Submit your Article

The parents of a US Marine freed in a prisoner swap with Russia have spoken of their joy at his release, BBC reported.

Trevor Reed had been held in a Russian jail since 2019. He was traded for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian jailed on drug-smuggling charges.

Speaking outside the Reed home in Texas, his mother said she felt "almost as good as the day he was born".

Reed is currently on his way back to the US, where he is expected to spend several days in hospital. 

President Joe Biden said he had been "delighted" to share the news of Mr Reed's return with his parents in a phone call.

"The negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly," he said.

According to parents Joey and Paula Reed, their son was poorly treated in prison and appeared to have contracted tuberculosis, according to BBC.

The couple protested outside the White House last month, ultimately securing a meeting with the president.

In a media interview outside their home in a suburb of Dallas on Wednesday, they thanked Mr Biden, who his father said "probably saved our son's life".

They added that Mr Biden's phone call came while they were on the other line with their son. When they told the president they were at that very moment speaking with Trevor, Mr Biden told them to hang up on him.

"Anyone who says he's [Mr Biden's] not a compassionate or kind man is just a liar or an idiot," his father said about Mr Biden. 

Mr Reed, 30, went to Moscow in 2019 to learn Russian and visit his Russian girlfriend.

On a drunken night out, he was detained by two police officers after attending a party. While being driven to the police station, he is said to have grabbed the police officer driving, causing him to swerve, and elbowed the other officer who tried to intervene, BBC reported.

Maintaining that he had no recollection of the incident, he pleaded not guilty but was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2020 on assault charges.

The US government raised concerns about the fairness of his trial, with US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan recently saying that Mr Reed "remains in prison for a crime he didn't commit".

Senior US officials said on Wednesday that Mr Reed's release was "the result of months and months of hard, careful work" and there had been "growing concern" over his health while in detention.

The prisoner swap was carried out via Turkey after President Biden commuted the sentence of Mr Yaroshenko.

The Russian pilot had been serving a 20-year sentence since 2011 for smuggling cocaine into the US. Mr Yaroshenko's lawyer has confirmed his client is also homeward bound, according to BBC.

Officials have said Wednesday's exchange was not the start of a broader diplomatic dialogue with Russia and instead focused narrowly on a "discrete set of prisoner issues".

That means the fate of other Americans currently detained in Russia - including Brittney Griner, a double Olympic gold medallist in women's basketball - remains unclear for now.

Ms Griner has been in regular contact with her Russian lawyer and is awaiting a trial date, a person close to the situation told the BBC. An earlier motion challenging her arrest was denied. 

In a statement, the family of Paul Whelan, a former US Marine being held on spying charges, said they were "full of happiness for the Reeds", but time was running out for Mr Whelan, BBC reported.

"Paul has already spent three-and-a-quarter years as a Russian hostage," they wrote. "Is President Biden's failure to bring Paul home an admission that some cases are too hard to solve? Is the administration's piecemeal approach picking low-hanging fruit?" 

Russia's decision to cut off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria is an "instrument of blackmail", the EU says, BBC reported.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the move showed Russia's "unreliability" as a supplier.

But the Kremlin said Russia had been forced into the action by the "unfriendly steps" of Western nations.

Europe depends on Russia for more than a third of its gas needs and state energy giant Gazprom holds a monopoly on pipeline supplies in Russia.

While many European countries have taken steps to wean themselves of Russian oil imports since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has continued to supply large amount of gas to many European countries.

After Western powers placed financial sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that "unfriendly" countries would have to pay for gas in Russian currency.

Gazprom said this was why it had suspended supply to Bulgaria and Poland, according to BBC.

Poland said the move was in retaliation for Polish sanctions against Russian individuals and firms. Poland has also been a key transit country for weapons to Ukraine.

Bulgaria has historically had warm relations with Russia, but a new government took office last year which has denounced the invasion. 

Western forces intervene in Ukraine, they will face a "lightning-fast" military response.

In what is seen as a reference to ballistic missiles and nuclear arms, he told lawmakers in Moscow: "We have all the tools no-one can boast of... we will use them if necessary."

But there are signs that Russia's offensive in Ukraine is not going as smoothly as planned, with one official saying Russian forces are having difficulties overcoming a "staunch Ukrainian resistance" in their offensive in the east of the country.

In reaction to Gazprom's statement regarding the suspension of gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, Polish state gas company PGNiG confirmed that Gazprom's supplies to the country had been halted and warned that it reserved "the right to seek compensation".

Polish President Andrzej Duda said "appropriate legal steps" will be taken against Gazprom, while his deputy foreign minister, Marcin Przydacz, told the BBC that Russia was seeking to "foster divisions" between Western allies."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said the country was reviewing all of its contracts with Gazprom, including for transit of Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary, emphasising that "one-sided blackmail was not acceptable".

