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Foo Fighters have won three prizes at the 2022 Grammy Awards, just a week after the unexpected death of their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, BBC reported.

The group won best rock song album for Medicine at Midnight, rock performance for its opening track, Making A Fire and rock song for Waiting On A War.

Presenter Jimmy Jam accepted the prizes in the band's absence, "with prayers to their loved ones".

Hawkins died in Colombia shortly before the band were due to play a festival.

Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. He did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

Opioids, marijuana and other drugs were found in the 50-year-old's system after he died, investigators said, but it is not known whether they contributed to his death, according to BBC.

Foo Fighters had been due to play the Grammys this weekend. Instead, organisers played a video tribute to Hawkins, set to the Foo Fighters' song My Hero.

"Our thoughts go out to Taylor's family, his friends, the Foo Fighters family and all of their fans around the globe," said host Trevor Noah.

The show, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, also honoured Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, who died last November at the age of 91, BBC reported.

Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers have resigned en masse after protests over the government's handling of the worst economic crisis in decades, BBC reported.

All 26 ministers submitted letters of resignation - but not Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa or his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Many angry protesters demanding the resignation of the Rajapaksa family say the move is meaningless.

On Sunday, many defied a curfew to take to the streets in several cities.

The country is grappling with what is said to be its worst economic crisis since independence from the UK in 1948.

It is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which is used to pay for fuel imports. With power cuts lasting half a day or more, and shortages of food, medicines and fuel, public anger has reached a new high.

Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told reporters on Sunday that the cabinet's ministers had tendered their resignation letters to the prime minister, according to BBC.

The prime minister's own son, Namal Rajapaksa, was among those who resigned, tweeting that he hoped it would help the president and PM's "decision to establish stability for the people and the government".

However, many protesters who allege that the president and his family are to blame for the situation in the country are angry at the fact that he will remain in power. 

One Twitter user called it a "sick joke". 

Another called it a "play from the dictator's playbook".

"We want all of you gone - the Rajapaksas, the cabinet,their political henchman, the corrupt cronies, their media guys. All of them," another social media user added.

On Sunday, thousands of people across the country defied a curfew order and a special notification banning anyone from from being on any public road, in a park, on trains or on the seashore unless they have written permission from the authorities, BBC reported.

The curfew, along with a ban on social media sites including Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, was meant to halt a planned day of protests,after a demonstration outside the president's house on Thursday night turned violent. 

The demonstrations mark a massive turnaround in popularity for Mr Rajapaksa who swept into power with a majority win in 2019, promising stability and a "strong hand" to rule the country, according to BBC.

BMW has halted production at two German factories. Mercedes is slowing work at its assembly plants. Volkswagen, warning of production stoppages, is looking for alternative sources for parts, Associated Press reported.

For more than a year, the global auto industry has struggled with a disastrous shortage of computer chips and other vital parts that has shrunk production, slowed deliveries and sent prices for new and used cars soaring beyond reach for millions of consumers. 

Now, a new factor — Russia’s war against Ukraine — has thrown up yet another obstacle. Critically important electrical wiring, made in Ukraine, is suddenly out of reach. With buyer demand high, materials scarce and the war causing new disruptions, vehicle prices are expected to head even higher well into next year. 

The war’s damage to the auto industry has emerged first in Europe. But US production will likely suffer eventually, too, if Russian exports of metals — from palladium for catalytic converters to nickel for electric vehicle batteries — are cut off.

“You only need to miss one part not to be able to make a car,” said Mark Wakefield, co-leader of consulting firm Alix Partners’ global automotive unit. “Any bump in the road becomes either a disruption of production or a vastly unplanned-for cost increase.”

Supply problems have bedeviled automakers since the pandemic erupted two years ago, at times shuttering factories and causing vehicle shortages. The robust recovery that followed the recession caused demand for autos to vastly outstrip supply — a mismatch that sent prices for new and used vehicles skyrocketing well beyond overall high inflation, according to the Associated Press. 

In the United States, the average price of a new vehicle is up 13% in the past year, to $45,596, according to Edmunds.com. Average used prices have surged far more: They’re up 29% to $29,646 as of February. 

Before the war, S&P Global Mobility had predicted that global automakers would build 84 million vehicles this year and 91 million next year. (By comparison, they built 94 million in 2018.) Now it’s forecasting fewer than 82 million in 2022 and 88 million next year.

Mark Fulthorpe, an executive director for S&P, is among analysts who think the availability of new vehicles in North America and Europe will remain severely tight — and prices high — well into 2023. Compounding the problem, buyers who are priced out of the new-vehicle market will intensify demand for used autos and keep those prices elevated, too — prohibitively so for many households. 

