KABUL: Two leading candidates in Afghanistan’s presidential election each claimed on Wednesday to be winning the vote count easily, but said they would be ready to contest a second-round run-off if necessary. More than seven million people defied Taliban threats of violence in Saturday’s election to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai as US-led troops prepare to exit the country. Unless one candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two names will go head-to-head in another election scheduled for late May.
IMF sees rising revenues, falling fiscal deficits in Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund is expecting increasing revenues and declining fiscal deficits and debt ratios in Pakistan over the next few years. In its Fiscal Monitor launched in Washington on Tuesday, the IMF said the debt ratio was expected to fall in the short term from relatively high levels over the past few years and general government deficit was on the decline. The IMF said the government revenue in Pakistan was expected to increase from 13.2 per cent of GDP in 2013 to 14.9pc in 2014, 15pc in 2015 and 15.4pc in 2016-17, and come down to 15.3pc in 2018-19.
IMF sees rising revenues, falling fiscal deficits in Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund is expecting increasing revenues and declining fiscal deficits and debt ratios in Pakistan over the next few years. In its Fiscal Monitor launched in Washington on Tuesday, the IMF said the debt ratio was expected to fall in the short term from relatively high levels over the past few years and general government deficit was on the decline. The IMF said the government revenue in Pakistan was expected to increase from 13.2 per cent of GDP in 2013 to 14.9pc in 2014, 15pc in 2015 and 15.4pc in 2016-17, and come down to 15.3pc in 2018-19.
Foreign inflows propel index by 288 points
KARACHI: Bulls continued to rule the roost at the stock market, collecting another 287.64 points on Wednesday to close at an all-time high of 28,941.01 points. The closing remained slightly short of the incredible 29,000 level. As the benchmark index settled near the intraday high, analysts thought it indicated that the bulls would continue to hold sway in the upcoming sessions. The current stock market boom has propelled index up by 532 points in just the three sessions this week, which including the previous week’s gains has seen the benchmark index soar by 1,824 points in only the last eight sessions.
Foreign inflows propel index by 288 points
KARACHI: Bulls continued to rule the roost at the stock market, collecting another 287.64 points on Wednesday to close at an all-time high of 28,941.01 points. The closing remained slightly short of the incredible 29,000 level. As the benchmark index settled near the intraday high, analysts thought it indicated that the bulls would continue to hold sway in the upcoming sessions. The current stock market boom has propelled index up by 532 points in just the three sessions this week, which including the previous week’s gains has seen the benchmark index soar by 1,824 points in only the last eight sessions.
Anti-graft party faces test as India votes in third round
NEW DELHI: India’s upstart anti-graft party faces a key test Thursday as the national capital votes in the first major stage of the country’s marathon general elections. The third phase of voting begins at 7:00 am local time (01:30 GMT) in 92 constituencies, representing a fifth of the 543-seat lower house, across the capital and 13 other states, including Maoist insurgency-hit eastern India. But analysts say the spotlight is on the Delhi birthplace of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP), even if support for it may have lost some steam.
Anti-graft party faces test as India votes in third round
NEW DELHI: India’s upstart anti-graft party faces a key test Thursday as the national capital votes in the first major stage of the country’s marathon general elections. The third phase of voting begins at 7:00 am local time (01:30 GMT) in 92 constituencies, representing a fifth of the 543-seat lower house, across the capital and 13 other states, including Maoist insurgency-hit eastern India. But analysts say the spotlight is on the Delhi birthplace of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP), even if support for it may have lost some steam.
‘Captain America’ socks box office, eyes titanic clash
LOS ANGELES: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” shot straight to the top of North America’s box office this weekend – socking rivals with the biggest US April opening of all time, figures showed. And buoyed by the news, Marvel filmmakers announced they will release the Captain’s sequel on the same 2016 date as rival Warners’ Superman/Batman mash-up hits multiplexes. The scheduling sets up a superhero clash of the titans in the hugely lucrative comic book franchise field, which has already produced the biggest ever box office debut, in 2012’s “The Avengers”.
IMF forecasts slow, but improving growth for Pakistan
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast a slow growth rate of 3.1 per cent for Pakistan in the current year and an improvement to 3.7pc in the next year. At the launch of its World Economic Outlook here on Tuesday, ahead of its annual spring meetings, the IMF projected a steady increase in therate of inflation. The consumer price index is expected to be 8.8 per cent during the current year, up significantly from 7.4 per cent last year, and the rate may further rise to 9 per cent in 2015.
Four dead, including gunman, at Fort Head: officials
FORT HOOD: A gunman opened fire Wednesday at the US Army’s Fort Hood in an attack that left four dead, including the shooter, law enforcement officials said. One of the officials, citing official internal Justice Department updates, said 14 others were hurt. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release information by name. The Texas Army base was the scene of a mass shooting in 2009. Thirteen people were killed and more than 30 wounded in what was the deadliest attack on a domestic military installation in history.
