EU assessment report resembles chargesheet on Pakistan’s human rights abuses

IANS | July 18, 2026 9:18 PM

Tel Aviv, July 18 (IANS) The European Union’s (EU) latest assessment of Pakistan on trade preferences under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) granted by the EU resembles a carefully prepared chargesheet rather than a routine monitoring report, highlighting the worsening human rights record in the country.

PM Modi condoles Chennamma’s demise, speaks to Deve Gowda

IANS | July 18, 2026 9:14 PM

Bengaluru/New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed deep grief over the demise of Chennamma, wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

UTT Season 7: Manika, Sofia power Ahmedabad to crucial 10-5 win over Pune

IANS | July 18, 2026 9:06 PM

Panaji (Goa), July 18 (IANS) Manika Batra produced a commanding straight-games victory over Prithika Pavade as Ahmedabad APL Pipers jumped to the top of the table with a 10-5 win over PBG Pune Jaguars in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 at the Dr Shayama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao near Panaji on Saturday.

Govt extends ALMM relief for select solar projects till December

IANS | July 18, 2026 9:01 PM

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The government has extended the exemption from mandatory sourcing of Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II solar PV cells for net metering and open access renewable energy projects till December 31, while making it clear that there will be no blanket extension of the policy for all solar projects, an official statement said on Saturday.

Pakistan's civil-military compact under fresh strain as veteran leader challenges Munir

IANS | July 18, 2026 8:49 PM

Islamabad, July 18 (IANS) Pakistan's political landscape has long been shaped by one enduring reality: "governments may change, but the military remains the country's most powerful institution". Against that backdrop, Pakistani Islamist leader and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's open challenge to Army chief Asim Munir represents a striking break from convention, a report has detailed.