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UK has resumed processing Syrian asylum claims, seven months after halting them following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for over two decades, according to BBC.

Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle said decisions can now move forward as clearer information is available, allowing some cases to proceed and possible returns to Syria to begin. Over 7,000 Syrians had been left in limbo, many in temporary accommodation.

More than 20 have already returned voluntarily, and enforced returns could start later this year. New guidance states that general unrest in Syria isn’t enough to claim asylum—each case must show personal risk, BBC reported.

Certain groups, like Alawites and Kurds in Turkish-backed areas, may still face danger. Refugee organisations welcomed the move but warned Syria remains unsafe for many and urged fair, case-by-case reviews.

The Pentagon has signed a $200m deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to deploy its Grok chatbot across government departments. Part of the “Grok for Government” program, the contract supports the Trump administration’s push for expanded AI use in national security, BBC reported.

Grok 4, the latest version, will be integrated into classified systems with custom tools and support. Similar $200m contracts were awarded to Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI.

The deal comes days after Grok faced backlash for antisemitic outputs. Musk blamed the issue on the bot being “too compliant” and said fixes are underway.

Though Musk recently resigned from his government role after clashing with Trump over spending policy, xAI continues to deepen its federal ties, according to BBC.

The US Supreme Court has approved President Donald Trump’s plan to lay off nearly 1,400 employees at the Department of Education, in a 6-3 ruling that overturned a lower court block.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the decision a “significant win,” supporting Trump’s push to downsize the federal government and shift education control to the states, Firstpost reported.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, issued a strong dissent, warning the move could undermine civil rights enforcement and overstep Congress’s authority.

Democratic-led states including California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, along with national teachers’ unions, have filed lawsuits arguing the layoffs threaten student loans, special education, and funding for low-income schools. School officials warn of severe disruptions nationwide, according to Firstpost.

US President Donald Trump has delivered a stern ultimatum to Moscow: stop the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face sweeping 100 percent tariffs, as well as penalties on countries that continue to trade with Russia, BBC reported.

Speaking at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump confirmed a significant arms deal in which billions of dollars in US military equipment, including Patriot missile systems, will be supplied to NATO and quickly delivered to Ukraine. Rutte described it as a "big step," noting that numerous European governments have already committed funding.

Though Trump began his second term aiming for a quick peace with Russian President Putin, he now appears frustrated by Russia’s escalating aggression. “We’re very, very unhappy,” he told reporters.

Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg met with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Ukraine, who welcomed the renewed support and discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, according to BBC.

Meanwhile, Russian forces seized more territory in eastern Ukraine as drone and missile strikes pushed civilian casualties to a three-year high. In response, Zelensky proposed naming Yulia Svyrydenko as prime minister, calling it a “crucial time” for Ukraine.

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.