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DeerHack 2025, a student-led hackathon organized by the Deerwalk Institute of Technology (DWIT), concluded on July 13 after three days of coding, collaboration, and technical workshops. Billed as Nepal’s largest student-organized hackathon, the event brought together aspiring developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts from across the country.

The hackathon opened with a pre-event session that included a keynote address by data consultant Mala Deep Upadhaya, followed by networking activities and team-building games. Participants from outside the capital were hosted near Bhaktapur Durbar Square, allowing them to experience the area's cultural heritage.

Throughout the main event at the DWIT Complex in Sifal, participants worked in teams to develop tech-based solutions. The program featured technical mentorship, interactive sessions, and workshops, including one on GitHub and version control. Several sponsors set up stalls, and brand activations were conducted by CF MOTO and other partners.

The final day of DeerHack 2025 focused on project presentations, where participating teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. After careful evaluation, winners were announced across various categories. Team SAGEA was declared the overall winner of the hackathon. Team NASCENT won in the Interactive Technology category, while Tech Tacticos was recognized for their work in Data Science and Machine Learning. The Open Innovation category was won by Techtonics, and Team Syntax was awarded in the Ed-Tech category.

The event was supported by multiple partners, including Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB), Annapurna Media Network, Devfolio, and others. Organizers say DeerHack 2025 aimed to foster innovation and problem-solving skills among students while promoting a collaborative tech ecosystem.

Researcher and children’s author Indra Chaudhary’s new book ‘Sudurpaschimka Tharu Sanskriti ra Lokkatha’ (Tharu Culture and Folktales of Sudurpaschim) was officially launched on Sunday. The event coincided with the 212th birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya and was held in Dhangadhi. Published by the Sudurpaschim Academy, the book was jointly unveiled by Meghraj Khadka, Minister for Social Development of Sudurpaschim Province, and the academy’s Vice-chancellor TN Joshi, among others.

Speaking at the event, VC Joshi expressed delight over the publication, highlighting the Tharu community as a key ethnic group in the province. He stated, “Sudurpaschim Academy has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the art, culture, language, and traditions of various indigenous communities in the region. This book is a step in that direction, and we aim to publish similar works on other communities in the coming year.”

Minister Khadka also praised the Academy’s efforts in documenting and preserving local heritage. Author Chaudhary expressed gratitude to the Academy for entrusting him with the research project. “It was an honor to be given the opportunity to study Tharu culture in my own province. This collaboration with the provincial government has been truly fulfilling and has further motivated me to pursue deeper research,” he said.

The book is divided into three sections: an introduction to the Tharu community, a brief history of their folktales, and a compilation of twenty traditional Tharu folktales. Chaudhary mentioned that most of the stories included had never been published before. He collected narratives from elder community members, including 76-year-old Laughari Dagoura, 78-year-old Kalimaya Dagoura, and 55-year-old Rampyari Dagoura.

This is Chaudhary’s seventh publication, with his previous works also focusing on the folk culture of the Tharu and Rana Tharu communities. The book’s cover was illustrated by emerging artist Deepak Chaudhary.

Poet and professor Bandana Mishra ‘Madhu’ officially launched her debut poetry collection Kabitako Annaprashan on Sunday in Kathmandu. The book was jointly unveiled by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Rana Magar, journalist Namrata Sharma, writer and journalist Rohit Bhandari, and publisher Roshna Subedi Mishra.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Speaker Magar said the book carries an inspiring message for women, especially with a daughter-in-law supporting her mother-in-law to publish a poetry collection. “Such mutual support among women fosters harmony, strengthens relationships, and encourages more literary pursuits,” she said, adding that Mishra’s effort to learn Nepali and publish a book after moving to Nepal from India was truly commendable.

She also shared her own passion for writing poetry and songs but admitted she has yet to publish them. “This book is a personal inspiration for me,” she added. “If Bandana ji can learn the language and bring her thoughts to life in a book, so can I—and so can many others.”

Author Mishra shared that she moved to Nepal from India in 1986 and gradually learned the Nepali language, which enabled her to express herself through poetry. “This book is just the beginning. I will continue contributing to literature,” she said, crediting her family’s support for helping turn her words into a published collection. Journalists Sharma and Bhandari also offered critical reflections on the book during the launch event.

Nine people died and over 30 were hospitalized after a fire broke out Sunday night at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts. One person remains in critical condition, according to CNN.

Fire crews arrived at the Gabriel House to find heavy flames at the entrance. Around 70 residents were inside. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries.

A support center has been set up for families, while investigators work to determine the cause, CNN reported.

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS), is returning to Earth aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which undocked on Monday. Splashdown is expected off the California coast on 15 July at 3:00 PM IST, Xinhua reported.

Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot, was part of the four-member Ax-4 crew that arrived at the ISS on 26 June. The team conducted 60 scientific experiments, including seven from India’s space agency ISRO.

Shukla is only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma in 1984. His mission, backed by ISRO, is seen as a key step toward India’s upcoming human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, planned for 2027, according to Xinhua.

Three schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails on Monday, triggering swift action from authorities. The targeted institutions included two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) schools in Prashant Vihar and Dwarka Sector 16, and an Indian Navy school in Chanakyapuri, Xinhua reported.

Police teams, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, conducted thorough searches at all three locations. Nothing suspicious was found, and the threats were confirmed to be hoaxes. An investigation is underway to trace the source of the emails through their IP addresses.

Similar hoax threats in the past have caused widespread disruption in schools, hospitals, airlines, and hotels across India, according to Xinhua.

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called on the European Union to take firm action if ongoing trade talks with the United States fail. His remarks, published Sunday in Sueddeutsche Zeitung, follow US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30 percent tariff on EU imports starting August 1, according to Xinhua.

Klingbeil warned that Germany would not remain passive if negotiations break down, stating that preparations for countermeasures are already underway. He stressed the need for a fair trade agreement, saying, “Trump’s tariffs produce only losers,” and urged an end to escalating tensions.

He also noted that Germany will accelerate efforts to diversify its global trade partnerships. The US is currently Germany’s largest export market, with exports totaling €161bn in 2024 and a trade surplus of nearly €70bn, Xinhua reported.

Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ Superman, directed by James Gunn, debuted at the top of the North American box office this weekend with $122m. The reboot, starring David Corenswet, earned $95m overseas, pushing its global opening to $217m, according to Xinhua.

The film holds an 82 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences.

In second place, Jurassic World Rebirth earned $40m in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $232.1m and global gross to $529.5m.

Warner Bros. and Apple’s F1: The Movie placed third with $13m, reaching $136.2m domestically, Xinhua reported.