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TEHRAN, Iran, Aug 31 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iranian Energy Minister, Reza Ardakanian, said that, his country will officially join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Oct.

Ardakanian said that, after Iran’s accession to the EAEU, 864 various products would be included in the preferential trade agreement between the two sides.

Also, the agreement would allow exports of 70 products on zero tariffs, while 503 other items would enjoy lowered duties, he added.

MUMBAI, August 31; GANASHAKTI: At least 20 persons died and 50 others injured in a major explosion followed by fire at a chemical factory in Maharashtra`s Dhule district on Saturday morning. Several rescue personnel and police officers complained of dizziness and retching following a chemical leak at the accident site. As plumes of black hazardous smoke engulfed the area, the police fastened the process of shifting locals far from the site.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) Cash-strapped Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is facing a challenge in crediting staff salaries for this month on August 30, a senior official admitted on Friday.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said that while the telecom company is generating monthly revenue of about Rs 1,400 crore, there are certain liabilities, including interest payments, which have to be taken into account.

Shimla, Aug 31 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh is facing a debt burden of Rs 49,096 crore, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur informed the state Assembly on Saturday.

Replying to questions by Jagat Singh Negi, Rajinder Rana and Ramesh Chand Dhawala, the CM stated that the state's debt burden was Rs 46, 385 crore in 2017.

30 Aug 2019; MEMO: The United States (US) has warned firms and businesses who participate in the annual Damascus International Fair could risk having sanctions placed on them.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) India's economic growth dropped to a seven-year low of 5 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2019-20 due to a sharp deceleration in the manufacturing sector and sluggish agriculture output, according to official data released on Friday.

The previous low was recorded at 4.9 per cent in April-June 2012-13. The economic growth was 8 per cent in the same quarter of 2018-19.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) In a major development, the government on Friday announced merger of Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank with Punjab National Bank.

Also, Syndicate Bank will be merged with Canara Bank, while Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank will merged with Union Bank of India.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) The Congress on Friday demanded that a financial emergency be declared in the country and a white paper be released on the "shrinking economy and rising frauds".

Congress spokespersons Jaiveer Shergill and Gaurav Vallabh accused the BJP government of destroying the credibility of the country's economy and banking system and demanded that it should declare the names of wilful defaulters, along with the details of their non-performing assets (NPAs).

LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister John Major has asked to join legal action to try to block current Prime Minister Boris Johnson from suspending parliament before Brexit.

Major, prime minister from 1990 to 1997, said he would join anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller in pursuing a judicial review of the order to close parliament from mid September to mid October.

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Germany expects Britain to crash out of the European Union on Oct. 31, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

“We cannot imagine reopening the Withdrawal Agreement,” Maas said in the Finnish capital. “We assume that Brexit will happen on Oct. 31. We will do everything to avoid a no-deal Brexit. But the British government has made it clear that if there is no agreement (on the Irish border) a no-deal Brexit will happen.”