Big Ben, one of the world’s most famous bells, is to ring out on Sunday to mark the end of the centenary celebrations of the end of the First World War. The U.K. Parliament authorities said on Thursday that, despite ongoing essential conservation works, Big Ben, will strike on Sunday …
Read More »International Affairs
Hawking auction raises astronomical sum
A copy of Stephen Hawking’s doctorate thesis signed in a shaky hand was the highlight of an auction of the British physicist’s personal items in London, which raised nearly £1.4 million. The copy, one of only five originals of the thesis entitled ‘Properties of expanding universes’, smashed pre-sale expectations four …
Read More »‘Mockingbird’ chosen as America’s best-loved novel in vote
Mockingbirdis America’s best-loved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a coming-of-age story about racism and injustice, overpowered wizards and time travellers to be voted America’s best-loved novel by readers nationwide. The 1960 book by Harper Lee emerged as No. 1 in PBS’ “The Great American Read” survey, whose results were announced …
Read More »Ireland woos Indian companies
With just six months away for Brexit to become a reality, Ireland is wooing Indian companies, currently having United Kingdom (U.K.) as their EU headquarters, to shift base to the country. “Indian companies in the U.K. and particularly, those using the U.K. as a gateway to the EU face some …
Read More »Thousands take to streets calling for a second Brexit referendum
Tens of thousands of supporters of the European Union (EU) began marching through London on Saturday as part of what organisers say will be the largest ever demonstration to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit. The protesters waved the blue and gold …
Read More »A reality check for Prime Minister Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost three National Assembly (NA) seats in the October 14 byelections, two of which were won by Mr. Khan in the July general election and vacated later, in what is widely seen as a reality check for the Prime Minister. Byelections took place …
Read More »One step forward, two steps backward
The newly-appointed U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, recently concluded a trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar aimed at setting the stage for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Mr. Khalilzad met with Taliban representatives in Qatar in early October, following several statements made by …
Read More »China, U.S. flaunt nuclear muscle
Quietly, the rapidly deteriorating ties between China and the United States — often dubbed a “trade war”— are acquiring a military edge. In the midst of the downslide in the relationship, which first began in the form of rising tariff walls and Washington’s efforts to deny high technology to China, …
Read More »China tests world’s largest unmanned drone
China has successfully tested the world’s largest unmanned transport drone which can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes, official media reported on Wednesday. A commercial drone Feihong-98 (FH-98) developed and modified by the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology made a test flight in the Baotou site in north China …
Read More »Anna Burns wins Booker Prize
Anna Burns has won the prestigious Man Booker Prize for fiction for Milkman , a vibrant, violent story about men, women, conflict and power set during Northern Ireland’s years of Catholic-Protestant violence. Ms. Burns is the first writer from Northern Ireland to win the £50,000 (Rs. 48 lakh) prize, which …
Read More »Khashoggi was tortured before being killed: report
A pro-government Turkish newspaper on Wednesday published a gruesome recounting of the alleged slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, just as America’s top diplomat arrived in the country for talks over The Washington Post columnist’s disappearance. The report by Yeni Şafak adds to the …
Read More »This mechanic is driving change in Pakistan
Uzma Nawaz, who works in an auto repairs garage, has earned the respect of male co-workers Since picking up a wrench as one of the first woman car mechanics in conservative Pakistan, Uzma Nawaz has faced two common reactions: shock and surprise. And then a bit of respect. The 24-year-old …
Read More »Experts blame perfume, hair gel for fuelling smog in Beijing
Chinese experts have blamed the volatile organic compounds in hair spray, perfume and air refreshers for the recurring air pollution in the country as the dreaded smog returned to haunt Beijing on Monday. The air quality index in the city climbed to 213, which is categorised by the WHO as …
Read More »Maldives court hears Yameen plea
Will take appropriate measures if strongman does not leave office quietly: U.S. Maldives’ judges on Sunday heard a petition by strongman President Abdulla Yameen to have his recent election defeat annulled, potentially triggering U.S. sanctions and plunging the Indian Ocean archipelago into fresh turmoil. Mr. Yameen lost heavily in the …
Read More »China not ready for a deal: Trump
Beijing’s central bank head calls for ‘constructive solutions’ to end trade spat U.S President Donald Trump said on Sunday that China, under pressure due to Washington’s policies, wanted to have a trade deal with him, but he told them a week ago that they were not ready yet. “I told …
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