- Saturday, 9 May 2026
Kathmandu, May 9: Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s political advisor Asim Shah and Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nepal, Fahad Mohammed Azmi Mnikhr, today bade farewell to the group of Nepali Hajj pilgrims departing for the sacred Macca.
At the farewell programme, they expressed the belief that the religious, cultural, and mutual relations between Nepal and Saudi Arabia would be further strengthened while extending best wishes for a successful, safe, and prosperous journey to all Nepali Muslim pilgrims participating in the Hajj.
They also noted that Hajj is a symbol of important religious faith, discipline, and spiritual unity for Muslims, and drew the attention of the concerned authorities for the smooth management, safety, and necessary cooperation for the pilgrims.
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Demand for blood increasing in Jhapa
Jhapa, May 9: It has revealed that HIV infection (reactive) was found in the blood of 29 donors over the past five fiscal years in Jhapa.
The fact emerged during testing at the blood transfusion service centre operated by the Nepal Red Cross Society Jhapa branch.
In order to ensure a safe blood supply, the Society has been running blood transfusion service centres in Bhadrapur, Birtamod and Damak in Jhapa.
It was disclosed during the mandatory laboratory testing of blood samples collected for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis before its transfusing to patients.
In-charge of the Bhadrapur blood transfusion service centre, Shishir Dahal informed that one donor was found HIV positive in blood tests during the fiscal year 2078/79. It increased to two in 2079/80, six in 2080/81, 14 in 2081/82 and six in 2082/83, he shared.
He further stated that when blood tested at the service centre is found with HIV positive, it is referred for further testing and counseling for confirmation.
More than 17,000 units of safe blood have been supplied annually to hospitals in Jhapa through the blood transfusion service centre of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Dahal informed.
There are over 5,000 voluntary blood donors in the district. Blood shortages often occur in the district with meager blood donation programmes during the monsoon season and peak farming periods.
The demand for blood is also increasing as the number of patients with cancer, kidney disease, anemia and other conditions rises.
The Red Cross has stated that the tests conducted before and after blood donation play a crucial role in protecting patients from potential infections.
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Candidates with Nepali origin elected Councillors in UK local election
United Kingdom, May 9: Jeet Ranabhat, former Mayor with Nepali origin, has been elected Councillor of ‘Plumstead & Glyndon’ ward in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London.
Likewise, his spouse, Gaumaya Gurung, has been elected Councillor in Abbey Wood Ward of the same Borough.
Ranabhat who earlier served the Borough as Mayor and Deputy Mayor now has been elected to the Councillor post, securing 1, 610 votes.
Gurung has been elected to the Councillor for the first time, obtaining 1,292 votes.
Both Ranabhat and his spouse Gurung contested the election from the UK’s ruling Labour Party.
Meanwhile, Jib Narayan Belbase has been elected in Manor Park Ward under the Rashmore Borough of Alders. Conservative Party candidate Belbase has been elected as Councillor for the second time with 891 votes.
In the same Borough’s Wellington Ward, former Gurkha Uttar Bahadur Gurung has been elected as Councillor with 551 votes.
Similarly, Pratiksha Gurung has been elected in Reading Borough’s Battle Ward from the Labour Party with 1,180 votes. He became the first Councillor of Nepali origin after being elected in Reading Borough.
Conservative Party candidate Lakshya Gurung has been elected Councilllor third time from the Edgwarebury Ward of London Borough of Barnet. He received 1,951 votes.
In the elections held in the UK on Thursday, around a dozen and a half candidates of Nepali origin contested.
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Judicial Fair being held in Janakpurdham
Mahendranagar (Dhanusha), May 9: The Judicial Fair is being held today at Janakpurdham in Madhesh Province for the first time.
Officiating Chief Judge of the High Court Janakpur, Tek Narayan Kunwar stated that the festival aims to make the delivery of judicial services more effective, transparent, and citizen-friendly, by showcasing the court’s progress, status of case disposal, and the upcoming judicial fair.
The event is being organised to provide citizens with easy access to information about the court’s overall performance, case management system, service delivery, status of old case disposal, and the judicial process.
Kunwar emphasised to deliver justice quickly, impartially, and effectively to maintain public trust in the judiciary.
The judicial fair is considered a medium to bridge gaps between the judiciary and the citizens, he claimed.
He stated that through the fair, information about court services, judicial processes, alternative dispute resolution, legal aid, and citizens’ rights is disseminated to the general public.
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Nepal ‘A’ defeats the USA
Kathmandu, May 8: In the one-day cricket match played at Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kathmandu on Friday, Nepal ‘A’ defeated the USA by three wickets.
Nepal was given the target of 263 runs by the US. Nepal met the target with five balls to spare.
For Nepal’s victory, Mayan Yadav played brilliantly with 72 runs in 80 balls, securing strong position to the team. His innings recorded four fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Nepal’s opener Tritraj Das made 23 runs and captain Anil Shah contributed 27 runs. Dev Khanal was out for 17 runs, while Sandip Jora secured 36 runs from middle order. Kushal Malla made 33 runs.
