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The weather at present remains partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces, while the rest of the region will be mainly clear.

This is due to the partial influence of a westerly low-pressure system, according to the Meteorological Forecast Division.

Later in the afternoon, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, while the rest of the region will be mainly clear.

Tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Koshi Province and mainly clear in the rest of the region.

The International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge) and the British Council has announced the winners of the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards in Nepal amidst a function on Tuesday.

The awards celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of secondary school learners in Nepal in the November 2023 and June 2024 Cambridge examination series.

Over 48 students in Nepal received awards for exceptional performance in Cambridge International AS & A Level examinations, including two students who achieved the highest marks in the world, 39 students who attained the highest marks in Nepal in a single subject, and 18 students who topped the country in the November 2023 exam series along with 21 students who topped the country in the June 2024 series.

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards program celebrates the success of students taking examinations awarded by Cambridge International Education in over 40 countries around the world.

Cambridge qualifications prepare and equip learners with the skills they need to thrive at university and beyond.

The world’s best higher education institutions acknowledge Cambridge qualifications and value the critical thinking skills, independent research abilities and deep subject knowledge that Cambridge learners bring to university.

On the occasion, Vinay Sharma Sr. VP, (South Asia) for International Education at Cambridge at the award ceremony said: ‘Cambridge learners are at the heart of everything we do. Every element of a Cambridge education – the curriculum, teaching and learning, resources and assessment is carefully designed to help learners reach their potential and thrive in life. We are delighted to congratulate learners from Nepal on their academic achievements in the November 2023 and June 2024 Cambridge examination series."

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards recognise the exceptional performance
of learners from around the world in Cambridge examinations. The awards reflect the talent and hard work of learners andacknowledge the dedication and commitment of their teachers and parents.

"We are delighted to see that the popularity of Cambridge examinations in Nepal continues to grow and this year we have a total of 48 students achieving an award. The award winners represent 20 schools in Nepal and cover a range of 35 subject areas at Cambridge International AS & A Level. All these awards demonstrate the high standard of education in our schools, " reads a statement issued by the British Council.

"We extend our best wishes to the learners of Nepal for their future endeavours." 

The awards also celebrate the achievements of those learners who have been recognized for ‘High Achievement’, based on outstanding performance in subjects which are not yet so widely taken in Nepal, and learners who have achieved the total highest cumulative marks across a number of subjects. The winning students out-performed thousands of candidates worldwide who sat Cambridge examinations.

Pratistha Thapa Rayamajhi, Exams Director and General Manager, British Council, Nepal said "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our award winners. Their achievements is a proof of their hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of their parents, teachers, and school leaders."

"The British Council takes pride in facilitating opportunities for students in Nepal through Cambridge A Levels, equipping them with essential skills for higher education and beyond. As they step into new opportunities, I encourage them to embrace challenges, pursue their passions, and strive for excellence. This is just the beginning of an exciting future filled with even greater accomplishments, " he added.

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award winners are as follows:

Top in Nepal

‘Top in Nepal’ is awarded to learners who haveachieved the highest standard mark in their countryfor a single subject.

Best Across awards

‘Best Across’ is awarded to learners who have achieved the highest cumulative total standard marks over a set ofsubjects.

High Achievement

‘High Achievement’ is awarded to learners who haveachieved outstanding results in subjects which are not so widely taken and which, under the current criteria,would not qualify for ‘Top in Nepal’.

Top in the World

‘Top in the World’ is awarded to learners who have achievedthe highest standard mark in the world for a single subject.

Foundation stone for the construction of Operation Theatre Building of Rapti Eye Hospital at Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang was laid jointly by Tikaram Khadka, Mayor, Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang and Basist Nandan, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, on Tuesday.

Political representatives, government officials and social workers were also present on this occasion. 
    
Operation theatre building of Rapti Eye Hospital is being built with Government of India’s financial assistance at the project cost of Rs 43.31 million under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’. 

The Government of India’s grant under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’  is being utilized for the construction of an operation theatre building and other allied facilities.

The project is being taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and is being implemented through Tulsipur             Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang. 

Mayor, Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang and Chairperson, Rapti Eye Hospital Management Committee and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by the Government of India to the people of Nepal, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

They expressed confidence that the infrastructure being created would help provide better healthcare facilities to the people of Nepal and will also contribute to the overall development of the health sector in Lumbini province of Nepal.

Since 2003, the Government of India has taken up over 563 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 495 projects.

Amongst these, 62 projects are in Lumbini Province.

In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal, according to the statement.

Amongst these, 164 ambulances and 43 school buses have been gifted in Lumbini Province. Out of these, 19 ambulances and 4 school buses  were gifted in Dang. This includes one ambulance that has been provided to Rapti Eye Hospital, Dang.   

As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation.

The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in growth and development of its people by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.  
 

A total of 103 crocodiles raised at the Gharial (Crocodile) Breeding Center in Kasara of Chitwan have been released in the Rapti River at different times since mid-July, 2024.  Of them, one is male and the remaining are females.

According to Chitwan National Park (CNP) information officer Abinash Thapa Magar, the reptiles released in the river were hatched in 2020. Last fiscal year, the CNP released 105 crocodiles in the river. The eggs of crocodiles are collected from the river bank to hatch them in artificial conditions at the Centre. The grown-up reptiles are left in the river.    

To date, since its establishment in 1978, a total of 2060 crocodiles have been released in various rivers in the country including in Rapti and Narayani. However, the survival rate of this animal is very low.

Thapa Magar said that during last year's survey, 152 animals were recorded in Rapti and 113 in Narayani. At present, the Center is home to 697 crocodiles.

Gharial is an endangered reptile and its existence has been restricted to Nepal and India lately. In the past, it would be found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. In 1940, its global number was around 10,000. In the next thirty years, its number had significantly dropped to be calculated at just two per cent of the previous population in 1970.  During the time of the establishment of the Center, less than 100 numbers of Gharial were estimated to exist across the country.

Increasing human encroachment on rivers, extraction of river-based products, and fishing are among the factors affecting the natural habitats of the animals. Similarly, during floods, these animals get swept away beyond the Nepal-India border, it is said.