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The government has recommended President Bidya Devi Bhandari to convene the budget session on May 17.

A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to recommend the President to call the budget session.

There is a constitutional provision for the President to convene a meeting on the recommendation of the Cabinet.

By securing 99.16 percent supportive votes from the Election Committee members who cast their votes on Sunday, the sole candidate John Lee Ka-chiu was elected as the sixth-term Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), The Global Times reported.

The highly expected Chief Executive Election for Hong Kong, the first CE election since the implementation of electoral reform which aims to ensure only patriots governing Hong Kong, kicked off on Sunday as most of 1,461 Election Committee (EC) members cast their ballots at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. 

The overall voting process started from 9 am and concluded at 11:30 am, going smoothly and being organized in the eyes of some EC members. The central government is expected to formally appoint him as Hong Kong's next chief executive soon.  

In total, 1,428 Election Committee members cast their votes "support" or "not support" for Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong, with the overall turnout rate of 97.74 percent. 33 members did not vote. Lee secured 1,416 supportive votes among the 1,428 EC members who cast their votes, or 99.16 percent of the votes cast, according to The Global Times. 

"Serving Hong Kong and serving our people for the next five years, this is an honor with humility and sincere gratitude, with loyalty and perseverance," Lee told after being elected.  

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. We must continue to ensure the comprehensive, accurate and full implementation of the principles of the "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and "high degree of autonomy to maintain our long term prosperity and stability." 

Having restored order from chaos, it is high time that Hong Kong starts a new chapter of development, a chapter that we get toward greater prosperity for all, he said.  

Lee gained a high rate of 99.16 percent of the votes, which reflects recognition and affirmation of the Hong Kong society, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in a congratulatory message to Lee published shortly after the result came out. It's believed the new CE will lead the new government and representatives from various sectors of Hong Kong to unveil a new chapter for good governance in the city, the office said.  

It also said the election is a successful practice of Hong Kong's new election system, which has proven to fit "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's reality, The Global Times reported.

The six-term CE election has great significance for Hong Kong, especially after the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform, the city returned to the correct track, resisting the foreign interference and stabilizing the society with active measures for economy and livelihoods.  The election stimulates the positive energy, underscores the democracy with broad representation and unity as the candidate and residents are focusing on measures for building the city together rather than making confrontations or divisions, the top office on Hong Kong affairs said. 

The next five years will be the period for Hong Kong to emerge from the social turmoil to being well governed to develop, and we believe that if the new government and representatives from various sectors seize the historical opportunities, it would be a new starting point for Hong Kong to make a splendid history, said the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao office, according to The Global Times.

The price of gold has risen by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, gold is currently trading at Rs 98, 600 per tola. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 98, 000 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the Tejabi gold is now trading for Rs 98, 100 per tola in the market. It was traded at Rs 97, 500 the previous day.

Similarly, the price of silver rose by Rs 5 per tola and is now trading at Rs 1, 285 per tola.

The government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 million to the families if the security personnel deployed for the security of elections died while on duty.

A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday morning made the decision to this effect on the recommendation of the Home Ministry.

"The government has decided to provide Rs 2 million to the families if the security personnel (Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department) and myadi police (temporary police) deployed for the security of elections died while on duty, " a source said.

Similarly, the government has also decided to bear the expenses of treatment of the security personnel if they sustained injuries during the duty hours.

An unidentified person attacked a candidate with a khukuri in Bhojpuri on Saturday.

The District Police Office, Bhojpur said that Amita Tamang, a ward member candidate of Sangpang, Sadananda Municipality-10, was attacked at around 10 pm yesterday.

Police said that Tamang sustained deep cuts on his head.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.

Brighton & Hove Albion trounced Manchester United 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, as Ralf Rangnick's side suffered a fifth straight away defeat with another woeful defensive display, Reuters reported.

The result was Brighton's first victory at home since December and they got it in style with the Seagulls thoroughly dominating, as Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard all found the net.

The defeat means it is now mathematically impossible for sixth-placed United to qualify for the Champions League, as they sit five points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with one game left to play.

Brighton, who are bidding to finish in the top half of the Premier League for the first time, are ninth, five points off a Europa Conference League spot with two remaining matches.

"It is a special day. (United) are a top side and we've let our home fans down this season, so it was a nice moment," Brighton captain Lewis Dunk told Sky Sports.

Caicedo netted his first goal in a Brighton shirt in the 15th minute when he took advantage of the ball ricocheting off Alex Telles to tuck a low drive inside the post from outside of the box, according to Reuters.

Cucurella made it 2-0 after the break, firing into the roof of the net from close range.