Bulgaria, which relies on Gazprom for more than 90% of its gas supply, said overnight it had taken steps to find alternative sources but no restrictions on gas consumption were currently required for Bulgarians, BBC reported.

Ms von der Leyen, speaking in Brussels, said Gazprom's move was "unjustified and unacceptable," but emphasised that the bloc was "prepared for this scenario". 

She added that the EU, along with its international partners, will implement an "immediate, united and coordinated" response.

The EU leader also hit out against reports carried by the media outlet Bloomberg which alleged 10 European energy companies are preparing to make payments for Gazprom gas in roubles, and that four energy companies have done so already. 

She said such moves would be "high risk" for the corporations and would constitute "a breach of our sanctions".

"Our guidance here is very clear," Ms von der Leyen said.

While the EU has been firm that it will not comply with Mr Putin's demands that payments be made in roubles, Hungary has reached a workaround deal with Gazprom, according to BBC.

The countries will pay into a euro-denominated account with Gazprombank, a subsidiary of the energy giant, which in turn will deposit the amount in roubles. 

Russia has refused to say how many other countries have agreed to make payments in this way, according to BBC.

Tapas Adhikari, Ambassador of Nepal to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has presented his Letters of Credence to Ayatollah Seyed Ibrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran accrediting him as non-resident Ambassador of Nepal to the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

During the presentation, Ambassador Adhikari conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as well as from the people of Nepal for the personal health and happiness of the President of Iran and the continued progress and prosperity of friendly people of Iran, according to Nepali Embassy in Islamabad. 

Ambassador Adhikari expressed that the bilateral relationship between Nepal and Iran has always been friendly based on mutual trust and cooperation. He said that Nepal and Iran are working together in the Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77, United Nations, and other important international forums on various issues of common concern. Ambassador Mr. Adhikari further said that he would make sincere efforts to enhance bilateral relations between Nepal and Iran.

Russia opened a new front in its war in Ukraine on Wednesday, cutting NATO members Poland and Bulgaria off from its gas, a dramatic escalation in the conflict that is increasingly becoming a wider battle with the West, Associated Press reported.

One day after the United States and other Western allies vowed to speed more and better military supplies to Ukraine, the Kremlin upped the ante, using its most essential export as leverage. It then went even further, saying Russia could halt gas supplies to other European customers.

European gas prices shot up on the news that Poland and Bulgaria were cut off, a move that European leaders denounced as “blackmail.”

In a memo, state-controlled Russian giant Gazprom said it was cutting Poland and Bulgaria off from its natural gas because they refused to pay in Russian rubles, as President Vladimir Putin had demanded. The company said it had not received any such payment since the beginning of the month.

The gas cuts do not immediately put the countries into dire trouble since they have worked on getting alternative sources for several years now and the continent is heading into summer, making gas not as essential for households.

Still, it sent shivers of worry through the 27-nation European Union, which immediately convened a special coordination group to limit the impact of the move. And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s ensuing warning was sure to worry them even more. He told reporters that other European customers may be cut off if they also refuse to pay in rubles, according to the Associated Press.

On the ground too, the geopolitical fight intensified, with the Russian military claiming Wednesday that its missiles hit a batch of weapons that the US and European nations delivered to Ukraine.

A day earlier, explosions rocked the separatist region of Trans-Dniester in neighboring Moldova, knocking out two powerful radio antennas and raising fears the war could spill over Ukraine’s borders. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks — the second in as many days — but Ukraine all but blamed Russia.

And a Russian missile hit a strategic railroad bridge linking Ukraine’s Odesa port region to neighboring Romania, a NATO member, Ukrainian authorities said.

Just across the border in Russia, an ammunition depot in the Belgorod region was burning early Wednesday after several explosions were heard, the governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on the messaging app Telegram.

Gazprom’s decision to cut gas to two European countries was another dark turn in the war, which has revived the geopolitical rifts of the Cold War, and it had an immediate impact. European gas prices spiked 25%, with benchmark Dutch futures jumping from around 100 euros per megawatt hour to around 125 euros.

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the Paris-based International Energy Agency, called the move a “weaponization of energy supplies” in a tweet, Associated Press reported.

“Gazprom’s move to completely shut off gas supplies to Poland is yet another sign of Russia’s politicization of existing agreements & will only accelerate European efforts to move away from Russian energy supplies,” he wrote.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the move “yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail.”

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov also called the suspension of gas deliveries blackmail and said it was “a gross violation of their contract.”

“We will not succumb to such a racket,” he added.

