Islamabad, Aug 9 (IANS) The US-Pakistan mineral deal faces strong opposition from the Baloch community, with local leaders like Mir Yar Baloch labelling it as a “strategic mistake” , a report cited on Saturday. He warned that the deal would embolden Pakistan’s military and intelligence services and deepen the marginalisation of the people of Balochistan.”When Pakistan signed its minerals and mining deal with the United States, officials in Islamabad may have considered it an economic breakthroug…

Beijing, Aug 9 (IANS) Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for all-out efforts to search for people missing in mountain torrents in Yuzhong County of northwest China’s Gansu Province, when directing emergency response work at the disaster site. Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, left for the county on Friday evening to guide on-site search and rescue and emergency response work. He visited the hardest-hit villages of Mal…

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the first freight train to the Kashmir valley.Calling it a “great day”, PM Modi said the achievement is set to boost “progress and prosperity” in the region.”Great day for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir!” PM Modi shared in a post on the social media platform X.”It will enhance both progress and prosperity,” he added.Creating a historical milestone in goods transportation of Kashmir, the first freight train re…

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, has busted a drug cartel involved in the supply of psychotropic substance Alprazolam, arresting two accused and recovering over nine kilograms of tablets valued at approximately Rs 1 crore in the international market. Acting on the directions of Delhi’s Lt. Governor to make the capital drug-free, ANTF officers developed intelligence about drug t…

Chandigarh, Aug 9 (IANS) In a major breakthrough in a high-profile drug trafficking case dated to 2015, one of the main accused and former Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been arrested by the Punjab Police. Based on the police’s information and intelligence input, the CISF surveillance team arrested PSO Joga Singh from the Delhi Airport. Punjab Police had been keeping a close watch on his activities for a long time and was in constant touch with …

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Congress Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore on Saturday accused the government of running away from a discussion on the functioning of the Election Commission of India in Parliament, claiming that it is not a forbidden topic. Tagore, an MP for Virudhunagar, took to X and said, “Why is Honourable Parliamentary Affairs Minister @KirenRijiju afraid to allow a discussion on the functioning of the Election Commission in Parliament?”Citing previous instances of matters relat…

Baba Bakala (Punjab), Aug 9 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Saturday assured Punjabis that once they form a SAD government in Punjab it would return all land acquired by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to farmers on the same pattern in which it had returned land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal to the farmers in 2016. Addressing a political conference on the occasion of Rakhar Punya here, Badal said: “We are very clear. We can sacrifice our life but will no…

Patna, Aug 9 (IANS) Two days after walking out of Beur Jail, former MLA Anant Singh met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his official residence, sparking political buzz over his return to active politics. According to sources, the 15-minute meeting was cordial, with the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar enquiring about Singh’s well-being.During the interaction, Anant Singh is said to have expressed his desire to contest the upcoming Assembly elections from the Mokama constituency on a Janata Dal (Unit…

Kozhikode, Aug 9 (IANS) Thamarassery Diocese Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil on Saturday strongly condemned recent attacks on priests and nuns in the country.His remarks came in response to incidents in Odisha where clergy and nuns were assaulted and also about the incident that took place in Chhattisgarh early this month, when two nuns was jailed for eight days.The two incidents at Chhattisgarh and in Jaleswar in Orissa has rocked the Christian community in Kerala.“Attacks against Christian…

Shillong, Aug 9 (IANS) In a midnight daring attempt, some Bangladeshi armed men reportedly attacked villagers after illegally entering Indian territory in Meghalaya’s South West Khasi Hills district, officials said on Saturday. A senior official of Meghalaya police said that during the intervening night of Friday, eight to nine armed Bangladesh nationals entered Rongdongai village and fired at the villagers and assaulted an Indian villager. The Indian villager was stabbed after he detained a B…