WORLD
US report raises concerns over human rights violations in Pakistan
"There was a lack of government accountability, and abuses, including corruption and misconduct, often went unpunished, fostering a culture of impunity among perpetrators. Authorities seldom investigated or punished government officials for reported human rights abuses or acts of corruption," Geo News quoted the report as saying in its executive summary on Pakistan.
IMF emphasises importance of anti-corruption, governance reforms for Sri Lanka bailout
"We emphasize the importance of anti-corruption and governance reforms as a central pillar of the EFF-supported program-they are indispensable to ensure the hard-won gains from the reforms benefit the Sri Lankan people," Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Asia and Pacific Department, said in a joint statement.
UK rail union accepts improved pay offer
Turnout in the RMT ballot was nearly 90 per cent, with 76 per cent voting to accept the new offer covering pay, jobs and conditions, reports Xinhua news agency. The vote means "the end of the trade dispute" with Network Rail, the RMT National Executive said. Network Rail owns and maintains the country's train infrastructure.
Indian students ask Sunak to clear their names in English test scandal
According to a Guardian report, the visas were revoked after a 2014 BBC documentary reported allegations of cheating at two of the UK's language testing centres for international students. Following a probe by Educational Testing Service (ETS), a company that ran the test at 96 exam centres, the UK Home Office abruptly terminated the visas of more than 34,000 overseas students, making their stay in the country illegal overnight.
NYC girds for fallout from possible arrest of Trump
However, it appeared unlikely that Trump would be arrested on Tuesday as he said over the weekend and charged in connection with alleged payment to an adult film actress to keep her quiet about an affair and had called for protests. Media reports said that at least one more witness was expected to testify on Wednesday before a grand jury, the panel of citizens that will decide if there is a prima facie case against him to bring charges.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for over 90% new Covid cases in US
XBB.1.5 was estimated to account for 90.2 per cent of all Covid-19 cases in the country in the latest week ending March 18, Xinhua news agency reported. It was up from 88.8 per cent a week before and 86.3 per cent two weeks prior, CDC data showed. The prevalence of XBB.1.5 has kept increasing since late 2022.
French government survives no-confidence vote, pension reform bill adopted
It means the government's "unpopular" pension reform bill is considered as adopted without vote in the lower house of Parliament. French President Emmanuel Macron now has 15 days to enact the law, Xinhua news agency reported. The first multiparty motion, filed by the centrist opposition group LIOT., gained 278 votes on Monday afternoon among the deputies.
Russia open for negotiation: Putin tells Xi on Ukraine peace plan
Putin made the remarks on Monday in response to China's "plan settle ongoing Ukraine crisis". The plan aimed to "end the Russia-Ukraine war" was released by China in February. However, the US has warned it could be a "stalling tactic", the BBC reported.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch prepares for 5th marriage at 92
Quoting gossip columnist Cindy Adams, who broke the story in the 'New York Post', 'Variety' says Murdoch's future wife was married to Chester Smith, a country-western singer, as well as a radio and TV executive who died in 2008. Adams reports that the two bonded over their shared knowledge of the media business as well as the fact that she once owned a vineyard and he still does.
PM Prachanda wins vote of confidence ahead of his India visit
Prachanda received 172 votes in the 275-member parliament in the second-floor test since being appointed the Prime Minister on December 25. "I will go to India before April 20," Prachanda said after winning the vote of confidence. "Though we have not finalised the date of the India visit but it can happen first or second week of April. Now I am confident that government will run smoothly," Prachanda added.
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