Iran ready to show goodwill if U.S., Europe abide by nuclear deal: Zarif

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks in Baghdad, Iraq July 19, 2020. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

ROME (Reuters): Iran will fully comply with a 2015 deal aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons if both the United States and Europe honour their original commitments, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday. U.S. President Donald Trump quit the pact in 2018, saying it did not do enough to curb… Continue reading Iran ready to show goodwill if U.S., Europe abide by nuclear deal: Zarif

Next for Biden: Naming a health care team as pandemic rages

In this Dec. 1, 2020, photo, President-elect Joe Biden speaks as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris listens at left, during an event to introduce their nominees and appointees to economic policy posts at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Up soon for Biden: naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages. It’s hard to imagine more consequential picks. Biden is expected to announce his choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services next week. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Up soon for President-elect Joe Biden: naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages. It’s hard to imagine more consequential picks. Already one prominent candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has faded from the scene. New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was offered another… Continue reading Next for Biden: Naming a health care team as pandemic rages

US, Estonia partnered to search out cyber threat from Russia

FILE - This June 6, 2013, file photo shows the National Security Administration (NSA) campus in Fort Meade, Md. American officials conducted a cyber operation with Estonia this fall at that country’s invitation. That’s according to officials from both countries. The joint operation is part of an election-season effort to preemptively identify cyber threats from Russia and other adversaries that could be used against U.S. networks. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): In a modern twist on old-fashioned war games, the U.S. military dispatched cyber fighters to Estonia this fall to help the small Baltic nation search out and block potential cyber threats from Russia. The goal was not only to help a NATO partner long targeted by its powerful neighbor but also to gain… Continue reading US, Estonia partnered to search out cyber threat from Russia

US jobless claims remain high at 712,000 as virus escalates

FILE - In this June 26, 2020, file photo, volunteers Juanita MacKenzie, front, and Dave Stutman carry boxes of food to a waiting car at a large mobile pantry set up by the Food Bank of the Rockies in the parking lot of Empower Field at Mile High in west Denver. In an effort to keep Colorado residents fed and employed this winter, Colorado's Legislature is concluding a special session Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, by passing bills offering assistance to restaurants and food pantries struggling to keep their doors open during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell as the nation celebrated Thanksgiving last week to a still-high 712,000, the latest sign that the U.S. economy and job market remain under stress from the intensified viral outbreak. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said that initial claims for jobless aid dropped from… Continue reading US jobless claims remain high at 712,000 as virus escalates

NRB has made a new arrangement to stop the auction of collateral of Covid affected business

Kathmandu: Nepal Rastra Bank has made an arrangement that if the interest payment is not due for more than six months, the collateral of the debtor will not be auctioned. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made a policy provision that no collateral will be auctioned if the interest is not due for more than… Continue reading NRB has made a new arrangement to stop the auction of collateral of Covid affected business

An hour-long meeting between Prachanda and President Bhandari after Oli

Photo Courtesy: Facebook page of NCP chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)

Kathmandu: Executive Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has gone to Shitalniwas (President Residence) to meet President Bidhyadevi Bhandari. Amid growing controversy within the party, Prachanda reached Shital Niwas on Thursday evening to meet President Bhandari. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister KP Sharmaoli had gone to Shitalniwas to meet… Continue reading An hour-long meeting between Prachanda and President Bhandari after Oli

Nepal Govt completed 69 percent internet connection

Kathmandu (RSS): Under the project launched by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) with the aim of providing high speed broadband internet across the country, 69 percent connection has been completed by mid-November. According to NTA, 69 percent connection has been completed so far as the authority has implemented the project of providing broadband internet service… Continue reading Nepal Govt completed 69 percent internet connection

Finance ministry directs Insurance Committee to pay covid insurance within three days

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Finance has sent a directive again after its directive to pay the Corona insurance amount within seven days was not implemented. Stating that the previous directive has not been implemented, the Ministry of Finance has directed the Insurance Committee, the regulatory body of insurance companies, to pay the amount of Corona… Continue reading Finance ministry directs Insurance Committee to pay covid insurance within three days

Qatar seeks Nepal’s support in Asian Games

Photo Courtesy: Nepal Olympic Committee

Kathmandu: Qatar, which is vying for the 2030 Asian Games, has appealed to the Nepal Olympic Committee for help. A delegation of the Qatar Olympic Committee on Thursday formally requested the Nepal Olympic Committee for its support and assistance in claiming the 2030 Asian Games. A team led by General Secretary of the Qatar Olympic… Continue reading Qatar seeks Nepal’s support in Asian Games

Disputing Trump, Barr says no widespread election fraud

FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2020, file photo Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable discussion on Operation Legend, a federal program to help cities combat violent crime in St. Louis. Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday, Dec. 1, that the Justice Department has not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud and has seen nothing that would change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): Disputing President Donald Trump’s persistent, baseless claims, Attorney General William Barr declared the U.S. Justice Department has uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome of the 2020 election. Barr’s comments, in an interview Tuesday with the The Associated Press, contradict the concerted effort by Trump, his boss, to… Continue reading Disputing Trump, Barr says no widespread election fraud