NewsBytes

Trump signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption

President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travellers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks. The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including cancelling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands. The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn't reward the party during next year's midterm elections. The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure on Monday.

India, Nepal ink deal to boost trade through rail connectivity  

India and Nepal on Thursday inked a deal to establish a direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link for containerised and bulk cargo, facilitating transport from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station located in Morang District, near Biratnagar. Both countries exchanged Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the protocol to the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal in this regard. "This signing will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), including bulk cargo under an expanded definition," the commerce ministry said. This liberalisation extends to key transit corridors -- Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-?Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam-?Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multi-modal trade connectivity between the two countries and Nepal's trade with third countries, it said. The LoE exchange happened here during a bilateral meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal's Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha.

MoD inks Rs 2,095 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to procure anti-tank missiles

The Defence Ministry on Thursday inked a Rs 2,095 crore deal with the state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd to procure anti-tank missiles for the Indian Army. The missiles are being procured to enhance the combat capabilities of the Army. The defence ministry inked a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the procurement of INVAR Anti-tank Missiles at a total cost of Rs 2,095.70 crore under the 'Buy (Indian)' category, an official readout said. "The procurement of the INVAR anti-tank missiles enhances the firepower and lethality of Tank T-90, the mainstay of armoured regiments of the Indian Army," it said. "The weapon system is a sophisticated laser-guided anti-tank missile with very high hit probability. It is set to transform the conduct of Mechanised operations and offer operational advantage against the adversary," the ministry said in the readout.

UK to build its first mini nuclear power station in north Wales, angering Washington

Britain selected North Wales for its first small nuclear power station on Thursday, angering the United States which had wanted a large, US-led plant built there as part of its greater involvement in the UK's energy sector. Britain has backed the development of small modular reactors (SMR) as a way to quickly and cheaply increase energy security and meet climate targets, with its pre-eminent engineering company Rolls-Royce leading the design. Large-scale nuclear power plants can take decades to build. The decision to choose Wylfa on Anglesey, an island in North Wales that was home to an old nuclear station, for an SMR drew the ire of the US, which has criticised Britain's energy strategy for inflating prices and weakening Britain. The US had been pushing for U.S. energy firm Westinghouse to lead a large-scale project in Wylfa, but Britain opted for the British-built SMR on the island in Wales, where the centre-left Labour Party is losing political support.