Indian Sub-continent

Karachi, May 28 (PTI) Pakistan has tried to downplay India's decision not to invite Imran Khan for Narendra Modi's swearing-in on Thursday, saying the Indian Prime Minister's "internal politics" does not permit him to extend an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart.

The government on Monday announced in New Delhi that it has invited leaders from BIMSTEC countries to Prime Minister Modi's inauguration, leaving out Pakistan, which is not a member of the regional grouping.

Ranchi/Patna, May 27 (PTI) Stunned by the rout of his Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar and Jharkhand in the Lok Sabha election, Lalu Prasad gave up lunch for two days after the declaration of poll results on May 23.

Prasad had the meal on Sunday, May 26, after doctors, worried for his health, pleaded him that proper food intake was required for his medication to continue, Dr Umesh Prasad, head of the team looking after him, told PTI on Monday.

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) With the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, the contentious Citizenship (amendment) Bill and the one on banning triple talaq have lapsed as they were not passed by Rajya Sabha.

The two bils could not be passed by Rajya Sabha in the Budget session, the last Parliament session of the outgoing government.

The term of the present Lok Sabha was to end on June 3, but with the election process over, President Ram Nath Kovind dissolved the lower house on Saturday.

Amethi (UP), May 27 (PTI) Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a BJP worker in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district two days ago, police said on Monday.

Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh said there was a local-level political rivalry between the deceased, Surendra Singh, 50, and the father of one of the accused.

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) The BJP-led NDA, which currently has 99 Rajya Sabha members, is likely to get a majority in the Upper House of Parliament by the end of 2021, making it easier for the ruling alliance to carry out its legislative agenda.

After securing a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha polls with victory in 303 seats, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking at a rise in its numbers in the Rajya Sabha in the months ahead as it is all set to win most of the seats in states like Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has posted an all-time high turnover of Rs 19,705 crore, registering a growth of 7.8 per cent in 2018-19, the company said in a statement Monday.

HAL's Profit After Tax (PAT) for the fiscal year 2018-19 stood at Rs 2,282 crore, an increase of 14.8 per cent over Rs 1,987 crore in the corresponding previous year. An interim dividend of Rs 662 crore has already been paid by the company for the year 2018-19, it said.

ISLAMABAD, May 27 (APP): Founder Chairman Pak US Business Council Iftikhar Ali Malik Monday hailed visit of Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Wang Qishan to Pakistan and urged for deeper economic cooperation with China saying that this collaboration would usher in a new era of progress, prosperity, development, economic growth and welfare of the people of the region.

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) India on Monday successfully test fired an Akash-MK-1S missile from the integrated test range at Chandipur in Odisha, the defence ministry said Monday.

The surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry warhead of 60 kg was test fired on May 25 and May 27, they said.

"Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired AKASH-MK-1S missile from ITR, Chandipur, Odhisa on May 25 and 27," the defence ministry said in a statement.

ISLAMABAD, May 28 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan will attend the 14th Summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia’s city Makkah on May 31, Foreign Minister
Shah Mehmood Qureshi confirmed on Tuesday.

“The OIC session is very important to discuss the Middle East conflict and also the proposed Peace Plan to diffuse the situation,” Qureshi told reporters here prior to his departure for Jeddah to participate in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, preceding the summit-level meeting.

Kolkata, May 27 (PTI) West Bengal government on Monday appointed Alapan Bandyopadhyay as the new Home Secretary and transferred a number of IAS and IPS officers including 10 district magistrates, an official notification said.

Bandyopadhyay replaces Atri Bhattacharya.

Bhattacharya was transferred by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and chief secretary Moloy De was looking after the Home department.