Heavy rainfall likely in Koshi and Bagmati Provinces
The monsoon effect is active across the country at present. It will be generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces, while remaining places will be partly cloudy later this afternoon.
The weather bulletin issued by the Weather Forecasting Division stated that a few places in Koshi and Bagmati Provinces are predicted to have heavy rainfall today. Light to moderate rainfall is forecast in other provinces.
There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces tonight.
Some places in other provinces are likely to have light to moderate rainfall coupled with thunder and lightning, according to the weather service.
Oman plans to impose personal income tax, a first among Gulf states
Oman plans to levy personal income tax as part of a broader push to move the sultanate’s economy away from reliance on hydrocarbons, Associated Press reported.
The tax would be a first among the six-member oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council. The 5% tax will start in 2028 and will only be required of those who make upward of $109,000 annually — the top 1% of earners in Oman.
The plan was issued Sunday by royal decree and reported by the official Oman News Agency.
It’s unclear whether this will inspire other nations in the area to follow suit, though the International Monetary Fund has predicted that Gulf states may need to impose new taxes in the coming years to diversify government revenues.
The lack of income tax so far has been a boon for development in the Gulf, helping to attract migrant workers to the region, according to Associated Press.
The largest digital camera ever built has released its first shots of the universe
The largest digital camera ever built released its first shots of the universeMonday — including colorful nebulas, stars and galaxies, Associated Press reported.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, was built to take a deeper look at the night sky, covering hidden corners. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy, it will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years.
The observatory’s first look features the vibrant Trifid and Lagoon nebulas located thousands of light-years from Earth. A light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles. A gaggle of galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster were also captured, including two bright blue spirals.
The observatory hopes to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects, according to Associated Press.
KU, SiHP launch two-year MA in History and Philosophy
A two-year MA in History and Philosophy course (MAHP) has been launched by Kathmandu University (KU) and the Southasia Institute for History and Philosophy (SIHP), geared for aspiring scholars and practitioners from Nepal and internationally. The call for applications has been announced for courses starting in October 2025 and in April 2026.
Speaking at the launch event on June 19, which brought together faculty and scholars from various institutions, KU Vice Chancellor Professor Achyut Wagle said: “The new MA programme is geared to understanding these times, which are turbulent for both people and the planet. The course marks a milestone in Nepal’s higher education, and we look forward to welcoming national and international students for two years of rigorous learning aimed at producing future thinkers with humanism.”
Historian Yogesh Raj, Academic Director at SiHP, noted: “The MA programme seeks to consolidate the emancipatory ideals of the humanities while correcting their dominant anthropocentric perspectives. The course structure promotes historically grounded and philosophically informed research, policy and advocacy enquiries. It helps foster plural notions of Southasia among the public and inclusive configurations of Southasian studies in academia.”
According to SiHP, the MA course is useful for those seeking careers in humanities research and instruction, as well as a wide range of possibilities from policy analysis, diplomacy, public service, media to social activism. The course will develop scholars able to countenance problems and advance solutions from local, national and Subcontinental perspectives.
MAHP’s 60-credit course has been tailored to Himalayan and Southasian socio-ecological realities and aspirations. The curriculum includes foundational and advanced courses in History and Philosophy, and elective courses in Society, Technology and Environment.
Prospective candidates for the MA course can come from a variety of academic streams, and need to take SiHP’s Advanced Level Test for Humanities in Southasia exam (ALT-HuS). The instruction fee for the course is set at Rs 6 lakh for Nepali nationals (Rs 9 lakh for SAARC region, Rs 12 lakh for elsewhere). Full to partial fellowships are available to Nepali students based on merit, inclusion and need.
The application deadline for the October 2025 course is 25 July 2025.
