World Bank approves US$1.25b financing for green, resilient growth in Bangladesh

DHAKA, April 28 (NNN-BSS) — The World Bank’s (WB’s) Board of Executive Directors discussed a new Country Partnership Framework for Bangladesh (2023-2027) and approved US$1.25 billion financing in three newprojects. The Country Partnership Framework (CPF), anchored in the government’s eighth Five Year Plan and the Long-Term Perspective Plan 2021-2041, will…

UN Security Council demands Taliban ‘swiftly reverse’ women bans

UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Thursday calling on the Taliban to “swiftly reverse” all restrictive measures against women, condemning in particular its ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations. The resolution, unanimously adopted by all 15 Council members, said the…

Sri Lanka crisis: Central bank lays out extent of economic problems

COLOMBO, April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sri Lanka’s central bank has laid out the extent of the country’s worst economic crisis in more than 70 years. In its annual report, the bank outlined how last year wages failed to keep up with the soaring cost of everything from food to fuel.…

Ethiopia says ready to resume Nile dam negotiations

The dam has strained relations between Ethiopia and Egypt ADDIS ABABA, April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia says it is ready to resume tripartite negotiations with Egypt and Sudan to resolve outstanding issues regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the foreign ministry has said. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mesganu…

Kenya-Spain sign pacts to strengthen bilateral ties

MADRID, April 28 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua is in Spain for bilateral talks to woo investors and tourists to Kenya. He said he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Spain’s minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Jose Manuel Albares, that will…

33 soldiers killed in eastern Burkina Faso attack

OUAGADOUGOU, April 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Thirty-three soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack against a military detachment in eastern Burkina Faso, the military said in a statement. The military detachment of Ougarou was targeted by a large complex attack on Thursday morning, which left 33 soldiers dead and 12…

21 illegal migrants arrested in West Libya

TRIPOLI, April 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — A group of 21 illegal migrants was arrested off the coast of Garrabulli, some 55 km east of Libya’s capital Tripoli, the Libyan government said on Thursday. “After searches and investigations, the patrols managed to thwart an illegal immigration operation and arrested 21 illegal immigrants…

Philippines deposits RCEP instrument to ASEAN

MANILA, April 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Philippines has deposited its Instrument of Ratification (IoR) of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday. Philippine ambassador to ASEAN Hjayceelyn Quintana handed…

Brazilian, Argentine presidents discuss rejoining South American bloc UNASUR

BRASILIA, April 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held phone talks Thursday with his Argentine counterpart Alberto Fernandez on bilateral ties and their countries’ rejoining the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). Lula tweeted, “We talked about UNASUR, fraternal ties in our continent and the deepening…

Iran, Syria sign comprehensive deal on enhancing economic cooperation

Iran, Syria strike deals to advance economic cooperation TEHRAN, April 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Iran and Syria on Thursday signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) on enhancing cooperation in various sectors, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. The MoU was signed by Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash…