Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) A federal court in Washington has set timelines for responses to be filed to an Indian government petition seeking dismissal of a suit by Britain's Cairn Energy that sought enforcement of a USD 1.2 billion arbitral award.

Judge Richard J Leon of the US District Court for the District of Colombia has given Cairn time till September 10 to file a response to the government's 'Motion to Dismiss' petition.

Thereafter, the Indian government can file a reply in support of its motion by October 1.

Kanpur: The Kanpur Metro project from Motijheel to IIT Kanpur corridor has received the 'Effective Safety Culture Award, 2021' by Green Tech Foundation. This priority corridor consists of 9 stations with complete adherence to the safety codes.

The trial runs of Kanpur Metro will begin on November 15. It is the same date when the works related to the elevated track were initiated, back in 2019.

Further, the Kanpur Metro's maiden corridor has the capacity of being the fastest commissioned facility, if the current plans turn into reality.

26 Aug 2021; MEMO: A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport today, killing at least 13 people including children, a Taliban official said, after the United States and allies urged Afghans to leave the area because of a threat by Daesh, Reuters reported.

The official said many Taliban guards were wounded.

Lucknow, Aug 27 (PTI) Ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur on Friday said he will float a new political party soon.

"After consulting my supporters and well-wishers, I have decided to float a new political party," Thakur said here.

The proposed name of his new outfit is Adhikar Sena, he said and requested his supporters to suggest more names along with purpose, mission and structure of the party.

Siliguri (WB), Aug 26 (PTI) A long-awaited tourist train with a vistadome coach will start its journey from Saturday through the lush green forests and tea gardens of Dooars in north Bengal, a railway official said.

The train between New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Alipurduar Junction through Dooars has already become an attraction among tourists as well as curious locals with all seats booked for this weekend, he said on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Former Pakistan captain and renowned cricket commentator Ramiz Raja is set to become the new chairman of the country’s cricket board.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his role as patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, nominated Raja to the governing board on Friday after Ehsan Mani declined to accept a short-term extension when his three-year term expired this week.

Khan had met with both Mani and Raja before nominating the former test opener. The patron’s nominee traditionally gets elected chairman, as Mani was three years ago.

Mahoba (UP), Aug 26 (PTI) A 22-year-old woman from this district was allegedly raped by a youth, who had taken her to Ahmedabad on the pretext of providing her a job, police said on Thursday.

Station House Officer (SHO), Panwadi, Deepak Kumar Pandey said the woman lodged a complaint at the police station, following which an FIR was registered and the accused was arrested on Wednesday.

He said the woman had come into contact with the accused in Allahabad, where she was studying.

Lucknow, Aug 26 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said he hoped that India would be free of discrimination and a developed nation by 2047 when it celebrates the centenary of independence.

While speaking at the ninth convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) here, the President asked youths to become job creators and not job seekers.

"Today half of the country's population is below 25 years of age. When in 2047, we celebrate centenary of independence, you youths will be leading the country," he said.

Diphu/Haflong, Aug 27 (PTI) Five truckers transporting coal were killed and their vehicles set ablaze by suspected militants in Assam's Dima Hasao district, police said on Friday.

A group of suspected Dimasa National Liberation Army militants opened fire at the trucks lined up in the Rangerbeel area, around 5 km from the Diyunmukh police station, on Thursday night, they said.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Evacuation flights from Afghanistan resumed with new urgency on Friday, a day after two suicide bombings targeted the thousands of desperate people fleeing the Taliban takeover and killed more than 100. The U.S. says further attempted attacks are expected ahead of the Tuesday deadline for foreign troops to leave, ending America’s longest war.