Author: Raabia Zimri

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has claimed that the current ruling coalition has reached a state where it could break down any time. Chairman Nepal mentioned that due to the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the ruling coalition has reached a situation where it can break down any time. He also said that only after the presidential election, the course of the country’s politics will be decided. Inaugurating the Standing Committee meeting of ANNFSU held in Kirtipur, Kathmandu on Sunday, he said that whether the UML, which is trying to…

Even before a series of devastating monsoons left Pakistan under water last summer, the country was battling an onslaught of both infectious and noncommunicable diseases, a new study has found. The top five leading causes of premature mortality in 2019 — three years before the floods — were neonatal disorders, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diarrheal diseases and lower respiratory infections, according to the study, published on Wednesday in The Lancet Global Health. At the same time, child and maternal malnutrition, air pollution, high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks and tobacco consumption were the leading risk factors for disability and death,…

Pakistani security forces have retaken a police station that was captured, killing all 33 hostage-takers, the defence minister has said. Islamist militants from the Pakistani Taliban seized the centre in the remote north-western Bannu district on Sunday. Several people, including security officials, were inside at the time. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said all hostages were freed, two special forces killed, and 10 to 15 members of the military injured. The Pakistani Taliban – also known as the TTP – confirmed it was behind the attack, according to a statement reported by local media. The group stepped up its attacks…