BEIJING: Beijing authorities have started new plans to improve supervision of the rural environment by fighting contamination of pesticides and fertilizers, international media reported.
An action plan has specified 20 tasks by 2020 in the protection of drinking water sources in rural areas including installing sewage and garbage processing facilities, scaling back the use of pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural use of water and promoting public awareness of environmental protection in the countryside.
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States and China were very close to a trade deal, media reports said.
He said it could be announced within four weeks, however, warning Beijing that it would not be easy to allow trade to continue without a deal.
The U.S. and China are currently engaged in intense negotiations to end a months-long trade war.
Hopes of a resolution got high after both countries expressed optimism after talks in Beijing last week.
“We’re very close to making a deal. This, however, doesn’t mean a deal is made,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. (Agencies)
NEW DELHI: At least four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush by Maoist rebels on Thursday international media reported.
The attack comes ahead of the elections starting next week.
The report added that Border Security Force troops were on a foot patrol in Chhattisgarh when they were attacked. Six troops were also wounded.
NEW DELHI: India’s Congress president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination on Thursday, Indian media reported.
Rahaul the Gandhi scion, is contesting from two constituencies — Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi, accompanied him to Wayanad.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying money for the proposed NYAY scheme will come from pockets of thieves that Modi have protected.
Likewise, Smriti Irani of BJP will beginning a two-day visit to Amethi from today. (Agencies)
NEW DELHI: A woman in Delhi, India’s capital, reportedly committed suicide since her husband did not dine with her at home, Indian media reported on Wednesday.
According to police, the woman was disappointed after her husband did not join her for dinner. Investigation showed that the husband ate at her mother’s place after dropping her brother home, the report said.
More than this, the wife, Sangeeta, was even more reportedly infuriated because her husband, Ram Kishan, did not even eat from the tiffin that she prepared for lunch.
The quarrel started when her husband after reaching home told her that he won’t have dinner.
According to police, when Ram Kishan woke up on Monday morning, he saw his wife hanging in the kitchen.
No foul play has been found in the case, police said, according to reports. They have two children — a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.
Police is investigating the case. (Agencies)
BEIJING: Ford Motor is planning to launch more than 30 new models in China over the next three years, the U.S. automaker said on Wednesday.
Ford had earlier said it would launch 50 new or significantly redesigned vehicles in China starting in 2018 and through 2025.
However, today’s announcement provided more clarity on the timeline.
Anning Chen, the automaker’s China operations chief said they are committing themselves to improving their relationships with Chinese joint-venture partners. (Agencies)
NEW DELHI: UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi seemed upset with the cover page of the party’s manifesto unveiled on Tuesday in New Delhi, Indian media reported.
Sonia even denied to take any questions at the manifesto unveiling event, and looked upset throughout the event. She even refused to interact with the audience, according to the report.
Sources claimed that Sonia was marked making animated gestures at leader Rajeev Gowda, who tried to explain himself.
According to sources, Sonia was unimpressed with the cover image of the manifesto bearing a photograph of a huge crowd of people. Reports said the cover of the manifesto also has images of Congress’s hand symbol along with Rahul’s image at the bottom.
‘Congress will deliver’: the title of the manifesto’s title read. However, Sonia was disappointed with the ‘smaller size’ of Rahul’s image as well as the hand symbol. (Agencies)
NASA said India’s destruction of a satellite could threaten the International Space Station (ISS), international media reports said.
Terming it as ‘terrible’, NASA chief, Jim Bridenstine, said that the risk of debris colliding with the ISS rose by 44% over 10 days as a result of the test.
He, however, said that the ISS is still safe.
India on March 27 carried out a test — Mission Shakti — which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed it had established India as a “space power”. (Agencies)
NEW DELHI: India’s main opposition Congress announced jobs program to guarantee 150 days of work a year to rural people as well as additional help to farmers, Indian media reported.
Unveiling its election manifesto, the party said since unemployment is the gravest challenge, and job creation is the highest priority, the party said that it has prioritized farm distress and security for women.
It should be noted that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides for 100 days of employment a year. (Agencies)
BEIJING: At least 26 firefighters have been killed while tackling a forest fire in south-western China, media reports said.
Fire fighters had been battling the blaze in the forest of Sichuan province on Sunday when a sudden change in wind direction caused a fireball, trapping them, officials said.
Twenty-six have been confirmed dead and a search is continuing for the other four firefighters, said.
Around 700 firefighters are battling the blaze in a remote area of Muli County. (Agencies)