A business trip by Donald J Trump Jr, the son of the US president, this year to India cost the American tax payers about $100,000 in fees related to the Secret Service agents guarding him and other costs, according to a media report.

In February this year, Donald J Trump Jr, 40, had travelled to four Indian cities, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkatta, to promote the high-rise luxurious condos being built by the Trump Organization, of which US president Donald Trump is the sole owner. Trump Jr is the vice president of his family owned company.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that it calculated this figure from the documents it obtained from the Department of Homeland through the Freedom of Information Act, which is similar to India’s Right to Information Act.

The documents showed that “Trump Jr’s February trip cost more than USD 97,805 for hotel rooms, airfare, car rental and overtime for Secret Service agents,” the daily reported.

The White House and Donald J Trump Jr did not immediately respond to the news report, which their political opponents on the social media alleged the Secret Service expenses for his trip to promote condos in India was misuse of tax payers money.

The government will refund the employers for the first seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leaves for women earning more than Rs 15,000-a-month, the Women and Child (WCD) ministry said on Thursday. The decision covers both the government and private employers. The ministry’s decision came after it came to light that employers were vary of hiring pregnant women after maternity leave was extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

WCD secretary Rakesh Srivastava ministry told PTI that the funds for the same will be utilised from labour welfare cess.   “The utilisation of the labour welfare cess lying with the state governments has been very less. After talks with the Labour Ministry it has been decided that the seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for all women employees in the private and government sector getting more than Rs 15,000 a month would be paid from that fund,” he told mediapersons.

Mithali Raj has allayed suggestions of a drop in form and question marks over her place in the batting lineup with back-to-back fifties at the ICC Women’s World T20 in the West Indies. In so doing, she has become the highest scorer for India in T20 internationals going ahead of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli respectively. Other Indian cricketers part of this illustrious list are women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni.

Mithali Raj has enjoyed a fantastic run at the ongoing Women’s World T20, scoring 56 runs against Pakistan in India’s second Group B clash, and followed it up with a 51-run knock against Ireland which ensured India’s passage into the semi-finals of the tournament with a comfortable 52-run win.

Indian spinners produced yet another controlled performance to clinch a semi-final berth with a comfortable 52-run victory against Ireland in a group league encounter of the ICC Women’s World T20 on Thursday.

After managing 145 for 6 on a slow track, Indian spinners maintained a tight leash on Irish women restricting them to 93 for 8 in 20 overs.

With their third win, India with six points were assured of a last-four spot along with Australia (6 points from 3 games) with New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland already even before their campaign could officially end.

While India’s batting performance leaving a lot to be desired, the spinners Radha Yadav (3/25 in 4 overs), Deepti Sharma (2/15 in 3 overs), Poonam Yadav (1/14 in 4 overs) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (1/10 in 4 overs) were economical as well picked wickets at regular intervals.

India’s strategy of packing the off-side cordon and bowling wide of stumps, paid off as Ireland were never in the chase conceding as many as 65 dot balls (nearly 11 overs).

Hospitality company OYO, India's newest unicorn, today announced that it has appointed former IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh as its chief executive officer for India and South Asia, with effect from December 1. In a statement the company said that the appointment comes in wake of its focus to drive accelerated growth in its home markets, India and China.

Ghosh joins OYO Hotels & Homes following a stint as an advisor to Tata Trusts, Mint reported. In July, he had stepped down from his position as IndiGo's president and wholetime director. He will be reporting to OYO Hotels & Homes Founder & Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal.

Teenage sprint sensation Hima Das, who won three medals, including gold in 4x400m women's relay at the Asian Games and a historic gold medal at the U-20 World Championship in Finland, has been appointed India's first ever Youth Ambassador by UNICEF.

"My role model was Sachin Tendulkar as a kid. I feel very proud that I have been able to follow his footsteps and become a UNICEF ambassador like him. I want for every child, regardless of their background, gender, caste etc. to be able to access schools that are safe and supportive so that they can learn and thrive," Hima said.

"It's still sinking in," says Ms Arora, who only began cooking at the age of 21 when she decided to move to Paris from her hometown Mumbai, to study at the world-famous Cordon Bleu culinary school.

"It was nothing like I expected it to be. It was a lot of donkey-work," Ms Arora, now 30, says. "But I just wanted to be there so much and I learnt to cope up and made my way through."

Even though her journey as a chef officially started when she was 21 (she was working as a journalist before that), she says her Punjabi family and their insane love for food meant it was always on the cards.

Punjabi cuisine is among the most celebrated in India, and staples like butter chicken and parantha are popular in many other countries. Punjabi people themselves are known for their love of eating and their generosity with food.

She says it is this sentiment that also inspires her cooking.

"It's like that feeling of eating at someone's home. We're trying to elevate that experience and make our guests happy."

An arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were imposed in 2009 amid claims Eritrea supported al-Shabab militants in Somalia. Eritrea always denied the accusations.

The resolution, drafted by the UK, was backed by the US and its allies.

The UN vote comes amid a thaw in relations between Eritrea and its neighbours following years of conflict.

BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the politically repressive state had long been a global pariah, and was likened by some commentators to North Korea.

Eritrea agreed a peace deal with Ethiopia in June following two decades of animosity, while the leader of Eritrea and the UN-backed government in Somalia recently signed a joint cooperation agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Singapore for a two-day visit, participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region on Thursday. He visited the country Wednesday when he delivered his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival and held separate bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and Thailand. He discussed ways to further strengthen ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security.

“Cementing old bonds in pursuit of a glorious future. Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet,” Modi tweeted.

On Wednesday, PM Modi pitched India as a favourite destination for investment and said that financial inclusion has become a reality for 1.3 billion Indians. In his keynote address, Modi said the technology has transformed governance and delivery of public services in India and unleashed innovation, hope and opportunities. Modi also launched APIX (Application Programming Interface Exchange), a global Fintech platform with Deputy PM of Singapore T Shanmugaratnam after his address at the event, PTI reported.

More than 1.7 million foreigners visited India on e-visa last year and the number of tourists availing the popular scheme this year is likely to cross two million mark, home ministry said on Wednesday.

USD 105,558,496 has been received as e-visa fees in 2017 by the government and USD 137,527,270 (Rs 993 crore approx) till October 31 this year. The number of foreigners who visited India with e-visa has gone up from 447,000 in 2015 to 1.7 million in 2017. The figure for 2018 is 1.87 million till October 31 this year and it may touch two million mark by the end of the year, a Home Ministry official said.

The e-visa facility now covers practically all the countries of the world, 166 as of now, and foreigners can arrive at any of the designated 26 airports and five seaports in India without interacting with any official before checking in at the immigration counter.