WORLD
Failed BRI projects & NPLs trouble China's banks
Chinas banks are under stress with rising levels of bad assets. As the Covid 19 pandemic hit world economy, which led to delay in many projects, the countrys lenders could see a further rise in their non performing assets -- loans that do not fetch any returns. Earlier, a report by South China Morning Post, quoting government data, noted that Chinese banks had a record high of $466.9 billion in NPA.
Breaks my heart: George Bush calls troops withdrawal from Afghanistan 'a mistake'
Former US President George W. Bush has labelled the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan "a mistake", in an interview with DW. "I'm afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm," he said, adding that he was also concerned for translators and other people who gave support to foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Afghans who backed US military to be evacuated
The US will launch "Operation Allies Refuge" in late July to evacuate eligible Afghan nationals and their families who helped the American military during the two-decade war in the South Asian country, White House Press Secretary jen Psaki announced. "Flights out of Afghanistan for SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) applicants who are already in the pipeline will begin in the last week of July and will continue," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in a daily briefing.
US economy still a ways off from tapering asset purchases: Jerome Powell
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the country's economy is "still a ways off" from the progress that the central bank wants to see before tapering asset purchases, while it was also monitoring inflation very carefully. "It really is a very broad range of things, including wages, unemployment, levels of employment, participation, all those things," he said, adding Fed officials will "have another round of discussions on this very topic" at the Fed's meeting in two weeks.
Devastating wildfire conditions in US likely to worsen
Over 14,000 firefighters are currently battling more than 60 huge wildfires raging in the rural regions of western US, the latest update by InciWeb, an interstate incident information system, said, adding that the conditions are likely to worsen due to bad weather. It warned that the fire would continue to be extremely active with unstable air conditions and extremely dry fuels in the coming days.
Iran capable of producing 90% enriched uranium: Rouhani
In pursuing the peaceful use of nuclear technology, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has shown its capability and power to produce enriched uranium at higher degrees (of purity), Xinhua news agency quoted Rouhani as saying in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
France holds Bastille Day celebration under Covid shadow
France on Wednesday held its annual Bastille Day celebrations with a traditional military parade down the famous avenue of the Champs Elysees in Paris amid restrictions on public gathering due to Covid-19. Because of the deterioration of the health situation, only 10,000 people were allowed to follow the celebration in the stands instead of 25,000. Wearing masks is the rule for all, Paris police prefecture
There are forces at work with a very different agenda in Afghanistan: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that the future of Afghanistan cannot be its past and the world is against seizure of power by violence and force and it will not legitimise such actions. SCO foreign ministers' contact group on Afghanistan in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Jaishankar also emphasised the need for ensuring that Kabul's neighbours are not "threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism".
India set to showcase support of giant transport corridors in Central Asia that exclude China
The discussions have already begun as Jaishankar met Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Mohammed Haneef Atmar, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan on Tuesday, just before the foreign ministers got into a huddle for the SCO Council and the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan meeting being held in Dushanbe today. Integration of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar route has been India's prime focus.
Merkel's U.S. visit expected to tackle major issues over transatlantic ties
The U.S. government has planned welcoming programs to show solidarity between allies, while the German public is urging Merkel to push for solutions concerning energy and trade. Merkel will deliver a speech on Thursday before her official meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, and she and her husband will be invited to dinner in the White House, according to the schedule released by Deutsche Presse Agentur.
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