Zelenskiy says he discussed air defence, sanctions with Trump in Vatican meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed air defence systems and sanctions on Russia with Donald Trumpon the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, in what he called the best meeting the two had ever had, Reuters reported.
In comments released by his presidential administration, Zelenskiy also said he and the U.S. president agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards ending the war in Ukraine.
He said he raised the topic of sanctions with Trump at the impromptu meeting last week, and that Trump's response on this question was “very strong”. Zelenskiy did not give specifics.
He also said the critical minerals deal signed by the two countries on Wednesday was mutually beneficial, and that it would allow Ukraine to defend future U.S. investments, as well as its own territory and people.
The accord, heavily touted by Trump, will give the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and unleash U.S. investment in Ukraine's reconstruction, according to Reuters.
Government’s policies and programs to be discussed in lower house
The annual policies and programs of the government for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 will be discussed at the House of Representatives for six days.
President Ram Chandra Paudel presented the government's policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 BS in the joint meeting of both Houses of the federal Parliament earlier this afternoon.
In the second meeting of the House of Representatives, Speaker Devraj Ghimire informed the MPs that the dates for deliberations on the government's policies and programs and response from the Prime Minister have been set for May 5 to 11.
He also urged the concerned parties to provide the names of the lawmakers to the Business Advisory Unit one hour before the commencement of the meeting, so that the discussion on the policies and programs can be held on the basis of party representation.
Speaker Ghimire informed lawmakers who want to propose amendments to the policies and programs to inform the same to the Business Advisory Section between 11 am and 3 pm on May 3 and 4.
The House of Representatives will meet next on May 5.
Earlier, the government's policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/083 was tabled in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tabled a copy of the President's address to the joint meeting of both Housed of the Federal Parliament
Israeli military strikes near Syria’s presidential palace after warning over sectarian attacks
Israel’s air force struck near Syria’s presidential palace early Friday hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria, Associated Press reported.
The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded.
Friday’s strike was Israel’s second on Syria this week, and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria’s new leadership that is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
On Thursday, Syria’s Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticized Syria’s government for what he called an “unjustified genocidal attack” on the minority community, according to Associated Press.
Japan says massive Treasury stockpile among tools for US trade talks
Japan could use its $1 trillion-plus holdings of U.S. Treasuries as a card in trade talks with Washington, its finance minister said on Friday, raising explicitly for the first time its leverage as a massive creditor to the United States, Reuters reported.
While Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato did not threaten to sell holdings, his remarks touch on a critical concern global investors have about what Japan and China, the two largest owners of U.S. government debt, might do in seeking tariff concessions from the Trump administration.
The Treasury market saw a huge global sell-off last month after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on April 2 to slap sweeping tariffs on trading partners, including key strategic allies such as Japan.
Kato said in a television interview the primary purpose of Japan's U.S. Treasury holdings - the largest in the world - is to ensure it has sufficient liquidity to conduct yen intervention when necessary, according to Reuters.
Weather to remain partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today
There is an influence of westerly and local winds in the country now.
According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the water vapour-rich air entering from the Bay of Bengal has also had a partial impact.
The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today. There are also chances of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places of the hilly regions of Koshi and other provinces.
The weather bulletin also noted that one or two places of the mountainous regions of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces are likely to have light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning.
Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces tonight.
Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces. Likewise, light rain and snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the mountainous region of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces..
President Paudel to present government’s policies and programs today
The government's policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year are to be presented in the joint session of the Federal Parliament on Friday.
President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to present the policies and programs in the joint meeting of both Houses of the federal Parliament.
The meeting of both Houses of the federal Parliament has been summoned for 3 pm today.
Secretary General of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Padma Prasad Pandey said that the tentative agenda of the joint meeting has been fixed.
As per the Article 95 of the Constitution, the President shall address the joint sitting of both Houses of the federal Parliament..
Speaker Devraj Ghimire has already urged the members of the House of Representatives to be present in the prescribed attire and take their seats by 2:45 pm.
Discussions have already been held among the ruling political parties to bring policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year focusing on the measures to make the economy more circular.
Similarly, it is believed that the policies and programs will focus on instilling hope among the youth, promoting entrepreneurship, skill, startups and business plans, and increasing the government's expenditure and maintaining good governance.
The Federal Parliament Secretariat has already set the agenda to discuss and pass the government's policies and programs during May 5 to 11.
Similarly, discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill – also taken as a pre-budget discussion will begin on May 13.
The Finance Minister will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the joint sitting of the federal Parliament on May 29.
Nepali envoy Ghimire presents credentials
Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, Chandra Kumar Ghimire has presented his letters of credence to King Charles III.
He presented the letters amidst a special ceremony held at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon.
During the audience after presenting the letters, the King recalled his historic visits to Nepal at various times and informed that the British government has given priority to accelerating Nepal's development endeavours.
According to the Embassy of Nepal in London, the British King expressed satisfaction over his country's rewarding relations with Nepal, saying it was cordial and mutually beneficial.
Affirming happiness over the unwavering friendship between the two countries, Ambassador Ghimire expressed gratitude for the support received from the United Kingdom for Nepal's socio-economic development.
Also on the occasion, Ambassador Ghimire conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for personal well being of the King and for the continued prosperity of the friendly people of the United Kingdom.
Ambassador Ghimire was accompanied to the credential ceremony by his spouse Sarita Neupane Ghimire and senior diplomats from the Embassy.
Chelsea hammer Djurgarden 4-1 in Conference League semi-final first leg
Goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke and a brace from Nicholas Jackson gave Chelsea a comfortable 4-1 win over Swedish side Djurgarden on a tricky artificial pitch in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final on Thursday, Reuters reported.
Sancho opened the scoring in the 12th minute, taking possession just outside the six-yard box before cutting inside to shoot, and defender Marcus Danielsson’s attempt to clear only helped the ball into the back of the net, briefly silencing the passionate home crowd.
Madueke doubled their lead before the break with a controlled first-time finish, stroking home a pass from Enzo Fernandez, with the home side's Tokmac Nguen going close in first-half stoppage time with a rare effort on target for Djurgarden.
With the game under control and one eye on Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool, Enzo Maresca made four changes at the break, and substitute Jackson made the most of a defensive mix-up to score in the 59th minute, according to Reuters.
