ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank continued to bleed even after the government borrowing spree continued and amassed a whopping $7.6 billion of loans. As the forex reserves keep their depletion trend, the country requires $5-$7 billion to keep them adrift. The central bank has no other tool at its disposal to halt the fall in foreign exchange reserves aside letting the rupee devalue against the dollar.
British PM seeks EU backing on spy attack
BRUSSELS, MAR 22 (DNA) – British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Thursday seek to unite EU leaders in condemnation of Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy, but she faces resistance from states keen to protect their Kremlin ties. May will brief her colleagues at a Brussels summit on the progress of the investigation into the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury using a deadly Soviet-developed nerve agent.
Upset over biography, Sanjay Dutt sends legal notice to writer
NEW DELHI, MAR 21 (DNA) – Veteran Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has served legal notice to writer Yaseer Usman as the latter did not seek former’s permission for writing biography. Dutt tweeted, “I have not authorised either Juggernaut Publications or Yasser Usman to write/publish my biography. Our lawyers had sent them a legal notice, in response to which Juggernaut Publications said that contents of the proposed book are based on information available in public domain from authentic sources.
Sick air travelers most likely to infect next row: study
MIAMI, MAR 21 (DNA) – People who fly on airplanes while contagious can indeed get other people sick, but the risk is mainly to those seated next to them or in the adjacent row, US researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to quantify the odds of getting sick based on a passenger’s proximity to an infectious person. Researchers studied 10 transcontinental flights and meticulously tracked passenger movements to estimate the likelihood of common respiratory infections like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and influenza, which are spread by tiny droplets in the air and on surfaces.
China pursues peaceful development: Li Keqiang
BEIJING, MAR 21 (DNA) – Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday that China pursues peaceful development and will never seek expansion. It is a misinterpretation to see China’s cooperation with other countries and its assistance to underdeveloped ones as strategic expansion, Li told a press conference following the conclusion of the annual legislative session. “We will focus on managing our own affairs well,” he said.
More open trade may hamper Chinese investment in SEZs
ISLAMABAD, MAR 21 (DNA) – Beijing’s push for further trade liberalisation under second phase of the Pakistan-China free trade agreement (FTA) may severely dampen prospects of Chinese investment in prioritised special economic zones (SEZs) being set up under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It would be convenient and cheaper for Chinese companies to manufacture in China and import products into Pakistan at zero duties, which would render the SEZs useless, said sources in the Board of Investment (BOI).
Myanmar is worst-performing country for aid access, as Rohingya refugees face monsoon threats
GENEVA, MAR 21 (DNA) – Myanmar tops a list of countries where the ability of aid groups to reach people in need has worsened in the past six months, the Geneva-based research group ACAPS has said. In examining 37 countries, ACAPS analysts considered nine indicators, including violence against humanitarian workers and restrictions preventing people from reaching aid. “Myanmar is the country where humanitarian access has deteriorated the most, as access for the Rohingya population has become increasingly difficult,” the group said in a statement.
Photographic exhibitio n launched to mark Australia Day
ISLAMABAD, MAR 20 (DNA) – Australia’s High Commissioner, Margaret Adamson, has launched an exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the opening of Australia’s resident diplomatic mission in Pakistan. “Australia was quick to establish a High Commission in Karachi in 1948 after recognizing the new country of Pakistan the previous year,” High Commissioner Adamson said. “The photos in this exhibition tell the story of how the relationship has developed since then.”
Britain, EU clinch historic Brexit deal
LONDON, MAR 20 (DNA) – Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc’s rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Davis said the agreement, which European leaders will sign at a summit this week, was a “decisive step”.
Migration flows management, a priority of the African, International agenda discussed in Dakhla
DAKHLA, MAR 19 (DNA) – Chaired by Mr. Mohamed Tawfik Mouline, Director General of the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (Morocco), and moderated by Mrs. Ngo Mang Epesse, President of the Women Environment Covenant, a Session of the Crans Montana Forum on Africa & South-SouthCooperation is held in Dakhla to address the issue of Migration flows management.