The stoppage marked “an historical turning point in the bilateral energy relationship” between Russia and Europe, said Simone Tagliapietra, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

On Tuesday, the US defense chief urged Ukraine’s allies to “move at the speed of war” to get more and heavier weapons to Kyiv as Russian forces rained fire on eastern and southern Ukraine, Associated Press reported.

Nepal reported 11 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 4, 119 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which eight returned positive. Likewise, 1, 772 people underwent antigen tests, of which three were tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 17 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 252  active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5. 17 points to close at 2, 376. 17 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 61 points to close at 454. 56 points.

Meanwhile, a total of 2, 885, 039 unit shares of 228 companies were traded for Rs 1. 08 billion.

In today’s market, all sub-indices saw green except for Banking, Trading, Microfinance and Mutual Fund.

Meanwhile, Jalpa Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Sabina Equity Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 3. 88 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalisation stood at Rs 3. 38 trillion.

After one of the greatest of Champions League semi-final clashes, Manchester City will take a 4-3 lead into the second leg of their tie against Real Madrid following an extraordinary encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

A breathtaking and relentlessly fast game, packed with chances, moments of individual brilliance and a smattering of defensive lapses, was a treat for the spectators but leaves City, who had the better of the game, with the slenderest of leads to defend at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday.

“It was a fantastic game for both sides. We did many good things. Unfortunately we conceded goals and we could not score more. But it is two games and we have another one in one week,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.

Liverpool and Villarreal will certainly struggle to match the quality of this game when they meet in the other semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday, according to Reuters. 

City took the lead after 94 seconds, the fastest goal scored in a Champions League semi-final, with Kevin De Bruyne’s superb diving header after Riyad Mahrez made a piercing run at the Real defence, switched inside and then delivered a killer cross.

Guardiola’s side doubled their lead in the 11th minute through the in-form Gabriel Jesus, who scored four goals in the Premier League at the weekend, collecting a pass from De Bruyne and spinning away from David Alaba before drilling home.

It was the first time that 13-times European champions Real had conceded two goals so quickly in the Champions League and another looked on the cards.

Reigning Premier League champions City were on fire, running Spanish league leaders Real ragged, but Mahrez and Phil Foden were both unable to convert promising chances, Reuters reported.

It was a spell of the game that City may yet look back on as a missed opportunity and as so often Real found a way to get themselves back in a contest that risked running away from them.

The goal came via a familiar source, the Champions League’s escape artist Karim Benzema scoring a goal out of nothing as he guided a Ferland Mendy cross into the far, bottom corner with the most delicate of steers after 33 minutes.

Guardiola could be forgiven for wondering how his team’s high-energy, high-quality football had only produced a 2-1 lead at the break but there was a similar pattern in the second half.

City restored a two-goal advantage eight minutes after the restart with veteran Fernandinho, on as a substitute for the injured John Stones, picking out Foden with a perfectly weighted cross which the England international nodded home.

Two minutes later though Fernandinho was caught out as he allowed Brazilian compatriot Vinicius Jr to break away past him on the touchline, according to Reuters.

The winger sprinted from the halfway line deep into the area before poking the ball past Ederson to make it 3-2 with an outstanding individual effort.

Yet again City found a way through. Real’s defence hesitated after Oleksandr Zinchenko went down on the edge of the box but Bernardo Silva pounced and beat Thibaut Courtois with a superb drive into the top corner in the 74th minute.

There was more drama to come as City’s Aymeric Laporte was penalised when the ball struck his arm in the area, after glancing off his head, and Benzema converted the penalty with a cheeky ‘Panenka’ chip down the middle eight minutes from time.

Still City searched for more but substitute Raheem Sterling and Ruben Dias were both unable to make contact with a dangerous ball across the box and then Dias slid in again and was just inches away from a deep Mahrez cross, Reuters reported.

The score was to remain 4-3 but for those who wished this game could have just gone on and on there is another 90 minutes to look forward to next week.

City, yet to be crowned European champions, were left with the strange feeling of disappointment at ‘only’ beating Real by one goal.

Real’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti had similar mixed feelings to Guardiola after an entertaining night and left with some regrets but there was a hint of optimism in his analysis, according to Reuters.

“As a football fan, it was a fantastic game of football. As a manager of Madrid, I have to take into consideration that we … conceded two goals very early. But we take three goals to the Bernabeu. We now hope to get to the final.”

The government has decided to grant two days of public holiday a week—Saturday and Sunday—from May 15.

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday made the decision to this effect.

Likewise, the government has also decided to extend the office hours from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the government has decided to implement the decision effective from May 15 as a trial.

The government has also decided to impose a complete ban on 10 different types of items and give two days of public holiday to reduce the import of petroleum products and to increase foreign exchange reserves.