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French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday for the first time in over two years, touching on Iran’s nuclear program and the war in Ukraine, according to Xinhua.

Macron urged Iran’s full cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, stressing shared global responsibility under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Putin, in turn, defended Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy while backing continued IAEA engagement.

When it came to Ukraine, Macron said again that France supported the country's independence and called for peace talks and an end to the fighting. Putin condemned Western armaments support for escalating the war and urged for long-term solutions based on present geographical realities, Xinhua reported.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a "30% or 35%" tariff on Japan if a deal between the two countries is not reached before a deadline next week, BBC reported.

That would be well above the 24% tariff Japan was hit with as part of Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" on 2 April, when he announced steep import duties on countries around the world.

The tariffs on most trading partners were later lowered to 10% for 90 days to give them time to negotiate deals with Washington.

That pause is due to expire on 9 July and Trump has said he is not thinking of extending the deadline, according to BBC.

The physical progress of the Narayangadh-Butwal road construction project has reached 69 percent only, even as the deadline extended for the third time is about to expire

The work on the expansion of the Narayangadh-Butwal road is being carried out by China State Construction Corporation Pvt. Ltd.  and the deadline extended for the third time is coming to an end on July 24.

According to the Information Officer of the Project, Shiva Khanal, the process of extending the deadline for the fourth time has begun, which is to be done for one more year.

Meanwhile, the new bridge over the Binayi River in Dumkibas will be operational in two to three days. If the new bridge is operational, it will provide relief to drivers and passengers who have been suffering due to the diversion, washed away multiple times to frequent floods caused by rain.

Project Information Officer Khanal said that the work ahead will focus on making transportation easier in the Daunne section of the Narayangadh-Butwal road section. Only maintenance work is being done to ensure smooth operation of traffic by stopping other works including culvert construction.

Passengers have been suffering for a long time due to the important highway expansion project not being completed on time.

An oil-drilling ship capsized in the Gulf of Suez, killing at least four crewmen and leaving four others missing, authorities said Wednesday, Associated Press reported.

The drilling ship overturned Tuesday evening off the city of Ras Ghareb, on the African side of the Gulf of Suez, the Red Sea’s northwestern arm and a crucial shipping route, the Petroleum Ministry said in a statement.

There were 30 workers on board when the drilling ship capsized, said Amr Hanafy, governor of the Red Sea province.

Rescue teams recovered four bodies and rescued two 22 others who were taken to hospitals, he said, according to Associated Press.

Ram Ayodhya Yadav, a member in the Second Constituent Assembly (2013), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 72.

He had been suffering from kidney-related complications and breathed his last at Healthcare Hospital in Birgunj, according to his son, Dr Jitendra Yadav.

Yadav was elected to the 2013 Constituent Assembly from Bara-1, representing the Nepali Congress (NC).

He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed profound sorrow over the demise of Yadav.

In a statement issued today, Deuba extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, stating that the party would always remember Yadav’s contributions to strengthening the party organization.

He said that with Yadav's demise, the party has lost an experienced and leading political figure.

International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The signing ceremony took place during NCC’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration, marking 75 years of its contribution to Nepal’s private sector development.

President of IRGDD Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal and NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal signed the MoU during a formal ceremony attended by representatives from both institutions and dignitaries.

The agreement formalizes a shared vision to advance Nepal’s global economic presence through collaborative efforts in trade diplomacy, diaspora engagement, research, policy advocacy, and strategic promotion, reads a statement issued by IRGDD. 

The signing event featured the ceremonial exchange of The Diplomat Nepal magazine and the NCC publication, along with a visit to the Raj Bahadur Memorial Hall, paying tribute to NCC’s founding legacy.

On the occasion, Dr Dhakal emphasized the importance of aligning diplomacy with national economic objectives. She said that the “economy is vital to boost the country's development" and proposed that Nepal’s future lies in leveraging economic diplomacy as a core tool of international engagement.

Introducing the term “Eco-politics,” she added that the economy now leads politics in shaping global agendas. She also underscored the need to improve the marketability of Nepali products through enhanced quality control, adherence to global standards, and better promotion.

NCC President Agrawal echoed this vision, highlighting Nepal’s untapped economic potential in sectors like tourism, IT, hydropower, and natural resources. He pointed out that Nepal is already part of a global economic ecosystem that does not recognize political boundaries, urging stronger and more actionable engagement with the international community, according to the statement. 

The MoU outlines a five-year non-binding partnership focused on strengthening Nepal’s role in global trade and investment networks. It calls for the formation of a Joint Coordination Committee to oversee progress and conduct a mid-term review within six months. This partnership reflects a broader national commitment to contribute meaningfully to Nepal’s growth through coordinated diplomatic and private sector engagement.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will continue after his death, ending years of speculation that started when he indicated that he might be the last person to hold the role, Associated Press reported.

Speaking at prayer celebrations ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism said that the next Dalai Lama should be found and recognized as per past Buddhist traditions, while signalling that China should stay away from the process of identifying his successor.

The Dalai Lama’s succession plan is politically consequential for most Tibetans who oppose China’s tight control of Tibet and have struggled to keep their identity alive, in their homeland or in exile. It is also profound for Tibetan Buddhists who worship him as a living manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddhist god of compassion, according to Associated Press.

The Lumbini provincial government has stopped payments 15 days prior to the end of the current fiscal year after exhausting its accumulated funds. The Lumbini Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning has apprised the Provincial Treasury Comptroller Office of the matter.

The decision will affect many construction entrepreneurs who were expecting to receive their payments by this fiscal’s end. Most of the offices under the province have already informed construction entrepreneurs they cannot pay beyond July 9.

The provincial government has consistently adopted a deficit budget, shifting the liability to the next fiscal year. For the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, it has proposed a deficit budget of about Rs 7bn. However, payments for schemes funded by the Government of Nepal’s conditional, special and complementary grant sources have not been stopped. These include matching funds from provincial sources in complementary grant projects; provincial contributions in foreign-funded projects under conditional grant; and provincial consolidated funds, including salaries, allowances, and operational expenses.

Payments for all other schemes were suspended from June 29.  If it is extremely necessary to spend, the ministry has issued a circular stating funds can be spent or disbursed with valid justification for doing so. The sudden freezing of accounts has affected the plans of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, which accounts for a significant portion of the development budget. The ministry has allocated a budget of Rs 9.9bn for the upcoming fiscal year.

After the sudden payment freeze, the Rupandehi Road Infrastructure Development Office has been unable to pay Rs 35m owed to 25 projects. “The liability had been transferred in the previous fiscal year as well,” said Office Chief and Senior Divisional Engineer Lalu Giri. “This year too, it seems that the liability will be transferred. Construction entrepreneurs are working in the field. There is a written agreement. However, there is no way to pay for them.”

Senior Engineer Deepak Khadka, chief of the Banke Road Infrastructure Development Office, said payments worth around Rs 20m are pending. “Construction entrepreneurs are demanding payments, but we have no answers,” he said.

The Pyuthan Road Infrastructure Development Office has been unable to pay Rs 10.5m for eight projects. “We had agreed to clear the payments by June 8, but the account was unexpectedly frozen,” said Senior Engineer Chandra Shah. 

The Provincial Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act mandates closure of accounts a week before July third week. The provincial government has disregarded this provision.Sources estimate that the provincial government owes Rs 1.5bn for completed works.