News brief: Big stories of the day

A day after shutting down Samjhauta Express--the bi-weekly train that connects Delhi in India to Lahore in Pakistan -- ''forever'', Pakistan on Friday suspended Thar Link Express - a weekly train that runs between Jodhpur to Munabao in India and Khokhrapar to Karachi in Pakistan.

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned Friday that two months of pro-democracy demonstrations were causing economic chaos in the city but ruled out making concessions to "silence the violent protesters."

Centre is unlikely to hold assembly elections in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for at least a year, said sources.

Centre has prepared a detailed plan and wants to use this time to completely overhaul the administration in the Union Territory (UT). Sources have indicated that massive financial and administrative reforms are on anvil starting with a business summit which might take place by end of the year.

It's time for Pakistan to accept the reality and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Friday.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will roll out RuPay Cards in Bhutan during his state visit on 17-18 August.

Bhutan will be the second country after Singapore to roll out the services.