province in the fiscal year 2023/24 has reached 1,988,819.

The report highlights that only 1,113 personnel are currently deployed to manage traffic in the Valley. This means each officer must oversee both a high number of vehicles and an average of 1.87 kilometers of road.

According to Binod Ghimire, Chief of the Valley Traffic Division, the workload on traffic police is considerable given the current manpower. However, he noted that not all vehicles registered in Bagmati Province operate solely within the Valley.

The introduction of traffic lights, CCTV cameras, and other technologies has eased vehicle monitoring to some extent. The Traffic Division now uses 326 CCTV cameras installed across various locations in the Valley to monitor traffic violations, investigate accidents, and track vehicle theft.

Recently, Auditor General Toyam Raya submitted the 62nd annual report to President Ram Chandra Paudel. The report states that the average annual growth rate of road accidents in Nepal is 12.48 percent. It attributes the rise in accidents to poor road and vehicle conditions, traffic congestion, and delays in completing road construction projects.

Over the past five years, the number of people seriously injured in traffic accidents has increased by 7.35 percent annually, while minor injuries have risen by 6.16 percent. The report points to poor driver training, lack of awareness of traffic rules, and driver negligence as key causes of fatalities and injuries.

To address these issues, the Auditor General has recommended improvements in road infrastructure, pedestrian crossings, parking facilities, traffic signals, CCTV coverage, and road signage. It also calls for better inter-agency coordination and strict enforcement of the Vehicle and Traffic Acts.

The report further urges authorities to closely monitor vehicle condition, load limits, passenger capacity, and speed. It recommends implementing intelligent traffic light systems and ensuring strict compliance with traffic signs to improve traffic management not only in Kathmandu but also in other major cities.

Another area of concern raised in the report is the large number of abandoned vehicles at police offices. According to the Police Headquarters, as of fiscal year 2022/23, 6,982 vehicles—including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers—remain abandoned, with no identified owners.

Although 5,518 vehicles were auctioned in the same year, including 5,478 two-wheelers, 2 three-wheelers, and 38 four-wheelers, 1,464 vehicles are still left unattended. As per the 2022 Procedure for Auctioning Government Property and Goods, such vehicles should be documented, publicly notified for 15 days, and auctioned if no ownership claim is made. The report emphasizes the need to update records and auction the remaining vehicles as required by law.