India hikes spending, shuns ‘outright populism’ in last pre-election budget

Capex to rise 33% to 10 trillion rupees in 2023/24 Govt targets gross borrowing of 15.43 trillion rupees Eyes fiscal deficit of 5.9% in 2023/24, 4.5% by 2025/26 NEW DELHI, Feb 1 (Reuters) – India announced on Wednesday one of its biggest ever increases in capital spending for the next fiscal year to create jobs … Read more

France hit by new wave of strikes against Macron’s pension reform

Reform would raise retirement age to 64 Schools, transport networks, refinery deliveries hit Macron: Reform vital to ensure viability of pension system SAINT-NAZAIRE, France, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Striking workers disrupted French refinery deliveries, public transport and schools on Tuesday in a second day of nationwide protests over President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to make people … Read more

British prime minister contenders clash over tax cuts in TV debate

Five challenging to succeed Boris Johnson as British PM Second of three TV debates on Sunday Tax plans at heart of heated contest Polls show conflicting picture of who is winning LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) – The five Conservative contenders still vying to be Britain’s next prime minister clashed over tax cuts in a second … Read more

Thousands queue for petrol, gas in Sri Lanka amid warnings of food shortages

COLOMBO, May 20 (Reuters) – Thousands of people queued for cooking gas and petrol in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital on Friday and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned of a food shortage as the island nation battles a devastating economic crisis. Lines formed in many parts of Colombo, a city of around 900,000 people, as residents … Read more

‘We are going to die’: Sri Lanka warns of food shortages

COLOMBO, May 20 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s prime minister has warned of a food shortage as the island nation battles a devastating economic crisis and vowed the government will buy enough fertilizer for the next planting season to boost productivity. A decision in April last year by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to ban all chemical fertilizers … Read more