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The Asian markets remain key players in the upward-trending US student visa totals. Seven of the top eight countries that saw the largest increase in student visas issued between 2021 and 2022 were Asian, according to ApplyBoard data, a Canada-based international recruitment platform.

Uzbekistan is at the top of this list for the first time, while Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam show continued growth in visa issuance, according to the report. The US Department of State issued over 411,000 F-1 student visas in 2022, up 15 percent from 2021. US student visa approval rates fell to 65 percent likely due to the application volume from several emerging markets in the period. South Asian countries continued to drive growth in the US, led by India with over 115,000 student visas issued.

The tally of visas issued so far this year has passed 392,000. 

Prior to 2020, the only large destination market that had Nepal on its radar was Australia, where it ranked a top-three source market for Australian institutions. The US was the most popular northern hemisphere destination of Nepali students in 2022, beating the likes of Canada, which experienced a spike in Nepali students in 2022, even after Australia’s border reopened, according to the report.

With the onset of monsoon since June 14, the water-induced disaster has so far affected 50 districts of the country.

According to the Home Ministry, as many as 41 people have so far died and 31 disappeared in the monsoon-induced disaster, including floods and landslides.

Home Ministry's Disaster and Conflict Management Division Chief, Joint-Secretary Mahadev Pantha, said that at least 55 people were injured in the incidents of natural calamities in the districts.

According to him, loss of lives has been reported in 20 out of 50 disaster-hit districts. Those losing lives are from 20 districts.

Likewise, people from six districts, including Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar, Dolakha, Makawanpur and Mahottari, went missing in the water-related disaster, Panthi said.

As per the data provided by the Ministry, 55 people from 28 districts have sustained injuries.

In the incidents, a total of 130 houses were completely damaged while 193 houses partially

A huge loss of lives and properties was reported in the eastern districts of Nepal, including Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung.

The incidents of intermittent downpours during the monsoon triggered floods and landslides in different districts. Some districts have yet to witness rainfall in the monsoon.

The Madhes Province government on Wednesday decided to provide Rs 1 million to carry out relief and rescue operations in eight districts of the province.

A meeting of the Province Disaster Management Executive Committee presided over by Province Minister for Home, Communications and Law Mohammad Samim decided to provide the money to distribute relief to the flood survivors.

Minister Samim said that the province took the decision to immediately send the relief amount to the district administration office in all eight districts to purchase relief and rescue materials.

"There is a problem of flooding and inundation in all eight districts of the province. Keeping this in mind, a decision has been made to immediately provide the relief amount to the disaster management committees headed by chief district officers,” he said.

"Besides, the provincial mechanism has also decided to collect and distribute relief through one door system", Minister Samim shared.

The meeting also discussed the measures to make relief and rescue works effective and establish good coordination among security agencies and stakeholders.

The incessant rain for the past couple of days has affected normal life in Madhes. 

Police have recovered six home-made guns in Baglung.

A team deployed from the Hatiya Police Post seized five home-made guns while another team from the Narethanti Police Post recovered one on Wednesday.

Information Officer at the District Police Office, DSP Madan KC said that a patrol police team recovered a gun from Janaekata Community Forest at Galkot Municipality-1 and five unaccounted guns in a den at Bhagawatisthan-3.

Police said that they are looking into the case.