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National Voluntary Organisations Active in Disaster (VOAD) honored Prabin Sharma with the 2025 Empowering Community Resilience Award amidst a ceremony held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Sharma is a Nepali doctoral student pursuing a PhD in Information Science with a specialisation in Emergency Management and Disaster Science at the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Founded after the devastating Hurricane Camille in 1969, National VOAD began as a coalition of seven national disaster relief organisations.

The Empowering Community Resilience Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to strengthening community resilience in the face of disasters.

The European Union officially lifted nearly all economic sanctions on Syria Wednesday, following a political agreement announced on May 20. The Council of the EU confirmed the decision, emphasizing its goal to support Syria’s recovery and political transition after years of conflict.

The sanctions, which were imposed more than a decade ago to put pressure on the Syrian government during the civil war, will be lifted in order to permit humanitarian supplies, boost reconstruction, and stabilize the Syrian economy. This marks a significant shift in the EU’s approach to the war-torn country, Reuters reported.

Government primary school teachers in Bangladesh began an indefinite strike from Monday, joining public sector workers in opposing a new legislation that allows federal servants to be dismissed without due process, Reuters reported.

The interim administration, which has been led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, is facing increasing criticism from teachers, civil personnel, political groups, and the military.

The ordinance has provoked countrywide protests, with activists calling for its immediate repeal. Following widespread criticism, the administration reversed its decision to disband the National Board of Revenue.

Yunus has proposed elections by June 2026, but opposition parties and the army are pushing for polls by December 2025. Political tensions escalated after the Awami League’s registration was suspended, barring it from the next election, according to Reuters.

Yunus has held talks with key political parties to ease the crisis.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has claimed that he has no involvement in the visit visa scandal.

Organising a press conference at Lhotse Hall of the Federal Parliament building on Wednesday, he said that the allegations of his involvement in the visit visa scam were false.

“The allegations levelled against me are completely baseless. I have no involvement in this. I have been attacked in a premeditated way. This attack is driven by political bias,” the Home Minister said.

Saying that his political and personal life is public, he said that everyone is watching him publicly.

Home Minister Lekhak organised a press conference to make his opinion public after the opposition parties prevented him from speaking in the Parliament.

Earlier, the Parliament meeting held today was postponed following the obstruction from the opposition parties.

The opposition parties have been obstructing the Parliament for the past few days demanding resignation of Home Minister Lekhak.

Moscow announced on Tuesday that it will soon send a draft peace memorandum to Ukraine, detailing key principles for a potential settlement. The document is expected to cover the terms of a ceasefire, the timing of a possible peace agreement, and other crucial points, according to Xinhua.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova claimed that Russia is currently finalizing the proposal and expects a response draft from Ukraine.

The move comes after a recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, in which both leaders agreed that Russia would draft the inaugural peace memorandum for Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

Ireland is advancing draft legislation to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, following its official recognition of a Palestinian state last year.

Prime Minister Michael Martin urged the international community to put pressure on Israel to cease the humanitarian crisis immediately. Foreign Minister Simon Harris acknowledged that the measure would prohibit imports from the settlements while possibly excluding services. The legislation will be reviewed by a parliamentary committee in the coming weeks before a final vote, according to Xinhua.

As Israel escalates its military campaign in Gaza, an increasing number of European nations are voicing strong criticism and demanding concrete measures in response.

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson called on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka in Singha Durbar today.

On the occasion, they discussed various aspects of energy cooperation between the two countries and the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project.

During the meeting, Energy Minister Khadka stated that although the projects being carried out under the MCC project are progressing, the MCC has been on hold for some time, which has created some uncertainty.

He expressed the confidence that the MCC project would be continued and expected US's additional assistance in the energy sector.

In response, US Ambassador Thompson said the United States will continue to support and cooperate in Nepal's energy sector. He mentioned that all possible initiatives and efforts are being made to advance the MCC project.

He urged for the support that needs to be provided by the Government of Nepal to continually advance the projects being carried out under the MCC.

As per an agreement signed under the MCC, the US is supposed to invest 500 million dollars while Nepal would spend 197 million dollars for the MCC-funded MCA project.

Under this project, the construction of the 400 kV transmission line and associated substations will take place from Lapsiphedi–Ratmate, Ratmate–Damauli, Damauli–Butwal, and Butwal to the Nepal–India border (Gorakhpur).

Representatives of MCC and the MCA as well as the Ministry's senior officials were present at the meeting.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has condemned Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, calling it a “disproportionate use of force” and “intolerable.” She urged an immediate ceasefire to enable hostage releases and support a lasting peace, according to Xinhua.

Kallas criticized strikes against civilian infrastructure and highlighted that aid for humanity should not be politicized. She advocated for the immediate and unrestrained delivery of aid to Gaza. She also denounced rising settler violence in the West Bank and attacks on Palestinians during Jerusalem Day marches, urging Israel to hold perpetrators accountable.

The Israeli offensive follows the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, where over 54,000 have been killed, Xinhua reported.