SHANGHAI ,08,2022: U.S.-based businesses reported more pessimism about operating in China due to bilateral tensions, ongoing COVID-19 curbs, regulatory restrictions and a slowing economy, a survey from the American Chamber of Commerce showed on Tuesday.
Optimism toward domestic market growth dropped 11 percentage points from the previous year, according to the Chamber’s report, based on responses from more than 300 member companies.
Businesses reported rising tensions between the U.S. and China as the top business challenge, followed by inconsistent or unclear laws.
Companies also reported difficulties in hiring both foreign and local talent.
Strict COVID-19 protocols in China make it difficult for overseas hires to begin working in China.
Politics have also impeded domestic hiring.
Slowing economic growth has also proven a challenge both for Beijing and U.S. companies in China.
According to the survey released on Tuesday, 59% of respondents anticipate 2021 profits will be up from 2020. But that figure remains lower than pre-COVID levels.
Despite the dour forecast and challenges, the survey revealed that most companies planned to stay, with two-thirds of them planning to increase investment in China in 2022.
Jan23,2022:The UK has accused the Kremlin of seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine as fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grow.
The Foreign Office said in a statement Russian intelligence officers had been in contact with a number of former Ukrainian politicians as part of plans for an invasion and that former parliamentarian Yevgen Murayev was being considered as a potential leader.
“The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking,” said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
“Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy.”
The British foreign ministry did not provide evidence to back its accusations.
Russia will face severe economic sanctions if it installs a “puppet regime” in Ukraine, Britain’s deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday.
“There’ll be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade but also install a puppet regime,” Raab told Sky News.
‘Stop spreading nonsense’
Murayev, the man named by London, lost his seat in the Ukrainian parliament when his party failed to win five percent of the vote in the 2019 elections. He is the founder of TV channel Nash, which regulators have been seeking to shut down since last year, accusing it of airing pro-Russian propaganda.
Four other politicians named by the UK as possible Russian picks were Mykola Azarov, Sergiy Arbuzov, Andriy Kluyev, and Volodymyr Sivkovich.
Murayev said on Sunday his country needed new leadership.
“The Ukrainian people need rule of law, peace, sound and pragmatic economic and social policies, and new political leaders,” Murayev wrote on Facebook.
Moscow has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine, despite currently having about 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border. The Russian foreign ministry dismissed London’s claims as “disinformation” and urged London to “stop spreading nonsense”.
New Delhi, Nov 1: The results of NEET examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses were announced tonight with three candidates scoring full marks.
The National Testing Agency, which conducted the exam, released the final answer key on the official website (neet.nta.nic.in and ntaresults.nic.in.) even as the results were mailed directly to aspirants’ email IDs.
According to the answer key, three students scored full marks in the entrance test. Mrinal Kutteri, Tanmay Gupta and Karthika G Nair secured 720/720 marks each. Their ranks will be announced by the NTA later.
Candidates who have qualified NEET 2021 exam would be able to apply for admission to various government and private colleges across the country.
The exam was conducted in pen and paper mode on September 12, 2021 at various exam centres across India.
A total of 13.66 lakh candidates had appeared in the exam this year. The qualified candidates can now apply for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS and other undergraduate medical courses in participating institutes.
Islamabad, Oct 31: Pakistan government on Sunday said an agreement has been reached with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after the latest round of dialogue between the two parties.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Federal Minister Ali Mohammad Khan, professor Mufti Muneeb made this announcement at a press conference held in Islamabad.
According to Mufti Muneeb, TLP chief Saad Rizvi has also endorsed the agreement and said this agreement was not a “victory or defeat” of any group, reports The Express Tribune.
“The agreement was reached after sense prevailed over aggression.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Khan will head the steering committee that will work to implement the clause of the agreement.
Both parties held a 12-hour-long meeting to come to a conclusion. Muneeb said it was fortunate that the agreement was reached before the situation got out of hands.
Mufti did not give specific details of the agreement and said details will but will be made public soon.
Muneeb said the “positive impact” of the agreement would be visible in the coming week and called this settlement “in the best interest of Pakistan and its citizens”.
“This is the news for the entire nation, and the national media should portray it in a positive manner, ” he said, thanking all groups involved in the negotiations.
“I am thankful to the prime minister for empowering the committee and trusting it, and also to the committee for working dedicatedly to resolve this matter,” he said, adding that the TLP exhibited the same attitude.
Kabul [Afghanistan] August 31,2021:: Taliban on Tuesday fired their guns in the air in celebration as the United States completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, after 20 years of military presence.
“Parts of Kabul erupted in celebratory gunfire after the last US C-17 aircraft lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport right before midnight shortly after the last aircraft departed,” CNN reported.
General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the US Central Command, made the withdrawal announcement at a Pentagon news briefing.
“I announce the completion of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens and Afghans… The last C-17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai Airport on August 30 this afternoon at 3:29 pm (local time), he said.
Following US troops withdrawal, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has also said the last American soldier left Kabul airport at 9 pm Afghan time.
“The last American soldier left Kabul airport at 9 pm Afghan time and our country gained full independence, Alhamdulillah Walmana,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will address the American people on US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow afternoon, I will address the American people on my decision not to extend our presence in Afghanistan beyond August 31,” Biden said.
Moscow, Jul 22,2021: The Syrian air defense forces have downed most rockets fired by Israel from the Lebanese airspace at the central province of Homs, Al-Ikhbariya state-run broadcaster reported.
About an hour earlier, the broadcaster reported that the Syrian air defense systems were repelling an Israeli air attack over Homs.
According to the broadcaster, Israel attacked the Al-Qusayr District in Homs, causing some material damage.
New Delhi , July 12,2021: Despite the worse condition due to COVID-19 which impacted economic growth, the net direct tax collection has doubled to over Rs 2.49 lakh crore so far this fiscal, mainly driven by personal income tax and advance tax mop up, Income Tax department sources told ANI.
The net direct tax collections between April 1 and July 3 stood at Rs 2.49 lakh crore, compared to Rs 1.29 lakh crore over the corresponding period of the preceding year, representing an increase of 91 per cent over the collections of the preceding year. Net Direct Tax collections for the financial year (FY) 2021-22 have grown at a robust pace despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
The gross collection of Direct Taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the FY 2021-22 stands at Rs 2.86 lakh crore compared to Rs 1.94 lakh crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year. This includes Corporation Income Tax (CIT), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Security Transaction Tax (STT) and advanced tax. This amount is expected to increase as further information is received from banks.
Commenting on the direct tax collection trends Income Tax department sources said collection figures are encouraging and the department is cautiously optimistic to achieve the Budget target set by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He added that transparent and fair taxation system gives us the confidence, apart from revival of the economic activity, despite the difficult times, that we will be able to achieve the current target. The target for current fiscal has been set at Rs 11.08 lakh crore.
Commenting on the direct tax collection, Neeru Ahuja, Partner, Deloitte India said, “These are clearly positive outcomes of an economy getting back on track. Business optimism and the many compliance tracking initiatives taken by the tax authorities.”
Earlier Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a statement said Income Tax department has issued refunds of over Rs 37,050 crore to more than 17.92 lakh taxpayers between April 1, 2021 to July 5, 2021. Income tax refunds of Rs 10,408 crore have been issued in 16,89,063 cases and corporate tax refunds of Rs 26,642 crore have been issued in 1,03,088 cases.