Gross then steered a shot past David de Gea before Trossard added the fourth when Diogo Dalot's clearance bounced off his chest and into the United goal.

The hosts continued to pick holes in the United defence, going close when Dalot diverted a ball heading to Alexis Mac Allister onto the post, rather than to the Argentinian.

United attempted to fight back but a strong goalkeeping performance from Robert Sanchez kept them out.

The visitors did manage to put the ball in the back of the net, but Edinson Cavani was clearly offside when he poked home after Harry Maguire flashed a ball across the goalmouth, Reuters reported.

United have now conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season, their worst defensive record in a single campaign in the competition.

"The result is what it is," United midfielder Bruno Fernandes said. "It is not good enough.

"They outplayed us. They always had a solution. Pressed us better and they deserved the result.

"A little bit of everything (went wrong). Quality. Mentality. They deserved to win and we deserve to be in the position we are in now."

Rajasthan Royals comfortably beat Punjab Kings by six wickets in their IPL match on Saturday, The Indian Express reported.

Batting first, Jonny Bairstow was back among runs with a fine half-century as Punjab Kings put up a challenging 189 for 5.

Bairstow scored 56 off 40 balls with eight fours and a six. Jitesh Sharma (38 not out off 18 balls) and Liam Livingstone (22 off 14 balls) also played nice little cameos at the back-end to spruce up the total, according to the Indian Express.

For the Royals, Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 28 in 4 overs.

In reply, the Royals scored the required runs in 19.4 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal making 68 off 41 balls.

Arshdeep Singh was the best bowler with 2/29 in 4 overs, Indian Express reported.

China's top leader Xi Jinping has issued the strongest warning yet against anyone who questions the country's zero-Covid policy, as stringent, frequent lockdowns fuel public discontent and deal a devastating blow to the Chinese economy, CNN reported.

At a meeting chaired by Xi on Thursday, the ruling Communist Party's supreme Politburo Standing Committee vowed to "unswervingly adhere to the general policy of 'dynamic zero-Covid,' and resolutely fight against any words and acts that distort, doubt or deny our country's epidemic prevention policies."

This is the first time Xi, who according to state media made an "important speech" at the meeting, has made public remarks about China's battle against Covid since public furor erupted over the harsh lockdown in Shanghai.

"Our prevention and control strategy is determined by the party's nature and mission, our policies can stand the test of history, our measures are scientific and effective," the seven-member committee said, according to government news agency Xinhua.

"We have won the battle to defend Wuhan, and we will certainly be able to win the battle to defend Shanghai," it said.

The Standing Committee also demanded cadres have a "profound, complete and comprehensive understanding" of the policies set by the party's central leadership, according to CNN.

"We should resolutely overcome the problems of inadequate awareness, inadequate preparation and insufficient work, and resolutely overcome contempt, indifference and self-righteousness in our thinking," it said.

To analysts who have long observed Chinese politics, the stern warning is a sign that there has been internal pushback against Xi's zero-Covid policy from within the party.

"This language should be read as a direct criticism of unspecified local CCP leaders who have questioned the policies at the center, or who have been insufficiently successful in applying them," wrote David Bandurski, co-director of the China Media Project.

"And it is difficult not to hear in this phrase about 'self-righteousness' condemnation of leaders in Shanghai in particular," Bandurski added.

Over the past five weeks, many Shanghai residents have taken to social media to call for help and vent their anger over severe food shortages and lack of access to medical care. Some protested from their windows, banging pots and pans and shouting in frustration, others even clashed with police and health workers in the streets -- a rare scene in a country where dissent is routinely suppressed.

The grave economic fallout has also drawn concerns from economists and business executives, especially given Shanghai's role as the country's leading financial center and a major manufacturing and shipping hub. In April, China's services sector, which accounts for more than half of the nation's GDP and over 40% of its employment, contracted at the second sharpest pace on record, while the manufacturing sector also shrunk, CNN reported.

And as Omicron spreads in other parts of China, more local governments are imposing swift lockdowns in response to just a handful of cases. In Beijing, where more than 500 cases have been reported since April 20, many fear for a Shanghai-style lockdown as authorities roll out increasingly restrictions.

But the latest statement from the country's top leaders has made it clear that the Chinese government is doubling down on its approach of relying on swift lockdowns, mass testing and quarantine to squash the highly transmissible Omicron variant for the foreseeable future.

Wu Qiang, a political analyst in Beijing, said since April, the question over how the government should deal with the country's worst outbreak since Wuhan has evolved into a "path struggle" within the party, according to CNN.