News In Brief
India’s top diplomat to visit Washington for talks
AP , New Delhi
India’s top diplomat will visit Washington this week for talks with the new US administration, an Indian foreign ministry official said Sunday.
Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is expected to discuss with American officials India’s concerns over proposed US legislation that could make it harder for companies to replace American workers with those from India and other countries.
Rouhani to run for second term
AFP, Tehran
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has decided to run for re-election in May, the vice-president for parliamentary affairs said on Sunday, according to state news agency IRNA.
“In recent weeks, Mr Rouhani has reached a conclusion to take part in the presidential elections,” Hosseinali Amiri told reporters.
Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate who has pushed for greater social freedoms and improved ties with the West, has been widely expected to run for a second term but has yet to formally announce his candidature for the May 19 election.
Egypt puts off raising entry visa price
AP, Cairo
Egyptian officials say plans to more than double charges for entry visas paid by foreign visitors arriving in the country have been put off until July 1.
The officials say the postponement was made at the request of leaders of the tourism sector who warned that introducing the higher charges now – from $25 up to $60 – would further hurt the struggling sector as the off-season approaches.
16 killed as truck overturns in India
AP, Gauhati
Police say at least 16 people were killed and 50 injured when a truck taking them to a Sunday church service overturned after hitting a concrete barricade on a highway in India’s remote northeast. Police say some people were flung into a deep gorge in the mountainous area by the impact of the accident. The injured, some in serious condition, were hospitalized.
Arun Kembhavi, a Meghalaya state government administrator, says the driver apparently lost control of the truck at a sharp bend as he was speeding near Nongspung, a small town in the state.
