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The Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu celebrated the 85th National Day by hosting a reception at Hotel Soaltee.

Vice President of Nepal Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Rana, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL, Nepal Socialist Party Chairman and former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, chief advisor to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Bishnu Rimal, Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and former Deputy Prime Minister CP Maini were present at the program.

Senior Nepali political leaders, civic and business leaders, ambassadors, diplomats, Pakistani community, journalists, and civil society representatives also attended the event.

A photo exhibition under the theme “A Glance at Pakistan” was also held showcasing the diversity of Pakistan.

During the program, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal Abrar H Hashmi underlined the historical importance of Pakistan Day- Journey to Liberation from Colonial Subjugation to the Forming Republic. He paid rich tribute to Pakistan’s forefathers. He said Pakistan stands with the international community in fulfilling its international obligations, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.

He elaborated that Pakistan and Nepal share a unique tapestry from geography to civilizational linkages, from peaks of Himalayas to rich heritage, and cultural similarities unite the two peoples together. He hoped that building on existing agreements, mechanisms and collaboration in education, health, defense, climate change, disaster management will continue to bring synergies and closer ties in years ahead, the statement further reads.

The Nepal Army band played tunes of national anthems at the reception, as well as a few Pakistani songs captivating the audience.

Nato’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited the port city of Odesa on Tuesday and said the organisation’s support for Ukraine remains “unwavering.”

He also emphasised that Nato allies have already promised over €20 billion (about $22 billion) in security aid in the first three months of the year, Firstpost reported.

Mark Rutte also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Odesa.

His visit occurred just days after two Russian missiles struck Sumy on Palm Sunday morning, killing at least 35 people, including two children, and wounded 119.

The strike on the north-eastern city, which is around 30 kilometres from the Russian border, was the second major attack in just over a week to cause heavy civilian casualties.

China's first-quarter economic growth beat expectations, underpinned by solid consumption and industrial output even as policymakers brace for the impact of U.S. tariffs that analysts say pose the biggest risk to the Asian powerhouse in decades, Reuters reported.

President Donald Trump has ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese goods to eye-watering levels, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties on U.S. imports in an intensifying trade war between the world's two biggest economies that markets fear will lead to a global recession.

Data on Wednesday showed China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4% in the January-March quarter from a year earlier, unchanged from the fourth quarter, but beat analysts expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 5.1%.

The outlook is expected to dim, however, as Washington's tariff shock hits the crucial export engine, heaping pressure on Chinese leaders as they try to keep the world's second-largest economy on an even keel and prevent mass job losses, according to Reuters.

Former President Joe Biden delivered a significant address on Tuesday, during which he criticized President Donald Trump's administration for its perceived threats to Social Security.

Speaking at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago, Biden emphasized the critical importance of Social Security for millions of Americans and expressed grave concerns regarding its future under the current administration, CNN reported.

Biden, who has largely refrained from public appearances since departing from the White House in January, articulated his views against the backdrop of a broader Democratic initiative labeled as Social Security Day of Action.

CNN reports: In his remarks, he blasted the Trump administration's policies as hurtful and destructive. "In less than a hundred days, this new administration has caused so much devastation and destruction. "It's quite breathtaking," Biden added.

He specifically accused the new administration of significantly undermining the Social Security Administration, asserting that they have "taken a hatchet" to vital services that benefit millions of Americans.