NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget in Parliament on Saturday, said people of India have unequivocally given jan-aadesh (mandate) for not just political stability but also reposed faith in the government’s economic policies. Here are the highlights from the Union Budget 2020-21: Allocations Agriculture and allied activities, …

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday approved the Budget for the financial year beginning April 1, which may see measures to lift the economy from the worst economic slowdown in 11 years. Before coming to Parliament for presenting her second budget, Finance Minister …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies WASHINGTON/ MELBOURNE: A former US Coast Guard officer has been jailed for 13 years for stockpiling weapons to carry out an alleged white supremacist attack. Officials said Christopher Hasson, 50, was planning to target liberal politicians and news broadcasters. Prosecutors said this …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri CANBERRA: A bushfire near the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) grew to more than 35,000 hectares on Saturday, as officials closed a major motorway. Residents in some areas around the capital, Canberra, were warned that it was “too late to leave” and they should try …

Union Budget 2020-21 has proposed a 16-point action plan to boost agriculture and farmers’ welfare and doubling farmers’ income by 2022. It also seeks to double farmers’ income by 2022. Finance Minister said, the budget is aimed at boosting the income of people and enhancing their purchasing power. Comprehensive measures …

01 February, 2020 WASHINGTON/ NEW YORK: The US President Donald Trump is set to be acquitted in his impeachment trial after senators voted against calling witnesses or admitting new evidence. Democrats hoped four swing Republicans would vote for witnesses, which would have extended the trial without in all likelihood changing …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies LONDON: The flags outside embassies have been lowered, the countdown clocks have stopped. The United Kingdom (UK)is no longer a member of the European Union (EU). The country’s 47 years of membership officially ceased at the stroke of 23:00 GMT (midnight Brussels time), …

President Ram Nath Kovind said abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A related to Jammu and Kashmir, has paved way for equal development of the regions and people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have got rights on par with the rest of the country. He was addressing the joint …

31 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri CANBERRA: Authorities in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have declared a state of emergency as massive bushfires rage south of Canberra. It is the worst fire threat to the territory in nearly two decades, officials said. The main blaze, in the territory’s south, is …

31 January, 2020 NEW YORK/ BEIJING: The World Health Organization declared the outbreak sparked by coronavirus in China as a global emergency on Thursday, after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week, while the death toll rose to 213. This developed as China’s health commission reported on …