The match featured explosive batting by Pawan Sarraf. He made a four and two sixes leading to unbeaten 24 off 15 balls. Deepak Dumre was unbeaten on two runs when Nepal secured the target in 49.1 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
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High-level panel discussion on ‘Buddha, Geneva Conventions and World Peace’ organised
Kathmandu, May 9: The Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva organized a high-level panel discussion on the theme “Buddha, Geneva Conventions and World Peace” on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
According to a press release issued by the Mission, the event was held on May 8 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and featured remarks from Nepal’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Ram Prasad Subedi; Ambassador Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia Pacific Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation; Ambassador Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of Mongolia; Ambassador Usana Berananda, Permanent Representative of Thailand;
Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); Ambassador David Fernández Puyana, Permanent Observer of UPFACE; Eva Svoboda, Director for International Law, Policy and Archives at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute.
The speakers highlighted the complementarity between Buddha’s teachings on non-violence (ahimsa), compassion (karunā), mindfulness, and peaceful coexistence and the humanitarian principles underpinning the Geneva Conventions, which aim to limit wars and protect people.
Ambassador Subedi, in his opening and closing remarks, reflected on Buddha’s teachings and emphasized peace as a common good. Ambassador Leitner recalled the contribution of International Geneva to global peace and, in the context of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Switzerland, underscored the close ties and longstanding cooperation between the two countries.
Following the panel discussion, the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, along with representatives of Norway and Pakistan, delivered remarks from the floor. More than one hundred participants, including representatives of the Government of Switzerland, permanent missions, international organizations, academia, civil society and other stakeholders, attended the event.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase the 70 years of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Switzerland, revisit the complementarity between Buddha’s teachings and the Geneva Conventions, reconnect Lumbini and Geneva, and prioritize peace, the Mission stated.
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2.21 million collected in one day from traffic fines
Kathmandu, May 9: The Kathmandu Valley in the past 24 hours recorded 2,034 cases of traffic violations. Revenue of Rs 2.21 million has been collected as fines from the violators of traffic rules.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police, such cases include 140 of drunk-driving, 184 of ride-sharing against the rule, 87 of the violation of traffic signals and 210 of over-speed driving.
Likewise, 120 incidences of breaching the lane disciplines, 57 cases are related to honking in prohibited areas, 96 of parking on roadsides and pavements, 110 violations are related to driving on one-way route and 1,029 of other traffic-related violations.
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Training on parliamentary practices for RSP lawmakers begins
Patan (Lalitpur), May 9: A two-day training on parliamentary practices and leadership development for lawmakers from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) began today.
The training started at Jawalakhel of Lalitpur, at 11: 45 am and is being attended party Vice President and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, General Secretaries Kabindra Burlakoti and Bhupadev Shah, Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya, other party officials and the lawmakers.
Earlier, the party had scheduled the training for lawmakers on May 9-10.
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“Migration is fundamentally about human dignity, aspiration, and opportunity.”
Kathmandu, May 9: Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, has reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to advancing safe, orderly & regular migration as a GCM Champion country and major labour-sending nation.
Addressed the General Debate of the 2nd International Migration Review Forum on Friday, he highlighted the contribution of nearly 4 million Nepali migrant workers to destination-country economies and Nepal’s development through remittances, skills, and knowledge.
He also shed light on Nepal’s reforms on ethical recruitment, gender-responsive migration policies, skills development, anti-trafficking measures, social protection through the Social Security Fund and Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, and the digitalization of recruitment services, among others.
Thapa further stressed the need to address persistent challenges including irregular migration, trafficking, exploitation, and coordination gaps, calling for stronger International cooperation and shared responsibility.
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11- “Everything for the Front, Everything for Victory”
Kathmandu, May 9: An exhibition titled “Everything for the Front, Everything for Victory” was held in Kathmandu to mark the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Russian Ambassador to Nepal, Aleksei Surovtsev, emphasized that Victory Day is a “holiday with tears in the eyes,” recalling the significance of the Victory for the entire world and the enormous price that had to be paid for it.
The diplomat noted that the selflessness and unity of all the peoples of the USSR, who fought for one Motherland, became the key factor for the Victory that saved the planet from Nazism. The Russian Ambassador also called on the younger generation to preserve historical truth.
Director of the Russian House, Anastasia Khokhlova and President of Mitra Kunj (Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities) Sushma Khatri also spoke on the occasion.
Also on the occasion, the guests were invited to a celebratory concert, jointly prepared by the Russian Embassy, the Russian House and Nepalese graduates of Soviet and Russian universities. The Russian-Nepalese chorus performed publicly for the first time.
At the conclusion of the day, Ambassador Surovtsev announced that he had received information about the celebration of Victory Day on Everest by the team of the 7 Summits Club of Alexander Abramov. The Russian Embassy in Nepal and the Russian House in Kathmandu had provided the team with the Victory Banner and a banner “70 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Russia and Nepal”.
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