Eventually, high inflation across the economy — for food, gasoline, rent and other necessities — will likely leave a vast number of ordinary buyers unable to afford a new or used vehicle. Demand would then wane. And so, eventually, would prices, Associated Press reported.

“Until inflationary pressures start to really erode consumer and business capabilities,” Fulthorpe said, “it’s probably going to mean that those who have the inclination to buy a new vehicle, they’ll be prepared to pay top dollar.” 

One factor behind the dimming outlook for production is the shuttering of auto plants in Russia. Last week, French automaker Renault, one of the last automakers that have continued to build in Russia, said it would suspend production in Moscow. 

The transformation of Ukraine into an embattled war zone has hurt, too. Wells Fargo estimates that 10% to 15% of crucial wiring harnesses that supply vehicle production in the vast European Union were made in Ukraine. In the past decade, automakers and parts companies invested in Ukrainian factories to limit costs and gain proximity to European plants. 

The wiring shortage has slowed factories in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and elsewhere, leading S&P to slash its forecast for worldwide auto production by 2.6 million vehicles for both this year and next. The shortages could reduce exports of German vehicles to the United States and elsewhere, Associated Press reported.

Wiring harnesses are bundles of wires and connectors that are unique to each model; they can’t be easily re-sourced to another parts maker. Despite the war, harness makers like Aptiv and Leoni have managed to reopen factories sporadically in Western Ukraine. Still Joseph Massaro, Aptiv’s chief financial officer, acknowledged that Ukraine “is not open for any type of normal commercial activity.” 

Aptiv, based in Dublin, is trying to shift production to Poland, Romania, Serbia and possibly Morocco. But the process will take up to six weeks, leaving some automakers short of parts during that time. 

“Long term,” Massaro told analysts, “we’ll have to assess if and when it makes sense to go back to Ukraine.” 

BMW is trying to coordinate with its Ukrainian suppliers and is casting a wider net for parts. So are Mercedes and Volkswagen. 

Yet finding alternative supplies may be next to impossible. Most parts plants are operating close to capacity, so new work space would have to be built. Companies would need months to hire more people and add work shifts. 

“The training process to bring up to speed a new workforce — it’s not an overnight thing,” Fulthorpe said. 

Fulthorpe said he foresees a further tightening supply of materials from both Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of neon, a gas used in lasers that etch circuits onto computer chips. Most chip makers have a six-month supply; late in the year, they could run short. That would worsen the chip shortage, which before the war had been delaying production even more than automakers expected. 

Likewise, Russia is a key supplier of such raw materials as platinum and palladium, used in pollution-reducing catalytic converters. Russia also produces 10% of the world’s nickel, an essential ingredient in EV batteries, according to the Associated Press.

Mineral supplies from Russia haven’t been shut off yet. Recycling might help ease the shortage. Other countries may increase production. And some manufacturers have stockpiled the metals. 

But Russia also is a big aluminum producer, and a source of pig iron, used to make steel. Nearly 70% of US pig iron imports come from Russia and Ukraine, Alix Partners says, so steelmakers will need to switch to production from Brazil or use alternative materials. In the meantime, steel prices have rocketed up from $900 a ton a few weeks ago to $1,500 now. 

So far, negotiations toward a cease-fire in Ukraine have gone nowhere, and the fighting has raged on. A new virus surge in China could cut into parts supplies, too. Industry analysts say they have no clear idea when parts, raw materials and auto production will flow normally. 

Even if a deal is negotiated to suspend fighting, sanctions against Russian exports would remain intact until after a final agreement had been reached. Even then, supplies wouldn’t start flowing normally. Fulthorpe said there would be “further hangovers because of disruption that will take place in the widespread supply chains.” 

Wakefield noted, too, that because of intense pent-up demand for vehicles across the world, even if automakers restore full production, the process of building enough vehicles will be a protracted one, Associated Press reported.

Olivia Rodrigo won three trophies so far at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, with her win for best new artist putting her in esteemed company including Carly Simon, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Jones, the Beatles and Billie Eilish, Associated Press reported.

A veteran of the “High School Musical” series, Rodrigo became the breakout music star of 2021, leading with her massive viral hit “Drivers License” and following with the single “Good 4 U” and the aching album “Sour,” which took best pop vocal album. 

“This is my biggest dream come true,” she said after her best new artist win. She thanked her parents for supporting her dreams, which at one point involved being an Olympic gymnast and quickly veered toward music, Associated Press reported.

