IMF slashes US growth forecasts for 2017-2018

IMF slashes US growth forecasts for 2017-2018

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its economic growth forecasts for the US to 2.1 per cent for this year and the next, down from the 2.3 per cent for 2017 and 2.5 per cent for 2018 that it had predicted in April, the media reported. The global financial institution cited the “uncertainty” over […]

China, Russia conduct simulation exercise for joint naval drills

China, Russia conduct simulation exercise for joint naval drills

Chinese and Russian commanders conducted a simulation exercise in Kaliningrad province for the ongoing joint military drills code-named “Joint Sea 2017” in the Baltic Sea. In the hours-long exercise on Sunday, two tactical assault groups, consisting of mixed warships from the Chinese and Russian fleets, simulated details of the drills on a map including ship-to-sea […]

Trump still doesn’t accept intelligence conclusion on Russia

Trump still doesn’t accept intelligence conclusion on Russia

 US President Donald Trump remains unconvinced that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election, the newly-appointed White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci said. “He basically said to me, ‘Hey you know, this is, maybe they did it, maybe they didn’t do it,’” Scaramucci told CNN on Sunday night of a conversation he had with the […]

Jeff Sessions plans to stay on despite Trump criticism

Jeff Sessions plans to stay on despite Trump criticism

 The attorney general of the US on Thursday said he planned to remain at his post despite harsh criticism from President Donald Trump. Trump has slammed the Justice Department head for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, Efe reported. “I have the honour of serving as attorney general. It’s something that goes beyond any thought […]

Colombia marks independence day

Colombia marks independence day

Colombia on Thursday celebrated 207th anniversary of their country’s independence with military parades involving thousands of troops and police officers in Bogota and other cities. The motto of the parades was “La paz segura” (A Secure Peace) in a reference to the role of the armed forces in keeping order and protecting public institutions after […]

London to banish winter blues with biggest ever light show

London to banish winter blues with biggest ever light show

 More than 40 installations are to light up London in one of the biggest ever light shows, Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Thursday. Streets, buildings and public spaces will be illuminated during the Lumiere London festival which is expected to attract millions of visitors to the British capital next January. The event takes place between […]

5.6 magnitude quake strikes Japan

5.6 magnitude quake strikes Japan

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale shook the Fukushima Prefecture and northeast Japan on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. However, no tsunami alerts or damage to the nuclear power plant were reported, Efe news said. The quake was registered at 9.11 a.m. at a depth of 40 km with an epicentre located […]

Trump Jr. to face US Senate committee next week

Trump Jr. to face US Senate committee next week

US President Donald Trump’s oldest son and the chairman of his 2016 campaign will testify next week before the Senate Judiciary Committee about alleged Russian interference in the elections, the panel said on Wednesday. Donald Trump Jr. and Paul Manafort are on a list of witnesses scheduled to appear on July 26, Efe reported. The […]

WHO calls for more tobacco control worldwide to save lives

WHO calls for more tobacco control worldwide to save lives

Though the population worldwide protected by tobacco control measures has grown almost five-fold than ten years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday called on countries to do more to prioritize these life-saving policies. In a latest report on the global tobacco epidemic, the WHO said about 4.7 billion people, or 63 per cent […]

US Senator McCain diagnosed with brain tumour

US Senator McCain diagnosed with brain tumour

 US Senator and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain was diagnosed with a brain tumour, his office has said. On July 14, the 80-year-old senator underwent an operation at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix to remove a blood clot from above his left eye, which has been known to be associated with a primary brain […]