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President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the art, culture and tradition of the Muslim community have its own uniqueness in Nepal with multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural characteristics.

He expressed this view while extending best wishes to those who are leaving for Hajj pilgrimage this year to Mecca, during a welcoming ceremony organised at the President House, Shital Niwas this morning.

"In our country, which has diverse ethnicities, communities, languages, and cultures, it is essential for everyone to unite and work together for its preservation and enhancement, and through this, to strengthen national unity by increasing brotherhood, friendship, and goodwill among each other. I express my best wishes for the success of your Hajj journey with the belief that the pilgrimage will make a significant contribution to it," he said.

The President stated that this community has had a significant contribution to the formation of the Nepali state since ancient times.

"I believe that the relevant authorities will definitely pay attention to providing all kinds of facilities for the convenience of the people who are going on Hajj pilgrimage espousing sacred faith and belief. I would like to draw the attention of the stakeholders to the need to formulate timely policies, rules, and provisions to operate the pilgrimage in an organized manner," said President Paudel.

On that occasion, the President wished the pilgrims by handing them a scarf and a Nepali cap.

The Acting Chairperson of the Muslim Commission, Mohamuddin Miyan, said that it is a matter of pride that for the first time the President has personally bid farewell to the Hajj pilgrims.

India and Japan have notified the WTO of plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on US imports in response to increased steel and aluminum duties imposed by the Trump administration.

Both countries argue the US tariffs, in place since 2018 and expanded in March 2025, qualify as safeguard measures under WTO rules, entitling them to suspend equivalent trade concessions, Xinhua reported.

India claims that the tariffs affect $7.6bn of its exports and will equal $1.91bn in taxes with equivalent tariffs on US imports. Japan intends to take similar action, targeting US limits on auto imports.

The EU and UK have already filed comparable WTO notifications, according to Xinhua.

Honourable Ministers,
Esteemed Guests,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and Namaste!

It is both a deep honour and a heartfelt privilege to welcome you to the inaugural edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad.

This is Nepal’s global dialogue initiative—
A platform for thoughtful reflection,
For principled engagement,
And for addressing the most urgent challenges of our time.

Today, the line between local and global has all but vanished.
What happens in one corner of the world echoes across the rest.

The fire that rage in one land darkens the skies of others
The melting of distant glaciers shifts the rains, floods the fields, and parches the plains far away.

The decisions of a few can shape the destiny of many.

It is within this deeply interconnected reality that the Sagarmatha Sambaad was born—

A space for honest dialogue.
For shared wisdom.
For collective action.

We have named it after Sagarmatha—the highest point on Earth.
And we hope this Sambaad— our dialogue— will rise just as high.

High in moral clarity.
Bold in intellectual courage.
Steady in our shared vision for a better world.

Today, the world stands before towering, metaphorical mountains.
Challenges loom—vast and urgent.

The recovery from the pandemic is still fragile.
The climate crisis is speeding up.
In many corners of the world, peace feels more distant than ever.

Trust in global institutions is weakening.
Inequalities—within countries and across borders—are growing deeper.
Multilateralism, once a guiding light, now sways under heavy storms.

And yet—
Amidst this uncertainty, we hold on to a simple, powerful belief:
The power of dialogue.

Nepal is not just a piece of geography.
It is a sacred land—where wisdom breathes through every stone and stream.
Here, the spirit of awakening was born.

This is the land of Lord Buddha.
From this soil, a light emerged—guiding humanity toward peace, compassion, and harmony.

It is a soil where sages meditated.
Where seekers found truth.
Where rishis offered the world a wealth of knowledge that still uplifts the human soul.

Nepal has always been a place of seekers.
Not of conquerors, but of contemplators.
Not of battles, but of dialogue.

Our tradition is rooted in listening—with respect.
In speaking—with sincerity.
And in seeking truth—together.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is born from that very spirit.
It is a gentle revival of our ancient ways.
A space where wisdom bows to humility.
Where many voices come together—with reverence.
Where we look for answers—not with ego, but with empathy.

We are reminded of an ancient truth:
"वादे वादे जायते तत्वबोधः"
—Through dialogue, truth shines.

Even in moments of deep division, it is not silence or shouting that helps us.
It is honest conversation.
It is listening.
It is speaking from the heart.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is our humble attempt to carry this sacred legacy forward.

Our first theme speaks to our soul:
"Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity."

As a Himalayan nation, this is not a distant issue.
It is our daily reality.
But it is not just ours.
It is the world’s.

Can humanity survive without its mountains?
Can we protect the future without protecting these ancient guardians?

Mountains may seem far away.
But their breath keeps half the world alive.
From the Arctic to the Andes, from the Alps to the Himalayas—
They are the Earth’s water towers.
They are our climate’s pulse.

And they are in danger.
Their fragility is our shared vulnerability.

From the lap of Sagarmatha, the world’s highest peak,
We send this message—laud and clear:

• To protect the mountains is to protect the planet.
• To protect the mountains is to protect our seas.
• To protect the mountains is to protect humanity itself.

Let this Sambaad be not just a dialogue—but a determination.

A determination to listen.
To act.
And to walk together—towards a gentler, wiser, and more compassionate world.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat.
It is the greatest challenge of our time.
It touches everything—our planet, our people, our shared prosperity.

No nation is untouched.
No society is safe.
But the heaviest burden falls on those least responsible.

The poorest.
The most vulnerable.
The mountainous and the least developed.

Nepal stands among them.

We have done little to cause this crisis.
Yet, we face its harshest consequences.

Glaciers are melting.
Rains are uncertain.
Landslides sweep away homes.
Floods and droughts come without warning.
And still, we stand firm.

Our emissions are small—almost negligible.
But our contributions are meaningful.

