Pak SC turns down Sharif’s appeal for early hearing in graft case
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed on behalf of ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for an early hearing of his petition seeking bail on medical grounds and to have his sentence suspended in the Al-Azizia corruption case. The apex court said on Monday that the case against the Islamabad High Court’s […]
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 […]
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,” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]