Indian Sub-continent

Sri Lanka court sentences firebrand Buddhist monk over Islamophobic comments

Colombo, Mar 28 (PTI) A firebrand Sri Lankan Buddhist majority hardliner monk was on Thursday sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment for his Islamophobic comments made in 2016.

Galagodatte Gnanasara, 49, was additionally fined Rupees 1,00,000 by the High Court here.

The monk, who was running an anti-Muslim minority campaign since 2012, was charged for comments made at a press conference held in March 2016.

Enemies of Pak-China friendship responsible for terror attack that saw five Chinese killed: Pakistan

Islamabad, Mar 28 (PTI) Pakistan on Thursday said that the “enemies” of its friendship with China were responsible for the "heinous" terrorist attack which killed five Chinese nationals and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

No change in trade policy with India: Pakistan

Islamabad, Mar 28 (PTI) Pakistan on Thursday clarified that it has no plan to resume trade relations with India which has been "non-existent" since 2019 after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The clarification from Pakistan's Foreign Office comes days after the new Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in London that Pakistan will seriously consider restoring trade ties with India that have remained suspended since August 2019.

India: UP CM Kejriwal not keeping well, being 'harassed a lot', says wife

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Thursday claimed he is not keeping well and is being "harassed a lot".

Kejriwal has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Earlier on Thursday, a court here extended the chief minister's ED custody till April 1.

India: Fiscal deficit at Feb-end touches 86.5 pc of full-year target: Govt data

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) The government's fiscal deficit at Rs 15 lakh crore touched 86.5 per cent of the revised annual target at the end of February, according to official data released on Thursday.

In the corresponding period last year, the fiscal deficit or gap between the expenditure and revenue was 82.8 per cent of Revised Estimates (RE) of the Union Budget 2022-23.

For 2023-24, the government's fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 17.35 lakh crore or 5.8 per cent of the GDP.

India, China exchange views on complete disengagement, resolving remaining issues along LAC

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) Amid a lingering border row in eastern Ladakh, top diplomats of India and China held a fresh round of talks and both sides agreed to "maintain regular contact" through diplomatic and military channels, with no indication of any breakthrough.

Pakistan court orders authorities to present jailed former PM Imran Khan, his wife on April 4

Islamabad, Mar 25 (PTI) A Pakistani court on Monday ordered authorities to present jailed former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on April 4 during the hearing of their appeal seeking bail in different cases.

District and Session Court judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the case on the plea filed by the couple seeking bail in the cases about the forgery of receipts for Toshakhana gifts, while Khan had also filed a petition to seek bail in a May 9 violence case as well.

India: Will Sangh Parivar abandon slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' coined by a Muslim, Kerala CM asks

Malappuram (Kerala), Mar 25 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the slogans 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind' were first raised by two Muslims and asked whether the Sangh Parivar would be ready to abandon them.

Reaching out to the minority community in this Muslim-dominated north Kerala district, the veteran CPI(M) leader said Muslim rulers, cultural icons and officials had played a significant role in the country's history and independence movement.

Demand to re-open Bhagat Singh’s case to give him justice in Pakistan

Lahore, Mar 23 (PTI) Observing the 93rd death anniversary of independence war heroes -- Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukh Dev -- here on Saturday, their supporters and followers demanded to reopen the case to ensure justice to them like it was done in the case of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

British rulers on March 23, 1931, hanged Bhagat Singh along with Raj Guru and Sukh Dev at Shadman Chowk here after trying them under the charge of hatching a conspiracy against the regime.

Pakistan to 'seriously' consider restoring trade ties with India: Foreign Minister Dar

Islamabad, Mar 24 (PTI) Pakistan will “seriously” consider restoring trade ties with India that remained suspended since August 2019, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said, indicating a potential shift in diplomatic stance towards the neighbouring nation.

Dar made these remarks during a press conference in London following his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, Geo News reported.

He highlighted the eagerness of cash-strapped Pakistan's business community to resume trade activities with India.

Subscribe to Indian Sub-continent