Our Himalaya cool the region—nature’s own climate stabilizer.
Our forests cover nearly half our land—breathing in carbon, breathing out hope.
Our rivers flow from the high snows—quenching the thirst of millions.
Our protected areas are sanctuaries—guarding the planet’s rich biodiversity.

Nepal has pledged net-zero emissions by 2045.
Five years ahead of the global target.

We are advancing adaptation plans.
We are greening our economy.
We are weaving sustainability into our national vision.

Yet we cannot do it alone.
No country can.

Climate change is a global emergency.
It calls for a global response.

A response anchored in justice.
Rooted in responsibility.
Fuelled by solidarity.

Climate justice must lead the way.
Those who pollute the most— must do the most.
They must support the most vulnerable—with finance, with technology, with capacity.

And let us not forget the mountains.
Too often, they are ignored in global talks.
Yet, they regulate climate.
They store water.

They recharge the land
They cradle life.

When mountains fall, valleys suffer.
Rivers dry up.
Crops fail.
Oceans rise.
Lives unravel.

The Himalaya—our Third Pole—are warming faster than the global average.
Glaciers are vanishing.
Glacial lakes are swelling.
Millions downstream are at risk.

We need a bold, integrated vision.
A "mountains-to-oceans" approach.

We must give mountains the attention they deserve—
With special financing.
With tailored policies.

We must invest in clean energy.
Grow climate-resilient crops.
Uplift women and youth.
And protect those forced to move.

Let us strengthen risk assessments.
Build early warning systems.
Share data.
Work together across borders.

And most importantly—let us bridge ancient wisdom with modern innovation.

This is how we build resilience.
This is how we honour the Earth.
This is how we protect our shared future.

The mountains inspire us.
Not because they stand apart—
But because they rise above.

They offer perspective.
They teach us to think beyond ourselves.
In that spirit, our dialogue must rise too—

Above narrow interests.
Toward a higher, shared purpose.

Let us join hands.
Let us act with courage and care.
For a future that is just.
For a planet that is sustainable.

We need fresh resolve.
Bold ideas.
New investments.
And deep cooperation—across regions, across the world.

A green, resilient, and sustainable future is not a choice.
It is the only path forward.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is our humble offering.
A global platform to listen, to speak, and to understand.
A space to build trust.
To imagine a world where harmony with nature—
and equity among people—
is not a distant dream, but a living reality.

Together, let us climb—
Toward the summit of resilience.
Toward the peak of justice.
Toward a future built on shared hope.

We look forward to your wisdom.
To your voices.
To your vision—throughout this Sambaad.

May your time in Nepal be joyful and inspiring.
In the land of Sagarmatha.
In the land of Buddha.

Thank you.

The World Health Organization has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea after detecting the virus in two healthy children during routine screening in Lae, a coastal city in the country's north east.

The country, previously polio-free since 2000, faces renewed risk with less than half the population immunized. The detected strain is genetically linked to one circulating in neighboring Indonesia, according to BBC.

Health authorities have launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting 3.5m children under the age of 10. WHO, UNICEF, and the Australian government are supporting the rollout.

“Polio knows no borders. We must reach 100 percent coverage,” said WHO representative Dr. Sevil Huseynova, BBC reported.

Papua New Guinea’s health minister has pledged full immunization by year’s end amid rising concerns of cross-border spread.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Army General Oleg Salyukov as Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, the Kremlin announced Thursday.

Salyukov will be relieved of his current post as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, a position he has held since 2014, it said. He played a key role in military operations and oversaw Victory Day parades, including this year’s on May 9, as reported by Reuters.

Born in 1955 in Saratov, Salyukov brings decades of military experience to his new role.

The European Commission has charged TikTok with breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act by failing to provide sufficient transparency in its advertising practices. Regulators say the platform lacks a proper ad repository and does not disclose key details such as content, targeting, and sponsors, according to Reuters.

The violations could lead to a fine of up to 6 percent of parent company ByteDance’s global revenue.

TikTok disagreed with the findings, saying it supports the regulation’s goals but criticized the lack of clear public guidance.

The company can respond before the Commission issues a final decision, Reuters reported.

The Embassy of Israel in Nepal has celebrated the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel and the 65th Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Israel on 15 May 2025, hosting a special reception in Kathmandu. The chief guest of the program was Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav.

High-ranking government officials, political leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and friends of Israel joined the celebration.

 Ambassador Shmulik Arie Bass stated, “The strength of Israel lies not only in the military might but in the unity, innovation and the spirit of our people. Together with Nepal, we are committed to improve the reality for a better future for all.”

The Embassy solemnly remembered the Hamas Terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Two moving video testimonies- one from a Nepali survivor, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary and another from an Israeli survivor, Noa Beer were screened, offering firsthand accounts of the horrors of the Hamas terrorist attack, the brutality they endured and their stories of survival. A heartfelt video message from the sister of Bipin Joshi, the Nepali national still held hostage by Hamas, appealed for his safe release, together with all the audience.

Nepal and Israel established diplomatic relations on 1 June 1960. The Government of the State of Israel established its Embassy in Kathmandu in 1961.

The UN Security Council has called on Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, warning of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The UN reported that aid deliveries, including food, water, and medicine, have been blocked for over 10 weeks, putting Gaza’s 2.1m residents at risk of famine. One in five people is facing starvation, and large parts of the territory remain under evacuation orders or militarized zones, as reported by UN news.

Humanitarian organizations say Israel’s proposed military-run aid system is unworkable and violates humanitarian principles. Nearly 500,000 people are facing catastrophic hunger, and over 400 aid workers have been killed in the conflict.

As stated by UN news, several countries, including China and the UK, urged Israel to comply with international law, allow immediate aid access, and end its military campaign, warning that continued restrictions will worsen civilian suffering.