National & International

 Press Trust of India

China hikes defence budget by 7.5 per cent to USD 117.6 billion

Beijing: China, the world’s second largest military spender after the US, Tuesday announced a 7.5 per cent increase in its defence budget for this year, hiking it to a whopping USD 177.61 billion, over three times that of India. The 2019 defence budget will be 1.19 trillion yuan (about USD 177.61 billion), according to a […]

 Press Trust of India

Turkey lambasts US move to end special trade status

Ankara: Turkey’s trade minister on Tuesday said US plans to end the preferential trade status granted to Turkey conflicted with the NATO allies’ push to increase commercial exchanges. “This decision contradicts our mutual objective of reaching bilateral trade volume of 75 billion… The decision will also negatively affect US small and medium-sized enterprises and manufacturers,” […]

 Press Trust of India

China maintains calm on Beijing’s plan for sending special envoy to India, Pak

China maintains calm on Beijing’s plan for sending special envoy to India, Pak

Beijing: China on Monday kept mum on Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mohammad Qureshi’s claim that Beijing plans to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India to ease tensions following the Pulwama terror attack, but said the two countries can resolve their differences through friendly negotiations. Pakistani media on March 2 quoted Qureshi as saying […]

 Press Trust of India

Don’t ease up your guard, Pak Air chief tells PAF officers

Islamabad: Pakistan Air Force chief on Monday asked his officers to keep their “guard up” as the challenges facing the country “are not over yet”, amid heightened tensions with India following the Pulwama terror attack and an aerial combat between the two forces. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan made the remarks during a visit […]

 Press Trust of India

IAF doesn’t count casualties, govt will disclose Balakot toll: IAF Chief

Coimbatore: Sidestepping a raging debate on the number of casualties in the Balakot strike, IAF chief B S Dhanoa on Monday said it is for the government to provide details on the terrorists killed and the Air Force only sees if a target has been hit or not. The Air Force doesn’t count human casualties, […]

 Press Trust of India

Samjhauta Express services to Delhi restored

Lahore: Pakistani authorities on Monday restored the Samjhauta Express services between Lahore and Delhi, days after the train was suspended due to tense bilateral ties. The train departs on Monday and Thursday from Lahore. The Samjhauta Express carrying some 150 passengers left Lahore railway station for India, Radio Pakistan reported. The train, named after the […]

 Press Trust of India

Will cross all limits for protecting country’s sovereignty: President Kovind

Coimbatore: President Ram Nath Kovind Monday said India will use all its might to protect the nation’s sovereignty while referring to the IAF air strikes in Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack of February 14. Addressing a function here, the President said India’s growing stature in the comity of nations is consistent with the strength […]

 Press Trust of India

No letup in defence spending by China

Country hints at further rise, says it poses threat to none

Beijing: China, the world’s second largest military spender after the US, defended its massive allocation on security on Monday and hinted at raising it further this year, saying the country did not pose any “threat” to others. China last year increased its defence budget by 8.1 per cent, taking its declared defence spending to a […]

 Press Trust of India

Pak can use nukes in face of defeat against India, warns Punjab CM

Amritsar: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday cautioned that Pakistan would not hesitate to use its nuclear arsenal if it felt it was losing out against India in a conventional battle. Refusing to comment on the casualty figure in the Indian Air Force strikes on a camp in Balakot in Pakistan, Singh, who is […]

 Press Trust of India

Battle against terror has been directed against Kashmiris, Muslims: CPI (M)

New Delhi: There has been an “orchestrated effort” by the BJP and the RSS to rouse “jingoistic nationalism” after the Pulwama terror attack and the government has turned the battle against terrorism into one against Muslims and Kashmiris, the CPI (M) alleged Monday. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the government must step up diplomatic […]