International

Islamabad, Aug 25 : Pakistan’s new government has banned the discretionary use of state funds and first-class air travel by officials and leaders, including the president and the prime minister, as part of its austerity drive, reports NDtv. The decisions were made at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday, according to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. “It ...

Beijing, Aug 25 : At least 18 people were killed in a fire at a resort hotel in China’s northeastern city of Harbin early Saturday, state media and an official said. The disaster added to a string of deadly blazes that have plagued China despite official efforts to improve public safety over the past two decades. The fire broke out ...

A South Korean appeal court on Friday extended ex-president Park Geun-hye’s prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power by one year. The decision by the Seoul High Court means the former head of state, who was ousted after a sprawling corruption scandal triggered mass protests, faces 25 years in jail.   Park was convicted in April of receiving or ...

Hawaii has been hit with strong winds and torrential rain as Hurricane Lane approaches the US state, causing flash flooding and landslides. Schools and offices were closed as residents took shelter from the storm, which was downgraded to category three strength on Thursday.   As the hurricane neared the islands of the Aloha state, it brought winds of 125 mph ...

Scott Morrison is to be Australia’s new prime minister after Malcolm Turnbull was forced out by party rivals in a bruising leadership contest. Mr Turnbull had been under pressure from poor polling and what he described as an “insurgency” by conservative MPs.   Mr Morrison, the treasurer, won an internal ballot 45-40 over former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton – ...

Police in Argentina have begun searching properties belonging to the former president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, as part of a major corruption investigation. Forensic scientists, dogs and firefighters helped carry out the raids on two houses in Patagonia and one apartment in Buenos Aires.   It comes after Judge Claudio Bonadio asked to partially lift Ms Fernández’s immunity as he ...

Pressure is mounting on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull as internal party rivals prepare for a potential imminent leadership contest. Mr Turnbull is fighting to retain his position amid a push by senior colleagues to replace him as leader.   He says he will stand down if a majority of Liberal Party MPs sign a letter to bring on an internal ...

Photo: Flames engulf a house in Gawdu Zara village, northern Rakhine state, Myanmar, September 7, 2017.  More than 130 lawmakers from across Southeast Asia on Thursday demanded the international community bring officials in Myanmar to justice for the atrocious crimes it committed against its Rohingya population in Rakhine State. In a joint statement, 132 sitting MPs from five countries — Indonesia, ...

GUWAHATI: Under the UDAN Draft Scheme Document of International Air Connectivity, the Ministry of Civil Aviation of Government of India is planning to connect six international connectivity from Guwahati. The objective of the UDAN (International) scheme is to enhance international air connectivity between Indian states and select international destinations through the provision of financial support to airlines. As per this ...

Eminent Indian writer and journalist Kuldip Nayar passed away in New Delhi on Thursday following a brief illness. He was 95.   Nayar is a Punjabi, but was originally born in Sialkot in 1923.  When the Emergency was declared, Mr. Nayar was one of the first journalists to be put in jail.   He was deeply interested in peaceful relations ...