Pakistan raises defence spending, grants little to human resources: Report

IANS | July 2, 2026 8:43 PM

Islamabad, July 2 (IANS) Pakistan's federal budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 has prioritised military spending over public welfare by increasing defence spending by 18 per cent to three trillion Pakistani Rupees (PK), showcasing the armed offers as the clear winner during attempts to meet economic stabilisation targets. The budget offers little to the human resources that actually drive economic growth.

2027 to be celebrated as 'India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons'

IANS | July 2, 2026 7:54 PM

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) The governments of India and Japan, in cooperation with their respective stakeholders, will celebrate 2027 as the 'India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons', recalling 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Thursday.

From production to manufacturing, India and Japan work on bolstering defence cooperation during Takaichi's visit

IANS | July 2, 2026 6:50 PM

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) From designing to production and manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi discussed several defence related issues in detail during their meeting at the Hyderabad House in Delhi on Thursday. Both leaders agreed that the two sides could look at cooperation in various areas, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, while terming defence as a "growing area of cooperation" between New Delhi and Tokyo.

Indian visitors flock to Nepal in record numbers

IANS | July 2, 2026 6:11 PM

Kathmandu, July 2 (IANS) Nepal witnessed a record number of Indian tourist arrivals by air in June, with visitors from the southern neighbour helping sustain the country's tourism industry amid disruptions caused by the US-Iran war.