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 …
Read More »Taliban, Afghan negotiators agree on road map for peace
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. …
Read More »Hong Kong leader says bill is dead, but protesters unmoved
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 …
Read More »France to impose green tax on plane tickets from 2020
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 …
Read More »‘Indian tariffs not acceptable’
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 …
Read More »Modi thanks UAE for honour
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 …
Read More »Kartarpur corridor to be fast-tracked
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 …
Read More »SC deadline on judicial vacancies
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 …
Read More »Ayodhya: SC agrees to hear petition
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 …
Read More »Born in Silchar in 1943, this Assam man is tagged a foreigner
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 …
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