“I want to thank my mom for being so supportive for all of my dreams, no matter how crazy. I want to thank my mom and dad for being equally as proud of me for winning a Grammy as they were when I learned how to do a back walk.”

The night’s festivities grew grim when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering with an update on the war and his numbers included children injured and killed. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos,” he said. “We are fighting Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music.”

He ended by saying: “Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can any, but not silence. And then peace will come to all our cities.”

John Legend then performed “Free” with Ukrainian exiles including singer-actress Mika Newton and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, according to the Associated Press.

Silk Sonic — the all-star union of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak — opened the Grammys in Las Vegas with their high-energy, infectious fix of retro soul and funk by performing their “777.” They returned to the stage a short time later to collect the song of the year trophy for “Leave the Door Open.”

The win helps Mars tie the record for most song of the year wins. He had previously won for “24K Magic.”

Both Mars and .Paak jumped out their seat, threw up their hands and dance to their song.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be doing this with than anyone other than you,” Mars said to .Paak. “We’ll be singing this song together for the rest of our lives.”

Host Trevor Noah introduced the duo’s opening performance by saying they were singlehandedly bringing back the 1970s, “which might explain the inflation.”

By the time the show started on CBS, Jon Batiste has already taken home four Grammy Awards, including his first ever. Batiste won for best American roots performance, best American roots song, best music video and tied with Carlos Rafael Rivera for best score soundtrack for visual media. His song “Freedom” in the music video category beat out several other tough competitors, including Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Eilish. All the honors were handed out during a pre-telecast ceremony.

“I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said. “We just wanted everyone to see it. Any depression, any bondage or any darkness that was over your life is completely removed by just the love and the joy of the video.”

Wrapping up his three-day official visit to India, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba returned home on Sunday.

Before returning home, Prime Minister Deuba along with his spouse Arzu Rana, and others visited Varanasi.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed him at the Lal Bahadur International Airport this morning.

During this visit to India, Prime Minister Deuba visited the headquarters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. He held a meeting with BJP President JP Nadda there.

Later, he held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He attended a dinner hosted by the Nepali Embassy in India the same day.

During the second day of the visit, he held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday. He along with his Indian counterpart Modi jointly inaugurated the Janakpur-Jayanagar rail service.

On the occasion, Nepal and India inked four-point agreements.

During a joint press conference, Prime Minister Deuba proposed Modi to resolve the border issues at the earliest.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayak Khadka has said that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to India has become successful.

During a press conference organized at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday, the foreign minister claimed that PM Deuba’s visit was successful in taking Nepal’s relations with India to a new height.

 “This visit discussed issues of mutual interests. This is a big achievement,” Minister Khadka said. 

He made it clear that Prime Minister Deuba held a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda as the President of the Nepali Congress, not as the prime minister. 

During the meeting, the duo discussed cementing the relationship between Nepali Congress and the BJP.

Prime Minister Deuba was criticized for visiting the BJP headquarters, saying it was against diplomatic dignity.

Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was criticized for not keeping Nepali representatives behind Prime Minister Deuba during this meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. 

Responding to journalists' queries, why Nepal and India issued separate press statements even though there is a tradition to issue a joint statement when there is a bilateral agreement between the two countries, Minister Khadka said that separate press statements were issued as per the advice of both sides. 

Likewise, he said that the prime minister floated a proposal to resolve the border issue through diplomatic channels. 

During a bilateral meeting held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday, Nepal and India signed four agreements. 

Nepal reported 23 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 5, 847 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 23 returned positive. 

The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 66 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 899 active cases in the country.

Among them, 858 are in home isolation and 41 are in institutionalized isolation. 

Of the infected people, 15 are in Intensive Care Units while two are on ventilators.

Nepali Congress central member Dr Shekhar Koirala has pointed out that the country has faced irrelevant expenditures in the name of constructing view towers.

Rather budget spent in the construction of the view towers should have been invested in the construction of hospitals and schools, he said while inaugurating the Simaltar Water Supply Project at Bandipur Rural Municipality-2 in Tanahun district today.

"We said we lack money for development activities. However, we are spending money unnecessarily in building view towers. We are building welcome gates in Madhes roads. Such activities should be stopped."

He asked NC leaders and cadres to pledge to rather invest money spent in the construction of view towers in the construction of hospitals and schools. It would help the NC, he said.

In another context, the NC leader committed to the agreement of continuing the existing coalition until the May 13 local election. But there is not a clarity on how to move ahead with the alliance in the poll, he said.

The lift water project that cost over Rs 15 million is expected to provide water to 225 households at Simaltar, Dharapani, Chamundathan and Thumki. RSS