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Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has left here for Rome, Italy to participate in the 44th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Conference today. The FAO Conference is taking place from June 28-July 4. Foreign Minister Rana is scheduled to address the main session as well as other high-level events at the FAO, according to the Foreign Ministry.  

Nepali Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the FAO, Bharat Kumar Regmi, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development are in Foreign Minister Rana led-delegation.  Following the conference, Minister Rana is scheduled to participate in programmes organized by Investment Board of Nepal in Milan of Italy as well as in Hamburg and Berlin, Germany.   Foreign Secretary, Amrit Bahadur Rai, and high-ranking officials at the Ministry saw off Foreign Minister Rana at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

Kathmandu-- Preparations have been completed for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's official visit to Spain beginning tomorrow.     

PM Oli is set to pay a visit at the friendly invitation of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the 'International Conference on Financing for the Development of the United Nations (FFD-4)' to be held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3.     

Leaders of governments from around the world, global and regional organisations, financial and trade institutions, businesspeople, civil society, and relevant representatives of the United Nations system will participate in this conference on financing for development.     

At the event, Nepal will advocate for raising the voice of the least developed, small, and island nations. The conference will also discuss the implementation of investment commitments made by rich countries for poor and small nations.     

Prime Minister Oli's chief political advisor, Bishnu Prasad Rima,l said that Prime Minister Oli is going to participate in this forum as it is important for promoting international cooperation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations by the year 2030.     

Stating that the preparations for the Prime Minister's visit are complete, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said the conference will focus on the challenges of immediate and long-term assistance and investment necessary for sustainable development by improving the global financial structure.     

Chhetri stated that the conference is of utmost importance between developed countries and developing and the least developed countries regarding sustainable development, financing for development, and particularly, development assistance, investment, and technology transfer; hence, high priority and high-level participation will be crucial.     

He shared that this would be Nepal's unique role in the context of it chairing the international coordination of least developed countries.     

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli would deliver a statement at the conference. The Prime Minister would pay a courtesy call on Spain's King Philip II and his Spanish counterpart Sanchez, as well as hold a sideline meeting with leaders of other countries of the world.     

PM Oli is leaving for Madrid via Qatar on Saturday evening to participate in the conference scheduled from June 30 to July 3. He will return home on July 4.     

It is believed that the high-level visit from Nepal would contribute to increasing investment from developed countries in Nepal and attract tourists from European countries, including Spain.

The 21-member delegation includes First Lady Radhika Shakya, PM's Chief Advisor, Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Ghan Shyam Upadhyay, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Raj Kumar Shrestha, PM Oli's Chief Personal Secretary Rajesh Bajracharya, PM's private doctor Dr Smriti Shakya, among others.     

Similarly, an additional eight people from Spain and New York would join the Nepali delegation, which includes—Nepali Ambassador to Spain, Shanil Nepal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, among others. RSS

Nepal- Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group on Thursday held an interaction with Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal Abrar H. Hashmi. The interaction was attended by members of group, diplomats from Pakistan Embassy and Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association.  

Speaking on the occasion, Hashmi appreciated the longstanding and cordial relations between Pakistan and Nepal, rooted in shared cultural heritage, mutual respect, and regional affinity. He highlighted the deep people-to-people linkages and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to further expand relations between the two Parliaments and bilateral cooperation in trade, tourism, education, health, culture, climate resilience, according the press release. 

The Ambassador also briefed the Parliamentary Friendship Group on the latest developments in Pakistan’s economy and regional situation, emphasizing Pakistan’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous South Asia. He welcomed the interest of the Nepali Parliament in fostering parliamentary diplomacy and institutional linkages.

Members of the Pakistan-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s consistent support to Nepal and expressed satisfaction over relations free of irritants and underscored the importance of parliamentary exchanges in deepening mutual understanding. They also emphasized exploring new avenues of collaboration, particularly economic, cultural, youth, women, marginalized groups, technical support and capacity-building.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, along with full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. The resolution passed with 149 votes in favor, 12 against, and 19 abstentions.

It condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war and the denial of aid, stressing Israel’s legal obligation as the occupying power to ensure relief reaches all civilians. It demands Israel end the blockade, open all crossings, and cease settlement activity, land confiscation, and forced displacement in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to UN News.

The resolution reaffirms commitment to a two-state solution, rejects any demographic or territorial changes, and calls for for the Palestinian Authority to integrate Gaza and the West Bank. The resolution asks all parties to uphold international law and protect humanitarian and UN personnel.

The session was called after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution requesting a cease-fire. Along with Israel and the United States, ten other countries voted against the resolution, including Argentina, Hungary, and Fiji, UN News reported.