China's one billion dollar loan to Pakistan has come at a time when the South Asian country has been officially placed on a terrorism financing watchdog’s grey list.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), while taking the decision, argued that Pakistan failed to act against terror financing on its soil. The FATF is a global body that tightens the noose on terrorists by combating their financing and money laundering.

The idea behind putting Pakistan in the FATF grey list is to deplete its economy and eventually pull the plug on terror groups. But several experts believe, China's loan to Pakistan in distress times like this, might act as a shot in the arm of terrorism. 

According to an article published in The Diplomat, the FATF verdict might make Islamabad tighten its belt, but will not significantly affect its coffers, which are inextricably enmeshed with a nexus of non-state actors.

United Nations: Pakistan is a 'hub of terrorism' in South Asia and beyond and its 'cynical' attempts to spread a false narrative about Kashmir have always been unsuccessful, India has said at the UN.

India's remarks came after Pakistan again brought up the Kashmir issue in its Right of Reply

Noted artist Anjolie Ela Menon, 78 on Saturday received the National Kalidas Samman in Delhi for visual arts from the Madhya Pradesh government.

The award was conferred in recognition of her insightful and sensitive portrayal of the identity and spirit of women through her meaningful paintings in a variety of media.

With her first solo exhibition being held in Delhi in 1958, Menon is counted among India’s most accomplished artists and is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Padma Shri. She recently received a doctorate from Rabindra Bharati University.

MEXICO CITY — When Andrés Manuel López Obrador assumes the presidency later this year, he will have the broadest mandate in Mexico’s recent history, a possible majority in the National Congress and allies in state governments across the country.

What he will do with that mandate could alter the direction not just of Mexico’s internal politics, which have been transformed with the ruling party’s devastating defeat in Sunday’s election, but also the course of U.S.-Mexico relations.

Although López Obrador struck a conciliatory tone in his acceptance speech, asking for “friendship and mutual respect” with the United States, he will now face the difficult task of reconciling his promises of compassion for migrants and the peasants drawn into Mexico’s drug trade with his interest in building a constructive relationship with President Trump.

CHENNAI: City-based United India Insurance Company today announced the appointment of K B Vijay Srinivas as its Director and General Manager with effect from July 1.

Prior to taking up the new role, he was serving National Insurance Company Ltd as its Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager, a press release said..

Srinivas, in his 37 years of service, has also contributed articles in journals of insurance, tax and other subjects. A recipient of many awards, Srinivas is also an associate member of Insurance Institute of India, it added. 

Red Bull F1's Max Verstappen redeemed himself after commandeering the lead mid-way through the Austrian Grand Prix and finishing atop the podium. Despite an all-Mercedes front row at the beginning of the race, Verstappen capitalized on Valtteri Bottas' and Lewis Hamilton's tribulations to gain his first GP victory since Mexico in 2017.

Upon the race start, Hamilton quickly overtook his teammate Bottas, who started on pole for the second consecutive year at the Spielberg circuit. Mercedes ran one-two for the first handful of laps as Verstappen stayed steady in third, but a disheartening hydraulics failure for Valtteri forced him to retire on lap 12. Taking advantage of the Finn's rough string of luck, Red Bull pitted both Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo under yellow to change to Soft compound tires. In doing so, the crew had plans of running to the end without pitting again, putting them in a potentially prime position.

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid and Australian legend Ricky Ponting have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame for their stupendous achievements in international cricket.

Along with Dravid and Ponting, retired England woman wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor was also named in the 'Hall of Fame' during a ceremony in Dublin on Sunday.

Dravid is the fifth Indian player to be named in ICC Hall of Fame

Dravid became only the fifth player from India to be named in the elite list.

The other four Indians are former skippers:

• Bishan Singh Bedi
• Sunil Gavaskar
• Kapil Dev
• Anil Kumble

Ponting is the 25th from Australia to receive the honour.

"It is a matter of great honour to be named by the ICC in the Cricket Hall of Fame. To find your name in a list of all-time greats across generations is something one only dreams of while setting out on a cricket career and the kind of recognition that would delight any player," Dravid was quoted as saying in an ICC media release.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian veteran Lee Chong Wei beat young Japanese shuttler Kento Momota 21-17, 23-21 on Sunday to grab the Malaysia Open title for a historic twelfth time.

The home favourite Lee executed a sensational attack strategy that left the rising star Momota confused and flat footed.

In the women's singles final, top seed Tai Tzu Ying from Taiwan saw off China's He Bingjiao 22-20, 21-11.

Lee, 35, triumphed in 71-minutes to avenge his defeat to Momota, 23, in the semi-finals of the Asian Championships in April.

The defeat brought an abrupt end to Momota's 21-match winning streak.

India vs Australia Hockey Champions Trophy Final Highlights: History repeated itself in the Hockey Champions Trophy as India settled for silver medal in the tournament after losing to Australia in the final via shootout. In the 2016 edition, India had lost to the same opponents in a similar manner. Australia won their 15th goal medal at Champions Trophy. India won their second silver medal after winning their first in 2016.

Chennai: Approximately 1.32 lakh new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and 74,000 deaths occur annually in India which accounts 1/3rd of the global cervical cancer deaths, says a report.

According to experts, the alarming numbers indicate lack of high precision technology to screen cervical cancer during the early stage. To bridge the technological barrier, BD Life Sciences-Diagnostic Systems launched BD SurePathTM Direct to Slide.

"There's a stark difference between screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer. If screened during the pre-cancerous stage, cervical cancer can be treated without any traces," said Dr A Tamilselvi, consultant urogynaecologist, and obstetrician, Madras Medical College, at a press meet at Vijaya Health Centre here on Wednesday.

The BD SurePathTM Direct to Slide is a liquid-based cytology (LBC) technique that is used to effectively screen cervical cancer during the pre-cancerous stage.