Submit your Article

The US Senate has begun a marathon vote on a sprawling budget that is critical to President Donald Trump's agenda, but the spending plan is hanging in the balance after weeks of fraught negotiations, BBC reported.

Republicans - who control both chambers of Congress - are divided over how much to cut welfare programmes in order to extend tax breaks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The president's party is sprinting to pass the legislation by this week's self-imposed deadline of the Fourth of July public holiday. 

If the measure does clear the Senate, it will have to go back for another vote to the House of Representatives, which passed its own version of the bill last month by a single vote, according to BBC.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike that hit a popular seafront cafe frequently used by activists, journalists, and local residents in western Gaza on Monday, according to medics and eyewitnesses, BBC reported.

Rescue teams evacuated 20 bodies and dozens wounded from Al-Baqa Cafeteria, an outdoor venue which consisted of tents along the beach, a spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence told the BBC.

He added that emergency crews were still searching through a deep crater left by the explosion.

"I was on my way to the café to use the internet just a few meters away when a massive explosion hit," said Aziz Al-Afifi, a cameraman with a local production company, told the BBC.

The Election Commission (EC) has announced the date for the by-election in Rupandehi Constituency- 3. Issuing a press statement today, the EC stated that the by-election in Rupandehi-3 for the House of Representatives (HoR) will be held on November 3. 

The seat of Rupandehi Constituency-3 has been lying vacant after the demise  of HoR Member Dipak Bohara on April 1.  

Bohara was elected as the HoR member from Rupandehi Constituency- 3 by defeating his nearest  rival Bal Krishna Khand of Nepali Congress (NC) in the general election held in November 2022.   

The new date for the by-election was announced as per the constitutional provision stated in Article 84 (7) of the Constitution of Nepal, Spokesperson of EC and Joint Secretary Nita Pokhrel Aryal stated.

As per the constitutional provision, if the seat of any member of the HoR falls vacant while its term still remains for more than six months, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner of electoral system as in which such seat was filled in.

In a separate notice, the EC announced today that voter's name list registration would be postponed from July 1 until further notice after the date announcement for the by-election. 

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has emphasised the need for global cooperation among vulnerable countries to address growing risks of climate change.

Addressing the session on "Four Betters for Small Island Developing States (SIDs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)" during the Ministerial Special Session of Forty-Fourth Session of Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, Foreign Minister Rana highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable countries.

“Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states are at great risk of climate change. It is also adversely affecting agricultural production and livelihoods," she said. 

She referred to the "Sagarmatha Sambaad" recently held in Nepal, which brought together global leaders, fostering global collaboration on climate change issues.

Furthermore, Minister Rana stressed the need for climate adaptation financial assistance, early warning systems and development of rural infrastructure for the Himalayan countries to address these challenges, calling for international investment and capacity building with accessible and inclusive measures.

“Only technology, collaboration and solidarity can bridge the gap between potential and achievement. Nepal has always called for the promotion of South-South and North-South cooperation, technology transfer, market access and expansion, and access to financial resources”, she mentioned.

Highlighting the growing challenges facing vulnerable countries, Minister Rana stressed that shared crises such as food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate change are reversing achievements made so far. 

She noted that Nepal continues to face multifaceted challenges such as climate-related disasters, weak infrastructure, biodiversity loss, and limited access to technology and finance.

The Minister reiterated Nepal's commitment to FAO's 'The Four Betters'--Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life--as guiding principles in transforming the country's agricultural system. 

Under Better Production, Nepal is scaling up climate-smart farming, high-value mountain crops, and local innovation to modernize value chains, and under Better Nutrition, the country is promoting diverse, safe, and nutrient-rich foods, especially in rural and vulnerable communities.

Under Better Environment, Nepal is prioritising agroecology, regenerative agriculture, sustainable soil and water management and biodiversity conservation to restore ecosystems.

In line with Better Life, the country has focused on promoting decent livelihood, rural development, and social protection and promoting employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. It is also focused on empowerment of women, youth, smallholders and marginalised communities and enhancing public services, infrastructures and safety nets in rural communities.

Foreign Minister Rana opined that more than 60 percent of the workforce in Nepal is engaged in the agricultural sector, which contributes 23 percent to the Gross Domestic Product, adding that agriculture is not only a means of employment but also a means of nutrition and livelihood. 

The Madhes Province government is initiating a tree plantation campaign to prevent the destruction of the Chure region and to protect the environment.

Under the campaign, the Madhes Province government will plant 8.6 million saplings of various varieties of trees.

The Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment of the provincial government, Uddhav Bahadur Ghimire, said that the campaign aims to plant 400, 000  saplings only along the roadside in the province.

"In the current fiscal year, the tree plantation would be carried out on 50 kilometers of roadside and an area of 278 hectares," Ghimire added. 

The Ministry stated that out of 8.6 million saplings, 6.2 million plants will be produced from the provincial government's budget and the remaining through conditional grants from the federal government.

He said that those plants will be distributed to the public free of charge. Among the produced plants, about eight percent will be planted in areas under government forests and the division forest offices, while the remaining 80 percent will be planted on private land.

The provincial government has set the long-term goal of maintaining environmental balance along with the expansion of greenery through this initiative.

 It is believed that this campaign will contribute positively to the conservation of forests, the protection of the Chure region, the prevention of river and land erosion, and environmental protection and improvement.

According to Anil Sah, the Forest Officer of the Division Forest Office Dhanusha, the planting of 4,400 saplings has already begun on both sides of the Janakpur-Dhalkebar road section in Dhanusha district.

Israel has carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, triggering the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses say, BBC reported.

Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, while dozens of injured civilians were evacuated to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, according to local reports.

The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March. 

It comes amid increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, according to BBC.

Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people and injured dozens as continuing severe weather similar to past emergenicies remains possible, officials said Monday, Associated Press reported.

The fatalities caused by abnormally strong downpours since Tuesday include 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 in eastern Punjab province, seven in southern Sindh and four in southwestern Balochistan, National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said.

“We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures,” said Irfan Virk, a Pakistan Meteorological Department deputy director, according to Associated Press.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 11. 99 points to close at 2,634. 27 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2. 70 points to close at 451. 30 points.

A total of 14,172,535-unit shares of 318 companies were traded for Rs 6. 38 billion.

Meanwhile, Rapti Hydro And General Construction Limited (RHGCL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 97 percent.

Likewise, Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Ltd (PMHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 92 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 48 trillion.