GS-II

Now is the “right moment” for peace in Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday as he once more called on the Taliban to negotiate with his government. The Taliban have steadfastly refused to discuss peace with Mr. Ghani, whom they consider a U.S. stooge heading an illegitimate regime. But …

Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Wednesday began debating a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to prevent Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people. The Opposition Marxist Peoples’ Liberation Front submitted a motion accusing the ruling coalition of failing to prevent the April 21 attacks despite the “fact …

President Rouhani terms seizure of tanker ‘a foolish act’ Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned Britain on Wednesday of “consequences” over the detention of an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Gibraltar. “I point out to the British that you initiated insecurity (on the seas) and you shall grasp the …

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019. The Bill, which replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March this year, provides for the incorporation of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for creating an autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration. The Bill, moved by Union …

The Assam government has sent a proposal to the Centre for fast-tracking the establishment of 10 detention centres across the State to house people who would be excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Supreme Court-monitored register, being updated on the basis of its 1951 avatar, has …

Plea questions the role of the agency in the State The Jammu & Kashmir High Court has directed the Union Home Ministry, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the J&K Government to submit its objections to a plea questioning the functioning of the NIA in the State. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, …

Delhi meet discusses need to boost non-defence commerce The scheduled September meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to highlight bilateral non-defence trade. The discussion in this regard took place in the antional capital during July 9 and 10 at the Second India-Russia Strategic …

United States Trade Representative team to meet officials In the first such formal engagement since the U.S. decided to withdraw India’s preferential trade status in March, a team from the office of the United States Trade Representative will arrive in Delhi on Thursday for meetings with officials of the Commerce …

The Inter-State River Water Disputes Bill also proposes to resolve such conflicts within 18 months The Union Cabinet has approved the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys. A version of this bill was first introduced …

U.S. House to vote on diluted Bill on defence cooperation with Delhi The U.S. House Committee on Rules voted on Tuesday night to send a watered-down version of an amendment to enhance defence cooperation with India to the full House floor for a vote. The new India NDAA amendment, a …

Pakistan’s economy is at a “critical juncture” where it needs an ambitious and bold set of reforms, the IMF has said, days after the global lender agreed to give a $6 billion bailout package to the cash-strapped country. “Pakistan is facing significant economic challenges on the back of large fiscal …

Both sides support reducing civilian casualties to zero The Taliban and Afghan representatives, including some government officials, agreed on Tuesday to a basic road map for negotiating the country’s political future, a major step that could help propel peace efforts to end the long war, now in its 18th year. …

A lie, say activists; threaten more mass rallies Hong Kong’s embattled pro-Beijing leader on Tuesday said a China extradition bill that sparked unprecedented political unrest “is dead” — but protesters immediately dismissed her comments, threatening more mass rallies. Chief Executive Carrie Lam admitted that her administration’s attempt to introduce the …

The French government is to impose a tax of up to €18 on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France to fund less-polluting transportation projects, a Minister said on Tuesday. The move, which will take effect from 2020, will see a tax of €1.5 imposed on economy-class tickets …

It has long had a field day putting tariffs on U.S. items: Trump U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on India for imposing tariffs on American products and said it was “no longer acceptable”, days after he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and agreed …

Modi thanks UAE for ‘Order of Zayed’ honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the United Arab Emirates for conferring on him the ‘Order of Zayed’ in April, the highest honour of the nation. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Modi thanked the Gulf …

India on Tuesday asserted that the construction work on the Kartarpur corridor, which will allow its pilgrims to access the famed Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, will be completed expeditiously. Giving a detailed description of the work under way, sources said a passenger terminal building, a four-lane highway and other …

Within 20 days, they have been asked to provide position with regard to filling up of vacancies in each State The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a deadline of 20 days for the States, Union Territories and respective High Courts to provide it information on the status of filling up …

Mediation process not moving: plea The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea of a claimant to the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land that the mediation proceedings triggered by the court to heal hearts and minds is making no headway. In an urgent mentioning before a Bench led by …

Official attributes it to clerical error; sons, family members are included in the draft National Register of Citizens The birth register of the municipality in southern Assam’s Silchar town says Sunirmal Bagchi was born on September 21, 1943. This did not prevent the 76-year-old from being marked a ‘foreigner’ during …