Stresses need for special package for rain-affected crops A high-level meeting will be held on Monday at the Coffee Board to discuss the impact of the floods on coffee-growers, a majority of whom are small cultivators. The meeting is likely to be attended by senior officials of the Union Commerce …

Almost fourfold rise in tax compensation to States for June-July prompts move Alarmed by a nearly fourfold rise in GST compensation to States for June-July, the Finance Ministry is crafting a strategy to shore up tax revenues and engaging with States to identify issues hindering their collections. Finance Secretary Hasmukh …

External developments need to be watched, though. Oil prices and exchange rate volatility can sting beyond endurance Those with a long memory must be consumed by a sense of deja vu over developments in the past few weeks. In many ways, the present turbulent times are reminiscent of what happened …

Sweden Democrats could garner 16-25% of the vote share Swedes voted in legislative elections on Sunday with a far-right surge expected if voters punish traditional parties over their failure to address immigration concerns. Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has called the election a “referendum on the future of the …

Obama campaigns for Democrats in California ahead of midterm polls in Nov. Former President Barack Obama said the November midterm elections will give Americans “a chance to restore some sanity in our politics”, taking another swipe at his successor as he raised his profile campaigning for fellow Democrats to regain …

Foreign Minister Wang says on Pakistan visit that only four of the 18 projects use concessional loan China has rejected accusations that its financial backing for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a “debt trap” that could compromise Islamabad’s sovereignty. Beijing has billed the Gwadar to Kashgar corridor as …

Case relates to faulty hip implants A Johnson & Johnson subsidiary caught in a controversy over faulty hip replacement systems has opposed RTI disclosure of crucial documents it submitted to the country’s drug regulator for seeking import clearance for these devices, the CIC has said. The commission, however, said it …

Assembly had on August 30 approved the Bill; it was revoked during Emergency A crucial Bill that will pave the way for the re-introduction of the provision of anticipatory bail, which was revoked over 40 years ago in the State during the Emergency, has been referred for Presidential assent. Uttar …

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to accord tribal status to the Hatti community of Sirmour district. This has been a long-pending demand of the State government, he said. Stating that the community has been accorded this status in Uttarakhand, Mr. Thakur …

Court frames charges via messaging app Popular among users for its ease and speed, instant messaging service WhatsApp caused raised eyebrows in the Supreme Court this week when it was informed that a criminal case was conducted via the service. The case, involving a former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Sao and …