२०८१ कार्तिक १६ , शुक्रवार

English News

One Million People to Be Connected to Broadband as Part of  World Bank Support to Nepal’s Digital Transformation

Sunakhari News/Kathmandu - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved $140 million for the Digital Nepal Acceleration (DNA) Project to expand access to broadband and engage more people in the digital economy.   “Countries that embrace a digital transformation can accelerate their transition to green, resilient, and inclusive development,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “The World Bank is proud to supp....

Afghanistan: UK embassy staff allege Taliban beatings and torture

Sunakhari News/ Kathmandu - More than 100 men who worked at the British embassy in Afghanistan remain in the country, with some telling the BBC they have been beaten and tortured.   The men worked for the global security company, GardaWorld, and many had been in post for more than a decade. Several shared photos of injuries they say were caused by the Taliban. The UK government says it has evacuated more than 15,000 people since last year and is working to bring more to the UK. ....

Sri Lanka gives government workers extra day off a week

Sunakhari News/ Kathmandu - Sri Lanka is giving government officials an extra day off a week to encourage them to grow food, amid fears of a food shortage. The country has around one million public sector employees.   It comes as the island nation, home to around 22 million, faces its worst economic crisis in more than 70 years. Sri Lanka is struggling to pay for critical imports such as food, fuel and medicine as it faces a severe shortage of foreign currencies. Late on Monday, th....

Bangladesh fire: 32 killed, hundreds injured in depot blast

Sunakhari News/ Kathmandu - A fire and a huge explosion have killed at least 32 people and injured hundreds more at a storage depot near the city of Chittagong, Bangladesh.   Hundreds of people had arrived to tackle the fire when a number of containers exploded at the site in Sitakunda. The cause of the fire is not known, but it is thought that chemicals were stored in some of the containers. Hospitals in the area are overwhelmed and have appealed for blood donations.   ....

World Bank Provides $80 Million to Improve Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Nepal

Sunakhari News/Kathmadnu - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved an $80 million project to help Nepalimprove the delivery of water and sanitation services and promote integrated water resources management.   “This project aims to strengthen the delivery of water and sanitation services at the local level by building the capacity of municipalities and thereby supporting Nepal’s historic transition to federalism, while at the same time addressing critical g....

Shanghai lockdown: China eases Covid restrictions after two months

Sunakhari News/Kathmandu- The Chinese city of Shanghai, the country's economic centre and a global trade hub, has eased Covid curbs after a two-month lockdown.   At midnight local time (16:00 GMT Tuesday), restrictions were relaxed to allow most people to move freely around the city of some 25 million people. But at least 650,000 residents will remain confined to their homes. China's overall policy of "zero Covid" remains in place and people catching Covid face quarantine or hospital....

Oil price rises as EU cuts Russian imports

Sunakhari News Kathmandu- Oil prices have hit fresh two-month highs after European Union leaders agreed on a plan to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports.   Brent crude rose above $123 a barrel on Tuesday morning, after the deal was reached at a summit in Brussels. Prices for oil and gas have soared in recent months, fuelled by the lifting of lockdowns and the Ukraine war. Rising energy costs have put pressure on consumers and businesses in Europe now facing higher bil....

Ukraine war student-turned-soldier: ‘Friends die in your arms’

Sunakhari News/ Kathmandu - Maxsym Lutsyk looks older and more serious, and makes fewer jokes, than when I saw him in the days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Back then, the 19-year-old had just put university on hold and volunteered to fight.   Last week he made a difficult journey out of the Donbas front line, using back roads at night to avoid artillery fire, to pick up supplies for his unit and to tell me what it has been like fighting the Russians. We met in Bakhmut, a sma....

Texas school shooting: Husband of killed teacher ‘dies of grief’

Sunakhari  News/ Kathmandu- The husband of one of the teachers slain in Tuesday's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has reportedly died of a heart attack.   Joe Garcia was the husband of Irma Garcia, who taught for 23 years at Robb Elementary School. Mrs Garcia was one of two teachers killed by a teenage gunman in the shooting that left 21 people dead - including 19 children. The couple - who were married for 24 years - are survived by four children.   By Thursday night, ....

China Eastern plane crash likely intentional, US reports say

Sunakhari News/ Kathmandu - Flight data indicates a China Eastern Airlines plane that crashed in March was intentionally put into a nose-dive, according to US media reports.     Investigators have so far not found any mechanical or technical faults with the jet, the reports say, citing a preliminary assessment by US officials.The Boeing 737-800 was flying between the southern Chinese cities of Kunming and Guangzhou when it crashed.   All 132 passengers and crew o....