Fate of PakTurk schools across country uncertain
KARACHI: The future of private schools set up by the PakTurk International Schools and Colleges network plunged into uncertainty a day after Turkey’s ambassador called on the Pakistan government to close down all the institutions backed by the Fethullah Gulen-inspired Hizmet movement. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s closeness with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s brotherly […]
IMF flags decelerating pace of reforms in India
BEJING: Listing out as many as six core areas that need further reforms in India, IMF has warned that headwinds from weaknesses in the country’s corporate and bank balance sheets, decelerating pace of reforms and sluggish exports may weigh on its economic growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which recently lowered its GDP growth projection for […]
Kerala’s Fat Tax: What will it take to win the fight against obesity?
The fat is in the fire in God’s Own Country, with the Kerala government planning to tax junk food at 14.5%. The ‘fat tax’ will be levied on burgers, pizzas and processed foods served in organised fast-food outlets, including international brands such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Domino’s. The idea is to try […]
US doing quiet diplomacy to calm Kashmir situation
WASHINGTON: The United States, while still avoiding a public stance, has been quietly engaged with both India and Pakistan for promoting a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, says the US State Department. The Kashmir valley has been in the grip of widespread protests since July 8 when Indian security forces killed Kashmiri leader Burhan […]
Kashmir protests: Mob tries to storm army camp in Bandipora district, more forces rushed
Three civilians were injured when Army opened fire on protesters at Saderkote village in Bandipore on Sunday. Police said the protesters tried to storm a security camp. “Three people have been injured in the incident,” Deputy Commissioner Bandipore Sajad Hussain Ganai told The Indian Express. “As of now, no death has been reported”. Curfew remained in […]
Cong names Sheila Dikshit as UP CM candidate, says chosen for experience and good work
Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was on Thursday named as Congress CM face in Uttar Pradesh where assembly elections are due next year. The announcement was made by Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi at the party headquarters in the national capital. “For the first time your assumption has proved right,” he said, referring to media speculation […]
‘Cynical’ and ‘misguided’: India hits back at Pakistan for raising Kashmir at UN
UNITED NATIONS: India has sharply hit back at Pakistan at a high-level United Nations forum for misusing it to raise the Kashmir issue. CharacterisingPakistan as a country that “uses terrorism as state policy” and one that masquerades its use of terrorism as its “support for human rights”, India firmly dismissed Pakistan’s attempt as not having any resonance in […]
Mani Iyer, Appointed to New Foreign Direct Investment Advisory Council
HOUSTON: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of Mani Iyer, President & CEO of Mahindra North America among 19 private and public sector leaders to the Commerce Department’s newly established U.S. Investment Advisory Council (IAC). IAC members, representing U.S. companies, entities, and organizations with missions or activities that include the promotion or […]
India, Kenya sign 7 pacts; to deepen cooperation in security
NAIROBI: Seeking to bolster their ties, India and Kenya on Monday decided to deepen and expand cooperation in a wide range of areas as they signed seven pacts, including in the field of defence and security and avoidance of double taxation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after his talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta here, also […]
Life in curfew-hit Srinagar: Petrol in black, stores open half-shutter at night
As curfew stretched on for a third day on Monday, indefinitely suspending civic life, Srinagar almost resembled a ghost town. Grocery stores, vegetable shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained shuttered, even as the death toll from protests went up by one more; a youth died on Sunday from injuries sustained in the police […]
From Pakistan to Palestine, Muslims around the world observe Ramazan
Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holy fasting month of Ramazan, when they refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to dusk. Religious activities usually increase during this month and households stock up on essentials for staples and avoid the heat and crowds during fasting hours. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramazan […]
India sure of China’s support for nuclear group’s membership
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that China is not blocking India’s entry to the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG) but is talking about the criteria and procedures. “The NSG entry is crucial for India’s energy policy. China is not blocking India’s entry to the NSG. It is only talking about criteria and procedures… I am hopeful […]
US urges NSG members to support India’s membership
WASHINGTON: The US has urged members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to support India’s membership into the elite grouping. “The United States calls on Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) participating governments to support India’s application when it comes up at the NSG plenary, which I think is next week,” state department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news […]
Pakistan’s nuclear programme has increased risk of conflict with India: US congressional report
WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s “full spectrum deterrence” nuclear doctrine and increasing fissile production capability have increased the risk of a nuclear conflict with India, a congressional report has said amid Pakistan’s efforts to drum up support for its NSG membership bid. “Islamabad’s expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called ‘full […]
Amritsar On Alert On 32nd Anniversary Of Operation Bluestar, Prayers Held
AMRITSAR: Security agencies are on alert in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar for the 32nd anniversary of Army’s ‘Operation Bluestar’ in the Golden Temple complex being observed today. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar appealed to all sections to exercise restraint and observe the day peacefully. The appeal came […]
Mathura clash toll goes up to 29, Aligarh commissioner begins probe
Death toll from the clashes in Mathura between encroachers of Jawahar Bagh and the police rose to 29 on Sunday, with two more people succumbing to injuries. The Aligarh Divisional Commissioner launched a probe into the incident. Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Singh said 45 cases have been registered against 3000 encroachers belonging to […]
India and Qatar ink 7 agreements; to share intel on hawala, terror financing
India and Qatar on Sunday agreed to share intelligence to combat ‘hawala’ transactions and terror financing as the two countries signed seven agreements and decided to move beyond the trading relationship and get into strategic investments. The two sides highlighted the need to “isolate” the sponsors and supporters of terrorism and agreed that urgent action […]
PM Modi arrives in Iran; boosting trade, energy partnership high on agenda
Looking to strengthen trade, investment and energy ties with Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived in Tehran on a two-day visit, during which a crucial agreement is expected to be signed on developing the strategic Chabahar port. Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister having visited Iran in the last 15 years, was […]
24 killed as Cyclone Roanu hits Bangladesh, lakhs evacuated
Dhaka: At least 24 people have been killed and over 100 others injured as cyclone Roanu battered Bangladesh’s southern coast, triggering landslides and prompting authorities to evacuate about five lakh people. With a wind speed of up to 88 kilometres per hour, the cyclone hit the Barisal-Chittagong region, sending impacts across the country. Most places […]
1,159 obsolete laws scrapped by Modi govt; 1,301 junked in previous 64 years
NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government may be facing the opposition hurdle in Rajya Sabha in enacting certain new laws, but its record of getting obsolete and redundant laws out of the statute book appears to be moving ahead without too much fuss. Successive governments had repealed 1,301 such outdated laws in 64 years. But […]
