Author: News Desk

President Donald Trump on Friday announced new sanctions on Iran’s central bank, calling the measures the “highest” sanctions ever imposed on a foreign country by the United States. “We have just sanctioned the Iranian national bank,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, later clarifying that he was referring to the Iranian central bank. “These are the highest sanctions ever imposed on a country,” he said. Trump earlier this week announced what he said would be substantial new sanctions against Iran, in response to what US officials say was likely Iranian involvement in an attack on Saudi oil facilities. The…

Austrian lawmakers have voted to provide the path to Austrian citizenship for descendants of people who had been forced out of the country by the Nazis. Great-grandchildren of Nazi victims would also be eligible. Under a new law, Austria will grant citizenship to claimants who can prove that one of their ancestors was forced out of the country by the Nazi regime. A broad majority voted for the law on Friday in parliament, with the local Jewish community also expressing their approval. “With this decision, the Republic of Austria is living up to its historic responsibility,” said Oskar Deutsch, president of…

Moving a step closer towards operating the Rafale combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force on Thursday received the first Rafale combat aircraft at the Dassault Aviation manufacturing facility here. The first aircraft with tail number RB-01 was received by a team of Indian Air Force officers led by Air Marshal VR Chaudhary in France who also flew in the plane for around one hour, Indian Air Force sources told. As per the Rs 60,000 crore contract signed between India and France, the first aircraft was scheduled to be delivered in acceptance mode to the Indian side and it will now…

Ahead of his departure for the United States to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his upcoming visit would further cement bilateral ties between India and the United States and hoped for a stronger partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies. ‘I look forward to my meeting with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. Shared values, convergent interests, and complementary strengths provide strong foundations for a natural partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies,’ PM Modi said in a tweet. The prime minister is scheduled to visit the United States from…

Following the refusal of Pakistan to allow the VVIP Air India One aircraft — that will carry Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States — to overfly its airspace, Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said that Islamabad ‘should realize the folly of its actions’ and that if Pakistan ‘is in violation of norms of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’, India could ‘consider’ approaching the ICAO. He, however, said that at the moment, ‘there is no intention to do so’. He indicated that Pakistan’s actions were not those of a ‘normal’ country. In response to a question, foreign secretary Vijay…

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized after a photo emerged of him in brownface makeup in 2001. Two images of separate incidents have since been released, coming the week after he launched his election campaign. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a liberal advocate of multiculturalism, wore brownface makeup at a costume party in 2001. Trudeau, who launched a campaign for reelection last week, immediately apologized for wearing the makeup. “I should have known better then, but I didn’t and I did it and I’m deeply sorry,” Trudeau told reporters on his campaign plane, asking for forgiveness. He admitted it was a…

In order to attend to emergency situations within the Greater Hyderabad limits, the Telangana state government is planning to start an air support unit that would help in better policing. About six helipads would be constructed in different parts of the city outskirts, where the helicopters would be stationed and provide necessary support during crisis situations. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced this during the Assembly session here on Thursday. He said that during the events of idol immersion processions and other religious festivities, the police face issues in attending emergencies. For better policing during such crisis, the helicopters…

After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is now Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s turn to do so. Sources said that after the ongoing Assembly budget session Mr. Rao is likely to meet Mr. Modi. Since Mr. Modi become Prime Minister and KCR CM, both for the second time, they have not met. In fact, Mr. Rao sought an appointment with Mr. Modi in the past but was not given date due to Mr. Modi’s busy schedule. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is a much stronger critic of Mr. Modi than Mr.…

Arrow Season 8 will premiere on October 15 on The CW in the US and on Sky One and NOW Tv in the UK. The final season of the franchise is expected to be bigger than expected as many former cast members will returning. Showrunner Beth Schwartz had confirmed that none other than Thea Queen (Willa Holland) will be back for a reunion. But, she is not the only familiar fans will see. Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra), Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) mom, Moira (Susanna Thompson), and archenemy, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) will all return for a reunion.…

India on Thursday stated that it did meet the criteria of the trade privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which the United States granted to several developing nations. President Donald Trump’s administration had withdrawn it for India earlier this year. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale underlined India’s eligibility for GSP trade privileges for duty-free exports of certain products to the US just a day after the US President himself hinted that he might make an announcement during his forthcoming joint appearance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Howdy! Modi’ event in Houston on Sunday. Gokhale added that the US…