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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the general public to refrain from non-essential travel and stay in safe areas.

His appeal comes amidst the Weather Forecasting Division’s prediction of heavy and widespread rainfall across the country while directing the security personnel to remain on alert.

He also urged the concerned authorities of the federal, provincial and local governments to remain active in minimizing the damage caused by potential disasters including floods, landslides and inundation.

Taking to social media, Prime Minister Oli said, “The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted heavy rain in various parts of the country this afternoon. He urged the people to stay informed through updates from the security agencies to take necessary precautions to avoid monsoon-induced disasters. I would like to request all to avoid unnecessary travel and direct the security agencies to remain on alert.”

Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority had urged the people to be cautious, saying that there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in various parts of the country from July 19-21.  

The UK Ministry of Defence has said it will not compensate thousands of Afghans whose personal details were leaked in 2022 but who were not evacuated. Over 19,000 names were exposed, sparking fears of Taliban retribution, according to BBC.

An independent review found it unlikely that being on the leaked list alone would make someone a target. Defence Secretary John Healey has since lifted a super-injunction that had kept the breach confidential.

Law firm Barings Law is preparing legal action on behalf of over 1,000 affected Afghans. One former UK military worker, now in Britain, said his family—still in Afghanistan—remains in hiding and urged the government to prioritise their relocation.

More than 16,000 people were deemed at risk from the leak. The UK has spent £400m on Afghan resettlement so far, with total costs expected to rise to £6bn, BBC reported.

New Zealand and Canada have resolved a dairy trade dispute under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), with the deal expected to boost New Zealand’s dairy exports by up to NZ$157m (US$93.8m) annually, according to Xinhua.

The dispute began in 2022 over Canada’s import restrictions, which a dispute panel found breached CPTPP rules. Canada agreed to revise its dairy quota system after New Zealand threatened tariffs in 2024.

The new arrangement improves market access, allows reallocation of unused quotas, and introduces penalties for misuse. New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay said the outcome reinforces fair trade and welcomed Canada’s cooperation, Xinhua reported.

At least 20 people were injured, some critically, after a vehicle struck a crowd outside a music venue on West Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood early Saturday.

The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. near the Vermont nightclub. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, four to five victims are in critical condition, while others sustained moderate to minor injuries, BBC reported.

Footage from the scene showed debris and the wreckage of a grey car scattered across the road, as emergency crews responded swiftly. The vehicle involved has not yet been identified.

Netflix has used generative AI to create visual effects in its Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut — a first for the streaming platform. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the technology helped produce a building collapse scene in Buenos Aires, completing it ten times faster and at lower cost than traditional methods, BBC reported.

Sarandos noted that such effects would have been too costly for the show’s budget without AI. While the results were praised by the creators, the use of AI remains controversial in the industry due to concerns over job security and creative ownership.

Netflix also reported a 16 percent rise in quarterly revenue to $11bn, boosted by the final season of Squid Game, which has drawn 122m views, according to BBC.

Industry voices acknowledge AI’s growing role in visual effects, especially for smaller studios, but stress that creative control still lies with the artists.

US tech firm Astronomer has placed CEO Andy Byron on leave following a viral video from a Coldplay concert showing a man and woman embracing and then ducking away when shown on the big screen. Online speculation linked the pair to Byron and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, according to BBC.

In a statement, Astronomer confirmed an internal investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to leadership accountability. Co-founder Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO. The company clarified that no official statements were made by Byron and that no other employees were involved.

Syria will deploy new forces to the south to stop deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups, the presidency announced Friday. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged restraint and pledged to protect the Druze community, blaming “outlaw groups” for rejecting dialogue, according to BBC.

Over 700 people have died since violence erupted near Suweida on Sunday, with reports accusing government troops of killing civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Israel reportedly struck Syrian positions to pressure a withdrawal from the area. A ceasefire deal between Syria and Israel, brokered with support from Turkey and Jordan, was announced by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, though both sides have yet to confirm it publicly.

Israel also agreed to a 48-hour entry of Syrian Internal Security Forces into Suweida to protect Druze civilians.

UN human rights Chief Volker Turk condemned the violence and called for accountability, citing credible reports of summary executions by both state forces and local armed groups, BBC reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syria’s interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa have reached a ceasefire agreement, according to US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack. The truce, announced Saturday, is supported by Turkey, Jordan, and other neighboring countries.

Barrack urged all Syrian communities, including Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis, to lay down arms and work toward a peaceful, united future for Syria, Xinhua reported.